Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket & Museum Option
4.841 reviews
Buy now
From 28,00€ per person
Also known as Constantinople or Byzantium, Istanbul was the capital of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire, and remains Turkey’s most populated city, despite no longer being the nation’s capital. As the country’s leading industrial, financial and cultural hub, Istanbul is a city that has managed to preserve numerous sites of interest that testify to its long and rich history and the various successive dynasties that ruled it. Located on the Bosphorus Strait between Europe and Asia, this is a destination brimming with attractions to discover, exceptional cuisine and millennia-old traditions.
Most of Istanbul’s major attractions are located in the Sultanahmet mahalle (district), a sprawling area best explored on foot with plenty of restaurants and shops. We recommend planning a well-structured itinerary with specific stops to ensure you don’t miss any highlights, and purchasing entrance tickets in advance.
Among the first places to visit in Sultanahmet are two sites of outstanding historical, architectural and religious significance: Hagia Sophia Basilica (or Aya Sofia) and the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii). Close by you’ll find the Hippodrome area, which was particularly significant during Roman and Byzantine times.
Don’t miss a visit to the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the complex that served as the residence of the sultans and the seat of Ottoman power for four centuries (until 1856). In the same district, within easy walking distance, you’ll also find the Basilica Cistern, built by Emperor Justinian to supply water to the city.
Another district with fascinating history is Galata, reached by crossing the famous bridge of the same name that spans the Golden Horn. This area was a Genoese colony for nearly two centuries, and the Genoese built the renowned Galata Tower here, which formed part of the city’s defensive system.
To see Istanbul from a different perspective and view both the Asian and European sides of the city, we recommend taking a beautiful Bosphorus cruise. The Bosphorus is a strait approximately 30 km long that divides the city in two, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara; its width varies from 700 metres at its narrowest point to almost 4 km where it opens onto the Black Sea. Bosphorus cruises are available aboard luxury yachts, catamarans or ferries, with plenty of options depending on your time and budget.
Numerous operators organise Bosphorus cruises, but we recommend tours lasting at least an hour and a half to fully appreciate the city from the water. There are ferry lines offering hop-on hop-off services allowing passengers to disembark at intermediate stops, visit local attractions and continue on a later departure. Others are full cruises lasting several hours with dinner aboard, entertainment shows and views of the city’s illuminated monuments. Another highly recommended option is a sunset cruise, where you can watch the sun setting over Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks, perhaps with a drink on deck.
For a truly memorable evening, we recommend attending a display of Turkish dance, traditional music and local costume held in uniquely atmospheric venues, such as historic hammams or Ottoman palaces. In particular, you can learn more about Turkish culture and traditions by watching a performance by the Whirling Dervishes, Islamic monks who communicate with the divine through dance. During their performances, the Dervishes dance for extended periods balanced on the tips of the first two toes of their left foot, performing continuous rotations. Specifically, it is the Mevlevi Order, founded in the 13th century by the renowned Islamic poet Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi (1207-1273), that spread this dance throughout the Ottoman Empire.
In 1924 the Turkish government banned this brotherhood, and only in 1954 did the government grant the Mevlevi Order special permission to perform for tourists. Over time, the mystical dances of the Dervishes (through which they claimed to speak with God) were recognised as UNESCO Heritage and gained increasing popularity. The Mevlevi are renowned for their whirling dances, performed according to strict ritual and only after fasting for several hours. Their ceremonies (also known as Sema) feature a specific musical repertoire performed by at least a singer, a flute player and a cymbal player.
Istanbul is a city rich in monuments and thousands of years of history, so exploring it with a knowledgeable guide is highly recommended. We suggest booking a guided tour lasting one or two days so you have a well-planned itinerary that includes transport between attractions.
Guided tours allow you not only to discover the city’s most iconic sites, but also to delve into key historical facts and all of Istanbul’s secrets; plus, with transport already arranged, you won’t need to worry about navigating public transport.
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit with an expert guide sites that shaped the city’s history such as Topkapi Palace, Aya Sofia, the Hippodrome or the Blue Mosque. Some tours also include lunch at a traditional restaurant where you can sample authentic local cuisine.
Discover Istanbul through the eyes of expert guides who will take you on a tour of the city's hidden treasures. Participating in a free tour will allow you to capture the true essence of Istanbul.
The free tours are a viable alternative to traditional guided tours. They work like this: participation is free and at the end of the visit you can leave a tip at your discretion. Below you will find our favourite free tour, otherwise you can see the full list by visiting this page.
After days of sightseeing around the city, treat yourself to some pure relaxation in a beautiful Turkish bath for an unforgettable experience. You can enjoy a traditional public bath that revives the Roman bathing tradition combined with the experience of a typical exfoliating Turkish massage. This is an ancient ritual practised since the time of Ottoman sultans to cleanse the body of toxins and unwind.
After the steam bath, a hammam attendant will arrive to soap you down and perform an exfoliating treatment to remove dead skin from your body. These activities are not painful; in fact, they’ll allow your skin to breathe better as it’s cleansed of impurities and toxins. This is definitely an experience to try in Istanbul!
The areas around Istanbul also boast numerous places to visit and destinations to explore. With a few extra days, you can take a wonderful tour of the surrounding regions to escape the city bustle. From Istanbul, you can arrange a day trip to the Princes’ Islands, an archipelago of 9 islets in the Sea of Marmara off the Asian coast. Büyükada is the largest of the nine and can be explored on foot or by bicycle, discovering its historic churches, monasteries and palaces. Besides artisan shops, boutiques and excellent restaurants, Büyükada also has beaches for those wanting to relax in the sun.
Another worthwhile excursion from Istanbul is to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Located south of the Sea of Marmara, Bursa sits at the foot of Mount Uludağ (the ancient Olympus of Mysia), which at 2,543 metres is one of Turkey’s most important winter sports destinations. Whatever time of year, you can reach the summit via cable car and enjoy extraordinary views from the top. In winter you can enjoy various winter sports, while in summer you can go hiking.
Another highly sought-after destination in Turkey is Cappadocia, which can be discovered through one or two-day excursions depending on which sites you want to visit. From Istanbul, a flight of an hour and a half gets you to Kayseri, where tours of the region depart. Must-see stops include the Göreme National Park where you can admire the famous “Fairy Chimneys”, Devrent Valley, famous for its distinctive rock formations shaped like animals, and the underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli that were carved into the rock up to 85 metres below ground level. A package may include an authentic Turkish lunch at a local restaurant and a horseback or quad bike tour through the Red Valley. Your Cappadocia experience can continue with a visit to the rock castle of Uchisar, and if you have extra time, you can cap off your trip with a spectacular hot air balloon flight.
City Card allow you to save on public transport and / or on the entrances to the main tourist attractions.
Hotel 
Budget accommodations 
Apartments 
Family Hotel 
Luxury Hotel