Located just 3-5 minutes apart in Sultanahmet Square, these landmarks are easy to visit together, saving time and effort. Clear signboards make navigation simple.
Enjoy expert storytelling, skip-the-line access, and a 5+ language audio guide for 3 of Istanbul’s most iconic sites.
Everything you get at Blue Mosque: Skip the long lines and head straight to the Blue Mosque’s grand prayer hall. Get insights into this stained-glass-lit monument, with an English-speaking guide and an audio guide.
Everything you get at Hagia Sophia: Access the Upper Gallery of Hagia Sophia—an area once reserved for royalty. Avoid the wait and admire its breath-taking mosaics at your own pace, while enjoying a detailed audio guide.
Everything you get at Basilica Cistern: Take an underground walk into the Basilica Cistern’s cool and quiet spaces. Skip long wait lines, and walk in to admire the marble columns and the famous Medusa heads with an expert guide.
Why choose this combo: In just 4 hours, visit three of Istanbul’s top landmarks in one day, with one easy ticket. Skip the long lines with this flexible ticket and explore each site with expert English-speaking guides and immersive audio guides.
Inclusions Basilica Cistern
Hagia Sophia
Blue Mosque
Basilica Cistern
Tip: Be sure to walk to the far end of the cistern to see the famous Medusa heads—many visitors miss them by turning back too soon.
Floors can be slick in places due to moisture, so wear stable footwear with good grip.
For a quieter, more serene experience, visit first thing in the morning or just before closing when crowds are less.
Skip-the-line tickets help cut down wait time. However, security screenings are compulsory for all visitors and will take time.
Hagia Sophia
Tip: Security checks can take up to an hour in summer (June–August), so plan your visits accordingly.
Only the Upper Gallery is open to visitors; the main prayer hall is reserved for worshippers and not accessible to visit.
Access is paused during daily prayers, so plan your visit between those times.
Tourist entry is paused every Friday from noon to around 2:30pm for weekly prayers.
Visitors are required to dress modestly – so please cover your head, shoulders and knees. Women are also required to wear scarves. If you forget to bring your own, there are scarves available at the entrance.
Blue Mosque
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Discover Istanbul’s treasures like Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Old Town in one expert-guided tour.
Inclusions
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Explore two of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks: the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Each showcases distinct architectural styles that reflect the city's layered history. Admire how the blend of Byzantine Christian and Ottoman Islamic heritage themes come to life through intricate designs, mosaic work, stained glass, and beyond.
The best part about visiting Istanbul is that its two iconic monuments are located near each other. With a little planning, you can combine your visit to both places and here’s why you should.
The Blue Mosque has six minarets, which sets it apart from Istanbul's mosques. Four minarets surround the mosque and the courtyard while the other two flank the prayer hall.
You will find verses of the Quran etched by the renowned Diyarbakir calligrapher Seyyid Kasim Gubari onto the mosque's exteriors.
The forecourt features, columns and turrets in the corner domes while the main courtyard (in front of the prayer hall) known as ‘Avlu’ has a beautiful fountain where worshippers perform rituals before their prayers.
One of the key highlights of the Blue Mosque is its ceiling. It features over 20,000 exquisite blue Iznik tiles designed to perfection.
Gifted by the Signoria of Venice, the mosque’s upper-level stained glass windows reflect stunning colors throughout the day.
The Mihrab is a decorative niche in a mosque that marks the direction of Mecca for prayer. The Minbar is a raised platform or pulpit where the Imam stands to deliver sermons.
Start with Hagia Sophia: It’s usually less crowded in the morning (around 9 am), so start your visit to Hagia Sophia early. Explore the stunning mosaics, the vast interior, and the mixture of religious history.
Visit Blue Mosque: After Hagia Sophia, visit the Blue Mosque to admire its stunning tiles, prayer hall, and grand courtyard.
Timing considerations: Both attractions have active prayer times during which visitors are not permitted to visit certain sections of the area. You can visit Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque keeping in mind the prayer schedules, to make the most of your visit.
Each site takes about 30-45 minutes to explore; guided tours last about an hour with additional time for self-exploration.
The best time to visit Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque is early morning (around 9 am) as soon as they open and when the areas are less crowded.
Both landmarks are accessible in some areas but owing to the Ottoman architectural design, some areas might seem difficult to navigate.
Yes, both the attractions allow you to take pictures of the architecture and surrounding areas but please be respectful during prayer times to avoid disturbing worshippers.
Since both the attractions serve as places of worship, don’t wear sleeveless tops or shorts. Make sure you cover your and your shoulders. Women must wear scarves on the premises. You can find them at the entrance or nearby shops.
