Istanbul Old City Private Walking Tour: Hagia Sophia & Bazaar

4.50

(2 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The day started right outside my hotel door—our guide, Emre, was already waiting at 9 sharp, grinning and waving. We set off through Sultanahmet as the city was just waking up; you could smell simit baking somewhere nearby and hear the tram clattering in the distance. First stop: the Blue Mosque. I’d seen photos before, but stepping inside with socks on (shoes off!) and seeing those blue Iznik tiles up close—well, it’s different in person. Emre pointed out tiny details I’d never have noticed alone, like the way sunlight hits the mihrab around mid-morning.

Hagia Sophia was next—just across the square. The line looked long but moved fast; inside it felt cool and a little musty, with echoes bouncing off ancient marble. Emre shared stories about its time as both church and mosque. We wandered over to Caferaga Medresesi after that—a quieter spot where artists were setting up for a calligraphy class (the smell of fresh Turkish coffee drifted from the courtyard café). In between stops, we paused by the Serpent Column—honestly easy to miss if you’re not looking for it—and then made our way to Topkapi Palace. The treasury rooms were packed but worth squeezing through for a look at those emeralds.

Lunch was simple but good—lentil soup and kebab at a tucked-away lokanta Emre recommended (I wish I remembered the name). After lunch, we dove into the Grand Bazaar. It’s loud, colorful, and kind of overwhelming at first; shopkeepers call out in every language you can think of. I picked up some apple tea after haggling (badly) with a friendly vendor named Murat. By late afternoon my feet were tired but my head was full of stories—and we finished back at my hotel just before evening traffic hit.