Private Hagia Sophia Tour in Istanbul: Local Guide & Hidden Spots

5.00

(23 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Stepping into Hagia Sophia just after the morning crowds thin out, I felt the cool stone under my shoes and that faint scent of old incense lingering in the air. Our guide, Cem, waved us past the long ticket line—honestly, that alone felt like a win. Inside, the sunlight caught the golden mosaics and you could hear the low hum of prayers mixing with camera clicks. Cem pointed out the Viking graffiti scratched into the marble railings—something I’d never have noticed on my own.

Afterwards, we ducked down a side street to a tiny mosque most tourists miss. The imam was just finishing up midday prayers, and the quiet in there was almost soothing after the bustle outside. For lunch, Cem insisted we try his favorite spot—a no-frills lokanta near Sultanahmet Square. The lentil soup was simple but hit the spot. Later, we stopped at Hafiz Mustafa for baklava. The pistachio ones are sticky and sweet, but somehow not too heavy. We ended the day at a local tea garden tucked behind a row of old sycamore trees. Locals played backgammon and sipped strong çay from tulip glasses. I just sat back and let it all sink in before heading back out into the city’s noise.