Private Istanbul Tour: Hagia Sophia, Cistern & Bazaar

4.42

(24 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We started our morning with a quick coffee at a tiny corner shop near Sultanahmet Square—locals already chatting over simit and tea. Our guide, Cem, met us right on time and led us straight into the maze of the Grand Bazaar. It’s easy to get lost here; the place hums with voices, the clinking of copper, and the scent of leather mixed with spices. I spotted a tiny stall selling hand-painted ceramics—couldn’t resist picking up a blue tulip plate. Cem pointed out a shortcut to the jewelry section, where gold chains glimmered under old lamps. The bazaar’s been around since the 1400s, and you can feel the layers of history in every corner.

Next up was the Hagia Sophia. Even with the crowds, there’s a hush when you step inside. The cool air hits you first, then your eyes adjust to the gold mosaics overhead. Cem explained how the building switched from church to mosque to museum, and now back to a mosque again. We lingered near the marble columns, tracing the faded patterns with our fingers. If you stand close to the main dome and listen, you’ll catch the echo of footsteps from centuries past. I’d seen photos before, but nothing really prepares you for the scale or the way the light shifts through the windows.

The Basilica Cistern was our last stop. Down a flight of damp stone steps, the air gets cooler and smells faintly of moss. It’s quiet except for the drip of water echoing off the vaulted ceiling. Cem showed us the Medusa heads tucked away in the shadows—easy to miss if you don’t know where to look. The columns stretch out in neat rows, their reflections shimmering on the water’s surface. It’s a little eerie, honestly, but beautiful in its own way. I kept thinking about that scene from James Bond as we walked along the wooden platforms.