Guided Tours

Blue Mosque Guided Tour with Bosphorus Cruise

Tour guide leading a group near the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

Interior view of the Blue Mosque dome in Istanbul, showcasing intricate patterns and stained glass.

Galata Tower and Galata Bridge in Karakoy district, Istanbul, with a boat on the water.

Woman photographing Istanbul landmarks from Galata Bridge.

Duration

3 hrs

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

Guided tour

4.1/5(63)

Laura K

Couple

Verified booking

Apr 2026

The guide was knowledgeable and had good English skills. That part went well. The option Part of our tour which was the phosphorus boat tour was not as smooth. It took me three times to get them to explain to me how to find the boat tour. It was only my persistence that we were able to catch the last cruise the next day. Seeing istanbul from the sea was nice. However, the boat on the tour has seen better days. There was no explanation or audio about what we were seeing from the water so basically get on an old boat and ride around.

Breanna K

Couple

Verified booking

Feb 2026

Tour guide is a must as they are able to provide so much texture to the history of the Blue Mosque. As for the ferry ride, you cannot hear the announcer over the loudspeaker well enough to understand what they are saying. It is a good value still for both the cruise and the Mosque tour, but if you want a guide for the ferry part, I'd recommend choosing a different smaller boat company

Get lost in the blue Iznik tiles, the towering minarets, and the grand dome on this 1-hour tour of the Blue Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With an expert guide at the helm, learn about the Quranic verses in the Great Tablets and interesting bits about the royal kiosk in the Blue Mosque.

Come aboard the Bosphorus Cruise to catch a glimpse of the conical roof of the Galata Tower and the gray towers of Dolmabahce Palace.

With an audio guide in your preferred language, understand details about each landmark you pass, like why gray marble was used to create Çırağan Palace, on the 90-minute cruise.

1-hour guided tour of Blue Mosque

English-speaking guide

90-minute Bosphorus cruise

Audio guide in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, and Chinese.

Tour guide for Bosphorus cruise

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

63 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from Italy, France, Hungary and over 9 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Hannah H
Couple
Verified booking
May 2026
Blue mosque tickets were ok but overpriced for a free entrance mosque & still had to queue in the line. The "tour" was about 15 mins- the guide was very good and helpful but when tried to get the Bosphorus cruise tickets nobody could assist & Headout contact number was not answered. Not happy at all.
Laura K
Couple
Verified booking
Apr 2026
The guide was knowledgeable and had good English skills. That part went well. The option Part of our tour which was the phosphorus boat tour was not as smooth. It took me three times to get them to explain to me how to find the boat tour. It was only my persistence that we were able to catch the last cruise the next day. Seeing istanbul from the sea was nice. However, the boat on the tour has seen better days. There was no explanation or audio about what we were seeing from the water so basically get on an old boat and ride around.
Ramona C
Group
Verified booking
Apr 2026
The guide at the Blue Mosque was very knowledgeable. I had expected him to show us more sights in the city center.
Breanna K
Couple
Verified booking
Feb 2026
Tour guide is a must as they are able to provide so much texture to the history of the Blue Mosque. As for the ferry ride, you cannot hear the announcer over the loudspeaker well enough to understand what they are saying. It is a good value still for both the cruise and the Mosque tour, but if you want a guide for the ferry part, I'd recommend choosing a different smaller boat company
Marina G
Couple
Verified booking
Dec 2025
The guide was super nice, and his explanation wasbboth helpful and effective in understanding the place where we were

Step in one of Turkey’s majestic mosques

A trip to Istanbul is incomplete without stepping into the revered Blue Mosque. Built between 1609 and 1616 by Sultan Ahmet I, the Blue Mosque is the perfect example of Classic Ottoman architecture. With an expert guide for company, explore tulips and carnations on the 22,000 Iznik tiles, which gives it the blue hue associated with the mosque. Marvel at the six minarets and stained glass windows that help create a technicolor hue in the mosque. Don’t forget to check out the Royal Kiosk which contains a mihrab with 100 Qurans on a gilded lecter and the Great Tablets with Quranic verses and the names of the Caliphs.

A cruise with views of iconic landmarks

After the guided tour, hope on a 90-minute cruise on the Bosphorus Strait. Spot Istanbul’s classic landmarks such as the 15th-century, single-domed Topkapi Palace and the crystal blue waters of the Golden Horn, spanning the Ataturk, Halic, and Galata bridges. Make sure you don’t forget to take pictures with your loved ones as you cross these iconic structures to create lasting memories of this experience.

Itinerary

Bosphorus Cruise

Topkapi Palace

Golden Horn

Galata Tower

Dolmabahce Palace

Ciragan Palace

Ortaköy Mosque

Bosphorus Bridge

Beylerbeyi Palace

Üsküdar

Maiden Tower

Topkapi Palace

Hagia Sophia

Seaside Villas

What to bring

Bring along your scarf or a wrap to cover your head at the venue.

Pack your meds – better to be prepared, just in case they’re not available onsite.

Stay ahead of the game; download the audio app beforehand to dodge any network glitches at the location.

Don’t forget your trusty earphones for an immersive audio guide experience.

What's not allowed

Keep in mind tripods and food & beverages are not allowed on this experience. Pack wisely!

Strict dress code: Both men and women must cover their shoulders and knees, while women must also cover their hair. If you do not have anything to cover yourself, you can get scarves and wraps for free at the entrance. Wear loose-fitting clothes to adhere to the dress code of the mosque.

Shutterbugs, take note: Flash photography is a no-go inside the venue.

Accessibility

This experience is wheelchair accessible.

Ramps are available at the venue for easy access.

Additional Information

Facilities: Shoe Storage.

The mosque is closed for two hours at noon on Friday for the weekly sermon.

If you have a large bag or backpack, you can store it in the locker at Sirkeci station, which is a short walk from the mosque.

You can join the Bosphorus cruise on the same day or the next day at 12pm or 3pm. From April to October, you can also get on the cruise at 6pm to catch the sunset.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Meet your guide at Dsign Cafe.

Address: Binbirdirek, At Meydanı Cd No:10, 34093 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye.

Landmark: In front of the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum located on the Hippodrome, right next to Egyptian Obelisk.

Get directions to the meeting point