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Istanbul City and Hidden Gem Private Guided Tour
5.0
264 Ratings
Fatih
Experience the highlights and hidden gems of Istanbul in 1, 2, or 3 days with a private guided tour. Skip the lines, customize your itinerary, and taste local food.
Experience the highlights and hidden gems of Istanbul in 1, 2, or 3 days with a private guided tour. Skip the lines, customize your itinerary, and taste local food.
Duration:
18 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Topkapi Palace - Topkapi Palace (Highlights) served as the imperial residence and administrative center of the Great Ottoman Empire for nearly 400 years. Now a magnificent museum, it is renowned for its treasury collections of the Ottoman Royal Family. Visitors can explore the legacy of the sultans and the Ottoman Empire through centuries of…
- Topkapi Palace - Topkapi Palace (Highlights) served as the imperial residence and administrative center of the Great Ottoman Empire for nearly 400 years. Now a magnificent museum, it is renowned for its treasury collections of the Ottoman Royal Family. Visitors can explore the legacy of the sultans and the Ottoman Empire through centuries of triumphs, joyous occasions, and somber times.
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - Hagia Sophia, a 6th-century church and a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, invites visitors with its legends and mosaics. It offers a unique opportunity to connect with the history of this iconic church, a major city attraction since its inception.
- Blue Mosque - The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultanahmet Mosque, is one of the largest mosques and a key feature of Istanbul’s skyline. Constructed in the 17th century, its interior is adorned with blue Iznik tiles and stained glass.
- Hippodrome - The Hippodrome was the hub of sporting and political activities in Constantinople. Visitors can view the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column from Delphi, and the fountain of Wilhelm II.
- Grand Bazaar - The Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest covered market in the world. Guides provide insights into its history and offer tips for navigating its over 4,000 shops.
- Dolmabahce Palace - Built between 1843 and 1858 by Sultan Abdulmecit I, this palace features a blend of Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical styles with traditional Ottoman architecture, creating a unique synthesis.
- Bosphorus Strait - A Bosphorus Cruise reveals a natural waterway lined with palaces, Yalis (old Ottoman houses), historic mosques, and diverse neighborhoods, each with its own culture.
- Kadikoy Carsisi - Kadikoy is considered the most lively and local district of Istanbul.
- Rustem Pasha Mosque - Renowned for its exquisite Ottoman tile art, Rustem Pasha Mosque’s interior is beautifully adorned.
- Misir Carsisi (Spice Market) - This market is famous for its Turkish delights and spices.
- Basilica Cistern - The largest underground water reservoir from Byzantine times, this 6th-century cistern is famous for the Medusa heads in one corner.
- Suleymaniye Mosque - Constructed by the esteemed Ottoman architect Sinan in 1557, this mosque is considered the most beautiful of all imperial mosques.
- Chora Museum - The Chora Monastery is one of the oldest and most significant religious sites of Byzantine Constantinople. Known for its stunning mosaics and frescoes, it is a popular tourist destination, second only to Justinian’s Great Church.
- Balat - Balat offers the most authentic houses in Istanbul.
- Bulgarian Orthodox Church - This unique church is entirely made of iron.
- Fener Rum Patrikhanesi - This is the Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church.
What's Included
- Local Taxes
- Private Tour
- Professional Tour Guide
- Local Taxes
- Private Tour
- Professional Tour Guide
What's Not Included
- Public Transportation Fees
- Meals
- Gratuities
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Public Transportation Fees
- Meals
- Gratuities
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
Additional Information
Whether your interests lie in history, architecture, culture, or cuisine, our expertly crafted itinerary for a 1, 2, or 3-day private guided walking tour of Istanbul has you covered! Istanbul is unique, as it is the only city in the world that spans two continents—Europe and Asia—and has been the heart of three great empires: Roman, Byzantine, and…
Whether your interests lie in history, architecture, culture, or cuisine, our expertly crafted itinerary for a 1, 2, or 3-day private guided walking tour of Istanbul has you covered! Istanbul is unique, as it is the only city in the world that spans two continents—Europe and Asia—and has been the heart of three great empires: Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Discover the Hagia Sophia, explore Topkapi Palace, wander through the Grand Bazaar, and admire the stunning Blue Mosque. In a city like this, having an experienced local guide is essential to help you navigate and ensure a personalized experience. Occasionally, we will use ferries, subways, or trams to get around the city. Remember, the best way to explore a new city is by using public transport or walking.
• Skip-the-Line Access to Museums
• Expertly Crafted Itinerary for 1, 2, or 3-Day Private Guided Walking Tour
• Customize the Itinerary to Suit Your Interests
• Savor Local Cuisine
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. Basilica Cistern will be visited instead.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. Spice Market will be visited instead.
- Grand Bazaar and Spice Market will be closed in 2026 in the following dates; March 20/21/22-Ramadan Celebrations. May 27/28/29/30-Eid Celebrations. October 29-Republic Day.
- We have Kid-Friendly Tour Guides in our team.
- For the cruise passengers public transportation (tram) is strongly recommended due to heavy traffic in/around the old city. By the tram the old city takes only 10 minutes. Please book the tour accordingly
- If you book the tour with a private van, please beware that extra charges may apply if your hotel/apartment is located in the Asian Side or far from the city center.
Location
Adamar Hotel Sultanahmet Istanbul
Yerebatan Caddesi
In front of the Adamar Hotel.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(264 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Hkh2007
Nov 12, 2025
Ask for Semih (Sammy) - Tours by Locals assigned guide Semih Gümüsay for our 3-day guided tour of Istanbul. He picked us up at our hotel on each day punctually and took us to many famous and not so famous (but mighty interesting) attractions by bus, tram and boat. He was wonderful - knowledgeable, proud of his country and speaking very good English. We felt safe and well cared for at all times.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Parikka
Oct 28, 2025
All the essentials in a day - Hamide was great! She was able to plan our visits so that we essentially did not have to wait in queues at all. In addition to helping us to focus on the most relevant parts (there is so much to see), she told us about everyday life in Istanbul. And we got great recommendations about restaurants.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David_k
Oct 26, 2025
Very knowledgeable, warm and friendly - Emel, totally customized our tour in advance and was able to adjust to our changing interests. Totally flexible. We saw what we wanted to see and experienced what we had hoped in a short period of time. She was extremely considerate of my physical limitations and took lots of shortcuts to minimize walking. She was very adept at telling the story of Turkish culture with a western perspective for us to readily absorb the info. She knew all the right shopping spots away from the heavily touristed areas. Can’t say enough about the quality of the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Mark1418
Sep 24, 2025
Great experience - We got to experience all that Istanbul has to offer. Our guide was knowledgeable and let us go at our own pace. The grand bizarre was the highlight
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anonymous
Sep 20, 2025
Emre was an excellent... - Emre was an excellent guide. We started with the most visited sites in the morning and the afternoon activities were specific to our interests. The visits were scheduled such that we did not waste time standing in long lines.
Review provided by Viator
Sean
Sep 16, 2025
One of our best guided experiences - Duygu was such a wonderful guide. My wife and I immediately had a great connection and felt like we were long time friends. Her knowledge of the area was great but what made it even more meaningful was her ability to weave in personal experiences as well her knowledge of other businesses that we were introduced to. Lunch with her was a highlight!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mary_c
May 26, 2025
Amazing Istanbul - We had a wonderful 2 day introduction to Istanbul. Our guide was amazing and very personal. He took us to all the major sites and to places we would never have found on our own. He was so knowledgeable about Istanbul and its history and you could tell he loved his country. This 2 day tour was one of the best tours of our 3 week filled vacation. Thank you very much Mehmet for a once in a lifetime experience. Mike & Mary
Review provided by Viator
Tour561252
May 8, 2025
Would recommend- tour is as described - Can was a great guide and very knowledgeable. Just as described and trustworthy. We did a 2 day tour. The first day was fantastic you see a lot. On the second day you don’t see as much and I would probably only stay on the Asian side for a lot less time, since there is nothing really there and we spent too much time just walking around with nothing to see. Maybe include something else. We then still had a very long lunch as we were early for the boat tour. Pre tour communications was a bit slow up until 1 day before. I would also recommend that if somebody wants to go to a specific restaurant let them - we were told it would take up too much time to go where I preferred, but ended up still having over 1 hour lunch with the guide which is quite long.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chengkx
Mar 27, 2025
A marvellous way to explore Istanbul over three days - I don’t typically leave reviews but felt compelled to leave one for this tour. I booked the three-day option and was lucky enough to be assigned Emre Aygun as my guide. The itinerary over the three days was excellent and comprehensive as it is, taking in almost all of the must-see places in Istanbul, but Emre really elevated the whole experience. He was extremely knowledgeable, accommodating, obviously passionate about his work, personable and a very nice man. It was my first time in Türkiye and I am so happy I had such a great host to explore beautiful Istanbul.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mjain928
Jan 5, 2025
Our guide Emel was very... - Our guide Emel was very knowledgeable and very helpful. Even after the tour she shared several ideas about rest of our stay which came in handy.
Review provided by Viator
