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Old Town Tour: Iconic Sites & Skip Lines
4.8
109 Ratings
Fatih
Experience the best of Istanbul’s top sites on a private walking tour. Visit iconic landmarks like the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, and explore the historic Grand Bazaar. Optional full-day tour includes a visit to the Topkapi Palace. Book now!
Experience the best of Istanbul’s top sites on a private walking tour. Visit iconic landmarks like the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, and explore the historic Grand Bazaar. Optional full-day tour includes a visit to the Topkapi Palace. Book now!
Duration:
7 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Hagia Sophia - A stunning example of Byzantine architecture, the Hagia Sophia has served as a cathedral, a mosque, and now a mosque once more. Marvel at its impressive dome, golden mosaics, and the rich layers of religious history spanning over 1,500 years.
- Basilica Cistern - Explore the Basilica Cistern, an ancient water storage system built…
- Hagia Sophia - A stunning example of Byzantine architecture, the Hagia Sophia has served as a cathedral, a mosque, and now a mosque once more. Marvel at its impressive dome, golden mosaics, and the rich layers of religious history spanning over 1,500 years.
- Basilica Cistern - Explore the Basilica Cistern, an ancient water storage system built to endure long sieges. With its vast expanse and 336 columns, it’s often called the ‘Underground Palace.’ This site is not only historically significant but also offers a unique and captivating experience beneath Istanbul’s streets.
Please note that the entry fee is 900 TL per person, and tickets will be purchased in advance to avoid waiting in line. Kindly have the amount ready in cash. (Officials indicate it may increase to 1300 TL per person, but the date is not yet confirmed.)
- Blue Mosque - Renowned for its six minarets and exquisite blue İznik tiles, the Blue Mosque is an active place of worship and a symbol of Ottoman splendor. Be sure to visit its peaceful courtyard and magnificent interior.
- Hippodrome - The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that served as the sporting and social hub of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
- Corlulu Ali Pasa Medresesi - During the tour, the guide will select a stop where guests can enjoy a complimentary Turkish coffee or tea.
- Grand Bazaar Jewelers - Explore one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world - Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.
- Topkapi Palace - Please note: The palace is included in the full-day tour option. If the half-day tour is selected, the itinerary includes the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome, and the Grand Bazaar.
What's Included
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off with public transportation or taxi if necessary
- Private walking tour with an official tour guide
- Snacks
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off with public transportation or taxi if necessary
- Private walking tour with an official tour guide
- Snacks
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks are not mentioned in the inclusion part
- Gratuities
- if you have full day with Topkapi Palace, entry fee is 2000 TL pp
- Other
- Other
- Food and drinks are not mentioned in the inclusion part
- Gratuities
- if you have full day with Topkapi Palace, entry fee is 2000 TL pp
- Other
- Other
Additional Information
Maximize your time in Istanbul with this outstanding private tour of the city’s historic Old Town, tailored specifically for cruise passengers. Select either a half-day or full-day adventure to match your schedule and preferences.
Discover Istanbul’s most renowned landmarks—including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern—with…
Maximize your time in Istanbul with this outstanding private tour of the city’s historic Old Town, tailored specifically for cruise passengers. Select either a half-day or full-day adventure to match your schedule and preferences.
Discover Istanbul’s most renowned landmarks—including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern—with skip-the-line privileges, allowing you to spend more time exploring and less time queuing.
For those choosing the full-day tour, you can enhance your journey by adding a visit to the Topkapi Palace or enjoying a picturesque Bosphorus boat tour.
Your expert guide will meet you directly at the cruise port and accompany you throughout the tour, offering captivating insights and stories that bring Istanbul’s vibrant history to life. Midway through, take a refreshing break with a complimentary Turkish tea or coffee at a local café.
At the conclusion of your day, your guide will escort you back to the cruise pier.
- Blue Mosque is a mosque now and none has right the skip the lines of security.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and our guide can show another bazaar instead.
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays and Half day tour is available on Tuesdays or will be replaced with Bosphorus Tour for full day tours
- On Religious Fests; Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar are closed.
- Blue Mosque open after 2 pm on Fridays.
Location
Hagia Sophia
Ayasofya Meydanı
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
4.8
(109 Ratings)
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Monimonicaz
Jan 26, 2025
Great private tour - Imran was a great guide, friendly, honest, and thoughtful. He patiently responded to all our questions and also openly taught us about the local life and culture. Thank you for your generosity!
We enjoyed doing the half day tour during offseason as we didnt have to wait in queues and instead, had plenty of time to admire the details, ask questions and learn from the history of Turkey.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hailey9214
Oct 28, 2024
Ozge, the best tour guide:) - It was by far the best tour ever!! We booked it on the last moment and it was the best choice we have made since we arrived in Istanbul:) Our guide , Ozge, came 30mins earlier than the pick up time and waited for us at the lobby, and stayed professional throughout the journey:) Her knowledge of the history of all the monuments and historic remains are outstanding , we couldn't have had a better guide. I 100% recommend her for a group or a private tour, she is sensitive to details while also having a great sense of leadership:)
Thank you for the tour, Ozge:)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jasonsgordon
Jul 20, 2024
Thank you Muhammed! - I booked this tour for a stopover that we had by way of Turkish Airlines. Our plane was a little over an hour late in its departure, and I kept the company abreast. When we finally got to our hotel, our tour guide Muhammed was already waiting.
My wife and I quickly refreshed and met him back in the lobby. First things, he was extremely patient! Secondly, he adjusted the tour to ensure that we hit every point.
As we went from place to place, Muhammed's knowledge was vast, and he did an excellent job at explaining the history of every stop. He was excellent at presenting the information in a concise way without it coming off as overwhelming. He welcomed questions and answered them.
We stopped by a local spot that he suggested for a quick bite, and it was very flavorful and piqued our interest in other Turkish restaurants.
He also made sure that we got back to our hotel using public forms of transportation and not gotten swindled by cab drivers. His care and interpreter skills were key in that and we greatly appreciate his care and concern for my wife and I in another country for such a short stint.
Muhammed Salih is an excellent guide and should be requested should you select this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yamada721
Jun 2, 2024
Istanbul’s Best, the VIP Way! - Jason, our tour guide did an awesome job with our tour. First, make sure you start at 9am! Less crowd and a more personal experience. 2nd, do a private tour….. This way, you get to ask questions, your guide will take pictures at the right place, right time, and get an insider and important history that you don’t read in magazines or tour books. The time we spent during our private tour was well spent. We learned important details about each mosque, basilica, and got to enjoy shopping at the Grand Bazaar with no hassles! We even had a short stop for snacks - - tasted the most popular desserts and yogurt drink. Make sure you ask for Jason as your tour guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dino_d
Mar 13, 2024
Istanbul brought to life - Jason brought Istanbul to life! Our family had a wonderful time. Highly recommended this tour. We learned about the history of the city. Great way to start our vacation
Review provided by Viator
773ammada
Feb 5, 2024
A day well spent with a great guy! Thank you Imran! - It was a great day spent with the family on the very 1st day of our stay in Istanbul. Imran was a super friendly guy, wish to see him again
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Zeesh
Dec 30, 2023
Best guided tour in Istanbul - This is the best guided tour in town. Excellent service and very knowledgeable guide. Ask for Ozge when you make the reservations. She's amazing and very flexible and courteous as a guide. The tour went on for 8 hours and she kept us all engaged throughout. Hands down five stars!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeffreyg_s
Nov 28, 2023
Great tour, highly recommended!! - This was a great tour. Since it was private, I got to adjust it any way I wanted. Ozge, my tour guide was very accommodating and knowledgable about the city and the many mosques. We spent almost 8 hours together and I saw a lot and learned a lot. I would recommend this tour without hesitation. A+++++ Ozge!!!
Review provided by Viator
Patriciaaz2022
Oct 28, 2023
Just what we wanted! - We only had a half day in Istanbul, but we wanted to see the highlights. Our guide, Ozge, was wonderful! She took us at our pace but got us to the main sights. She even communicated our needs for a taxi back to our hotel and then to the port. Perfect! 😊
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cristina_b
Jul 24, 2024
Knowledgeable tour guide - Took this tour together with my fiancée. We visited Istanbul before but never took this side and we were really impressed with all the sites visited and the knowledgeable tour guide . The tour was private and I have to admit a bit expensive but we wanted to have the best so we booked it . First thing is there is no pick up (nobody contacted us to ask where to pick us up ), we received a message at 9:59 from the company about the pick up and the tour started at 10 so 1 star here ( we paid our own taxi ). Than the meeting point also one star as it was a name of a street so when we arrived there we were going up and down the street not knowing where the guide was waiting for us since we didn’t even receive a message about a cafe name or restaurant. We stopped a guide who was doing his tour and he went asking to find our guide sitting at a cafe so really bad organization on that part . Towards the end of the tour we could see the guide was already tired which was understandable on a hot day but he left us at the bazaar before 4 pm bidding us farewell 2 hours before the tour ended just explaining to us how to go to the nearest metro station to return to our hotel . We only spent 30 min in the bazaar exactly where the guide left us to buy a chess set but took us more than 1 hour to get an Uber at the location and the taxis are all trying to rip you off asking 3 ,4 times the price of an Uber . So the tour itself was nice as it was private and we chose the itinerary however the pickup was a failure, meeting point failure and cut short 2 hrs so overall if it wasn’t for the experience guide I would give 1 star. Overall I recommend you to look elsewhere for a tour that will offer pickup and drop off and someone not in a hurry to end the tour ( even if we said it was ok the professional thing to do would’ve been to wait for us from the bazaar and take us to the nearest train station and still it would’ve been before 6 pm the specified time ending in the brochure).
Review provided by Viator
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