• Sultanahmet District - Sultanahmet District
• Blue Mosque - Blue Mosque / Sultanahmet Camii
  Constructed in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I of the Ottoman Empire, the Blue Mosque is a stunning architectural masterpiece with remarkably delicate proportions for a structure of such grand scale.
• German Fountain - German Fountain / Alman Çeşmesi
• Sultanahmet Square - Sultanahmet Square
• Hagia Sophia Mosque - Hagia Sophia Museum / Ayasofya / Santa Sofia
  Built in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian, it played a significant role in both the Christian and Islamic worlds. Following the Ottoman conquest, the bells, altar, iconoclastic, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and many mosaics were eventually plastered over to transform the church into a mosque, then a museum, and now it has returned to being a mosque. The most essential stop on an Istanbul tour is in Old City Istanbul / Constantinople.

Please note that as it is no longer a museum, tour guides do not have skip-the-line priority there. You may need to wait in the security line. To avoid queues, it is recommended to depart at 8:30am or 9:00am.

• Topkapi Palace - Topkapi Palace Museum / Topkapı Sarayı
  More than just the Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans, it served as the seat of the Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for nearly 400 years. Topkapi Palace is a magnificent monument of Oriental architecture that symbolizes the power of the Ottoman Empire.
• Grand Bazaar - Grand Bazaar / Kapalı Çarşı
  One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, featuring over 4,000 shops with vibrant products including ceramics, leather, rugs, carpets, handicrafts, clothing, silver, and gold.
• Bosphorus Strait - Bosphorus Cruise by Public Ferry or Private Cruise (if option is chosen)
  Take the public ferry for a Bosphorus Cruise to view both Istanbul’s European and Asian sides, Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, the Rumeli Fortress, old Ottoman villas, Bosphorus bridges, and mosques. The best Istanbul tour memories will certainly include the Bosphorus.
• Dolmabahce Palace - Dolmabahce Palace / Dolmabahçe Sarayı
  Elegance and beauty with luxurious decorations, chandeliers, rugs, crystals, and ceramic fireplaces. This beautiful palace, located right on the Bosphorus, features exquisite furnishings, paintings, and porcelains made specifically for Dolmabahce.
• Taksim Square - Taksim Square / Taksim Meydanı
  A significant place defining modern Turkey, which has witnessed important historical events. It is close to Istiklal Street (Istiklal Caddesi) and Galata Tower, along with European embassies in Taksim. Cicek Passage offers excellent food joints, cafes, shops, bars, and nightclubs around Taksim.
• Hippodrome - Hippodrome Square / Atmeydanı
  The Hippodrome, where chariot races were held during the Roman Empire, features the Egyptian Column from the Byzantine Empire era, and today the German Fountain is the main highlight of the square from the Ottoman Empire.
• Istiklal Caddesi - Istiklal Street is the modern and vibrant face of Turkey, with churches, modern art galleries, embassies, pubs, cafes, and shops selling a variety of products.
• Galata Tower - The tower will be viewed FROM OUTSIDE, as unfortunately, tour guides do not have skip-the-line priority here, resulting in long wait times. Your tour guide will provide an explanation about the tower.
• Misir Carsisi (Spice Market) - Spice Market / Mısır Çarşısı
  The Egyptian Bazaar is a colorful indoor market with numerous shops offering a variety of spices, purses, flavored teas, Turkish delight, nuts, ceramics, and small souvenirs. The Spice Bazaar is located in Eminonu Square, which connects the Bosphorus and Golden Horn.
• Cicek Pasaji - Cicek Passage / Flower Passage
  Originally named Cite de Pera, it combines traditional and modern construction methods and architectural styles from the Ottoman Empire. Today, it features small shops and cafes.
• Suleymaniye Mosque - Suleymaniye Mosque / Süleymaniye Camii is the largest mosque in Istanbul and is as impressive inside as it is outside. The Suleymaniye terrace in the garden behind the mosque offers lovely views of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus.
• Balat - Fener-Balat Neighborhood backstreet walk
  Continue exploring Istanbul’s rich religious history with a visit to the Church of St. George. Since the 1600s, the church has been the location of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and is recognized as the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Religion.
  Balat District features lines of drying laundry stretching across steep, winding streets. Century-old Ottoman houses lean against each other in a mix of reds, blues, and greens. Art galleries and design shops dot the area along the water.
• Fener Rum Patrikhanesi - Orthodox Patriarch
• Historic Areas of Istanbul - Historic Areas of Istanbul
• Pierre Loti Tepesi - Pierre Loti Hill and Cable Car are popular sights to visit, offering great views for visitors. Take the cable car to reach the top and enjoy the beautiful scenery while sipping Turkish coffee or tea.
• Chora Museum - Formerly the Church of St. Saviour in Chora, it is renowned worldwide for its well-preserved mosaics and frescoes. It presents important and beautiful examples of East Roman painting in its last period. The depth in mosaics and the dynamic style in figures are of outstanding artistic significance in the Middle Ages, foreshadowing the Renaissance period.
• Halic - Golden Horn region, one of the oldest settlements in the city of Constantinople.
• Bulgarian Orthodox Church - St. Stephen Church; Located on the shore of the Golden Horn, the church is also known as the Iron Church because it is made entirely of prefabricated cast iron from the 19th century.

• Professional Licensed Guide
• Private tour
• Guide meets you at central hotels

• Transportation (from/back to hotel, between sites unless van is booked)
• Museum/Ferry/Cable Car Tickets
• Lunch
• Gratuity (suggested)

Explore the wonders of Istanbul with a private tour guide over 1, 2, or 3 days, featuring a flexible itinerary.

Day 1 - Discover the Topkapi Palace Museum, Byzantine Hippodrome/Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Grand Bazaar.

Day 2 - Enjoy a Bosphorus Cruise via Public Ferry, visit Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, view Galata Tower from the outside, and explore the Spice Market.

Day 3 - Visit Suleymaniye Mosque, Fener and Balat Districts, St. Stephen Church (Iron Church), ascend Pierre Lotti Panoramic Hill by Cable Car, and see Chora Church (or alternative sites).

Important Notes:

• “Skip the line” service is unavailable for active mosques, so expect a queue at the entrance.

• If a mosque visit is missed, the Basilica Cistern will be included instead.

• For tours starting after 11 am, please be aware that some sites may need to be skipped as they close by 7 pm. The guide will tailor the itinerary to suit your preferences.

• The suggested first-day tour is designed as a walking tour, with transportation needed only between the hotel and the Old Town if the hotel is outside old town.

• The suggested second-day tour can be easily managed by public transportation

• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays can be replaced with alternatives such as Turkish And Islamic Arts Museum or Archaeological Museum or Basilica Cistern.

• If one of the mosques or museums is not visited, Basilica Cistern will be visited as a replacement.

• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and replaced with Spice Market.

• Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays. Due to museum regulations, live guide service is not available at Dolmabahce Palace.

• For the tours that start later than 11 am, kindly note that you may have to skip one/a couple of sites as the sites are closed by 7 pm. Your guide will adjust the program according to your priorities.

• On Fridays, Blue Mosque will be visited in the afternoon.

• Grand Bazaar and Spice Market is closed during Eid. (March 20-22, May 27-30 in 2026)

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.