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Istanbul Highlights: Private Full Day Tour
4.9
20 Ratings
Istanbul
Experience the best of Istanbul on a private full-day tour. Visit iconic landmarks like the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, customize your itinerary, and enjoy personalized attention from a professional tour guide.
Experience the best of Istanbul on a private full-day tour. Visit iconic landmarks like the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, customize your itinerary, and enjoy personalized attention from a professional tour guide.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Galataport Istanbul - The tour guide will meet guests at Galata Port, holding a sign with their name. After a warm welcome, the journey to the old city begins.
- Hippodrome - The first stop is Hippodrome Square, historically known for chariot races and Byzantine riots during the Roman and Byzantine periods.
- Blue Mosque - The Blue Mosque,…
- Galataport Istanbul - The tour guide will meet guests at Galata Port, holding a sign with their name. After a warm welcome, the journey to the old city begins.
- Hippodrome - The first stop is Hippodrome Square, historically known for chariot races and Byzantine riots during the Roman and Byzantine periods.
- Blue Mosque - The Blue Mosque, one of Istanbul’s largest mosques from the 17th century, is a key feature of the city’s skyline. It is renowned for its blue tiles and six minarets.
- Topkapi Palace - Topkapi Palace served as the residence of Ottoman sultans and was the state’s administrative and educational hub. Built between 1460 and 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople, the visit includes the weapons section.
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - Following the Blue Mosque, the tour proceeds to Hagia Sophia, the magnificent Byzantine church, celebrated as one of the world’s finest and largest architectural masterpieces.
Update for St. Sophia interior visit:
Live guiding is prohibited in St. Sophia after January 15, 2024. Guests must use smartphones and headphones during their visit. Headphones are available for purchase at the entrance for 3.5 USD. The system functions like an audio guide. Guests without smartphones can follow the signs and read the information provided.
- Grand Bazaar - The tour includes a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest and oldest covered markets, featuring over 58 covered streets and more than 1,200 shops, attracting 250,000 to 400,000 visitors daily. Opened in 1461, it is famous for its jewelry, pottery, spices, and carpets. After free time in the Grand Bazaar, guests will return to their hotel or port, marking the end of the services.
- Galataport Istanbul - The tour concludes with a drive back to Galataport.
What's Included
- Transportation with brand new air-conditioned minivan/minibus
- GUARANTEED On Time Return to PORT
- Professional Licenced English speaking tour guide
- Local taxes
- Private tour for your family and Friends with small group option
- Transportation with brand new air-conditioned minivan/minibus
- GUARANTEED On Time Return to PORT
- Professional Licenced English speaking tour guide
- Local taxes
- Private tour for your family and Friends with small group option
What's Not Included
- Lunch and Drinks
- Entrance Fees (Our guide will have pre-paid tickets that you can pay to our guide during the tour )
- Gratuities
- Lunch and Drinks
- Entrance Fees (Our guide will have pre-paid tickets that you can pay to our guide during the tour )
- Gratuities
Additional Information
PRIVATE Full Day Tour features five key attractions in Istanbul: the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome Square, and the Grand Bazaar.
• Enjoy a private tour tailored for your family and friends
• Choose your preferred departure time
• Our tour guide will greet you at the Port/Hotel with a sign displaying your name
• A professional…
PRIVATE Full Day Tour features five key attractions in Istanbul: the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome Square, and the Grand Bazaar.
• Enjoy a private tour tailored for your family and friends
• Choose your preferred departure time
• Our tour guide will greet you at the Port/Hotel with a sign displaying your name
• A professional tour guide will accompany you from arrival to departure
• Experience the flexibility to spend as much time as you wish at each site and customize your itinerary
• No need to wait for other group members
• Feel free to pause for photos during your tour
• Option to stop for lunch at a local restaurant to savor famous Turkish Kebabs.
- At time of booking, Hotels guests must provide hotel name
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- In the event of any museum closures, an alternative similar museum will be visited. On Tuesdays : Topkapi Palace replaced by Underground Cistern, On Sundays: Grand Bazaar will be replaced by Spice Market. Grand Bazaar and Spice Market are closed during Religious Holidays will be replaced by Arasta Bazaar. On Fridays: Blue Mosque is open from 14.30 to 16.30 Blue Mosque is open from 14.30 to 16.30 on Fridays
- Blue Mosque is open from 14.30 to 16.30 on Fridays
- Visit to holy places of worship such as churches, monasteries, mosques, synagogues bare shoulders are not permitted, nor shoes in mosques.
Location
Galataport Istanbul
KIlIc Ali Pasa Mahallesi Meclis-i Mebusan Caddesi, No: 8 Karaköy Beyoğlu
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
4.9
(20 Ratings)
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Tour33914192967
Sep 25, 2025
Istanbul great and safe tour - Necmi our Tour guide communicated well in English language. Very knowledgeable with the history of Istanbul , Mosques and museums, market/ grand bazaar. He was very friendly and nice. Osman the driver was very nice too tries to help us with our needs. I will recommend this tour for cruiser . He picked us up as we exit the port and brought us back.
He tried to assist us find great Turkish restaurant and Turkish delights. He even gave as a tip regarding shopping! We felt so safe in the very busy Istanbul!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sightsee63933457601
Sep 23, 2025
Personalized Istanbul overview - Our guide Emel was very knowledgeable and patient. She taught us the history of all the places we visited and her restaurant recommendation was wonderful. A day well spent. Truly personalized to match our small group of 4. Although admission fees weren’t included it was no hassle getting in. Overall it was a great experience and highly recommend doing it. Our driver also navigated the street with great ease. Although it was busy with such a small group we never felt rushed and the pacing was perfect.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Monicamexia
Sep 23, 2025
Beautiful day! - Amazing experience with Mrs Buse Canyurt! Such a nice person, with a lot of knowledge and care for her guests. Can’t recommend more you take this tour. Thank you so much for the lovely day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Madeleine_f
May 12, 2025
Very good tour - We visited the blue mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi palace and the Grand Bazaar all in one long afternoon which, unfortunately, was all the time we had. Our guide had entrance tickets where needed which saved a little waiting time. Lines were long but manageable (mid May). We did 19,000+ steps in the afternoon so people with limited mobility could find it hard (not many stairs but some long ramps). Our guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating.
Review provided by Viator
Kiritkumarm_p
Mar 9, 2025
Excellent tour, informative - Tour guide Leyla was an exceptionl kind,competent guide, so helpful, very knoledgeable, took care of us personally.
Review provided by Viator
Podsk
Oct 27, 2023
Great tour of Istanbul - Our guide Ulku was fabulous. We traveled throughout the city with her and she brought the city to life.
It was such a good experience we booked her for the following day to continue our experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bruce_b
Oct 15, 2023
Magical - Guide was amazing. Istanbul is a very busy place. We were navigated through it as best as possible. A mix of history and modern
Review provided by Viator
David_l
Jul 18, 2023
Beyond all expectations. - Semic is by far the best tour guide we've ever come across in our travels around the world.
A true professional in every sense of the word, his in-depth knowledge in the history and cultural heritage of his amazing city, unique insights and perspectives, and intelligent, thoughtful, engaging conversation exceeded all our expectations.
Review provided by Viator
Chatquipeche
Dec 5, 2023
A good private tour for those who have not experience of Istanbul - Actually, it was a private three-day tour of Istanbul. Our guide met us with minivan and driver at the Galataport Cruise Terminal, but on the upper level. We were not advised to go up to the street level and we waited over thirty minutes at the lower, disembarkation level. Only after a couple of phone calls, did we get straightened out.
Leyla was very knowledgeable and thorough, very attentive to our circumstances. My only comment would be that either Curio or Leyla made too many assumptions about American tourists. At times, I felt programed and on the last day, after seeing some attractive shops in a non-tourist area of Istanbul, I asked if perhaps we would not have found just as good and maybe less expensive gifts items here, rather than in the Grand Bazaar. She said, yes, but everyone needs to visit the Grand Bazaar. Maybe so, but she could have at least asked what we were looking for.
We had requested a visit to a hammam and she recommended a lovey 300 year old Turkish bath, where we had a fabulous experience. The next day, I told her how much we enjoyed it. She said she thought we would, as it's preferred by tourists, who might not withstand a genuine Turkish bath experience, whatever that means. I can't complain, it was great, but again, we were never offered any options. It was just assumed that we wanted a more gentle (and I guess more expensive) experience. Curio might reconsider that aspect of their service. Not all "tourists" are created equal.
Otherwise, we had a wonderful "first visit" to Istanbul, thanks to Leyle. She was patient and always prompt and knowledgeable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pamela_h
Nov 1, 2023
Fabulous and VERY informative tour including the history of Istanbul to present day. Buket was a wonderful & friendly! - Our favorite was the Hagla Sophia and the history of it as well as the overwhelming excitement and shopping of the Grand Barzzar.
Review provided by Viator
