Istanbul Highlights: Small-Group Tour with a Local Expert

5.0

based on 494 reviews

| Istanbul, Turkey

Reviews Summary

Customers consistently describe the tour as amazing, excellent, and incredible. They highlight the comprehensive coverage of major sites and the enjoyable, informative nature of the experience. Many recommend the tour highly.

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Features

Free Cancellation

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

Instant ticket delivery

Mobile Ticket

Pickup available

Duration

8 hours

Wheelchair accessible

Audio guide

Live guide

Professional Guidance in English
Public transportation tickets if required
Public transportation tickets if required

Pick up and drop off from the hotels are not included.
Lunch
Gratuities
Museum tickets will be an additional cost.
Hagia Sophia Mosque entrance fee is 35 USD per person and should be in cash
Basilica Cistern entrance fee is 40 USD per person and should be in cash
Bosphorus Strait Boat trip (public boat) is 10 USD per person and should be in cash
ONLY on Tuesdays we visit Dolmabahce Palace instead of Topkapı Palace and entrance fee is extra which is 50 USD per person and should be in cash
If you don't choose the tour option that includes tickets, then tickets will be an additional cost.
The entrance fee for Hagia Sophia is 30 USD pp) cash please
**You can skip any of the place; but if you book the group tour you have to wait us until we visit .

Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
"This is an all-day walking tour, so comfortable shoes are a must to fully enjoy your experience."
**You can skip any of the places from the list; but if you book the group tour you have to wait us until we visit .***
"Choosing an early tour time is a great way to minimize your wait in line at the mosques, allowing for a more enjoyable experience. We highly recommend this option."
*** Please note that there isn't any priority entrance with the guides at the mosques.***
"Getting to Your Meeting Point (from Galataport Cruise Terminal): The easiest way to reach our meeting point is by tram (T1 line), a journey that takes approximately 30 minutes. Walk to Tophane Tram Stop: Upon exiting Galataport, turn left and walk for about 10 minutes until you see the Tophane tram stop. Take the Tram: Board the T1 tram in the "Bağcılar" direction. Exit at Sultanahmet: Get off at the Sultanahmet tram stop. Walk to German Fountain: From the Sultanahmet stop, the German Fountain (Alman Çeşmesi) is just a 1-minute walk away. Our guide will be waiting there. Tram Fare Payment: You can conveniently pay for your tram fare using your contactless Visa or Mastercard credit card (American Express is not accepted). There's no need to purchase a separate travel card."
"Museum Tickets: If you book the without tickets option, please do not buy tickets online. We will purchase them together at the guide kiosks. Warning: Tourist Passes, Mega Passes, E-Passes, and similar programs are not valid for this tour and should not be purchased."
During the winter times, we may not able to do the Bosphorus boat the trip because of the bad weather conditions.
"This is a full-day tour with a comprehensive itinerary. To ensure we cover all planned locations, our visit to Topkapı Palace Museum will focus on its main, most significant collections. If you desire a more in-depth exploration of Topkapı Palace, we recommend booking a dedicated tour specifically for the palace."
"Please note that museum entrance fees are subject to change. I'll keep you updated closer to your tour date if there are any adjustments."
"Please note that museum entrance fees are subject to change. I'll keep you updated closer to your tour date if there are any adjustments."

Your Authentic Istanbul Adventure: Guided by a Local Expert!

Ready to truly experience Istanbul? This immersive tour, led by a licensed professional, offers a unique window into the city's heart. You'll leave with a profound connection, unlike any other visit.

Our day begins in Sultanahmet, where we'll be captivated by...

Duration from 8 Hours to 9 Hours
Group Tour
Max 15 people in the group

1
Blue Mosque
The Sultan Ahmet Camii, the Blue Mosque, is a breathtaking, majestic Ottoman mosque. Its cascading domes and six slender minarets pierce Istanbul's skyline. Completed in 1616 under Sultan Ahmet I, it rivaled Hagia Sophia's splendor.

Inside, serene beauty awaits. Over 20,000 blue Iznik ceramic tiles adorn walls. These intricate floral...
- Duration 30 Minutes•
- No Admission Ticket Required
2
Hippodrome
The Hippodrome of Constantinople, nestled in Istanbul's vibrant Sultanahmet district, was ancient Byzantium and Constantinople's bustling public arena, primarily famed for its exhilarating chariot races. Its name, fittingly, combines the Greek words hippos (horse) and dromos (way).

Far more than just a race track, this vast space was the epicenter...
- Duration 30 Minutes•
- No Admission Ticket Required

The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, Istanbul

The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque / Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, a marvel of innovative architecture and rich history, was Istanbul's largest Eastern Roman Church. Constructed three times in the same location, it stands as the world's oldest and fastest-completed cathedral. Its breathtaking domes, seemingly suspended in air, grand monolithic marble...

Duration 40 Minutes•
Admission Ticket Not Included

Basilica Cistern

Step into a breathtaking subterranean world commissioned by Emperor Justinian in 532. The Basilica Cistern, İstanbul's largest surviving Byzantine marvel, mesmerizes with its sheer scale and symmetry. Its vast, cavernous depths are supported by 336 ancient columns, many salvaged from ruined temples with exquisitely carved capitals. This architectural wonder offers...

Duration 45 Minutes•
Admission Ticket Not Included

TopkapI Palace

Explore Topkapı Palace, the grand residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The palace and its legendary Harem hold more colorful stories than most world museums combined—tales of powerful sultans, clever courtiers, and beautiful concubines. A visit to its opulent pavilions and...

Duration 2 Hours•
Admission Ticket Not Included

Grand Bazaar

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı in Turkish) is one of the world's greatest shopping destinations and, spanning 30,700 square meters, the largest covered market in the entire world.

Duration 1 Hour•
No Admission Ticket Required

Bosphorus Strait

We will do a bosphorus cruise on a public boat for 90 minutes.
Bosphorus is worth to visit not only for business but also for recreation and eye appeal. Alongside the Strait on both continents, there are exceptionally attractive views of Ottoman architecture created by manor houses and palaces. Most...

Duration 1 Hour and 30 Minutes•
Admission Ticket Not Included

Dolmabahce Palace

***ONLY ON TUESDAYS WE DO VISIT ***Dolmabahce Palace built in 19 th century is one of the most glamorous palaces in the world. It was the administrative center of the late Ottoman Empire with the last of Ottoman Sultans was residing there.

No Admission Ticket Required•
Drive-By Only

Buyuk Mecidiye Camii

Located just before the Bosphorus Bridge, the Ortaköy Camii, Turkey (Ortaköy Mosque Turkey) has to have one of the most picturesque settings of all of the Istanbul mosques. Indeed, Ortaköy Mosque photos, with the bridge in the background are often used to demonstrate that particular Istanbul juxtaposition of traditional and...

No Admission Ticket Required•
Drive-By Only

Rumeli Fortress

Rumeli Castle (Rumeli Hisarı) is an Ottoman fortress dating to 1452. It was built by Ottoman sultan Mehmed II (Mehmed the Conqueror) in preparation for the conquest of Constantinople. The castle is situated on the shore of the Bosphorus Strait at its narrowest point with approximately 660 meters. It is...

No Admission Ticket Required•
Drive-By Only

Kucuksu Pavilion

This attractive part of the İstanbul strait on the Asian shore is mentioned by Byzantine historians, and in Ottoman times became one of the imperial parks known as Kandil Bahçesi (Lantern Garden). Sultan Murad IV (1623-1640) was particularly fond of Küçüksu and gave it the name Gümüş Selvi (Silver Cypress),...

No Admission Ticket Required•
Drive-By Only

Beylerbeyi Palace

Described by some as a miniature Dolmabahce Palace but without the crowds, the Beylerbeyi Sarayı (Beylerbeyi Palace) was commissioned by Sultan Abdülaziz to act as an imperial summer residence. With 24 rooms, 6 halls, and a hamam, it would have been quite the summer home and was also used to...

No Admission Ticket Required•
Drive-By Only

Galata Tower

Also known as the Galata Kulesi Museum, an iconic symbol situated in the Galata quarter of İstanbul, Türkiye.
Considered among the oldest towers in the world and one of the symbols of İstanbul, Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi) was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List in 2013. Galata Tower,...

No Admission Ticket Required•
Drive-By Only

Anadolu Hisari Fort

Constructed under the edict of the ottoman emperor, yildirim bayezid, in beykoz district today to facilitate to istanbul’s conquer, the anatolian fortress is one of the pieces that greatly contributes to the charming silhouette of istanbul.