We enjoyed. The trip was well planned, activities of value and very interesting. From when we left Istanbul our guide, Serhat, WAS FANTASTIC AND I WOULD RECOMMEND HIM TO ANYONE. He is a walking treasure of knowledge on Turkey and we loved him. Some positive criticism, 1the fact that it was an English and Spanish group with 2 tour guides in one bus that had to compete for the microphone, did not work well and was a big irritation. 2 The first two days in Istanbul had too much open time if you did not take the extras, which was very expensive. I would have preferred the trip to start with travel on the second day, and rather have the free time in Istanbul at the end of the trip. On the first two days, because we did not take the extras, we were not dropped off at the hotel after our excursion and had to find our own way back to the hotel. 3the first two days in Istanbul we were part of a Spanish group. There was an English tour guide that gave us very little information and we could not understand what the Spanish tour guide was explaining to her group. 4 on the second last day of the tour we had to leave our group and join a new group, as the rest of our group had a different itinerary. The last two days were unpleasant as we knew nobody in the new group, most of the people were Spanish and we did not feel part of the group. We missed Serhat, our previous tour guide, and his knowledgeable discussions very much in the last part of our tour.
Our guide takes you from your hotel/seaport with private vehicle to visit most visited places of istanbul.
Discover the extraordinary sights of Istanbul according to your own itinerary with a private guide for 1 to 5 days.
Straddling 2 continents on the Bosphorus Straits, Istanbul was the capital of the Roman Empire and later Ottoman Empire. Today it’s the largest city in Turkey, and one of the most populous cities in the world with about 15 million inhabitants.
Choose the attractions you want to see according to your own schedule, and avoid getting lost in the crowd. Guides can be booked for 1, 2 ,3,4 or 5 days,
Must-see monuments include the iconic Blue Mosque, former mosque of the Hagia Sophia, and stunning subterranean Basilica Cistern. Soak up the exciting atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar, and the enticing aromas of the Spice Market. Learn the history of Istanbul at Ottoman palaces, such as Dolmabahce Palace, and the former residence of the sultans at Topkapi Palace.
Go to the imperial Suleymaniye Mosque, or admire the 17th-century Yeni Cami (New Mosque). See the Medieval Galata Tower in the Karaköy quarter, or the Byzantine frescoes of the Chora Museum. Explore some of Istanbul’s fabled neighborhoods, such as Taksim, and wander down busy Istiklal Street. Enjoy picturesque views from Pierre Lottie Hill. Discover the remains of the old city walls, or go to the Archaeology Museum to see ancient Islamic art and Roman artifacts.
These are just a few of the things you can do on your tour. A guide will be provided in the language of your choice, with help pre-booking skip-the-line tickets to the most popular attractions on request for added convenience.
At the end of the tour we drop you back to your hotel/seaport.
This trip is perfect if you want to really smash out Europe, safely experience Egypt and if you haven’t travelled much. We got to see so many amazing places and now I have a great idea of where I would go back to. Yes it is very fast paced and you wont do everything you want to but you do 95% of the main attractions of each place and you have people to share the experiences with. You will 100% make friends on these trips if you solo traveler :)
We hired our guide for a full day of private touring the next day. The boat trip itself was awesome! His knowledge of Turkey's Ottoman history and storytelling was incredible! He added interesting details, dates, and anecdotal information and answered my husband's thousands of questions! As a private tour guide, he was amazing as well- our tour was highly personal, well planned, and comprised a full day including lunch and tea. He expertly navigated all the places we wanted to see and pointed out details, large and small! We highly recommend this travel operator!
Top highlights of Istanbul in 4 hours is a half-day tour that takes you to the main tourist attractions in Istanbul. This tour includes visit to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, The Hippodrome, and the worlds-famous Grand Bazaar. Accompanied by a professional guide, you can experience the historical center of Istanbul, learn about the city and explore Sultanahmet neighborhood. Get skip-the-queue access to famous tourist destinations like Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, and more. We also offer pick up from centrally located hotels.
This half-day tour is a great choice for those looking to explore Istanbul in a limited time.
Short on time but want to see the highlights of Istanbul? First-time visitor to this fantastic city? This unique full-day tour takes you to the best must-see attractions for any visitor to Istanbul.
Visit Topkapi Palace, the former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled, which today is a spectacular museum with one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and the famous treasury of the Royal Family. In addition, explore the famed Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome, and the world-famous Grand Bazaar! Not only is it historically very significant, but the bazaar will tempt even the strictest nonshoppers with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather, and souvenirs.
Book today and see the top sites of Istanbul in just one day.
The heart of Istanbul remains its fascinating Old City, home to some of the most historic sites of this vibrant megapolis. Dramatically located on a peninsula pointing across the Bosphorus Strait to Asia, Sultanahmet was formerly the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. In this 8-hour tour of Istanbul, you will get to admire the former church and mosque of the Hagia Sophia, see the site of Byzantine sports at the Roman Hippodrome, explore the alleys of the Grand Bazaar, and much more. You will be accompanied by our knowledgeable and passionate tour guides who have dedicated their lives to both learn and share history.
This was an excellent trip. I felt safe in all the areas where we stayed. The hotels were consistently well located so it was easy to go out and explore on your own. The guide gave us plenty of time at the sites we visited and was flexible and supportive in accommodating people’s needs and preferences. The guide was very knowledgeable and was able to explain Turkish history and culture. The guide was much more than a tour manager. An added bonus was the private bus. There was no time wasted waiting for public transport and it just made travelling long distances so much easier and more comfortable.