Activity provider: City Of Sultans
Private tour

Half Day Classic Istanbul Guided Tour

3.7 / 5

11 reviews

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    Private tour

    Half Day Classic Istanbul Guided Tour

    Activity provider: City Of Sultans
    Save up to 35%

    From US$ 65 US$ 42.25 per person

    Immerse yourself in the Istanbul classics: the Blue Mosque, Saint Sophia, and the Grand Bazaar, led by an expert guide. Learn about the history of the city, and get a feel for the culture both past and present. Cruise port pick-up and drop-off provided.

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
    Covid-19 precautions
    Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
    Reserve now & pay later
    Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
    Duration 4 hours
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Skip the ticket line
    Live tour guide
    English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese
    Pickup included
    Cruise ship port or your hotel
    Private group

    Experience

    Highlights
    • Enjoy an informative tour led by a professional guide
    • Marvel at the beautiful Blue Mosque
    • Visit the famous Saint Sophia church
    • Explore the vibrant Grand Bazaar
    • Relax with air-conditioned transportation from your cruise ship port
    Full description
    Explore the most famous delights of Istanbul on this private half-day tour led by a professional guide. Immerse yourself in both the historic and contemporary culture of Istanbul, and take in some of the most beautiful relics of the Ottoman rule. After being collected from the port of your cruise ship, enjoy private air-conditioned transportation, stopping-off first at the Blue Mosque. This is one of the largest mosques in the city, and one of the principal adornments against the Istanbul skyline. Marvel at its intricate 17th century embellishments, and learn about the famous blue tiles after which the mosque is named. Visit the magnificent Byzantine church of Saint Sophia–one of the largest architectural works of art in the world. Your guide will talk to you about its cultural significance and provide you with the facts behind the grand décor. The final stop is the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, a haven for shopping lovers and curious tourists alike. Purchase precious handmade jewelry, leather, and souvenirs, and soak up the vibrant and unique market atmosphere.
    Includes
    • Transportation by private air-conditioned vehicle
    • Services of a professional licensed tour guide and driver
    • Entrance fees
    • Petrol and parking fees
    • Local taxes
    • Personal expenses
    • Lunch and drinks
    Not suitable for
    • Pregnant women
    Covid-19 precautions

    You must book this activity online because the ticket office is closed

    Safety measures in place
    • All required protective equipment is provided
    • All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
    • You must keep social distance while in vehicles
    • The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
    Traveler requirements
    • You will receive a mandatory temperature check

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Important information

    Know before you go

    • Please request prices for groups of 6 or more people.
    • Other than the languages listed above, other language tours may be arranged. Please enquire with the tour operator.
    •  The Blue Mosque is being renovated until end of 2020 so some parts of the ceiling might be temporarily covered.
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    3.7 /5

    based on 11 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      5/5
    • Transportation
      5/5
    • Value for money
      3.1/5
    • Safety
      3.9/5

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    Star rating:

    Good tour but disappointed not to see the Grand bazaar .

    The tour guide was very informative and gave an excellent narrative. He was unbiased and easy to get along with. The purpose of the tour was so that my elderly Mum could see the sights of Istanbul . This was also a trip down memory lane for myself as 30 years ago, I visited the city on my honeymoon. My husband and I always promised ourselves that we would return to this fascinating city when we were older. Sadly my husband passed away and never got to make the return trip. On my previous trip, we were too late to see the Grand Bazaar. This time,we hoped to see it and share the experience with my Mum and son. Sadly this was not meant to be as we were not taken to the bazaar as planned but to a private shop where staff attempted to sell us Turkish carpets!

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    July 8, 2014

    E
    Eryl – United Kingdom Verified booking

    Helpful?

    It has been a tour that has not contributed anything. Not recommended at all.

    During the tour the guide barely explained anything about the different monuments. The routine was to get to a place, leaving us 5 minutes to take pictures and we went to the next one. I hired the tour because I wanted to hear about the history of the different sites I visited and it wasn't like that. In addition, in the middle of the tour they left us in a clothing store (whose prices were all in euros instead of Turkish liras, which indicates that it was only for tourists) and there the clerks tried to sell us clothes and made us a model pass and everything (I have a video that proves it). It is a shame, I will not hire a tour of these characteristics.

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    November 12, 2018

    J
    Javier – Spain Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Too much pressure from our guide at the grand bazaar

    Ok, but we could have seen more, too much time at the grand bazaar I would have liked to see a little more of the city, not just mosques. Our guide never looked back to see if we were following, he was bound to lose sight of him

    June 7, 2014

    f
    francine – Canada Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Product ID: 12840