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  • Marmara Region
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Multi-day trip

Istanbul: 1 or 2-Day Private Guided Tour with Hotel Transfer

4.8 / 5

422 reviews

Activity provider:Booking Guide Turkey
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Multi-day trip

Istanbul: 1 or 2-Day Private Guided Tour with Hotel Transfer

Activity provider:Booking Guide Turkey

4.8

422 reviews

From US$ 106.06 per person

Certified
Certified by GetYourGuide

Discover the magic of Istanbul on a private 1 or 2-day walking tour. Enjoy a river cruise and guided tour of the city highlights, including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Dolmabahce Palace, and Istiklal Street.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 7 hours - 2 days
Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide
English, Spanish, German, Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Arabic
Pickup included
Pickup is available from your hotel lobby in Istanbul.
Wheelchair accessible
Private group

Experience

Highlights
  • Visit the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
  • Learn about Ottoman sultans at Topkapi Palace
  • Try out your bargaining skills at the Grand Bazaar
  • Tour the inside of Dolmabahce Palace, home to the last Ottoman sultans
  • Admire the Bosphorus Bridge, which connects Europe and Asia
Full description

Explore Istanbul on a guided tour. Choose from a 1-day tour to top attractions like the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace, or a 2-day tour with a cruise on the Bosphorus straight and a visit to the Dolmabahce Palace and Istiklal Street. Pick from a walking tour or a driving tour. 

Day 1 – Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar

Explore the highlights of Istanbul on this private full-day walking tour that covers the major attractions, from the Hagia Sophia Museum to the iconic Blue Mosque, to the bustling maze of the Grand Bazaar, to the obelisk of the Hippodrome of Constantinople. The excursion starts with a pick-up from your Istanbul hotel and a walk through the lively streets of Turkey’s largest city to visit the dramatic former basilica of the Hagia Sophia, a great architectural beauty and an important monument during the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. For many centuries, this was the largest church in the world, and it still holds the position for the 4th largest dome. Dedicated to the Hagia Sophia or 'divine wisdom', it is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. Move on to the Blue Mosque, officially known as the Sultanahmet Mosque. The mosque’s striking blue tiles give it its more common name and make it one of Istanbul’s most iconic attractions. Located close to Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque was considered the Supreme Imperial Mosque in Istanbul.

Continue to Topkapi Palace, a relic of the glory days of the great Ottoman Empire. The former palace boasted a population of about 4,000 people at its peak and was home to 25 sultans over a period of 400 years. 

Located on a promontory overlooking the Golden Horn, it sits in tranquil gardens that provide shade from the blazing heat of the summer. Pop into the museum to see the gorgeous Iznik tiles and the ornate stateroom of the harem, among other attractions. Visit the Hippodrome, the former circus built in 203 AD by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus. See the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and the Constantine Column, the 3 remaining monuments from the original building.

Pause to look at the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, made from 8 marble columns. Complete your day with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. With hundreds of small handicraft shops selling everything from handmade carpets to Turkish coffee, the atmosphere is electric, and it's a great place to try out your bargaining skills.

Day 2 – Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus cruise, Dolmabahce Palace, Istiklal Street, Taksim

The spice bazaar is located in Fatih. It's known as the Egyptian Market because, during the Ottoman period, Egyptian exports were sold there. 

The Bosphorus is a narrow, navigable strait between Europe and Asia that connects the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. Rumeli and Anadolu Fortresses are located at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus and there are magnificent Ottoman palaces and mosques along the Bosphorus. Keep an eye out for them. Built in the 19th century, Dolmabahce Palace was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire and housed some of the last Ottoman Sultans.

The palace site was created by filling in the small bay on the Bosphorus. This gave rise to its name, in Turkish, Dolma means 'filled' or 'stuffed,' and bahce means 'garden'. Istiklal Street is brimming with life. There, you'll find a plethora of shops, restaurants, and bars. From there, it is a 2-kilometer walk down to the Tunel Galata Tower area.

Includes
  • Guide
  • Pickup and drop-off (selected option)
  • Transportation
  • All entrance fees
  • Lunches
  • Drinks
Not suitable for
  • People with mobility impairments

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Important information

Not allowed

  • Pets
  • Tripods

Know before you go

  • Please note the following closing times:
  • Grand Bazaar - Sundays
  • Hagia Sophia - Mondays
  • Topkapi Palace - Tuesdays
  • Dolmabace Palace - Mondays and Thursdays
  •  If the museum is closed on your chosen day, the local supplier will move the itinerary to the next available day. If not, they will replace the tour with a trip to the underground cistern or Galata tower.
  •  Your local guide will take you around by tram, train, ferry, taxi, and bus.
  •  A 1-way transportation ticket costs 3 TL, the equivalent of roughly 1 EUR.
  •  This tour always includes hotel or harbour pick-up and drop off, regardless of which option is selected.
  •  The Blue Mosque is being renovated until end of 2020 so some parts of the ceiling might be temporarily covered.

From US$ 106.06 per person

Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
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Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 422 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.9/5
  • Transportation
    4.7/5
  • Service
    4.7/5
  • Organization
    4.7/5

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Star rating:

We were taken by Linda for a 2 day tour of Istanbul. Our guide was friendly, well-prepared and with truly impeccable Italian; Linda was also available towards our needs, as well as a precious travel companion to help us better understand, even in a short time, some aspects of Turkish culture. Strongly recommended

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February 20, 2023

G
GetYourGuide traveler Verified booking

Helpful?

Our guide Ege was courteous, prepared, punctual, always exhaustive, available ...... nothing short of "perfect". He made us appreciate the beautiful Istanbul by revealing many of its secrets. It was my third time but I had never appreciated the city so thoroughly. My traveling companions also greatly appreciated her and her impeccable way of working. Thank you so much Ege, we would like to meet you again if we come back to Türkiye. Sergio with Delia, Maria Rita, Stefania and Paolo.

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November 6, 2022

G
GetYourGuide traveler – ItalyVerified booking

Helpful?

Well organized 2-day tour, very convenient chauffeured service. The guide prepared and able to handle the unexpected, given that the blue mosque was under restoration, made us visit a lesser-known mosque but with the same decorations. Visiting the city with a dedicated guide is really very beautiful and engaging. Advised.

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August 29, 2022

G
GetYourGuide traveler – ItalyVerified booking

Helpful?

Product ID: 20889

  • Turkey
  • Marmara Region
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  • Dolmabahce Palace

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