Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour
5
Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour
By Guided Istanbul Tours
What is Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best?
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About
The bridge between east and west, Istanbul is a vibrant city with magnificent architecture and a rich history as the former capital of the Ottoman empire. Cover top sites like the Blue Mosque and the Spice Market on this action-packed guided trip, which offers 1-, 2-, or 3-day itineraries to best suit your schedule. Because it’s a private tour, you have plenty of time for questions along the way.
Here you can see the flexible daily tour itineraries below (7 hours per day):
Day 1 - Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome Square, German Fountain, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar.
Day 2 - Bosphorus Cruise by Public Ferry, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, Galata Tower (from outside), Spice Market.
Day 3 - Suleymaniye Mosque, Fener and Balat Districts, St. Stephen Church (Iron Church), Pierre Lotti Panoramic Hill by Cable Car, Rahmi Koc Museum (or alternative sites).
from per group (up to 8)
R 2 901,07
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99
Duration: 7–21 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: German, English, French, Spanish
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Highlights
- A comprehensive tour of Istanbul, with 1-, 2-, and 3-day options
- Marvel at Ottoman sites like Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque
- Shop like a local at the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar
- Private tour means plenty of personal attention
Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best
2023
- Private tour
- Professional local guide
- Guide meets you at central hotels
What's not included- Transportation (from/back to hotel, between sites (unless option selected)
- Museum Tickets
- Lunch
- Gratitude (suggested)
- Entry/Admission - Topkapi Palace
- Entry/Admission - Bosphorus Strait
- Entry/Admission - Dolmabahce Palace
- Entry/Admission - Galata Tower
- Entry/Admission - Pierre Loti Tepesi
- Entry/Admission - Rahmi M. Koc Museum
- Entry/Admission - Haliç
- Day one begins with a visit to the Hagia Sophia, a 6th-century Byzantine cathedral adorned in spectacular gold mosaics. From there, cover attractions like the ancient Basilica Cistern in the heritage district of Sultanahmet, and learn how the Blue Mosque got its nickname. You also have time to explore the treasures of Topkapi Palace, once home to the Ottoman sultans and their famous harems. If you opt for a 2-day tour, begin with a visit to the bustling Spice Market, where you can haggle for saffron alongside shoppers. Cruise down the famous Bosphorus, where you might catch sight of river dolphins, explore the vibrant pedestrian street of Istiklal, and make a stop at Galata Tower, a medieval stone monument with incredible panoramas over the city. The third day covers the Suleymaniye Mosque, the most beautiful of the Ottoman mosques, as well as the Byzantine frescoes in Chora Church. You also enjoy sweeping city views on a cable car ride on Pierre Loti Hill.
- Departure details
- Traveller pickup is offered.
- *FOR LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS AND LATE DEPARTURES, as museums and some sites will be closed around 17:30 pm, alternative tour sites will be advised by the tour guide during the tour. *Tour guide meets you at central Istanbul hotels or Galata Port. If the hotel is not centrally located, the meeting point will be in front of the German Fountain. If van service is not chosen your guide will pick you up at centrally located hotels on foot. If private van service is booked, please note that there will be a surcharge if your hotel is located outside of the city center or on the Asian Side.
- Ports:
- Istanbul Cruise Port
- Galataport Istanbul, Kılıçali Paşa Mah. Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. No: 8 İç Kapı No: 102, Kılıçali Paşa, 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
- Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 11522P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- Skip the line service is not available for active mosques - there is a queue for the entrance.
- If one of the mosques is not visited, Basilica Cistern will be visited as a replacement.
- On Fridays, Hagia Sophia or Blue Mosque will be visited from outside because of the worship.
- Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays. Due to museum regulations, live guide service is not available at Dolmabahce Palace.
- As Hagia Sophia is not a museum anymore, tour guides don't have skip-the-line priority there. You may need to wait in the security line, in order to avoid queues we suggest departing at 8:30am or 9:00am.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays can be replaced with Spice Market.
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays can be replaced with alternatives.
- For the tours that start later than 11 am, kindly note that you may have to skip one/a couple of sites as the sites are closed by 7 pm. Your guide will adjust the program according to your priorities.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- Which attractions will I visit with Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour?
- During this experience, places you will visit include:Discover and book Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour on Tripadvisor
- How much is Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour?
- Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour price starts from R 2 810,73. Discover and book Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour on Tripadvisor
- What is the Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour cancellation policy?
- Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour?
- Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour is hosted by Guided Istanbul Tours. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Guided Istanbul Tours on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour on Tripadvisor
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 11522P1
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Similar experiences
Itinerary
- You'll get picked upSee departure details
- 1Sultanahmet DistrictStop: 15 minutesSee details
- 2HippodromeStop: 15 minutesSee details
- 3German FountainStop: 15 minutesSee details
- 4Sultanahmet SquareStop: 15 minutesSee details
- 5Hagia Sophia MosqueStop: 60 minutesSee details
- 6Topkapi PalaceStop: 2 hours - Admission excludedSee detailsPass byBasilica Cistern
- 7Grand BazaarStop: 60 minutesSee details
- 8Bosphorus StraitStop: 2 hours - Admission excludedSee details
- 9Dolmabahce PalaceStop: 60 minutes - Admission excludedSee details
- 10Taksim SquareStop: 60 minutesSee details
See 13 more stops
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About the operator
Guided Istanbul Tours
4,167
Istanbul, Türkiye
Joined in April 2013
#48 of 1 548 Tours & Activities in Istanbul
- graceloraineo00Pretty MerveWe had a wonderful 2 days tour in Istanbul. Our pretty tour guide, Merve was very knowledgeable. She shares so many interesting information and you can really tell how much she likes her work. She was kind and very friendly the moment we met her and was so honest that we felt so safe with her around. We're very happy that she was our tour guide. I would Definitely recommend her.
- Tour5346357542900Unforgettable vacation in TurkeyIt was a long time plan for us to visit Turkey. From the point we contacted GIT team for itinerary planning, the whole process was effortless and smooth. They provided guidance in selecting the locations to visit during the trip. The tour guides Didem (Istanbul), Alican (Cappadocia) and Omar (Antalya) had in-depth knowledge about the locations, always accommodated our needs/timeline and were so helpful in directing us in finding mouth watering food. GIT provided excellent private vehicles for our transfer and drivers were so polite. Overall we had a wonderful time, thanks to GIT team for making this possible.
- azhara79900Amazing tourIt was an amazing experience with the tour. The private cars they provided were clean and new. We even got a customized vehicle for our travel in Cappadoccia. Drivers were polite and smooth on drive. The guides they provide are knowledgeable and fluent in English. Guides worked with us on planning the tour on daily basis. Gave the best recommendations on food. We followed all the suggestions guides recommended, which never failed. Will surely recommend this tour to anyone and everyone. The price was comparable too.
- 279debin00Unforgettable Istanbul ExperienceSo much to see & learn! Our guide, Kerim Kuvetli was extremely knowledgeable, provided so much info and somehow kept it from being overwhelming. And he was responsive to specific things that we wanted to see! It was a fantastic experience 💕
- Fearless55708200Extraordinary experience with our guide Kerim Kuretli in IstanbulKerim Kuretli provided an unparalleled experience of a lifetime for 6 friends one male and 5 females ranging in age from 69 to 80 all who were reasonably functional. Kerim immediately set a tone for imparting the most knowledge, sights, gastronomical and shopping experiences that could be packed into 2and one half days. This was not always an easy task with our highly vociferous group, however he managed it with grace. Kerim managed to keep us all safe in the busy markets, sidewalks and streets and arrange excellent transportation from one sight to another with an excellent driver. I would love to turn around and go right back to Istanbul if I had Karim at my side. Karim is way of the charts excellent.
- WorldTravelerfromMN00Amazing tour company for all your needs.Amazing experience- 1. Simple booking process 2. Very clear understanding of my needs as well good recommendations 3. Absolutely great guides 4. Wonderful support staff Highly recommended
- rociolE9764OH00Not worth the money!Not worth $250.00 for a private tour. Everything is within walking distance, and the guide was not great. Save your money for another experience.
- cougguy00Great tourWe’ve done many of these small group tours in the past and this was one of the best. Baruk was an amazing guide. EXTREMELY knowledgeable and funny. There’s a lot going on in Instanbul these days and he was able to explain (without bias) all of the intricacies of the politics and religious factors. It’s a lot to fit into one day (there were lines at the mosques) but Baruk maneuvered us around with ease. After the tour there was a large rally going on in Instanbul- Baruk went the extra mile (literally) and walked us all the way back to our hotel to ensure we felt safe.
- elsym74600Cappadocia trip: unforgettable!We traveled to Cappadocia for two days and it was an unforgettable experience. Erdi was our guide, he was super kind, polite and friendly. All the details of the reservation were chosen with great care, the guides were punctual, the communication was fluid. We would definitely book this trip with them again!
- BDCalifornia00Fantastic 9-days in 3 cities!They helped us organize a 9-day tour from Istanbul, to Cappadocia and Kusadasi. The entire experience has been smooth and efficient. I started planning our trip with them months in advance. They were very responsive to my endless questions. In each city, they assigned us a local guide and a driver & van. The guides (Ozan, Can, and Ozlem) were very knowledgeable, helpful, and fun to hang out. Some took us to hidden little restaurants in a farm or a private garden - and those were our favorite meals. The company really impressed us with their organization - from plane tickets to pick up & drop off; never missed a beat. We highly recommend them!
- Retired_engineer_5800Excellent guide and driver for a memorable tripIt is a long drive to Troy and Gallipoli, the comfortable minivan was good. The driver and guide Volkan ensured we had enough bathroom and lunch breaks. We visited Troy on the first day, which meant we visited the Gallipoli WW1 sites earlier the next day as the weather was hot. Volkan had a wealth of knowledge and was adept at arranging visits to the various Gallipoli sites avoiding buses and crowds. A memorable couple of days.
- Z778ETrinas00Our trip to Istanbul and KapadokyaSuch a pleasent experience we are very thankful to our guides Kemal and Hatiche. They provided us with many insight in regards of historical places that we visited, both were such lovely company too! Will recommend to our friends and extended families.
- 55lynn201400Great tour!Ümran Aslan showed us an amazing time on this tour. She was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and so interesting to talk to. She took us on the local transit system and public ferry which was an experience that we never would have tried on our own. We also went to a great diner for lunch which was delicious and to her favourite place to buy Turkish delight at the spice market. We highly recommend this tour and especially the experience we had with Ümran. Thanks so much!
- howardl58600Professional and responsiveI want to commend Guided Istanbul Tours for their great service and professionalism throughout the booking experience, and also (sadly) the cancellation experience. Yes we had to cancel due to illness and they processed a refund. From the outset Guided Istanbul Tours was responsive. We had a family member who couldn't climb stairs, so when we asked about the steps on the airport transport they sent photos. They helpfully answered all our questions. Booking was smooth and responsive. Even the cancellation and refund was handled well. A true professional outfit!
- dktolander00It was amazingOzan Ercan made our tour magnificent! He was very informative, pleasant, professional and extremely accommodating. Highly recommend!
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3 435 reviews
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Marie O
Los Angeles, CA19 contributions
Oct 2020 • Friends
We chose the 2Day tour of Istanbul. Our tour guide was Oscar and he was amazing! One in our party has breathing difficulty due to asthma and Oscar was professional, knowledgeable and most importantly - patient! He pretty much anticipated our needs and adjusted the pace of the tour accordingly. I think his long-time experience as a guide has given him the natural instincts to work cohesively with his client's and provide excellent service. Oscar was forthright for us to manage our expectation with regards to the Blue Mosque as it was going thru renovation. Furthermore, he arranged for our Spice Market purchases to be delivered to our hotel so we need not lug them around with us as we continued with the Bosphorus Tour and D. Palace. Towards the end of the tour he surprised us with a pit stop at the best Baklava vendor in all of Istanbul! Thank you, Oscar for making our Istanbul experience special and memorable!
Mehmet from the head office was so pleasant to work with. We were initially caught off guard with the idea that the first day was completely a "walking tour". Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace are in and around "pedestrian only" zones. It's a good thing our hotel is in between HS and T Palace. Nonetheless, Mehmet was flexible with the booking and offered the option of cancelling the 2nd day should the first day's all day walking tour prove too much for us to handle. We truly appreciated his concern and flexibility.
We highly recommend this tour company as well as the tours they offer. We wish we stayed longer in Istanbul. We would've booked the 3day tour for certain.
Mehmet from the head office was so pleasant to work with. We were initially caught off guard with the idea that the first day was completely a "walking tour". Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace are in and around "pedestrian only" zones. It's a good thing our hotel is in between HS and T Palace. Nonetheless, Mehmet was flexible with the booking and offered the option of cancelling the 2nd day should the first day's all day walking tour prove too much for us to handle. We truly appreciated his concern and flexibility.
We highly recommend this tour company as well as the tours they offer. We wish we stayed longer in Istanbul. We would've booked the 3day tour for certain.
Written 20 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rishi
Chicago, IL39 contributions
Jan 2020
I paid for the 3 day package. Here's the itinerary for the 3 days:
Day 1: Dolmabahce Palace, Spice Market, Bosphorus Cruise, Taksim Square with Istiklal Street. (Duration is approximately 7 hours)
Day 2: Hagia Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace Museum, Basilica Cistern Museum, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar. (Tour will be operated mostly as walking tour and duration is approximately 7 hours).
Day 3: Pierre Lotti Hill, Chora Church Museum, Fener-Balat District Walk, Suleymaniye Mosque. (Duration is approximately 7 hours)
Day one and two are walking or taking a cab to the sites with your tour guide. For day 3, we purchased the transport service which is definitely necessary. You don't need to purchase transport for day 1-2. Cabs and metro are very cheap and easy. You can't do this on day 3, because the sites are remote. Our tour guide Emre was great! Would recommend him.
Couple of things: There's definite value in hiring a tour guide. Lines are long at some places and the tour guides can skip the lines and get you in ASAP. Its more efficient. Overall, the only downside was the weather. Most of Istanbul can be seen by walking and its hard to do when its snowing, raining or freezing outside. Its definitely pricey, but would strongly suggest for anyone who's never been to Instabul. Also a strong recommendation - get the pocket WIFI. I thought that was very helpful. Note that lunch is not included in tour package (and neither are tickets).
Day 1: Dolmabahce Palace, Spice Market, Bosphorus Cruise, Taksim Square with Istiklal Street. (Duration is approximately 7 hours)
Day 2: Hagia Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace Museum, Basilica Cistern Museum, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar. (Tour will be operated mostly as walking tour and duration is approximately 7 hours).
Day 3: Pierre Lotti Hill, Chora Church Museum, Fener-Balat District Walk, Suleymaniye Mosque. (Duration is approximately 7 hours)
Day one and two are walking or taking a cab to the sites with your tour guide. For day 3, we purchased the transport service which is definitely necessary. You don't need to purchase transport for day 1-2. Cabs and metro are very cheap and easy. You can't do this on day 3, because the sites are remote. Our tour guide Emre was great! Would recommend him.
Couple of things: There's definite value in hiring a tour guide. Lines are long at some places and the tour guides can skip the lines and get you in ASAP. Its more efficient. Overall, the only downside was the weather. Most of Istanbul can be seen by walking and its hard to do when its snowing, raining or freezing outside. Its definitely pricey, but would strongly suggest for anyone who's never been to Instabul. Also a strong recommendation - get the pocket WIFI. I thought that was very helpful. Note that lunch is not included in tour package (and neither are tickets).
Written 26 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mahmood1991
Nelson, UK2 contributions
Apr 2021
I booked this tour for a large family group of about 10-12 people. I contacted the company via whatsapp to adjust the itinerary as I thought some of the children might get tired walking around for the whole tour which they had no problem with.
We were met by Oscar in the lobby of our hotel. He was very patient with us and really good with the children in the group throughout the whole tour!!!
Throughout the tour Oscar explained everything in detail and even stopped for questions, his English is great and I would definitely recommend booking him as you will miss out on so much information and history without a guide. We caught some of these places at quiet time due to Covid and were not stuck in any queues or rush. We got to visit all sites without any waiting around and got to enjoy each area!! I would definitely recommend visiting Topkapi palace and Aya Sofia! both very beautiful places with so much history!
At the end of the tour, Oscar added a few more stops when he realised we were not tired out - Thank you for this!! We finished the tour a little earlier so he was even willing to take us to another area if we were up for walking a little further out but by this time the group was ready for food! ( even though he would have waited for us to finish eating.)
I would definitely recommend asking for Oscar if you book this tour - he has a lot of knowledge of the history in Istanbul and was amazing with group!
We were met by Oscar in the lobby of our hotel. He was very patient with us and really good with the children in the group throughout the whole tour!!!
Throughout the tour Oscar explained everything in detail and even stopped for questions, his English is great and I would definitely recommend booking him as you will miss out on so much information and history without a guide. We caught some of these places at quiet time due to Covid and were not stuck in any queues or rush. We got to visit all sites without any waiting around and got to enjoy each area!! I would definitely recommend visiting Topkapi palace and Aya Sofia! both very beautiful places with so much history!
At the end of the tour, Oscar added a few more stops when he realised we were not tired out - Thank you for this!! We finished the tour a little earlier so he was even willing to take us to another area if we were up for walking a little further out but by this time the group was ready for food! ( even though he would have waited for us to finish eating.)
I would definitely recommend asking for Oscar if you book this tour - he has a lot of knowledge of the history in Istanbul and was amazing with group!
Written 4 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Crystina G
Texas27 contributions
We booked the 1 day tour without transport (our hotel was located close proximity to all stops). Our guide, Kamel, met us at the lobby right in time. We walked to the palace first, he explained the history as we went along the journey. He was extremely knowledgeable and fun with his delivery with the time line and background of the Palace. We then headed off toward the church nearby. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) was next. It was under renovation so we were not able to see the dome ceiling, but it still is worth it. So much history and energy here. We then went over to the Hagia Sophia, Kamel continued to explain how good was originally a church, and later converted into a mosque. You are able to see the original mosaics and paintings of angels. Very magical place. We opted out of the grand Bazaar as we happened to go on our own the day before. But Kamel did go over the history of it with us over lunch.
Overall, Kamel provided one of the most pleasant and relaxed tour I have ever been on. The private tour is the way to go here.
Few tips: Men and women cannot show legs above the knee, and if you are wearing leggings, you will need to cover as well. All places will have coverings available for head and legs if needed.
Bring cash, it will be 200tl per person for the Palace and church.
Hagia Sophia will charge 20tl for a disposable coverings.
Overall, Kamel provided one of the most pleasant and relaxed tour I have ever been on. The private tour is the way to go here.
Few tips: Men and women cannot show legs above the knee, and if you are wearing leggings, you will need to cover as well. All places will have coverings available for head and legs if needed.
Bring cash, it will be 200tl per person for the Palace and church.
Hagia Sophia will charge 20tl for a disposable coverings.
Written 22 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victoria C
1 contribution
Jul 2022 • Friends
We booked the 2 day private tour of Istanbul, and we are convinced there is no better way of being introduced to the city! Our tour guide, Caner, was excellent. He was very attentive and knowledgeable about the history of the city. He was also very flexible and accommodating to our itinerary, which we customized each day, based on what we wanted to see, and how long we wanted to stay at a particular location. Caner made our experience so memorable - we got a city tour, shopping tour, local food tour, Bosphorus tour, and cultural tour all in 2 days! With a local (who also served as our private translator and photographer!) who knew the best places to go, at the best times, to avoid lines. Even at Hagia Sohphia! Also, adding the option of private van is a must! Taxis and public transportation are challenging in a city of 20 million, and it made the entire experience an absolute delight. I highly recommend Guided Istanbul Tours for anyone who is experiencing Istanbul for the first time!!!
Written 8 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jhpayawal
1 contribution
Nov 2020
We enjoyed a beautiful fall day with our tour guide, Ceren. She met us at our hotel lobby and we took a taxi over to the Old City for what would be a very informative but relaxing tour of Istanbul's major historic sites. The tour was paced well and there was plenty of opportunity to stop, sit, and just enjoy the surroundings. Ceren was very knowledgeable about the history of all the sites we toured. She was friendly and personable. I liked that we got to know her as a person too. We had lunch at a local restaurant where the food was delicious and tasted home-cooked. The staff at the restaurant were very attentive and hospitable. We enjoyed shopping at the Grand Bazaar and with local state-sponsored artisans outside of the Bazaar. We never felt rushed with Ceren- in fact, we went over the 8hrs! Overall, I would highly recommend a private tour of the historic sites, unless you yourself are a history buff and know all the history already. Even if that, a tour guide can assist you in getting comfortable with the layout, customs of Istanbul so that you feel comfortable exploring on your own! looking forward to returning to Turkey and seeing more of the country.
Written 13 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kentman1964
Snodland46 contributions
Mar 2022
Gizem was a great guide and introduced us to many different aspects of life in Istanbul. We had the two day tour and opted for transport on the second day. The pace Gizem set was just right and the amount of information she passed over was pitched at the perfect level. A small private tour such as this is well worth the cost as it becomes tailored personally too you.
If we were to do this again we wouldn’t use the private transport on day two. A mini bus to carry about 12 really was overkill and we could have simply used taxis which would reduce the cost by about $100.
This was an excellent tour and we wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the tour and especially Gizem our guide.
If we were to do this again we wouldn’t use the private transport on day two. A mini bus to carry about 12 really was overkill and we could have simply used taxis which would reduce the cost by about $100.
This was an excellent tour and we wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the tour and especially Gizem our guide.
Written 1 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GlobeTrotting738458
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Family
We started our tour at 9 am. Ozgur came to our hotel and so we started our day. We saw Aya Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Palace, the Basilisque Cistern and Grand Bazaar. Ozgur was really friendly and he knew pretty much everything about the city and whatever extra we asked him, always answering with a smile. We can highly recommend him if you want to see the city on a nice pace with just the right amount of information. Thank you so much man, all the best!
Written 2 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dreww
4 contributions
Jun 2022
I had a one day tour with Caner and he was a excellent tour guide. Caner is very passionate about history, culture, and his love of the city of Istanbul that you cannot help but also love Istanbul more at the end of the tour than when you started.
I went during a high tourist season and Caner did a great job of navigating through the historical sights so we got the shortest lines/ least waits. as a solo travaler i appreciated the many photos Caner took for me at many of the famous landmarks. my Family & Friends agreed that the best photos of my trip were the ones Caner took.
we actually we able to see more sights than was planned so you get great value out of this tour. I had some hard to find gift and Caner was able to take me to the right places to buy them. at the end of the tour i can vouch that he knows really good places to eat ( my best rooftop bar was one of his recommendations!)
Caner really cares about his guest , after the entire day of walking up and down hills i was exhausted and Caner made sure i made it back to my hotel safe.
I would book Caner again when i'm back in Istanbul for the 2 or 3 day tours he is a excellent tour guide ,with Caner its not like other tours where its a dude with a flag reading a script, with Caner its like having a friend show you around his city
I went during a high tourist season and Caner did a great job of navigating through the historical sights so we got the shortest lines/ least waits. as a solo travaler i appreciated the many photos Caner took for me at many of the famous landmarks. my Family & Friends agreed that the best photos of my trip were the ones Caner took.
we actually we able to see more sights than was planned so you get great value out of this tour. I had some hard to find gift and Caner was able to take me to the right places to buy them. at the end of the tour i can vouch that he knows really good places to eat ( my best rooftop bar was one of his recommendations!)
Caner really cares about his guest , after the entire day of walking up and down hills i was exhausted and Caner made sure i made it back to my hotel safe.
I would book Caner again when i'm back in Istanbul for the 2 or 3 day tours he is a excellent tour guide ,with Caner its not like other tours where its a dude with a flag reading a script, with Caner its like having a friend show you around his city
Written 24 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Omar S
Springfield, IL5 contributions
Feb 2020
Emri was a fantastic guide who helped my whole family truly understand and appreciate the history and beauty behind the various sites we visited. His historical tour through Topaki Palace was the highlight. He was very patient with questions and looked up information for us to help us for the rest of our trip in Istanbul.
Mehmet from Istanbul Guided Tours was able to put together a luxury minivan, diligent driver, and Emri as a guide within an hour; we booked the tour the morning of (last minute plans on our part). After having used this tour company today, I can understand why they are so highly rated. I look forward to using their services again when I plan a visit to other parts of Turkey later this year.
Mehmet from Istanbul Guided Tours was able to put together a luxury minivan, diligent driver, and Emri as a guide within an hour; we booked the tour the morning of (last minute plans on our part). After having used this tour company today, I can understand why they are so highly rated. I look forward to using their services again when I plan a visit to other parts of Turkey later this year.
Written 24 February 2020
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peppepanepeppe
Sicily, Italy27 contributions
Salve mi occorre prenotare una guida per un giorno con lingua italiana domenica 10 mi date disponibilità grazie mille
peppepanepeppe
Sicily, Italy27 contributions
Salve mi occorre prenotare una guida per un giorno con lingua italiana domenica 10 mi date disponibilità grazie
anneschulz
Tampa, FL62 contributions
I recommend hiring guide for day 1 as the next day we knew where everything was located and walking distance and we had the lay of the land, we were able to navigate the spice market, cruise and bazaar on our own leisure. She took us for 8 hours to see all the important sites as you mentioned and she got mobile tickets, fast queue and navigated the prayer times so we maximized our visits. The Hagia Sophia was about $30 each? And mosque free. Cistern you could do on your own, we walked past it when she took us thru the park. Everywhere in Istanbul take local and American dollars. Email me if you need more info
Tom r
1 contribution
My partner and I are keen to cover several historical sites in Istanbul over two days (2 and 3 November), and your 2-day tour looks very comprehensive, flexible, and well-reviewed.
Before we book, we wanted to confirm the following:
To what extent is the itinerary flexible? We are keen to focus on the historical sites - Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Dolmabahce Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Hippodrome etc. We're happy to visit the Grand Bazaar/Spice Market if there is time, but this isn't a priority for us. We don't want to do any shopping. We do want to do the Bosphorus cruise.
We understand that museum fees are extra, please could you confirm if the guide will queue for us to get these tickets, and also how much the fees are for each site?
The itinerary says that we will be 'walking by' Basilica Cistern. Please could you confirm if there is a way to go inside? As mentioned above, we are happy to skip the markets/shops to prioritise this.
Day 2 (3 November) is a Friday. There don't seem to be any mosques on the itinerary for this day - please could you confirm that we can cover all the mosques on Day 1?
Thanks!
Judy H
43 contributions
I am sorry I cannot answer your question. I would advise calling the tour company and asking them. I am sure they can organize the tour to your request.
cougguy
Richland, WA205 contributions
I noticed that none of the entry fees are included in the price tour. I assume that means we buy our own entry tickets at each venue. I’m interested in what people’s experience is doing this - are there long lines to buy tickets at each stop?
cougguy
Richland, WA205 contributions
I noticed that none of the entry fees are included in the price tour. I assume that means we buy our own entry tickets at each venue. I’m interested in what people’s experience is doing this - are there long lines to buy tickets at each stop?
Merav H
Los Angeles, CA5 contributions
Hello I would like to book this itinerary but I have a problem. I have 3 days in Istanbul all together that means I have 1 full day and The rest of my two days are half a day. Can you tell me if it’s possible to take this days in be charge as one day???? So total will be 2 full days Thank you
Judy H
43 contributions
I am not sure about that. Please check with Biator, who can then forward your question to the company providing the your.
giraffe123
singapore6 contributions
Hello how do I book a spot in the 1 day tour and where can I see the agenda?
Judy H
43 contributions
We used Viator to book our tours. Their website shows the various tours and an overview and other details.
Marta
79 contributions
Noi arriviamo a Istanbul con una nave da crociera, è possibile avere la giuda che ci accoglie in porto e poi la sera ci riaccompagna?
