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Offered languages
- English
- Spanish
A private walking tour of Istanbul's old city with a licensed guide who tells it through its legends, with the option to finish with a personal shopper in the Grand Bazaar. 638+ reviews at 4.90 across many different platforms.
Walk from Gülhane Park to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, and the Basilica Cistern. At the Grand Bazaar you choose: shop with your guide (allow 2 hours) or walk on to Süleymaniye Mosque. On the way, find out why one angel's face in Hagia Sophia is uncovered and which minaret was made of jewellery.
Tickets are not included: Hagia Sophia is €25 and the Basilica Cistern about ₺1.950 per person (2026 prices, they may change). We will buy your tickets together at the gate.
Good to know:
• Meet at the entrance of Gülhane Park facing the tram line (Alemdar Cd. No:30).
• 4 to 6 hours, private, in English, Spanish or Turkish.
• Coming by cruise? Tell us your all-aboard time.
Istanbul Curated - TÜRSAB License No: A-14135
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
We will meet at the entrance of Gülhane Park, there are different entrances of the park, we will be meeting at the entrance that faces the tram line, where there is also a stop called as Gülhane.
We are ending at Süleymaniye Mosque, a.k.a the balcony of Istanbul.
Itinerary
-
1Gulhane Park
This amazing park with full of roses and tulips was once the backyard of Ottomans, here we can take lovely pictures and breathe the atmosphere of a royal family garden.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Hagia Sophia is the most remarkable historical site of the city. There are too many legends to talk about here, I will tell you the brief story of the temple and then go into details, one by one. The entrance of the place is 25 Euros and is not included in the price of the tour. If you want to go, you have to let me know beforehand so I can get the tickets in advance to avoid the lines. Hagia Sophia: entry ticket not included (€25 for foreign visitors). We will buy your tickets together at the gate.
20 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
3Sultanahmet Square
This square was the main square of two big Empires, Roman Empire and Ottoman Empire and it still has the significant importance. I will tell you the whole story of it starting from Constantine the Great to nowadays. We will go on a terrace for taking pictures and talking generally about the whole history of the area.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Blue Mosque
We will go into the Blue Mosque to envy the amazing tiles of the place and talk about the history of it.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Hippodrome
We will be standing on the site of historical hipodrome and I will show you the remaining of the hipodome. Plus, there are going to be some interesting stories that I will be telling about whatever has happened on the area.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Basilica Cistern
See the amazing underground water storage a.k.a Basilica Cistern, where you will feel like being in an underground palace. This place hides lots of beauties and sculptures with hidden stories behind that you will unveil with us! Basilica Cistern: entry ticket not included (about ₺1.950, 2026). We will buy your tickets together at the gate.
20 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
7Column of Constantine
The Avenue of Constantine the Great, we will learn why there is a column and what happened to the statue on it.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8Grand Bazaar
4.000 store marketplace. Almost 600 years old history. One of the most remarkable places in Istanbul. Here, you have a choice. If you were already planning to come to Grand Bazaar for shopping anyways, as I am an expert guide on the bazaar (You can see I have another tour just focusing on Shopping in Grand Bazaar), I will help you with your shopping and once your shopping is done we will end the tour here. In my expertise, the shortest shopping takes 2 hours. If you are not interested in shopping, then we will go on with the other places that are after here. However, in case you want to do shopping, you have to let me know beforehand so I can curate a personalized route for you in the bazaar. Of course, I will recommend you amazing stores with great quality and help you bargain. (Most of the guides do not bargain, just leave you at random stores and wait outside, I act more like a personal shopper.)
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
9Beyazit Square
In case you decide to not do shopping and go on with the other places to see, we will see one of the main squares of the Roman Empire and where Istanbul University is located now. We will be talking about the history around here and we will see so many cats on the venue.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
10Suleymaniye Mosque
The Balcony of Istanbul. One of the most important and best viewed Imperial Mosques of Istanbul. We will finish our tour while resting with the beautiful view here. Again, we will only come here if you want to not do shopping in the bazaar.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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