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Offered languages
- English
Istanbul cannot be discovered with a quick stroll or a standard city tour. Spanning two continents and 39 districts, it deserves to be experienced in depth, style, and comfort. This private luxury SUV tour reveals not just landmarks, but the soul of the city.
From the Old City’s skyline to panoramic viewpoints between the Marmara and Black Seas, you’ll witness centuries layer by layer — Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern Republic. Taste street flavors, enjoy gourmet dining, sip Turkish coffee, explore Jewish, Christian, and Muslim quarters, and cruise the Bosphorus — all stress-free, with no lines and exclusive access.
Guided by Elif, a licensed professional with academic and cultural expertise, this tour combines luxury transport, insider knowledge, and storytelling. Guests call it inspiring, effortless, and unforgettable.
This is not sightseeing. This is Istanbul — lived, felt, and remembered for a lifetime.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Complimentary pickup is available from centrally located Istanbul hotels, the Galataport Cruise Terminal (main exit gate), and the front entrance of Radisson Blu Hotel Istanbul Sultanahmet. Airport pickups (IST & SAW) can be arranged for an additional fee. As Istanbul is a large and busy city with heavy traffic, it is mandatory to reconfirm all pickup locations and times directly with your guide via WhatsApp one day before the tour. No pickup service is guaranteed without prior confirmation with the guide.
Itinerary
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1The Walls of Istanbul
Drive along the mighty 5th-century walls of Constantinople, nearly 20 km long, which protected the city for over 1,000 years. During this panoramic drive, your licensed guide will provide live commentary, pointing out towers, gates, and epic siege stories. As we continue along the European shoreline, admire the postcard skyline: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye, Topkapı Palace, the Spice Bazaar, Galata Tower, and Galata Bridge.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Bosphorus Strait
Board a genuine car ferry across the Bosphorus. While the minibus stays on the lower deck, ascend to the open terrace for sweeping views of domes, palaces, yalıs, and bridges. This authentic crossing is like a mini Bosphorus cruise, giving you the rare chance to sail from Europe to Asia in 20 minutes, right in the middle of the strait — perfect for unforgettable photos.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included -
3KIz Kulesi
Arriving on the Asian shore, stop in Üsküdar for the iconic view of the Maiden’s Tower rising from the waters. Your guide will share its layered history — from Byzantine watchtower to Ottoman lighthouse to today’s museum — and the romantic legend of the princess and the snake. From the coast, admire the silhouette of the Mihrimah Sultan Mosques and hear their story.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4CamlIca Mosque
Ascend to Istanbul’s highest point, Çamlıca Hill, where the city unfolds beneath you — Asia on one side, Europe on the other. Visit the awe-inspiring Çamlıca Mosque, the largest in Turkey, crowned with six minarets and offering vast terraces. From here, enjoy sweeping views over the Bosphorus, the bridges, and much of Istanbul’s 39 districts.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Kuzguncuk Sahili
Explore Kuzguncuk, a charming district with colorful wooden houses and unique coexistence: a mosque, synagogue, and church stand side by side. Before entering its narrow lanes, pause by the waterfront for photos with the Second Bosphorus Bridge, plus views of Çırağan Palace, Dolmabahçe Palace, and hillside fortresses. Then wander through Kuzguncuk’s multicultural streets, pause for tea, coffee, and simit, and experience the local café culture
40 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Kucuksu Pavilion
Stop at Göksu Creek, once called Istanbul’s ‘Little Venice,’ where Ottoman aristocrats came for boat rides. On its banks stands Küçüksu Pavilion, a 19th-century summer palace. Today, the creek is alive with rowing and canoeing clubs. Enjoy the serene waterside atmosphere, capture photos of the pavilion’s ornate façade, and discover the socioeconomic contrasts of Bosphorus life — from modest neighborhoods to elegant yalıs. Yoros Castle & Lunch
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Yoros Castle
At the northern end of the Bosphorus, ascend to Yoros Castle, a Byzantine fortress later expanded by Genoese and Ottomans, guarding the gateway to the Black Sea. From the top, take in one of Istanbul’s most spectacular panoramas: the meeting of the Bosphorus and Black Sea, the vast horizon, and the monumental 3rd Bosphorus Bridge (Yavuz Sultan Selim). Nearby, enjoy a leisurely lunch at a local restaurant with fresh fish, kebabs, and mezes served against this dramatic backdrop of sea, sky, and history.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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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 good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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