Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Blue Mosque

  Built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I, Blue Mosque is truly a magnificent masterpiece of architecture with amazingly delicate proportions for a building of such massive scale.

  40 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

  Built in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian, played a very important role in the Christian and Islamic World. After the Ottoman conquest the bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and many of the mosaics were eventually plastered over to convert the church into a mosque then a museum and now it’s a mosque for second time.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Hippodrome

  Where the chariot races were held in the Roman Empire times.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4
  TopkapI Palace

  More than just an Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans, it was the seat of the Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for almost 400 years long. Topkapi Palace is a great monument of Oriental architecture.

  1 hour • Admission ticket not included
• 5
  Grand Bazaar

  One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with over 4,000 shops.

  45 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6
  Misir Carsisi (Spice Market)

  A colorful indoor bazaar and has lots of shops offering a variety of spices, purses, flavored teas, Turkish delight, nuts, as well as ceramics and small souvenirs.

  45 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7
  Bosphorus Strait

  Bosphorus Cruise to see both Istanbul’s European and Asian sides, Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, the Rumelian Fortress, old Ottoman villas, Bosphorus bridges, mosques.

  2 hours • Admission ticket not included
• 8
  Dolmabahce Palace

  Elegance and beauty with the most luxury decoration, chandeliers, rugs, crystals, ceramic fireplaces. Beautiful palace, right on the Bosphorus with gorgeous furnishings, paintings, porcelains.

  1 hour • Admission ticket not included
• 9
  Taksim Square

  A great place defining modern Turkey. Close to Istiklal Street and Galata Tower. Has very good food joints, cafes, shops, bars, night clubs around.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 10
  Suleymaniye Mosque

  The largest mosque in Istanbul and is as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside. In the garden behind the mosque, the terrace offers lovely views of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 11
  Fener & Balat

  Fener District, continue exploring Istanbul’s rich religious history with a stop at the Church of St. George. Since the 1600s, the church has been the location of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and is recognized as the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Religion. Balat District; lines of drying laundry stretch across steep, winding streets. Century-old Ottoman houses lean against each other in a combination of reds, blues and greens. And art galleries and design shops dot the area along the water.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 12
  Pierre Loti Tepesi

  One of the most popular sights to visit since it offers great views for the visitors. Take the cable car to reach to the top and enjoy the beautiful scenery while sipping your Turkish coffee or tea.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket not included

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Please note that; On Tuesdays Topkapi Palace, on Sundays Grand Bazaar, on Mondays Dolmabahce Palace is closed.
• Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are closed until 2pm on Fridays. If one of the mosques are not visited, Basilica Cistern will be visited as a replacement.

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