Istanbul · CITY TOURS
Good city tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
A private Istanbul hamam with scrub, foam massage, sauna, steam room, and optional massage near Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar.
“Very good steam room and massage, thanks to Mona and her colleague ! Clean and calm.”
See Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar with a flexible private Istanbul guide.
“After researching the Viator website I chose this solo guided tour and was very pleased with my choice. Saban was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable and professional and could answer all my questions. He met me on time at my hotel reception. He was very friendly and immediately put me at ease. We didn't have to queue at any of the attractions. He offered me some time on my own at Topkapi Palace which was a good idea - he suggested things he thought I would be interested to see. He also pointed out other places of interest that we passed during our day. Our last stop was…”
Tour Istanbul’s old city with a guide, visiting Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar.
“This is no question easy one of my best day tour I've ever joined! Plus with a guide like Arkan, its bread and butter😊 Highly recommend this City Tour, amazing! Lots of history and very very informative. Just be ready to do walking in between site visirs but don't worry guide will adjust to everyones pace.👏”
Build your own Istanbul tour across Byzantine and Ottoman sights, with a private guide, optional car, and one to three flexible days.
“We did a one day tour with Bahar as our tour guide and it was fantastic! Bahar explained everything to us wonderfully and showed us so many gems we would have missed. She even helped us to plan the rest of our time there and made recommendations on where we should eat. I would definitely do this again!!”
Explore Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar on a four-hour guided tour with hotel pickup.
“Got picked up from our hotel and put on a bus to the Hagia Sophia we then met our tour guide who was amazing. Ali was the best tour guide! He provided us with so much history and information and then after visiting Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque he took us to the spice bazar to try Turkish delight and tea. Very good tour I’d highly recommend.”
Compare public, private, and VIP Turkish bath options in Istanbul’s Old City, with sauna, steam, kese scrub, foam wash, and massage.
“Really enjoyed the massage and the overall experience. Thank you!”
Build a private Istanbul itinerary around Ottoman palaces, Byzantine monuments, the Bosphorus, and local neighborhoods with a flexible guide.
“Our guide Can was amazing! He has a wealth of knowledge and was able to answer questions on any subject we could imagine. He made efficient use of time and personalized our days to exceed any expectation. Can brought Istanbul to life and we couldn’t have been happier!”
Explore Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar with a private guide in seven focused hours.
“Our guide John was just incredible! John spent the entire day patiently explaining the history of each site but also guiding us to all the fabulous locations with ease and made everything effortless! John's knowledge of the historical relevance and importance of each site along with his kind and gentle demeanor made the entire day so much fun and exciting for our family! After only a short time we felt a if John was a fear friend that we've know forever taking us to all of his favorite places in Istanbul. it was just an amazing day. Thank you so much, John! I cannot recommend this your any stronger!Read more”
Review of Istanbul’s private full-day tour covering Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar.
“Our guide Musa was great! He was very knowledgeable and fun! We had a great time and enjoyed it all very much!”
Compare Istanbul airport private transfers for a calm arrival, roomy vehicles, 24-hour pickup, and direct service to central hotels.
“I could not find him when I came out of luggage area. But then I got him having my name card. The guy was nice, trip was good. Helpful and cheap”
Explore Istanbul with a private guide across one to three days, from imperial palaces and mosques to Kadikoy, Balat, bazaars, and the Bosphorus.
“Bayram was our guide and he was great!! He was very accommodating, my husband is with a cane and we could not walk fast due to this and he was very patient. We got to see most of the things that were on the tour. I would definitely recommend this tour with Bayram!!”
See Istanbul’s top sights in one day with a local guide, lunch, small-group pacing, skip-the-line entry, and practical advice on added fees.
“Great intro to Istanbul. The guide Mahamad was exceptional. Lots of walking and talking. Small group means ease of getting around and easy to ask questions. Highly recommended.”
See Istanbul from both continents on a 12-hour tour with Beylerbeyi Palace, Camlica Mosque, lunch, hills, and a Bosporus cruise.
“If you want to see beautiful scenery and authentic places, this tour is perfect for you. We enjoyed it very much and recommend it.”
A practical review of Istanbul IST airport transfers, with clear pickup steps, Wi-Fi, bottled water, pricing, timing, and service cautions.
“Sent messages but never had a single reply. Could not get full refund at last minute. Go find other airport transfer company.”
See Istanbul’s Old City with a private guide, from Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace to the Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar.
“Gaye was the best that could have happened to us in Istambul. She was extremely knowledgeable and pacient. She always had a great smile and a solution for everything! Best guide ever! Would 100% recommend!”
Pick a shore, a dome or a table.
