Istanbul · MARKETS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 market tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Explore Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar from rooftops to artisan workshops on a small-group tour filled with history, tea, secret passages, and local tips.
“Very informative and interesting tour about the history of the Grand Bazaar. Enjoyed it very much.”
See Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar on a guided Istanbul walk, with useful history and a clear price caveat.
“Our guide was great! He gave all the basic facts plus a bunch of interesting and humorous commentary. I felt like the amount of time in each place was perfect. If you have a very short time in Istanbul, this is the most efficient way to see the most essential things.”
Review of Istanbul’s 3-hour Spice Bazaar and Bosphorus cruise, with palace views, hotel pickup, practical tips, and honest value advice.
“Excellent guide providing good information all along the tour”
Review of Istanbul’s five-hour tour of Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar, with guide tips and ticket costs.
“Super nice tour guide could bring history to live with some nice stories!”
See Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar in four hours with a multilingual guide and optional hotel pickup.
“Fantastic, passionate guide. Perfect way to see a few of the highlights if you’re short on time.”
Taste Istanbul beyond the tourist trail on a small-group Bazaar Quarter food walk with local cooks, craftsmen, two meals, and stories.
“This was a wonderful tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable. We tried all kinds of authentic food with the best products to be found. Bring your appetite and walking shoes.”
Explore Istanbul’s Old City with a small English-speaking group, skip the Basilica Cistern line, visit the Blue Mosque, and browse the Grand Bazaar.
“Great tour, erol was very knowledgeable. He took the time to explain things in detail and give us tips and hints for the rest of our time here.”
See Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar on a compact guided tour with hotel pickup.
“Great experience, knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. Beautiful mosques and experience with the grand bazaar and spice market.”
Explore Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar with a private shopper who helps you navigate, bargain, and find trusted shops for rugs, lamps, jewelry, and more.
“Great communication from Gokay from the moment I booked the tour. He showed me around the best stores relating to the things I was specifically interested in, and we chatted all the way. Some of the stores I would never have found by myself. We talked about everything from music, religion, Turkish culture and history, the language, and our respective travels. It was like taking a shopping tour with a friend, and the time went by so fast! Highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to truly experience the Grand Bazaar.”
Walk Istanbul’s Old City with a private guide, skip ticket lines at Hagia Sophia and Topkapi, visit the Blue Mosque, and shop the Grand Bazaar.
“The private tour exceeded our expectations. Thank you Furkan for meeting us at our hotel and escorting us to the old city. The walking tour included the major sights in the Sultanahmet district. Furkan was extremely knowledgeable and professional. We were guided efficiently through the many crowds with time taken to answer our many questions. We would definitely recommend this tour to anyone wanting to learn more about Istanbul's history, Turkish culture and insights into living in Turkey from a local guide which is difficult to experience in a larger group! Tours can be personalized to meet your wants and needs. Thank you Furkan!”
Review of Istanbul’s half-day tour to Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar, with practical advice on guides, value, and carpet-shop stops.
“It was a good tour the guide was informative. The historical references and the magnificent architecture at Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern leaves you spellbound. Good to book with a definite skip-the-lines experience. Long queues mostly at these popular monuments. Sadly, Grand Bazaar was closed being Sunday, however, the guide took us to the spice bazaar, more commonly called an Egyptian Bazaar.”
Make a Turkish mosaic lamp in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, enjoy tea and coffee, and learn from friendly artisans in a family-friendly workshop.
“The lamp making workshop was a really enjoyable experience. The vibe was relaxed and creative, and the instructor was super helpful. It was a fun way to spend a few hours, and I left with a cool handmade lamp and some nice memories.”
Review of Istanbul’s small-group walking tour covering the Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, and Sultanahmet highlights.
“Tolga was so informative, patient and kind! Answered all of our questions and got to see and take amazing pics of some of the most stunning parts of Istanbul. Totally worth it, and we also got to see a local ceramics demo and see one of the historical hammams and even pointed out unique local things at the Grand Bazaar. It was such a great idea to go with a local to all these sights instead of struggling by ourselves :)”
Review of Istanbul’s 3-hour small-group tour covering Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar with hotel pickup.
“Best walking tour ever! We were Rose’s(I hope I remembered her name correctly) only arrivals… so we had a private tour. Her personal love for the area and her extensive knowledge along with her wonderful personality made us feel that a past college friend from Istanbul was showing us around. We even stopped to share fish finger foods… again, like we were just hanging out together. Next visit we’ll be staying at one of the elegant old hotels she took us to. If you want the best… book this tour.”
Review of Istanbul’s private 8-hour tour covering Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar.
“We had a great time with our tour and Ozge is the best. She’s so nice and very flexible with what you want to do. I highly recommend her.”
Pick a shore, a dome or a table.
