Top Istanbul Day Trips - page 5

Our day trip to Troy was excellent. Although it’s a long day, the organisation made it feel smooth and relaxed, with thoughtful breaks along the way and a very good lunch. The ferry crossing was beautiful and added a lovely change of pace. The tour of Troy itself was fascinating — rich in history, well explained, and far more atmospheric than we expected. A truly rewarding experience and well worth the journey.

Probably the best guide experience we've had traveling around the world! Our guide waa not only knowledgeable, attentive to our needs and interests, with fantastic language skills, but also a wonderful human being. If you hire him for a day, two, or three (like we did) - you won't be sorry!

Our private walking tour in Istanbul in June, 2025, with Eylem was hands down one of the highlights of our trip! From the moment she met us right outside the cruise port, we knew we were in great hands. She was warm, organized, and immediately made us feel like we were exploring the city with a close friend rather than just a guide. Eylem thoughtfully planned the perfect route, taking us to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Underground Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, and several other incredible sites — all in an order that helped us avoid the biggest crowds. That alone made such a difference in our experience. Pro tip: make sure to bring a cover-up to enter the mosques — Eylem helped guide us through the etiquette and made everything seamless. What really stood out was how she brought Istanbul’s rich history to life. As we explored, she wove together stories of the Byzantine, Roman, and Ottoman Empires in a way that was engaging, easy to follow, and fascinating. We didn’t just see the sights — we understood them. She also expertly navigated the city using a combination of walking and the metro, which let us cover more ground comfortably and efficiently. Along the way, she treated us to food and water from local street vendors (such a thoughtful touch!) and later took us to a wonderful restaurant with a huge selection of absolutely delicious food (at our own expense). It felt like we were getting the true local experience. Eylem was happy to take photos and videos and knew all the good angles for getting great pics and memories. By the end of the day, Eylem didn’t feel like just our tour guide — she felt like a sister from another mister. Her kindness, knowledge, and genuine care made our day in Istanbul unforgettable. If you’re visiting and want an experience that’s insightful, smooth, and full of heart, book with Eylem. You won’t regret it!

Thank you Nova tours for arranging this amazing trip to Bursa. We traveled with small kid and it was very convenient for us to explore while our kid enjoyed a lot. This could have been great if we would have some more time in snow but it was still worth for the price we paid.. overall superb experience!!

Lovely experience and good presentation of the most important points of attractions across Istanbul. We didn’t explore much on the Asian side, but appreciated the overall boat trip as it was relaxing and pleasant. Do choose the daytime option to actually see the city.

A comprehensive narrative and viewing of various different sites of landing and combat taken by the ANZACs during 1915. The tour takes in the monuments to the Turkish forces and provides insight into the difficulties endured by both sides during the fighting. Our guide was highly educated and provided in depth information about the number of men and women who ultimately died trying to execute a military attack that was poorly planned and even more poorly executed. The tour underscores the friendship between the ANZACs and the Turkish people while also again highlighting the futility of war. Beyond all this the Gallipoli peninsula is a really beautiful area and the views from the hills are spectacular.

What a wonderful cruise! Boat was perfect - only about 30 onboard. We were on upper level / half inside, half outside making for excellent photo ops. Staff wonderful - special shout out to Emre and Nahad. Emre served the perfect amount of light snacks and drinks. Emre shared history & details on the sights as we passed them. Very laid back & relaxed. Excellent views. Truly the perfect Bosphorous cruise.

Be prepared to eat! You will try a whole lot of different Turkish food and you won’t be disappointed or hungry. There is a fair amount of walking so it balances out the day-long eating extravaganza. Ali was an excellent guide with a great knowledge of food and history. Well worth the time and the price.