Top Istanbul Historical Tours
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Francis_F, Jul 2026
Full day with a great guide
Ozzy was a great tour guide and covered all the must see locations providing very detailed historical knowledge for each. In addition the lunch was great and Ozzy takes great photos for you at some hidden spots. Would highly recommend especially if you are in town for a day and want to see as much as you can.
skdhal, Jul 2026
Good introduction to Istanbul
Mustafa gök was our guide and communication was very good prior to our meeting. He was prompt and he showed us the more popular sites that we wanted to see. He caters to your needs. His English was good and we could understand him without any issues. He also showed us specific local stores specializing in Turkish made products… if you are interested.
Debbie_W, Jun 2026
Great tour personally tailored to your group
Antea was a fabulous guide. Patient and knowledgeable. This tour is such good value considering it’s for your group only. You can completely tailor it to your liking.
We paid entrance fees to visit the Bascilica Cistern - Antea was able to skip us to the front of the line at this location which was a bonus.
We also paid entrance fees to the Topaki Palace - which was amazing and well worth it. There wasn’t really much of a line here as it was our first stop she was able to get what we needed much faster than we would have been able to.
We skipped the blue mosque (we did the tour on a Friday which is when mosques are closed for the morning) so the line was huge.
However we went early the next morning (opens at 8.30- we arrived at 8.10 and were first in line)
We skipped the Hagia Sophia as it was also closed in the morning and under renovation.
If we had wanted to line up at either of the places we skipped Antea would have been more than happy to do that with us.
Highly recommend this tour and Antea especially.
Ps. We did go to a carpet shop - amazing to see. There was no pressure to buy - but if you did want to buy this would be a good place to start.
Thank you
Nosheen_B, Jun 2026
Day In Istanbul
I was in Istanbul for a brief layover and had just one day to sightsee. This tour was amazing as I hit all the major landmarks. My guide, Lutfullah, was amazing, and I would definitely use him again. He was punctual, knowledgeable, and courteous. Overall, I would highly recommend this tour and guide for anyone.
Ismail_A, Jun 2026
Top tier guide for Topkapi, Harem & Basilica Cistern
I had a guided tour with Murat today and he was excellent! I’ve been on many tours throughout Europe, and this one stood out. I was with my partner and toddler, and Murat paced everything perfectly, engaging with my daughter to keep her interested as best he could. Across Topkapi Palace, the Harem, and the Basilica Cistern, he was a wealth of knowledge and insight, helping us really get a feel for the deep history of each. We never felt rushed at any point, and were encouraged to explore in short bursts after being given context on each area.
I’d recommend this to anyone who’s considering it. It’s been the cherry on top of a fantastic first trip to Istanbul, one I’d been planning for years. Credit to Murat for a brilliant tour; he was top tier!
PS - he takes great photos too!
Sarah_B, Jun 2026
10/10 Highly Recommend!
Mert was the best tour guide we have ever had!
He was so knowledgeable about the locations, their history, the architecture, the cultural impact, and had interesting facts galore. His english was incredible. Our tour ended up being a group of 3 (which then turned into a group of 2) and he tailored the experience to us and our interests. We had such an incredible time, I recommend this tour to anyone looking to visit Istanbul.
Martine_F, Jun 2026
Excellent tour of Istanbul sites
Omar was a terrific guide. He had a great knowledge of the history of all the sites and explained everything in detail. We especially loved stopping for coffee at the local coffee house. He even helped us get the best price at the Grand Bazaar. A great tour
Melissa_T, Jun 2026
Cruise to the Black Sea
Muzaffer was an amazing host. Meet us at the pier and served a wonderful breakfast of fresh baked Turkish breads. Ram was the tour guide who gave us so much information on the sights and Turkish history. Both were so kind. The yacht tour was so impressive. We road up the Bosphorus right to the bridge that opens up to the Black Sea. We stopped at a palace, a fortress and a quaint fishing village where we had a fabulous fresh fish lunch by the Bosphorus. Absolutely loved the entire experience
nickiy2j, May 2026
Extremely knowledgeable guide
The half day tour was just enough for us. Baris our guide was extremely knowledgeable the tour did run over time and sadly we had to leave due to other commitments. There was great communication beforehand about the extra costs and dress code for ladies at the mosque and meeting place.
Lindsey_S, Apr 2026
Amazing Experience
This was an amazing experience! We stepped off the street onto a red carpet leading down to a traditional hamami! This is not a hotel spa- it is a historical building with fabulous and attentive staff.
The experience was warm and respectful! Wish I was able to go back every day!!
Tue_M, Feb 2026
A lovely tour of some of Istanbul's most popular landmarks
What a lovely tour! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable not only about the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sofia but also the history of religions. She shared with us the many stories about changes made to these building during their extensive history and how they reflect the contemporary society and rulership.
Christine_B, Sep 2025
Stunning in every way
Excellent guide who gave much information that we would have missed out on if we had gone alone. Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are so overwhelmingly beautiful and inspiring. Warning: dress code is very strict..my dress was below knee when still but considered unsuitable when walking so had to purchase a full length coverall with hood for TL3.00 before I could enter Mosques. I appreciated there was an option as would have been devastating to miss out. Pick up was easy, straight across road from the terminal exit. Most of the tour is walking. The Grand Bizarre is another fabulous experience, but be prepared to say no to the many sales people who approach you...not aggressively though. We loved this tour, and thought Istanbul was amazing
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