Top Istanbul How to Get Around in 2026

Escape Istanbul’s bustle on a luxury sunset cruise along the Bosphorus Strait. Sail between Europe and Asia as golden light reveals panoramic, water-level views of the city. Enjoy prime photo opportunities of Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, and other iconic landmarks. This small-group experience includes live commentary in English and Spanish, with optional hotel pickup from select areas.

See the highlights of Istanbul without worrying about getting lost with this private tour. Your guide teaches you all about the city's history as you explore must-see attractions, including Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, and more, with time left over to explore the countless shops in the Grand Bazaar.

Check off three of Istanbul's top sights in just one day on this convenient small-group tour that takes you to the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Basilica Cistern. Prebooked entry ensures your spot inside each architectural wonder and makes getting inside effortless. At each location, listen as your guide offers insight into history, architecture, and religious significance—information you'd miss if exploring independently.

Explore what lies beneath Istanbul’s city streets on a guided group tour of the Basilica Cistern. Thanks to your guide's illuminating commentary, this immersive visit is perfect for curious travelers who want to go beyond the guidebook. You also have the opportunity to ask questions for a more personalized experience. With skip-the-line admission and tour times available throughout the day, it’s easy to fit this excursion into your vacation schedule.

Experience Istanbul’s beauty on a small-group sunset and daytime cruise along the Bosphorus Strait. Glide past landmarks like Dolmabahce Palace, Rumeli Fortress, Cıragan Palace, and the Bosphorus Bridge while enjoying a live professional English-speaking guide and delicious onboard treats including canapés, snacks, homemade lemonade, and fresh fruit. This intimate tour offers a stress-free way to soak in the city's highlights away from crowds, with insights into each sight you pass.

Istanbul can feel bewildering to first-time visitors. Discover the city’s culture and some key sights on this guided walking tour of the historic district, including a look at the exterior of landmarks like the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Learn about Islam on a mosque visit, get haggling tips at the Grand Bazaar, and receive advice on where to eat and try a traditional Turkish hammam.

Experience the magic of Istanbul on a Bosphorus dinner cruise, featuring stunning views of landmarks like the Maiden's Tower, Galata Tower, and Bosphorus Bridges. Enjoy a delicious multi-course meal with options like mixed grill or vegetarian dishes, paired with live entertainment including Turkish folk dances, belly dancing, and a DJ performance. With private VIP tables and optional hotel transfers, this unforgettable evening blends culture, cuisine, and breathtaking scenery.

Experience Istanbul's beauty and history on a morning Bosphorus yacht cruise with a stopover on the Asian side. As you glide along the strait, take in stunning views of the city's iconic landmarks, including the Blue Mosque and Dolmabahce Palace. Then, discover local culture on the city's Asian side. With comfortable facilities and informative commentary on board, this excursion is a great way to explore Istanbul without breaking a sweat.

The Bosphorus Strait divides Europe from Asia, and a Bosphorus cruise is a signature Istanbul experience. This round-trip yacht cruise, with live commentary and fun facts from an experienced guide, covers all the classic waterfront sights—bridges, palaces, the Maiden’s Tower, the Rumeli Fortress, and more. It includes a stop for coffee and snacks in the characterful Kanlıca neighborhood, onboard Wi-Fi, and hotel pick-up and drop-off for added convenience.

Explore Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait without stressing about handling the navigation or transportation with this guided yacht cruise, complete with a visit to the Asian side of the strait. Learn about the city's history, landmarks, and culture while your guides share their insights along the way. Take a break at Kanlica to wander its charming streets and savor some creamy yogurt. Hotel pickup is included for added convenience.

Istanbul's landmarks look spectacular from the water, and this Bosphorus cruise offers a chance to admire them without navigating the city’s busy streets. Choose from different time slots throughout the day, including daytime, sunset, or evening departures to suit your sightseeing plans. During the tour, check off more landmarks than you could on a walking tour, as you pass by lots of highlights, including the Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Mosque, and Rumeli Fortress.

Stroll the atmospheric neighborhoods and historic streets of old Istanbul on a full-day, private walking tour with an experienced guide. Enjoy the flexibility to customize the day to your interests, with plenty of time to visit the sites that interest you most. Trace a path through centuries of Turkish history as you explore the hippodrome, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Take in the soaring dome and minarets of Hagia Sophia, then get an insider’s guide to the Grand Bazaar’s vibrant displays of handicrafts, souvenirs and carpets.

Prepare to be awed by Istanbul’s magnificent architecture, rich history, and eclectic bazaars as you discover the unmissable highlights of the Old City on this 1-, 2-, or 3-day private tour. Marvel over the glorious Hagia Sophia, learn how the Blue Mosque earned its famous nickname, tour Topkapi Palace to gain an insight into the lavish lifestyles of the Ottoman sultans and their harem, and browse the legendary Grand Bazaar, where you find everything from carpets to Turkish delight.

Istanbul is known for its waterside monuments, from Dolmabahce Palace to Rumeli Fortress, but the best views can’t be found from land. Enjoy front-row seats as Istanbul attractions drift by on this deluxe Bosphorus dinner cruise. Indulge in a mix of Turkish and international dishes—paired with your choice of alcoholic or soft drinks—and take in a lineup of live entertainment, including belly dancers, flamenco performances, and more.

Istanbul is famous for its waterside landmarks such as Dolmabahce Palace, Rumeli Fortress, and Maiden’s Tower—but with so many tall buildings, it can be hard to enjoy clear views from land. On this Bosphorus cruise, soak up the city’s scenery while comfortably seated indoors or outdoors, and give sore legs a break. Plus, learn facts behind each attraction via an included online audioguide requiring your own headphones and smartphone.

Visit Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Cistern on a 3-hour guided tour. Explore in small groups with skip the line tickets included. Learn about Istanbul’s rich Ottoman and Byzantine history.

Get an authentic taste of Istanbul on this food tour, featuring delicious Turkish street eats, a rooftop dinner at a 140-year-old family restaurant, and spectacular city views. Feast on food it’s easy to overlook if exploring alone, and make new friends on this small-group tour, which includes drop-off at Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Eminönü, Galata, Taksim, and cruise ports. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available.

Istanbul’s bridges, palaces, and minarets look their best from the water at night. Enjoy a magical view as you sail between Europe and Asia on this Bosphorus dinner cruise. As well as a delicious meal, take in live shows, including a belly dancer and folk performances, for a truly cultural experience. Choose between dinner with soft drinks or dinner with two alcoholic drinks; upgrade for the ease of round-trip transfers.

Appreciating Istanbul’s many historical and cultural landmarks can be tricky on a self-led excursion. Explore on a walking tour with a local guide for an intimate insight into top attractions, including the Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern. Avoid long lines with priority admission (entrance fees are paid to the guide on the day) and benefit from the small-group tour size for a more personalized experience.

Visit four of Istanbul’s most visited attractions in one morning on this express tour. Skip the long lines and head straight inside Hagia Sophia for a guided tour of the museum; visit the magnificent Blue Mosque; and hear about Istanbul’s ancient history at the Hippodrome. End your tour at the Grand Bazaar, where you can enjoy a demonstration of traditional Turkish handicrafts and browse the stalls for souvenirs.

Experience Istanbul's enchanting Bosphorus Strait aboard a sleek yacht designed for a small, intimate group of travelers. You'll sail past iconic landmarks like the Maiden's Tower, Dolmabahçe Palace, and Rumeli Fortress while enjoying local snacks, Turkish coffee, and seasonal fruit. The tour includes a relaxing stop in the quaint village of Kanlıca, offering the perfect mix of history, culture, and scenic charm.

Discover the rich history of Istanbul on this full-day, guided private tour, perfect for first-time visitors. Explore the city's major landmarks like the 400-year-old Blue Mosque and the 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia, a former Roman church now functioning as both a mosque and a museum. Continue to Topkapi Palace, once home to Ottoman sultans, Basilica Cistern, and the historic Hippodrome, once the site of chariot races. Finish your tour at the bustling Grand Bazaar, a 500-year-old market offering everything from exotic spices to traditional Turkish goods.

Uncover the sacred practice of the mystical Sufis at a Mevlevi Sema ceremony, held at Istanbul’s Hodjapasha Culture Center. Have the special chance to witness the 750-year-old tradition, which has been preserved on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Be mesmerized by the sight of the whirling dervishes as they perform their unique rituals during a show with a live orchestra.