Private Guided Istanbul Old City Highlights Tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Istanbul, Turkey

4 to 6 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0

· Irem_D ·

Sept 2025

We had a incredible experience exploring İstanbul with Batuhan. He was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and passionate about the city’s rich history and culture. Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque was astonishing. Thanks to Batuhan we had great time and stress-free shopping in Grand Bazaar which is like a maze. If you’re visiting İstanbul and want a truly memorable experience, I highly reccommend taking a tour with Batuhan.

· Edward_W ·

Mar 2026

Ali showed up on time at our meeting place and we worked out an itinerary that addressed our couple constrains, namely, our tour finish time and the need for lunch. So, we agreed on skipping couple highlights and had a great lunch outside the Grand Bazaar. Ali is knowledgeable about Turkey's and Islam's histories and he shared a lot of this personal experiences which made the tour more satisfying.

Overview

What's Included

Licensed Tour Guide

Public transportation

(Use of public transportation depends on the location of your accommodation and your preference.)
Lunch
Museum Entrance Fees

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

You will be picked up from your hotel or the port (Galataport) by your guide.

Meeting point

German Fountain
Binbirdirek, At Meydanı Cd, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
German Fountain

End points

This activity ends in a different location. See details below:

Itinerary

Hippodrome

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Blue Mosque

25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

TopkapI Palace

2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Basilica Cistern

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Grand Bazaar

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.

Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
Carrying cash is advised to skip the line in some places.
When visiting mosques, men should cover their knees, and women should cover their hair with a scarf, shoulders, and legs.
Please be aware that if you choose to start the tour after noon, some locations may not be visited due to their closing hours.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0

based on 40 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great walking tour in Istanbul

Lisa_B, Apr 2026

Muti arrived at our hotel right on time to begin our day. He gave us great background information about the sites we visited, including showing us images that helped to illuminate the history of the sites on a tablet he brought with him. He really let us set the pace of the tour; he suggested coffee and lunch breaks to cut down on fatigue, for which we were grateful. Overall it was a great way to see the highlights of the old city.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your kind words.

Ali showed up on time at...

Edward_W, Mar 2026

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you so much for your kind words.

Unforgettable Memories

Smith_J, Nov 2025

Traveling solo in Istanbul can feel a bit intimidating, but exploring the city with Batuhan made it amazing. I visited the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar with him and never felt alone or rushed. Batuhan shared interesting stories, tips, and a few funny moments that made the day so enjoyable. Solo travelers, if you want someone who makes the city feel alive and fun, Batuhan is the guide to go with.

Terrific experience from start to finish!

Sophia_H, Nov 2025

We visited the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar with Batu, and everything went very smoothly. We chose to skip Topkapi Palace and Batu adjusted the plan easily. We never felt rushed at any point and always had enough time to look around and enjoy each place comfortably. Batu also recommended a great local restaurant, which ended up being one of the best meals of our trip. It was a truly terrific day with an excellent guide.

What a City

Amanda_R, Nov 2025

Exploring Istanbul with Batu was one of the highlights of my trip. The city is already full of beauty and history but Batu brought everything to life with clear explanations and stories that were both engaging and easy to follow. What I liked most was how natural the whole experience felt. Nothing was rushed and nothing felt overly scripted. Batu paid attention to what I was curious about and shaped the tour in a way that made it feel personal and meaningful. By the end of the day I felt like I understood the city much better and had seen both the well known landmarks and a few hidden gems that I never would have found on my own. If you are looking for a guide who is knowledgeable friendly and genuinely passionate about Istanbul I absolutely recommend choosing Batu.

Great Tour, Great Guide Batu

Serhat_E, Nov 2025

This was my first visit to Turkey even though I grew up in the US with Turkish roots and this tour made it unforgettable. The guide was very knowledgeable and welcoming and helped me connect with both the history of Istanbul and my own heritage. Everything was clear and never rushed and it felt like more than just a tour but a meaningful experience.

Amazing tour

Felix_B, Nov 2025

It was an absolutely amazing tour through the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul. Every stop was full of fascinating stories and breathtaking views from ancient landmarks to hidden corners filled with local charm. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the city’s rich history, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. I also loved how many cats we came across along the way they truly add to Istanbul’s unique atmosphere. I’d definitely recommend this tour to anyone who wants to discover the heart and soul of the city in an authentic and engaging way.

Fantastic Tour With Batuhan

Irem_D, Sept 2025

Response from Host, Oct 2025

I am happy that you enjoyed the tour. Hope to see you again if you ever come back to Istanbul.

This tour was one of the...

Adley_B, Sept 2025

This tour was one of the best experiences we had in Istanbul. Our guide Batu made everything easy to understand, fun and very enjoyable. We really appreciated his recommendations and the way he organized the day. It felt smooth, stress free and full of fascinating insights. We learned a lot, laughed a lot and left with unforgettable memories. Highly recommend this tour if you want to truly experience the city.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

I am happy that you enjoyed the tour. Hopefully, we will meet again on your next visit to Istanbul.

This tour was one of the...

Sebastian_D, Sept 2025

This tour was one of the best experiences we had in Istanbul (maybe even the best). Our guide Batu made everything easy to understand, fun, and very enjoyable. We really appreciated the restaurant recommendation, which was a perfect addition to the day. Everything was well organized, and we felt that we got to see and learn so much without any stress. We would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting the city.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

I am happy that you enjoyed the tour. I hope to welcome you again in Istanbul in the future.

Great Tour!

Pedro_H, Sept 2025

Great tour in Istanbul! Our guide Batu was amazing ,friendly, fun, and very knowledgeable. We visited the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar. Skip the line access saved us a lot of time, which made everything smooth and easy. Highly recommend this experience!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your review. I hope to see you again in Istanbul someday.

Amazing experience of Istanbul!

Aleksey_S, Sept 2025

This was a terrific tour. Our tour guide Batuhan was fantastic and he was able to answer all of our questions. I strongly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Sept 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m really glad you enjoyed the tour, it was a pleasure guiding you. I hope to see you again on another tour in the future.

Excellent experience for first time in Istanbul

Elisabete_F, May 2026

The guide Batu was punctual. Advised to start a little earlier to avoid crowds. Please facilitate the purchase of tickets for the planned activities. We were lucky, as we did not wait long to enter the Cisterna. Good lunch, good company. I recommend.

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