Istanbul Top Attractions sightseeing Hop-on Hop-Off Bus
Istanbul, Turkey
- 1 day (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover the top sights of Istanbul without breaking a sweat with a 1-day hop-on hop-off bus tour pass. The sightseeing experience is perfect for travelers on a budget who want to explore the city at their own pace. Stop at the attractions that interest you and pass by the ones that don’t. Throughout the ride, you’ll enjoy exceptional open-air views of the city. Stops include Sultanahmet, Eminonu, Taksim Square, and the Spice Bazaar.
- Get a comprehensive overview of Istanbul's top attractions
- Avoid the hassle of public transit and overpriced taxis
- Learn about the city's history with a provided audio guide
- Personalize your sightseeing adventure in Istanbul
What's Included
- A-day valid ticket
- Professional licensed driver
- Audio-guide (8 languages)
- Internet access
Meeting and Pickup
Departure Point
- You may start this tour at any of the stops listed.
Itinerary
Book your full-day hop-on-hop-off bus ticket for the date you choose and show your e-ticket directly at the Sultanahmet boarding point to begin your tour of Istanbul. Choose to kick off at the time you prefer—buses depart each hour from 10am to 5pm—then select a seat on the open-top upper deck or air-conditioned lower level to take in the sights from the bus. Listen to commentary about Istanbul’s history and landmarks as you cross the city, getting off the bus at the stops near sights that interest you most. Sightsee on foot at your own pace, then board the next passing bus to continue along the route until you’ve covered all the included sights.
Sultanahmet Departure
12 Stops
10 Points of Interest
Duration: 1 day
Operating Schedule: Departure from Sultanahmet at (10:00 - 11:00 - 12:00 - 13:00 - 14:00 - 15:00 - 16:00 - 17:00)
1
Sultanahmet
2
Eminönü
3
Karaköy
4
Galataport Istanbul
5
Meclis-i Mebusan Cd. 36 B
6
Naval Museum
7
Beylerbeyi Palace
8
Büyük Beşiktaş Çarşısı
9
Taksim Square
10
Şişhane Sokak
11
Egyptian Bazaar
12
Sultanahmet
Points of interest passed by on this route
Blue Mosque
Eminonu Pier
Karakoy
Galata Tower
Dolmabahce Palace
Besiktas
Beylerbeyi Palace
Besiktas
Taksim Square
Misir Carsisi
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
3.5
based on 198 reviews
Loretta_M, Oct 2025
The commentary was a bit out of sync first time on all the years and cities we've used it? Not sure why.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your feedback on the Istanbul Top Attractions Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-Off Bus tour. We’re sorry to hear that the commentary was slightly out of sync during your ride. We understand how this can affect the experience and appreciate you bringing it to our attention.
Your feedback helps us improve our services, and we hope to provide a smoother and more enjoyable experience on your next Tourmania tour.
Warm regards,
The Tourmania Team
Colleen_H, Aug 2025
Buyer beware. Guide will only take cash for entrance fees. Hundreds of dollars. You won’t find this information in the ad. Also, will message you a day ahead and tell you they can’t pick you up at your hotel.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your feedback. It appears there may have been a confusion with a different type of tour.
This experience is a hop-on hop-off walking tour with a fixed meeting point. As clearly stated on the product page, hotel pickup is not included, and participants are required to meet the guide at the designated location.
Additionally, entrance fees are not included in this tour, and we do not collect entrance payments as part of the booking. Any optional site visits are explained in advance on the product description.
All of this information is transparently shared before booking to help guests choose the tour that best fits their needs. We appreciate the opportunity to clarify this for future travelers.
Warm regards,
The Tourmania Team
Kathleen_S, Jun 2025
There's so much to take in. Istanbul is an amazing city, and this bus is a great introduction to it. At the end we dropped off right near the Blue Mosque and took a second tour of the Old City, then got back on the bus to go straight to our cruise ship.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed exploring Istanbul with us and found the hop-on hop-off bus a great way to get introduced to the city's incredible sights. Ending your day near the Blue Mosque and taking a second tour of the Old City sounds like a perfect way to experience its rich history. We're also glad we could conveniently get you back to your cruise ship. We hope to welcome you aboard again on your next visit!
Joanna_P, Sep 2024
If you've never been to Istanbul, be prepared for the insane traffic. My mom and I only hopped off on one stop for about 30 mins, and were waiting for the next bus for at least 45 more. Probably spent at least 4 hrs doing one full loop due to the unbelievable amount of cars on the road. This tour needs to have more busses running to account for this because there's just way too long wait times between each bus. They also don't announce where the upcoming stops are so you have to always check the map to see where you actually are. Overall just an ok experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for your feedback. We are very sorry you had such an experience and we could
not meet your 5-star mark. Next time we will do our best to make you happy by improving
our services even more.
MarieJo_B, Sep 2024
Great way to see part of city but to see whole city you have to pay for several routes which is expensive .. best to buy one ticket to do all routes
Steve_E, Sep 2024
Very informative voice guide. Lovely staff and buses ran on time at every stop. No main feet when the traffic is so heavy!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for taking your time to give us your pleasant feedback.
Hope to see you again in the near future.
Warm Regards ;
Tourmania Team
MariaElena_G, Aug 2024
I would have given it 5 *s, if there would have been a real tour guide. We were driven to different locations w no explanation.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you so much for taking your time to give us your pleasant feedback.
Hope to see you again in the near future.
Warm Regards ;
Tourmania Team
Michelle_S, Jun 2024
Worst hop on and off bus experience we have ever had.
First off ai thought Viator had a low price guarantee but other people paid 35 Euros when they purchased at the bus stop.
Second I hear people complain that the buses don’t run on schedule because of traffic but our experience was that it was by choice. We got on a bus that was suppose to depart at 3:30 at 3:15 and it sat until 3:45 even though there were two other empty buses sitting behind them. It’s like they didn’t feel like running unless they had enough people in them.
I would recommend spending your money on something else.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your Hop-on Hop-Off bus experience in Istanbul did not meet your expectations.
Pricing on-site versus online may vary slightly depending on the time of booking or promotional offers. We regret any confusion this caused.
Regarding the bus schedule, traffic in Istanbul can be unpredictable, and occasional adjustments are made by the operator to ensure safety and operational efficiency. However, we take your comments seriously and have shared your observations with the operator to ensure adherence to the timetable and improve guest experience.
We appreciate your feedback, as it helps us maintain higher standards and better communicate expectations to future guests.
Kind regards,
Tourmania Team
Cheryl_S, Jun 2024
Excellent tour to get to know Istanbul. Bus was newe, in great condition, good space between seats and a tarp for those who wanted to sit on top but ot in the sun. Narration was informative. Whole loop was long - over 2 hours due to traffic but a really good tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you so much for this amazing review. We really appreciate you being a customer and
helping to share the word about us. We’re here for you anytime.
Panju_A, Mar 2024
Easy to hop in and hop off because they keep up the time by the minute. Comfortable seats with great view …
Response from Host, Apr 2024
We are grateful that you took the time to leave us a review. Your feedback helps us to
improve service for everyone !
Christina_S, Jan 2024
I always like the Hop On Hop Off bus. Can get a lot of information and see the basics. I do wish the audio recording matched up with what we were seeing a bit better. The customer service representative was very helpful and kind.
DANIEL_B, Nov 2023
I went around on the full loop twice. I recommend it close to the start of your trip so you can get your bearings, easily see a lot of the city quickly and plan the rest of your trip.
Was a fun day listening to the history on the headphones provided 😇
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks for sharing your rating with us and the community.
Yours Sincerely;
William_H, Oct 2023
When the tickets were emailed to me, the bus schedule with times and bus stops should have been included. This seems obvious to me and I don't understand why it was not done. You need to be on the top level to really get the most out of the tour. This was not always possible as the bus is very crowded. Traffic is bad which makes the tour a little slow.
Elizabeth_W, Oct 2023
The stops were badly indicated.
Bus driver had a small accident not his fault I think. He never gave us any information how long we would be stationary for etc
Robert_S, Aug 2023
Overpriced, poor implementation of schedule (long waits for next busses), and English audio with a difficult British accent. On the plus side, the staff were friendly and accommodating and the busses spotless and modern with USB charging outlets at every seat. It would have been faster and cheaper to use the trams to go everywhere.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding the Istanbul Top Attractions Hop-on Hop-Off Bus tour. We’re glad to hear that you found our staff friendly and accommodating, and that you appreciated the cleanliness, modern buses, and amenities such as USB charging outlets.
We are, however, very sorry that the scheduling, long waits, and English audio caused frustration during your trip. We understand that smooth timing and clear narration are important, and we will share your comments with the bus operator to help improve the experience for future guests.
We truly appreciate your honest feedback, as it helps us enhance our services. We hope you were still able to enjoy the sights of Istanbul despite these challenges.
Kind regards,
Tourmania Team
Mindy_B, Aug 2023
It was good, but make sure you aren’t on time frames, the traffic is so very bad it takes @ 2 plus hours to do the loop.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you so much for taking your time to give us your pleasant feedback. hope to see you again in the near future.
All the best.
Toni_M, Aug 2023
The program started at 10:00 am. Bus left at 10:30 due to traffic arrived quite late at the first stop. Got off, visited then waited a very long time for the next bus. Another stop off. When we got on we were told we could ONLY do one more stop. We paid $54 dollars. A big waste of money and time. It is 24 hours but by 10:00 am the next day, our time was up.
English explanation was difficult to understan- too fast!
VERY disappointing. Will definitely NOT recommend!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding the Istanbul Hop-on Hop-off Bus. We are very sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, particularly with the delays, limited stops, and the English commentary being difficult to follow.
We understand how frustrating it can be when timing issues affect your sightseeing plans, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this caused. Your comments are valuable, and we will review them with our bus partner to improve the experience for future guests.
We appreciate your honesty and hope that despite these issues, you were still able to enjoy some of Istanbul’s sights.
Kind regards,
Tourmania Team
MARTIN_F, Jun 2023
Worst open top bus ride ever been on. From stop one it reversed down a road to a tourist spot then came back to where we got on and waited another 10 mins or so. Took an hour or more to get to only stop 4 - traffic was horrendous so why no bus lanes to use - we got off and didn’t do anymore. Sorry you wanted honest feedback.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding the Istanbul Top Attractions Hop-on Hop-Off Bus. We are very sorry to hear that your experience was negatively affected by traffic and delays.
Istanbul traffic can be unpredictable, especially during peak hours, and unfortunately, this can impact the timing of stops and the overall pace of the tour. While we strive to maintain the published schedule, road conditions are beyond our control. We apologize for any inconvenience this caused and appreciate your honesty, as it helps us identify ways to improve guest communication and expectations.
Thank you again for your feedback.
King Regards
Tourmania Team
Eric_H, May 2023
Great way to experience slthe city's main attractions. Would recommend taking this on the first day so you can get a general idea of logistics for other places you may be interested in. The person that assisted us in locating a stop was readily available, took pictures to show us where to be at. Excellent customer service.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
We are incredibly grateful that you took the time out to leave us a 5-Star review.
Reynaldo_M, May 2023
Most memorable was the crossing of the Bosphorus bridge from European to Asian side of Istanbul and back.
Response from Host, May 2023
We are so grateful for your review. Thanks for sharing your rating with us and the
community.
Lisa_J, May 2023
Two buses depart within minutes of each other every hour. My friend and I rode the bus for 4 hours and did not get off once. The sights are good but it was frustrating.
Suggest: 1. Increasing number of buses. If not feasible, stagger buses every 30 minutes. The buses will be full every time.
2. Breaking the route into two routes. (Requires more buses but I suspect the buses would still be full.)
3. Start a little earlier, like 9am and stagger every 30 minutes.
4. If card is required, have people with vouchers (reservation) processed separately. A lady (with family) literally held up those with cards from getting on the bus.
5. Don’t advertise for 24 hours when buses only run 10am to 5pm (every hour).
6. Add more commentary to the audio guide. Istanbul has so much history and culture that there’s plenty to fill space during traffic jams. No more music!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking the time to provide such detailed feedback. We truly appreciate your suggestions and understand how frustrating it can be when buses are full and schedules are not ideal.
Your points regarding increasing the frequency of buses, adjusting departure times, breaking the route into smaller segments, improving the audio commentary, and clarifying voucher and card procedures are all valuable. We will share your recommendations with our operations team to see how we can improve the experience for our guests.
We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the sights of Istanbul, and we hope to welcome you back in the future for an even better experience.
Kind regards,
Tourmania Team
Marco_M, Mar 2023
The tour was a perfect rest period from all the shopping and walikng. This specific day was a bit cold and cloudy but the bus was nice and warm. The top side was covered with tarp and the traffic was fairly good.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Reviews like yours make our day because it makes all the hard work worthwhile. It's so fantastic that the tour has made such a difference in your life. Thanks again for choosing Tourmania, and we can't wait to see you again!
All the best,
Murat.
Naufal_W, Jan 2023
I think Istanbul is a city which better to explore by walking but this bus tour is one of the best one I took from the others cities around europe and USA. The service was great, They gave us food and card. They are very organized aswell. The audio guide was very entretaining aswell and informative. so if you want to just sit down and go for a ride around the city, this is a good option. However, the traffic in Istanbul is crazy so expect a delay or stuck in traffic if you are taking this tour,which is not the fault of the company for sure. I recommend go take the mornig bus like 9 am so you have time to explore the city by foot after.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Thank you for the wonderful review and for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
Yours sincerely ;
Murat.
Liezl_L, Nov 2022
It is ok and good im satisfy ! i have nothing more to say because i have also an experience compare hop on hop off England & paris experience.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Thank you for the wonderful review and for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
Yours sincerely ;
Murat.
dolgonosm, Nov 2022
I think Istanbul is too big for this tour, although it’s my favorite in all other cities when we travel. Plus, too much traffic, so bus barely moves.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Thank you for the wonderful review and for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
Yours sincerely ;
Murat.
John_G, Oct 2022
We enjoyed seeing the main sites around Istanbul. We stopped and explored Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asia side if the Bosphorous Strait and then continued the rest of the bus trip.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Thanks for taking the time to review.
We know it takes time and we appreciate your effort!
We’re glad you had a good experience and hope to see you again soon.
All the best;
Murat.
Said_Z, Oct 2022
My bus was supposed to leave at 11:45, but couldn’t take it because it was already full. I had to wait one more hour to take the next bus. One hour was wasted.
Vuyokazi_N, Sep 2022
The tour was pleasant and very informative. Advertising could improve though as there was no internet on the bus.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Thanks for taking the time to review.
We know it takes time and we appreciate your effort!
We’re glad you had a good experience and hope to see you again soon.
All the best ;
Murat.
Rudolph_A, Aug 2022
It took 3 hours to complete one trip far too slow and not worth the wait. The traffic is too slow to make any hop on hop stops.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry to hear that your Hop-on Hop-off Bus experience in Istanbul did not meet your expectations.
Istanbul is a vibrant and historic city, and unfortunately traffic congestion—especially during peak hours—can affect travel times and the number of stops guests are able to enjoy. We understand that this can be frustrating and may impact your overall experience.
Your comments have been shared with our operations team, as we continuously review routes and schedules to improve the convenience and enjoyment of our tours for future guests.
Kind Regards
Tourmania Team
Liliana_F, Jul 2022
I have joined this trip reluctantly after seeing the 1 star rating, unfortunately, I have to join the group with unfavourable feedback. The experience was extremely disappointing, a trip of 2.5h actually took 5h. We were stuck in traffic for very long time, and I acknowledge there was a public holiday EID and the streets were congested, however, some of the staff took the Liberty of having 30-40min cigarette and coffee breaks besides the bus (on the street) while people were waiting in the bus (some people with small children, and a very hot day). To specify: these breaks were not when the traffic was moving, these breaks were taken at two different station stops and when we were actually out of the slow zones!
I feel sorry I do not have the name of these two staff members, a man and a lady middle aged, in the trip from Sultanahmet to Taksim square, they took 2 long breaks. The younger crew in the morning trip were helpful and did not stop the bus for personal breaks.
I have been travelling for a while around the world, but this is the first negative review that I HAD TO give, this company & trip is not worth the money. It has been very frustrating and disappointing day.
If you are willing to see Istanbul, try public transport or taxi (but negotiate hard, as prices vary)
From Taksim square to Sulnanahmet is only 10-15min max by tram, and very cheap instead of 2.5h that took in the morning(and this is half of the itinerary)
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We sincerely apologize for the delays, long traffic times, and the interruptions caused by staff breaks during your Istanbul Hop-on Hop-Off Bus experience. We understand how frustrating this must have been, especially with small children and on a hot day, and we regret that the service did not meet your expectations.
Your comments are very important, and we will share them with our operations and staff teams to ensure that schedules, staff breaks, and customer care are better managed in the future. We appreciate your honesty and hope that despite this experience, you were able to enjoy some of Istanbul’s sights.
King Regards,
Tourmania Team
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