Highlights of Istanbul

Recommended by 97% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Istanbul, Turkey

5 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Dive into Istanbul’s Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history on a small-group 7-hour tour, and visit the city’s historical highlights. Traveling mostly by foot, hear revealing facts and historical anecdotes about the city, and visit must-sees such the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Learn about Istanbul’s remarkable past from your informative guide, and stop for lunch and a shopping session at the Grand Bazaar, home to a myriad of tempting stalls. Numbers are limited to 15 people on this small-group tour to ensure personalized attention from a guide.

7-hour Istanbul highlights walking tour, including lunch
Explore the best of old Istanbul as you learn about its history and culture
Visit the spectacular Hagia Sophia, a Byzantine and Ottoman marvel dating to the 6th century
Soak up the beauty of the Blue Mosque, with its 20,000 blue Iznik tiles
Walk around the Hippodrome, once the sporting and social hub of Constantinople
Experience the halls and treasures of the Topkapi Palace and browse the Grand Bazaar
Small-group tour limited to 15 people for a more intimate atmosphere

What's Included

Lunch
Local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Air-conditioned vehicle

Drinks
All Fees and Taxes
Entrance Tickets To The Museums
Pick up / drop of outside of our free service area, like the 2 istanbul int.airports

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

if your Hotel is Located Out Of our Free Pick Up Area We can Send To You an extra Taxi With an extra Fee. or ,you can join to our Tours Starting Point By Your Own Way.( Please Try To be on time )

Operating hours
.8:45 am

Itinerary

Start with a pickup from your Istanbul hotel and set out to explore the highlights of this history-steeped city with your professional guide.

Traveling between the sights mostly by foot, hear intriguing facts about Istanbul’s Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman past, and the city's long-standing importance due to its position at the meeting point of Asia and Europe.

Make your first stop at the Hagia Sophia museum, a one-time mosque converted from a 6th-century Christian basilica built by Emperor Justinian I. Marvel at the incredible building and admire the interior’s glimmering, handcrafted mosaics and rich decoration.

Next, walk across the street to see the stunning Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque). Take in the immense, flat dome and famous minarets, and explore inside with your guide. Absorb the ocean of over 20,000 Iznik tiles that lend the mosque its name, and behold the magnificent, rich carpets and windows.

Heading outside again, stop to view the Hippodrome, the former sporting and social center of Constantinople. See the remnants of this historical arena, and imagine how the long-ago locals felt when they came here to watch exciting horse and chariot races.

From here, continue to the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest covered markets. Scout around some of the 4,000 stalls and get haggling tips from your guide on buying everything from leatherware to perfumes, gold and spices.

Stop for an included lunch and lastly, explore the Topkapi Palace, home to the Ottoman court from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Now a museum, this grandiose palace is testament to the lavish lifestyles of the sultans. Stroll through the ornate chambers, courts and gardens, and behold some of the imperial treasures, ranging from precious Chinese porcelain to jewels and relics of the Prophet Mohammed.

Your tour then concludes with a hotel drop-off.

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Blue Mosque

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Hippodrome

35 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Basilica Cistern

35 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Grand Bazaar

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
To visit mosques a scarf is requested for ladys
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

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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

4.9

based on 34 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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I highly recommend this tour.

Lenore_E, Sep 2025

Emre was a wonderful tour guide. He was able to give the long and complex history of this country in a way that made it very understandable. He speaks in perfect English and was very patient with our mobility challenges.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thanks to your very kind review. Hope to see you again in istanbul with our istanbul tour services.

A must in Istanbul and great company and tour guide

Kieran_S, Jul 2024

This is a must for any visitor to Istanbul - Erme the tour guide was absolutely amazing (if I could give higher than 5 stars I would) - this was a perfect tour, well timed, Emre was professional, knowledgeable and personable that made the whole experience perfect. Picked up from Hotel, professionally done, experienced the best and most friend Turkish people ever - everyone was so friendly and it made this a cultural experience and not just a history lesson. Had great food at lunchtime. The Blue Mosque and Hagia.Sophia were amazing, my favorite was the Basicila Cisterns (especially if you are a Dan Brown fan or history nerd) - Grand bazaar was an experience that you have to do in Istanbul. Massively recommend this trip and if you are lucky enough to get Emre then you blessed!!!! Brilliant company and brilliant tour guide,

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Thanks to your very kind review. Emre

Exceptional

Lori_D, Jun 2024

Guide was exceptional! So much history and knowledge and able to meet all my needs. Asked about the things I was interested in and wanted to do/see. Made sure those happened! Took me to a lovely lunch that was fresh and authentic. Helped me understand how to make purchases. So kind and helpful. Can’t say enough wonderful things about this experience!

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Dear Lori, Thanks to your kind review.Hope to see you again in istanbul in very near future. All the Best Emre

Our private tour (booked as group...

David A, Jun 2016

Our private tour (booked as group) was great and included Blue Mosque area, shops and restaurants around the Grand Bazaar, Old City tour and Sultans Palace. All tickets and lunch are included. Our tour guide Galat (sp) was friendly and knowledgeable. Five stars!! Have fun!!