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Private Istanbul Layover Tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers
Istanbul, Turkey
  • 5 to 7 hours (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Group discounts
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Forget spending hours on end in the airport food court and instead visit Istanbul’s top attractions during your layover. Tour organizers create a perfectly curated itinerary to suit your interests and time restrictions.  With private transportation at your disposal from beginning to end, there’s no need to worry about making your connecting flight. Plus, you get the personal attention of a private guide.
  • Customize the tour to suit your schedule and interests
  • Escape the terminal and visit Istanbul’s biggest attractions during your layover
  • Relax in private end-to-end transportation
  • Get the personalized experience of a private guide

What's Included

  • Professional guide
  • Round-trip private transfer
  • Public Transportation during the tour (tram, ferry, metro)
  • Skip the ticket line at Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia ( not entrance tickets )
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Personal expenses
  • Visa
  • Entrance fee - Hagia Sophia Mosque
    €25.00 per person
  • Entrance Fees of Museums if you like to see.
  • Entrance fee - Basilica Cistern
    TRY1,500.00 per person

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point

  • Istanbul International Airport
    Istanbul Turkiye

Pickup details

Please note that, pick up time is 1 ( one) hour after the landing of your flight. We will be monitoring your flight from the flight number you share with us during the booking and we will be aware of early landing and delays. To meet our Meet&Greet staff at the airport, please read the below instructions carefully and note them with you for the airport as you might not have the internet connection once you land in Istanbul. After you get off of the plane and pass through the passport controls and custom checks, please walk to the exit GATE 14 ( outside the airport ) where it is Meet & Greet point for the transfer organizations. Right after the exit you will see many people holding signs boards. Please keep your eyes for the board sign as SW39. Tell your name to the Welcome & Greeting staff and they will accompany you to the driver. Please note that, the sign holders are the third party and their english is limited. If you have any issue make them call Yunus + 905417692277The next step is that he will accompany you to the driver and driver will bring you to the center where you will meet your guide to start the tour. Driving duration to the center is approximately one hour. Please note that, once you arrive to the center the tour will be walking and using public transportations as tram and ferry depend of your itinerary. The car will be used only for pick up and drop off from pick up and to the drop off points. We will not be touring with the car which is not necessary for Istanbul. Walking is the best way to explore Istanbul and it is easy walk. For those who have walking issues please contact us for the private car which will apply an extra fee. P.S. if you have any luggage with you, we suggest you to store them at the airport while on tour. If that can’t happen for any reason then we will store your luggage at an establishment we work together. Luggage will be stored there while touring and will be picked them up at the end of the tour. For those who require drop off at airport, we will schedule your tour to end three hours before your flight departure time and you will be dropped off at airport two hours prior to your flight departure time. This time is enough for those who have already checked in and have the boarding passes.

Itinerary

1

Istanbul

2 hours 30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

2

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Not Included

3

Blue Mosque

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

4

Grand Bazaar

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

5

Rustem Pasha Mosque

20 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

6

Hippodrome

15 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Layover tours are only available from Istanbul Airport
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Stroller accessible
  • You need at least a 7-hour layover in Istanbul Ataturk Airport to have a layover tour.
  • You will depart back to Airport at least 2.5 h Before your flight time.
  • Layover Tour includes professional guiding and Private transfer 2 ways
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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)

Reviews

4.9
based on 11 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Educational experience

Lilly_S, Feb 2026
An amazing visit to Istanbul! We were picked up as planned from the airport and swiftly transported into the city. There we met up with our guide Yassim. He was fruendly and incredibly knowledgeable about the history and culture of Istanbul. We visited the Blue Mosque (outside only (because a Friday), walked extensively through the Hagia Sophia. We also visited the Basilica Cistern - an incredible place! And the Grand Bazar—good shopping. It was great to visit during “off season” with very short lines and very few people. We were amazed by how much we could do i only a few hours! We git back to the airport seven hours after we arrived but really a lifetime of learning in between! We also acquired an incredible respect for Turkish culture.

Perfect Layover Istanbul Tour

Anupam_K, Aug 2025
Ozge Dag was a great tour guide, who listened and facilitated our request to see 3 sites in 6-7 hours. She wslked us through small streets and back alleys to experience the real less touristy Istanbul. She was friendly and very efficient with good command of English

Great way to explore Istanbul

Kathleen_C, May 2025
My guide was personable and spoke perfect English. She shared interesting info about the different amazing sites. I came to take photos but was prevented due to the torential rain. I ended up cutting it short because I was soaking wet and could not get my camera wet. I do understand that the weather is not something you can control

Private Istanbul Walking Tour

Andrea_E, Sep 2024
Awesome private walking tour around Istanbul with transport to and from the airport! Itinerary is up to you and we chose to go to the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, and eat some local food in the market (borek and doner). The day was so much fun and our guide Mohammed was so great. We felt completely comfortable walking around the city. Excellent way to spend a long layover. Would highly recommend!

Old city charms

Darle_H, Apr 2024
Ozge was very knowledgeable and showed us many interesting local sites. I highly recommend this tour to anyone with a long layover.

Best layover experience

JoseSantinni_R, Dec 2022
Yasin Topcu was a amazing guide. I had a early layover of 6am. The private van picked me up promptly at 7am at the airport. Then went to city center~45 travel. Yasin was waiting for me and immediately started the tour. I was a solo traveller and wanted so see all that I can. Yasin did not skip a beat. We walked around for 5 hours seeing all the sights I wanted and guiding me to the best parts. I am a foodie so he showed me all the good Turkish food. Best Doner Kabobs I ever had!

From $235.08

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 93 days in advance.

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