Private Istanbul Byzantine & Ottoman Tour

Badge of Excellence

Istanbul, Turkey

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

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Overview

Skip the stress of navigating Istanbul on your own with this private city tour. Explore landmarks like Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace at your own pace with a professional English-speaking driver in a Wi-Fi-equipped vehicle. With hotel pickup and drop-off included, enjoy a seamless, flexible, and personalized experience, customizing your visit as you choose (admission fees not included).

Private tour with hotel pickup and drop-off
Wi-Fi-equipped vehicle for seamless connectivity
Professional English-speaking driver sharing local insights
Visit major Istanbul sites with flexible itinerary

What's Included

Hotel or custom pickup and drop-off
Professional English-speaking local driver/informal guide
Fuel and Tolls
All taxes and handling charges
Hotel pickup and drop-off
WiFi on board
Water

Meals and beverages
Tips and Gratuities
Admission Fee - Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)

€25.00 per person
Admission Fee - Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı)

€51.00 per person
Admission Fee - Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi)

€30.00 per person
Admission Fee - Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı)

€38.00 per person
Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı)

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Your Welcome Pickups driver will be waiting for you at the selected pickup location and time. Before your ride, you’ll receive your driver’s details — including their name, phone number, and car information — so you can easily recognize them. Your driver will arrive on time and be ready to assist you and any special requests before starting your journey. Please note that our sightseeing tours does not automatically include airport pickup or drop-off. If you wish to start or end your tour at the airport, simply select the option with airport pickup included when booking if available. Kindly share any special requirements, such as traveling with a service animal or needing extra assistance, when booking your ride. This ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience for you.

Itinerary

Blue Mosque

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Sultanahmet District

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

TopkapI Palace

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Galata Tower

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Dolmabahce Palace

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Bosphorus Bridge

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate

For 1-3 people: A comfortable sedan will be assigned to your group.
For 4-8 people: A spacious minivan will be assigned to your group.
Each traveler is allowed a maximum of 1 suitcase and 1 carry-on bag. Oversized or excessive luggage (e.g. surfboards, golf clubs, or bikes) may be subject to restrictions—please inquire with the operator prior to travel to confirm if your excess luggage can be accommodated. Please note: If your group consists of 3 travelers and each person has large luggage, a minivan may be required for a comfortable fit. To ensure a minivan is assigned, please make the booking for 5 passengers.
Throughout your ride, our drivers serve as informal local guides—sharing stories, history, and local tips at every stop. Please note that drivers are not permitted to enter museums or archaeological areas, but they’ll ensure you make the most of your visit with suggestions and background information before you explore on your own.
Some stops on your itinerary may be closed on the date of travel due to public holidays, maintenance or special events. We recommend verifying opening hours on the attraction’s official website or contacting us before your tour. If a stop is unexpectedly closed, we will try to offer a suitable alternative.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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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

4.5

based on 27 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Friendly tour guide

JoAnn_G, Sep 2025

Our private driver was will inc to take us any place we requested. He spoke good English and was on time at every drop off stop.

Great Driver & friendly

Grisel_S, Jun 2025

Ozkan Guven Is a great driver and friendly guy. He created a comfortable ride and I was able to make us a great visit experience.

Oddly a bit rushed for a four hour tour but it’s a huge city with lots to see. Driver was good.

Jeffrey_K, Oct 2023

Full tour of Istanbul European and Asian side. Although no time to visit the bazar. And barely tim to get out of van and see things. The van was fairly high up and it made it very difficult for my 86 year old father to get in and out of van. The driver should have had a step stool. Driver was very knowledgeable. But made it clear he was not a tour guide but a driver. He even took us on a ferry about from the Asian side to to European side.

Awfull!!

antonette_c, Apr 2023

It was a terrible experience because, despite the fact that I informed the company that our flight was delayed, they still refused to give us a refund or credit. Just take the cash with no service.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hi Antonette! It's truly disheartening to hear of your poor experience with Welcome. Please know that is far from the norm and we truly apologize for what happened. Please contact us at hello@welcomepickups.com regarding the above issue you faced stating your transfer ID number and our Complaint Team will get back to you as soon as possible to assist you further. We thank you for taking the time to leave a review and bringing the above to our attention.

Never again!!

Mellie_J, Aug 2022

Did not speak English and barely communicated. Was neither a guide nor seemed to know much of the city.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

We are exceptionally disappointed to receive the feedback you have shared following your experience with us. Please let me assure you our team set out to deliver experiences for every customer which are both welcoming and personalized in delivery, however it would seem we have not been able to do this in this instance. Please accept our apologies for this. Could you please get into contact with our customer service department And provide them with a transfer id so that we can have a more in depth Look into what happened with your transfer.