Istanbul Private Tour with Official Licensed Guide – Fast Entry

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Istanbul, Turkey

5 to 6 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

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Overview

What's Included

Fast track with guide
Guidance fee
Public transportation

Meeting guest at the port or hotel

basilica cistern admission fee (25 Euro)
Private transportation
topkapı palace (49 Euro)
Hagia Sophia Entry (€25euro)

Meeting and Pickup

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

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

I will meet you at the lobby of your hotel and we will start the tour together from there (public transportation included) Please note: This is a walking tour only — private transportation is not included.

Meeting point

Cankurtaran, Babı Hümayun Cd No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
IN FRONT OF HAGIA SOPHIA MOSQUE

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Blue Mosque

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Basilica Cistern

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Hippodrome

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Grand Bazaar

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Sultanahmet Square

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Eminonu Square

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
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 46 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Fantastic day in Istanbul

Cathy_L, Oct 2025

We highly recommend booking your private tour of Istanbul with Tanju. He was a very personable and considerate guide. He made our day in Istanbul an experience to remember. Right from booking the trip he was easy to communicate with, replied promptly and met us at our designated meeting spot on time. He had pre booked tickets where possible and had all the local knowledge to skip the queues. Tanju’s training and extensive of knowledge of Art history and architecture was evident during our visit to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Cistern, which had been on our bucket list. In addition he took us to a beautiful tea house for Turkish tea to try some yummy baklava and a walk through the spice market. Absolutely worth every cent having a personalised tour. Thank you Tanju for making it a memorable day!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hello Dear Cathy, Thank you so much! It was a real pleasure spending the day with you and I had a great time guiding you through the city

Best tour, already recommended to friends

Erica_M, Sep 2025

We had an unforgettable day touring Istanbul with Tanju, whose deep knowledge of Roman and Ottoman history brought each site vividly to life. From the majestic Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque to the atmospheric ancient cistern and bustling Grand Bazaar, every stop was enriched by his insights and storytelling. Thanks to his local connections and expertise, we avoided long lines and enjoyed top service throughout the day. The delicious lunch and traditional Turkish coffee were highlights, and the shopping experience was curated and relaxed. Tanju was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also warm, engaging, and attentive, delivering a high-end, seamless experience that far exceeded our expectations.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Hello Dear Erica, Thank you so much for your kind words Im so happy that you have enjoyed the tour and I hope to see you again Istanbul

Istanbul

James_T, Sep 2025

Tour guide was exceptional. Knowledgeable, personable and interesting. Was able to skip the line on all sites. Highly recommend Tanju our guide and the tour itself.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Hello Dear James, Thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely review. It was wonderful to explore Istanbul together, and I’m glad you had a memorable experience.

Best tour EVER!

robert_c, Aug 2025

my Tour guide's name was Tanju Abo. We've taken many tours in many cities and this guide was the absolute best!!!!! Istanbul is a beautiful and interesting city. But what made this the best ever was our guide who seemingly knew everything. He was a great ambassador for the city and country. I can't say enough kind things about him. Tanju requested we start an hour early to beat the crowds, and boy was he right. We practically had the Hagia Sophia to ourselves. When we entered we were told there were only 20 people that went in ahead of us! It was wonderful being able to listen and take phoyos without any distractions. We probably spent over an hour in there because he had so much interesting facts and history. And he presented the information very well. My wife couldn't make the tour because of an ailment, so I asked Tanju if we could cut the trip a bit short only going to the places that were on my bucket list to see so we could stay closer to the ship. He obliged and kept saying "if your wife is able to join us later, I will sit you down somewhere and walk back to the ship to get her." Amazing. You don't get that type of service often...it was much appreciating and kept my mind at ease. I think we cut down a 5 hour tour to about 3 hours. Saw everything except the bazaar and the palace. It was a wonderful tour...I can't say enough goo things about Tanju!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you so much it was my pleasure

Istanbul, Türkiye a perfect day.

Christopher_G, Jun 2025

We had a day in Istanbul prior to a 12 day cruise. We wanted a quick trip about town to learn about the history and see the sights. Tanju was wonderful. He got us to the places that are mentioned in all the tour books as well as some local favorites. We hit the AyaSofya, the Basilica Cistern, the Blue Mosque, the Bazaar, the Spice shops, a local mosque, a family owned Turkish rug shop, and had a wonderful lunch. Tanju is a licensed tour guide so we skipped all the lines. He also knew what time to get us to the different sites to avoid the crowds. It was mid May and I could not recommend this time of year to travel more. The weather was beautiful and the crowds not overwhelming. We felt in our one day in town we saw the highlights and learned so much of the history. Thanks to Tanju.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hello Dear Christopher, Thank you so much for your kind review Im so happy that you have enjoyed the tour it was pleasure for me and hope to see you again Best regards

INCREDIBLE! BOOK THIS TOUR IF YOU WANT THE BEST OF THE BEST!

Amanda_B, Aug 2024

Istanbul was on our "bucket list" but it was our tour guide, Tanju, that helped to make our time there a memory to truly cherish. Istanbul really is a magical city but without Tanju's expertise, wisdom and wit, we wouldn't have truly been able to experience the best of what Istanbul had to offer. Even before our trip, Tanju was kind enough to actively exchange with us on the details and was ready and waiting for us when we arrived for our tour. We saw several of the major landmarks (Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, etc) and in his capable hands, somehow managed to avert the lines - I am not overstating the fact that you will be made to feel like a VIP with how swiftly he navigates you through the crowd. He truly went above and beyond for us. Lastly but perhaps most importantly, being in his company is a pleasure - you rather feel like you are with a dear friend (who knows all about the history of Istanbul!) for an afternoon in the city versus an anonymous tourist. My husband and I can't rave enough about the experience so you can stop looking at other options ;-) and book this tour knowing you have found the best of the best. Thank you, Tanju, for making our time in Istanbul amazing.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Hello Dear Amanda,Thank you very much for your wonderful review. I am truly happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and appreciated every detail. Sharing the history, culture, and hidden stories of Istanbul with engaged guests like you makes my work even more meaningful. I hope the memories from this experience will stay with you for a long time, and I would be delighted to welcome you again whenever you return. Best regards