Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour

Your guide meets you in your hotel lobby or at the cruise port to begin the Old City tour:

• Highlights of Topkapi Palace Museum: home to the Ottoman sultans until the reign of Abdulmecid and the seat of the Imperial Council for almost 400 years. Standing just behind Hagia Sophia, it reflects the power of the Ottoman Empire.
• Sultanahmet Square: the centre of today's Old City and the site of chariot races in Roman times. The German Fountain here is a symbol of the friendship between the Ottoman and German empires.
• Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya): built in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian as a church and converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest. It holds a special place in both the Christian and Islamic worlds and tells the story of both faiths under one dome.
• Blue Mosque: in the heart of Sultanahmet Square, built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmed I. Its domes shape Istanbul's skyline, and visitors from all over the world come to see its interior of blue tiles.
• Basilica Cistern: an atmospheric underground reservoir from Byzantine Constantinople, famous for its forest of marble columns, soft lighting and reflections in the shallow water.
• Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi): built in the 15th century, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, and a magical place to shop.

At the end of the tour your guide accompanies you back to your hotel or port.

*This day can be done on foot because the sites are close together. If your hotel is not central, we recommend booking a private van.
*If one of the mosques cannot be visited, the Basilica Cistern is visited instead.

Your guide meets you in your hotel lobby or at the cruise port to begin the Bosphorus tour:

• Spice Market: also called the Egyptian Bazaar, a colourful covered market in Eminonu full of shops selling spices, sweets and much more. It is one of the most vibrant and fragrant corners of Istanbul.
• Bosphorus Cruise: take a break from the busy city on a public ferry between the European and Asian shores, passing Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace and more. For many guests this is the highlight of their time in Istanbul. *Please let us know if you would prefer a private yacht.
• Dolmabahce Palace: in Besiktas, right on the Bosphorus, the main administrative centre of the Ottoman state for many years. It is famous for its elegance, lavish decoration and the furnishings, paintings and porcelain made especially for it.
• Taksim Square: the heart of modern Istanbul, which has witnessed many important moments in Turkey's history. With its shops, restaurants and bars it is popular with locals and visitors alike.
• Cicek Passage: originally called the Cite de Pera, it combines traditional and modern Ottoman building styles. Today it is one of Beyoglu's historic landmarks, surrounded by restaurants, cafes, shops and nightlife.
• Istiklal Street: the lively avenue running from Taksim, lined with European consulates and with views towards Galata Tower.

At the end of the tour your guide accompanies you back to your hotel or port.

*We recommend booking a private car for this day because transport is needed between the sites.

Your guide meets you in your hotel lobby or at the cruise port to begin the Golden Horn tour:

• Suleymaniye Mosque: on Istanbul's third hill in Fatih, built for Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. It is the largest mosque in Istanbul, impressive inside and out, and its terrace offers lovely views over the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus.
• Fener: discover Istanbul's religious history at the Church of St. George, the spiritual centre of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
• Balat: get a feel for local life among century-old Ottoman houses painted red, blue and green, with art galleries and design shops along the way.
• St. Stephen Church: on the shore of the Golden Horn, known as the Iron Church because it was built entirely of iron in the 19th century.
• Pierre Loti Hill and cable car: ride the cable car to the top and enjoy a Turkish coffee or tea with a wonderful view of the Golden Horn.
• Chora Church (Kariye Mosque): in Edirnekapi, one of the finest surviving examples of late Byzantine art.

At the end of the tour your guide accompanies you back to your hotel or port.

*We recommend booking a private vehicle for this day because transport is needed between the sites.

This is the end of the 3-day tour. For an extra day or a customised Istanbul programme, please contact us. Thank you for travelling with us; we look forward to welcoming you again.

Last-minute bookings and late starts: museums and some sites close around 5:30 pm, so your guide will suggest alternative sites when needed.

Meeting point: your guide meets you at central Istanbul hotels or at Galataport. If your hotel is not central, the meeting point is the German Fountain. Without van service, your guide meets you on foot at centrally located hotels. Pickup from hotels outside the city centre has an extra charge.

Opening days:

• The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
• The Blue Mosque is closed to visitors until 2 pm on Fridays.
• Entry to Hagia Sophia is restricted during prayer times.
• Entry to Chora Church (Kariye Mosque) is restricted during prayer times.
• Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays. By regulation, live guiding is not allowed inside Dolmabahce Palace.

Annual closing dates of museums and bazaars in Istanbul:

• January 1 - New Year
• March 20, 21 and 22, 2026 - Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan Feast)
• May 27, 28, 29 and 30, 2026 - Eid al-Adha