Last Updated on 5 November 2023 by TT
Istanbul City Tour
Istanbul city tour; Istanbul is a city of 16 million population, founded on two continents, capital of four empires (Byzantium, East Latin Empire, Roman and Ottoman) and therefore it is difficult to choose just one kind of city tour. It is also impossible to have an idea regarding this huge city, only in 4 or 8 hours. What we recommend to the visitors is, to take 2 or 3 different excursions or walking tours. We know that it is nt easy to choose but here are some of the options below;
PS; This webpage is to offer guiding services only, we are not supplying travel agency services. The tour programs mentioned below are just recommended samples.
Recommended tours in Istanbul
1- ESSENTIAL MONUMENTS OF ISTANBUL 1, (8 hours)
Discription of the tour; this tour comprise of the most emblematic and fascinating historical monuments from the Byzantium, Roman and Ottoman periods.
Places to see; Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Fountain of Sultan Ahmed, Tombs of the Sultans, Roman Hippodrome, German Fountain, Million Stone, Grand Bazaar.
Notes;
- Type of the tour; walking
- Way of transportation; walking
- Difficulty of Walking; 7/10
- The price includes; private English speaking licenced guide, entrance without waiting at the ticket lines.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on sundays, we can alter it with Spice Bazaar.
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
2- ESSENTIAL MONUMENTS OF ISTANBUL 2, (8 hours)
Description of the tour; this tour comprise of the historical and cultural heritage of Istanbul and finish with a guided Bosphorus boat tour, may be the most essential activity to experience in Istanbul.
Places to see; Istanbul Archaeolgy Museum, Islamic Arts Museum, Basilica Cistern, Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar, Bosphorus boat tour.
Notes;
- Type of the tour; walking
- Way of transportation; walking + tram
- Difficulty of walking; 7/10
- The price includes; private English speaking licenced guide, entrance without waiting at the ticket lines, tram ticket, boat tour with the guide.
- Archaeology Museum is closed on Mondays.
3- PANORAMIC SIGHTSEEING TOUR (8 hours);
Discription of the tour; this is a sightseeing tour in the European part of the city with some photo stops, walking tour in the old town and a visit to Grand Bazaar.
Places to see; Sirkeci Train Station, Yeni Mosque & Eminonu District, Galata Bridge, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Byzantine walls, Cibali Kapi, Cibali Tobacco Factory, Bulgarian Church, Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Kilic Ali Paşa Mosque, Bosphorus, Dolmabahçe Palace, Dolmabahçe Mosque, Beşiktaş Stadium, The Tomb of Barbarossa, Asian Side of Bosphorus, Hagia, Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar.
Notes;
- Type of the tour; panoramic + walking
- Way of transportation; private vehicle + walking
- Difficulty of Walking; 4/10
- The price includes; private English speaking licenced guide, private vehicle with driver, parking fees, oil, insurance.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on sundays, we can alter it with Spice Bazaar.
4- TWO CONTINENTS IN ONE DAY (8 hours)
Description of the tour; this tour comprise of the historical and bohemian quarters like Cihangir, Cukurcuma, Pera, Galata and Karakoy districts and Kadikoy, the center of the Asian side of Istanbul. This tour is out of the touristic routes. Apart from a refreshing ferry pass and historical attractions you will also see how the local Turkish people live, what do they eat and drink.
Places to see; Taksim Square, Cihangir, Cukurcuma and Galata districts, the second oldest metro line of the world, Galata Mevlevi / Sufi House, Galata Tower, Karakoy district, Turkish Orthodox Patriarch, Usküdar and Maiden’s Tower (to be seen during the ferry pass), Kadikoy District, traditional food market of Kadikoy, taking the historical tram. Shops, cafes, bars, antiquarians, boutiques and right places for gastronomic experiance.
Notes;
- Type of the tour; walking
- Way of transportation; walking + tram + ferry
- Difficulty of walking; 7/10
- The price includes; private English speaking licenced guide, tram and ferry tickets.
- Galata Mevlevi House is closed on Mondays.
5- VILLAGES OF THE BOSPHORUS (9 hours)
Description of the tour; the tour comprise of the most beautiful villages and quarters in the both sides of the Bosphorus. You will be able to stop in the villages that you desired or in the villages recommended by your private guide. If you like you can make an artistic visit to Sabanci Museum or have a traditional raki-fish experiance in a sea side restaurant. The most interesting part of this tour is passing from Europe to Asia continent by the bridge and from Asia to Europe by the tunnel under the sea.
Places to see; Dolmabahce Palace, Besiktas, Ciragan Palace, Ortakoy, Bebek, Emirgan villages, Rumeli Fortress, passing from Europe to Asian continent by Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, Kanlica, Cengelkoy, Kuzguncuk, Camlıca Hill Viewpoint, Beylerbeyi Palace & Uskudar. Recommended stopovers; Ortakoy, Bebek, Rumeli Fortress, Çengelkoy, Beylerbeyi Palace, Çamlica.
Notes;
- Type of the tour; panoramic, walking and relaxed
- Way of transportation; private vehicle + walking
- Difficulty of walking; 3/10
- The price includes; private English speaking licenced guide, private vehicle and driver, oil, bridge and canal talls.
- The price excludes; parking fees, entrance tickets, food and drink.
- Sakip Sabanci Museum is closed on Mondays.
- Rumeli Fortress is closed on wednesdays.
6- BOSPHORUS BOAT TOUR WITH VISITS (8 hours)
Description of the tour; this tour comprise of a refreshing Bosphorus boat tour with some stops in the villages of the Bosphorus. In this tour you will see the beautiful waterside mansions and the most expences houses of Turkey, able two visit two fascinating Ottoman palaces and a nice museum to see some of the important samples of Turkish traditional arts and painting. You will also have some time to eat and drink by the sea side.
Places to see; Dolmabahce Palace & Mosque, Beylerbeyi Palace, Emirgan Village, Sakip Sabanci Museum, Kucuksu Pavillion, two bridges of the Bosphorus, Rumeli Fortress, Anadolu Fortress..
Notes;
- Type of the tour; panoramic boat tour and visits
- Way of transportation; tram + walking
- Difficulty of walking; 5/10
- The price includes; private English speaking licenced guide, Bosphorus boat tour, tram ticket.
- Sakip Sabanci Museum, Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces are closed on Mondays.
7- BEYOGLU-PERA-GALATA-KARAKOY (8 hours)
Description of the tour; Beyoğlu is one of the oldest communes of Istanbul and has lots of Genoese and Ottoman remains to see. In this tour you will see the most bohemian, intellectual and historical quarters of Beyoglu. You will walk along the back streets which is out of the touristic routes and more local people live and gathered.
Places to see; Cihangir and Cukurcuma quarters full of nice cafes, antiquarians and art nouveau buildings. Flower Passage, Istiklal Street, Galata High School, Ilhan Koman’s artwork (Mediterranean), Saint Antoine Italian Church, Casa Garibaldi, Pera Palace Hotel and Ataturk’s Room, Asmalimescit quarter, Kamondo Building, Palazzo Corpi, the second oldest metro line of the world, Galata Tower, Karakoy district, Underground Mosque, visiting one of the best baklava shops, Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate and trendy streets of Karakoy.
On the route you may also visit some of the following museums if you are interested, optionally.
- Museum of Innocency of Orhan Pamuk
- Turkish Cinema Museum
- FC Galatasaray Museum
- Mevlana / Sufi House Museum
- Pera Museum
- Jewish Musuem of 500th Years
Notes;
Type of the tour; walking and visit
Way of transportation; walking
Difficulty of walking; 6 /10
The price includes; private English speaking licenced guide, private vehicle with driver
8- GOLDEN HORN & CHORA MUSEUM (8 hours)
Description of the tour; Golden Horn is an estuary in Istanbul and was an important harbour for the war and trade ships down through the ages. You will see the old town part of the Golden Horn with many historical and other interesting attractions from Byzantium, Ottoman and republican periods.
Places to see; Cibali Tobacco Factory, Bulgarian Iron Church, Cibali Gate, Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Greek Orthodox High School, walking at the streets of Balat, Fener districts, Pierre Loti Hill cafe and view point, Tekfur Palace, Eyup Sultan Mosque, Chora Church / Museum.
Notes;
- Type of the tour; panoramic, walking and visit
- Way of transportation; private vehicle + walking
- Difficulty of walking; 5/10
- The price includes; private English speaking licenced guide, private vehicle with driver
CONTACT FOR A PRIVATE TOUR GUIDE;
- Istanbul City Tour
- Private tour guides in Istanbul