Istanbul Classics and Bosphorus Cruise Private Tour
Description
This is a great tour option for the ones who only have one day to explore and still want to understand what Istanbul is all about. On this private 7-hours walking tour your guide will take you to an exciting journey through the centuries to the Istanbul's ancient Ottoman and Roman roots. You will learn about the most famous highlights and must see monuments of Istanbul. Marvel at the iconic Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, Spectacular views of Istanbul's skyline, Discover the top attractions with an expert, local tour guide A great insight into Turkish culture and daily life Cruise along the Bosphorus Strait with public ferry
Tour Options
Itinerary
The tour will start in the ancient Hippodrome which was once the beating hearth of the Constantinople. This arena was used for chariots racing and hundreds and thousands of people would entertain themselves watching the chariot racing, wild animal shows, dancers and acrobats.
From there we will make our way to the Blue Mosque to visit one of the most majestic Ottoman mosques famous for its six minarets and 17th century handmade blue tiles.
Next stop will be one of the most iconic buildings in the world; Breathtakingly beautiful and grandiose Hagia Sophia. It is the place where Christianity meets Islam. Originally built as a church in the sixth century AD and then converted into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest, it has been the symbol of civilization and culture. Surely no visit to Istanbul is complete without Hagia Sophia.
From the Hagia Sophia we will continue our journey to the famous and authentic Grand Bazaar which is unique to Istanbul. It is the oldest shopping mall in the world and a paradise for the ones who especially appreciate traditional textiles, tiles and much more with its more than 4000 shops. The tour will continue in the backstreets of the Grand bazaar walking downhill up until the spice market.
Spice market which is full of inviting aromas will be a feast for your eyes with its colorful, fragrant spices and Turkish delights.
Last but not least we will take a public ferry along the Bosphorus to make the Istanbul experience unforgettable. It is the best way to see Istanbul in all its glory with its beautiful skyline, Ottoman palaces and pavilions, castles and much more. At the end of the cruise we will be back in Eminonu pier and end of our tour. Hope to see you all next time.
This point offers travelers a great panorama of the old town.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Our guides meets our guests at their centrally located Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Karakoy and Taksim hotels, for non-central hotels MEETING POINT can be set by guest after booking. Please make sure you note your hotel information during booking. For cruise passengers this tour can be operated as Shore Excursion Tour from GalataPort.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
Reviews(47)
My daughter and I chose to fly back to the US via Istanbul and had less than 48 hours to see the sights. We were able to book a private tour through Trip Advisor with Resul who really knew how to navigate the city effectively so that we saw the beautiful sites that we wanted to see as well as had interesting interactions with residents. Resul was patient with my daughter's interest in jewelry, paced the tour to accommodate our needs and was a delightful companion
My tour guide Sedat was very friendly and pleasant. He was very well informed and I learned a lot about the history of Turkey and Istanbul. In addirion, Sedat was kind and understanding and was happy to do whatever I wanted on the tour.
Our guide Kadir who arrived early was waiting for us. His love of Istanbul was evident throughout. It was our first day & he gave us a great overview of Istanbul which allowed us to explore confidentiality in our remaining 3days. Highly educated & full of interesting information on Istanbul. We went on the tram network the T1 which he told us would be our best friend & we used it throughout our stay time We found Istanbul to be clean
This tour was a great introduction to Istanbul, as we haven't been here before. Kadir Kurt was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable on all sites visited, including our stop at the Basilica Cistern which wasn't on our original schedule. He was great at getting us prompt access to all sites at a very busy time. Highly recommended.
Thank you so much ! We’re so glad you enjoyed the vibe of the tour. We try to make every guest feel like a local friend, and we’re happy you felt that warmth during your visit! We will keep trying our best.
The tour was a perfect introduction to Istanbul. Our guide was great. He was knowledgeable, adaptable, caring & fun. We experienced the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sofia, a Bosporus cruise, Spice and Grand Bazaars. We enjoyed walking around this fabulous city, getting to know its history geography and culture. Learning how to use the trams was super helpful too. Try one of the bagels from the numerous street vendors - yum.
Dear Janet, A massive thank you for the five stars! We’re delighted that you enjoyed the unique spots we visited. It was a pleasure having you on board!
We had a brilliant guide who gave us an insight to the Turkish culture and history. Emel was very informative and adjusted the itinerary accordingly. We can throughly recommend her and this guided day. Emel showed us some fun facts and information along the way. Thank you 🙏
We had only one day for a tour during a two night stopover, and had a great experience. We saw all the main sites and more. Our guide, Özge was the reason for the successful trip. Knowledgeable and helpful, she could not have done more to make our trip enjoyable and interesting! Thank you
We had a fantastic time visiting the classics of Istanbul. Our guide Emel was exceptional and my husband and I learned a lot about the history and culture of Istanbul and Turkey. It was a pleasure to chat with Emel for most of the day and to get a feel of local life. Turkey is a beautiful country with a wonderful inclusive feel.
We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. We saw lots and our guide gave us lots of information. The cruise along the Bosphorus was great fun and we saw lots of interesting buildings from the boat. Our guide was excellent and very helpful. Also she was very patient and answered all our questions. The whole tour was very well organised.
We were collected on time by our bubbly and well informed guide Emel. She whisked us away to the Cistern first as she was aware how busy the other sights were. Emel took great care to make sure we were comfortable and enjoying our time in Istanbul. She went above and beyond to give us the experience we wanted.
