istanbul old city private walking tour
Description
Our official tour guides focus strictly on your satisfaction. Experience Istanbul’s soul with an unforgettable journey. ️ Living History: Walk the same streets where emperors and sultans once ruled. ✨ Engaging Stories: Our expert guides bring history to life with captivating legends and hidden secrets of the Old City. Iconic & Hidden Gems: Discover fascinating, lesser-known details about the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Hippodrome while capturing breathtaking photos. Feel the city's heartbeat and step into its rich past. Book now for an unforgettable Istanbul experience! Please note: While licensed guides have priority at ticket booths to save you time, all visitors must pass mandatory security screening lines. Your guide will manage this process smoothly.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Hippodrome was built by East Roman Empire at the 4th century AD., used for chariot races. nowadays only can be seen 3 obelisks. 1-Theodosius Obelisk (Egyptian Obelisk) 2-Serpent Column 3-Constantine Obelisk
German Emperor II. Wilhelm sent the fountain he had built in Germany in 1901 to Istanbul as a gift to Sultan Abdulhamit. It is located in Sultanahmet Square. Its architecture is different from Ottoman architecture and European architecture. The purpose of the gift is written in the inscription on the fountain as a memory of gratitude.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque or known as Blue Mosque was built by Ottoman Turks in 1616. You will be glazed with more than 20.000 handmade blue colored tiles inside. With the ostrich eggs hanged on the chandelier.
The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque / Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, with its innovative architecture, rich history, religious significance and extraordinary characteristics has been fighting against time for centuries, was the largest Eastern Roman Church in İstanbul. Constructed three times in the same location, it is the world’s oldest and fastest-completed cathedral. With its breathtaking domes that look like hanging in the air, monolithic marble columns and unparalleled mosaics, is one of the wonders of world’s architecture history. The sheer dazzling beauty of mosque with its magnificent play on space, light, and color provokes worship in the believer! Hagia Sophia pose on the ground of the first hill of İstanbul, precisely at the tip of the historic peninsula, surrounded by the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn on three sides.
Topkapı Palace (Topkapı Sarayı) and Harem are likely to have more colourful stories than most of the world's museums put together. Libidinous sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful concubines and scheming eunuchs lived and worked here between the 15th and 19th centuries when it was the court of the Ottoman empire. A visit to the palace's opulent pavilions, jewel-filled Treasury and sprawling Harem gives a fascinating glimpse into their lives. Used by 25 different Sultan for 380 years.
The biggest indoor bazaar of the world with more than 3000 shops in it. On the way to bazaar according to your time and WISH we can visit one of the carpet house which is more than a shop, telling the mystery of Turkish women.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Tour guide will met you at the hotel reception if your hotel is nearby main transportation route. Or for that Old City walking tour, tour guide will wait at the old city next to GERMAN FOUNTAIN, which is easy to find. Tour guide will contact you on whatsapp and direct you to meeting point.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Time travel added to the total time duration
- Operated by Oligarch Tour
- That is a walking tour, might walk 7-8 km whole day.
Reviews(19)
first time in Istanbul with my friends and totally loved the city. many memorable moments with our guide suliyman. to understand the history of the city and culture of Turkish people recommend all to tour with suliyman.thank you for all arrangaments.
Exceptional experience! Suleyman was not only knowledgeable but also very accommodating and flexible as far as adapting to our family's needs. His passion for his country and people was evident. Would not hesitate to recommend...Great way to experience Istanbul at your own pace and customized itinerary.
Through our very helpful and knowledgeable guide Suleyman we saw many places of interest and received a lot of valuable information
"Istanbul stole my heart! Visted in August and was mesmerized by the rich history,breathtaking architecture,and vibrant syreet life.The blend of East and West is truly magical-walking through the Grand Bazaar,sailing on the Bosphorus,and indulging in delicious Turkish cuisine made it an unforgettable trip. Can't wait to go back!.
Our tour guide made our trip to the touristic sites very enjoyable. We were very interested on his stories. Suleiman was very attentive to our needs. His conduct was professional and courteous.
Suleyman is an exceptional tour guide with extensive knowledge, remarkable patience, and English communications. In October 2022, he provided a private tour for our group of four, tailoring the experience to the places we wanted to visit, such as the Old Town area, Taksim Square, and İstiklal Street. Suleyman expertly organized the itinerary, creating a walking tour including a uphill train ride to make the journey more comfortable and efficient. Throughout the tour, we gained fascinating insights into local culture, mosque architecture, and daily life in a way that felt authentic and far more enriching than typical packaged tours. If you're visiting the area, I highly recommend booking a tour with Suleyman for an unforgettable experience!
Very professional, kind, supportive, with big knowledge. Was always on time, we have got deep enough information about the city, monuments, buildings, museums.we were recommended Nivea restaurants. We enjoyed a lot
I was intimated about Istanbul and the millennia of history that it held, I really wanted to do it right. We booked a day long Istanbul Old City Tour with Suleyman, and I am so glad that we did! He took us everywhere on our very extensive list! He also had Skip-The-Line access as a licensed tour guide and we were able to jump the line at Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sofia and Basilica Cistern. Suleyman even helped us navigate the Grand Bazaar to find our perfect souvenirs, even helped with the haggling! He went above and beyond with our tour and as a result, we completely fell in love with Istanbul! He was very communicative and even after our tour, we were still texting him with questions and recommendations and he happily and quickly answered. He was a genuinely great guide, and it was obvious that he absolutely loves his city. Absolutely highly recommended!
Since we were the second time visitors, we like to see some places not in the typical tourist list. We were very happy. He did a great job.
A great young tour guide was arranged for us. He was very thorough and friendly. We saw all the main highlights of the city.
