Istanbul Private tour with skip line tickets included
Description
exclusive tours to save the time and enjoy the city with your guide, skip line tickets will save the time to maximize your time in the city, also private pick up service can be organized if requested
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Blue Mosque serves as an important feature of Ottoman history. The architecture of the structure is revered for its grandeur, and the interior boasts intricate design and artwork. Located on a hill in Istanbul, the Mosque sits on top of an old Byzantine palace structure, and is located by the famed Hippodrome and Hagia Sophia. The exterior parts of the Blue Mosque are made of a combination of red granite, marble, pudding stone, and porphyry. The interior materials are similar, but also feature ceramic tiling, wooden features, and more.
Hagia Sophia means Church or Sanctuary of Holy Wisdom. After the Muslim conquest of Constantinople, the name was altered to refer to the structure as a mosque. The Islamic terminology became Holy Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. The Hagia Sophia is important to Christians because it served as the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. To the Greek Orthodox Christians, this seat was equivalent to that of the Catholic Pope. The Hagia Sophia is known for its architectural splendor, its art, its symbolism of the consolidation of Roman political and religious powers, and its rich history. The Hagia Sophia was important to the Roman Empire because it represented the consolidation of religious and political power. This consolidation of power was best symbolized in the use of the Hagia Sophia for ceremonial coronations of emperors.
Explore the unique Basilica Cistern or Yerebatan Palace is located in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district. It was built under the Stoa Basilica, which was built as a center of commerce, justice and art between the 3rd and 4th centuries. First constructed by Emperor Constantine, the small building was rebuilt by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century due to the corruption of the city during the uprisings in 532. Because all the waters around Istanbul were saltwater, the Basilica Cistern served filtered drinking water to the Great Palace and the buildings around it. 1453 after the conquest of Istanbul by the Ottoman Empire, water was also supplied to Topkapi Palace.
The story of the Hippodrome of Constantinople starts in ancient times; it dates from the beginning of 3rd century AD and was built on the orders of emperor Septimius Severus. Byzantium already enjoyed a strategic and important position at this time, although it had to wait until the 4th century to reach its zenith of power. It became the capital of the Roman Empire on the initiative of Constantine the Great who renamed it Constantinople, the city of Constantine, and it was expanded with impressive buildings.
The Grand Bazaar was commissioned by Mehmet II (1444-1481) immediately after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453 to provide financial resources for the Hagia Sophia. The construction of the Grand Bazaar began in 1461. The Grand Bazaar, which was a wooden structure at the beginning, is now entirely built of stone and brick. Bricks were used for the vaulted arches, cut stones were used at the base of the arches, and walls were built by plastering over bricks or stone. The oldest building is the Cevahir or İç Bedesten. The second oldest building is the Sandal Bedesten. Bedesten, a vaulted and fireproofed segment of the Grand Bazaar, gets its name from bez (cloth) and means cloth seller’s market. Both bedestens are typical examples of classical Ottoman architecture.
Enjoy the views of Sultanahmet are while walking from one to the other sights to see, different architecture of buildings, parks, fountains
Learn and enjoy how to wiving session in Istanbul, learn the culture and technics, get the real information about the quaility handicrafts,
Learn and try a pottery workshop by a professional artist
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(56)
It’s intimate and is custom you. You don’t have to wait for a lot of people. The tour was great and what I wanted.
Our guide Eylem was amazing - so knowledgeable and giving of her time. She balanced everything perfectly to maximise our experience and tailored the tour uniquely to us.
We had an absolutely wonderful experience with our tour guide Eylem. She was incredibly knowledgeable and brought the history, culture, and beauty of Turkey to life with her deep understanding and passion for the country. Every question we asked was answered with insight and enthusiasm. Beyond her expertise, she was kind, warm, patient, and genuinely caring. She made our family feel welcome from the very beginning and ensured that every part of our experience was enjoyable and memorable. Her professionalism, attention to detail, and friendly personality made our tour truly exceptional. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone visiting Turkey, and I will definitely work with her again on future trips. Thank you for making our time in Turkey so special!
What a fantastic day - Hamide was the best guide we have had the pleasure of meeting. We first went to Haggia Sofia and there was a long queue - immediately offered us the choice of skipping to the Cistern and returning later after queue reduced. That pattern repeated all day - something that is impossible on large group tours. It was like walking around the city with a knowledgable friend. We are so pleased we decided to go with this tour and guide. Worth every penny !
Taha was a wonderful tour guide. He took my son and myself throughout the old city and he was so personable and knowledgeable. A very kind person. I highly recommend him.
Whether you have a week or only a few days in Istanbul - plan this walking tour of the old city with Eylem. She was extremely knowledgeable about all the sites and has a deep appreciation for the history behind each building. It was the highlight of our stay in Istanbul.
Great tour covering the main attractions in Istanbul in a day. Belgin was great and very informative. I would recommend this tour.
Thank you for choosing our company for your Istanbul Trip, we are delighted to see your happiness with the guide and service, we wish you all the best
Kenan was a fantastic guide. He was well informed about all the historical elements we viewed, plenty of interesting stories. Loads of facts and dates. He was also very funny. He was extremely useful in helping us figure out the do's and dont's of the city and cultures. This part was all fantastic! Only issue is the last two experiences attended were very heavy sales pitches. You get to view a person making a rug by hand and the history of this ancient art, which is all beautiful and wonderful. Then they take you to a seperate room where they offer you drinks and try to sell you a rug. Similar, but much less pushy, is the pottery place. You watch a master create a small piece on a foot kick pottery wheel, then they let you try which is super fun. They talk about the history and materials used in their cultures pottery. Then they show you around the sales floor and try to convince you to buy their wares, but not nearly as pushy as the rug guys. But I am from the upper Midwest in USA and anyone who talks to me in a store feels pushy to me, so perhaps to other folks they weren't pushy. If you like to haggle prices, Istanbul is your town. Everyone haggles.
Flawless and secure. It is like viator describes it! Our guide Perry was personable and sweet, would go with her anytime
We had a fantastic city tour of Istanbul with our guide, Kenan. He was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing the history and stories behind each site in a way that was engaging and easy to follow. His sense of humour made the day even more enjoyable, and he set a really comfortable pace so we never felt rushed. We saw all the major landmarks and even discovered a few hidden gems along the way. Kenan also recommended a lovely restaurant for lunch, which was one of the best meals of our trip. A brilliant experience from start to finish.
