Premium Istanbul Old City Tour Private & No Hidden Shopping Stops
Description
Many tours in Istanbul appear less expensive at first, but may include shopping-oriented stops that take time away from the sightseeing experience. Our approach is different. This is a premium, 100% private Old City experience designed for travelers who want to focus on history rather than shopping-oriented detours. No Hidden Shopping Stops: Your time is dedicated entirely to Istanbul's major historical highlights. Private and Well-Paced: Explore the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar at a comfortable pace with your own licensed guide. Advance Ticket Arrangements: We arrange Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia tickets in advance where possible for a smoother experience. All visitors must still pass through mandatory security checks, and short queues are part of the visit, especially at the Blue Mosque. Flexible Lunch Time: Your guide can recommend suitable local restaurants based on your preferences.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will kick off the day at Hagia Sophia, a stunning architectural masterpiece encapsulating centuries of history.
Next, we will visit Topkapi Palace, where you will uncover the opulence of the Ottoman sultans and enjoy breathtaking views of the Bosphorus.
Following this, we will head to the Blue Mosque via the Hippodrome, famous for its stunning blue tiles and six minarets.
Our adventure will conclude at the Grand Bazaar, the largest covered market in the world, where you will dive into an exhilarating shopping experience. This is a remarkable journey that you will not want to miss!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship (The Hagia Sophia Mosque and The Blue Mosque). No shorts or sleeveless tops are allowed. Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women. You may risk being refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements. Ladies must cover their heads at religious sites; therefore, it is better to bring a scarf if you have one.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- As a fully registered travel agency, we will secure advance tickets for both Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia, ensuring a seamless experience with no waiting time for ticket purchases.
- Please note that all visitors must still pass through mandatory security screening, and short entry queues are part of the experience, especially at the Blue Mosque, where the wait is usually around 10 to 15 minutes.
- The tour will be conducted on foot, with limited shaded areas. Participants should anticipate covering approximately 10,000 steps throughout the day.
- Private walking tour with licensed guide + Topkapi and Hagia Sophia tickets included. Meet in the Old City at House of Medusa Restaurant; no transportation included.
Reviews(68)
Yes. It was worth every penny. Guide had all the tickets already ready to go. No waiting in line at all. She was simply fantastic. Very friendly & knowledgeable. Picked the best spots for food and shopping. Everyone should ask for Derya.
Dear Companion. Thank you very much for your outstanding review. We sincerely appreciate your taking the time to share your feedback. It holds significant value for both the team and me. We take great pride in the service we offer, and receiving reviews such as yours inspires us to continue advancing our efforts. Please come back again soon. All the best, Furkan G.
Fabulous tour with Derya through Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Castle. She has incredible knowledge of the area and all the history behind it. She makes her guests feel like family, and welcomes any questions. She took us for an incredible Turkish breakfast after our tour!
Dear Lois. Thank you so much for your amazing comments—they truly made our day! We're absolutely thrilled that you had a fantastic time on your Istanbul Old City tour with Derya and that everything was perfect! We can't wait for you to come back and visit us again soon—there’s so much more to explore! All the best, Furkan G.
We had an amazing experience exploring the old city of Istanbul with our guide Furkan. He greeted us promptly at our hotel at 8 a.m. and expertly led us through the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. The tour wrapped around 2 p.m., striking the perfect balance between the guided exploration and free time for us to wander on our own. What stood out most was Furkan's meticulous planning, he had secured our tickets in advance which meant we bypassed long tickets lines. His thoughtful itinerary ensured that we visited each attractions in the ideal order, allowing us to fully enjoy everything on our list before the crowds descended. Furkan was not only knowledgeable and courteous, but he also exemplified flexibility throughout our tour. It was evident that this company operates at a high level of professionalism and integrity that far surpasses other tour operators we've experienced. This was without a doubt, the best tour we have taken.
Dear MaryAnn. Thank you very much for your generous feedback. We greatly appreciate your kind words, as they hold significant value for us. We consider ourselves fortunate to engage in our work, and creating meaningful experiences for individuals such as yourself is a source of daily fulfillment. It was a pleasure to meet you, and we look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back to this corner of the world in the future. All the best, Furkan G.
10 of us spent two weeks in Turkey in late May. We connected with the Istanbul Walking Tours and it was a great experience. We spent four days in Istanbul about three days in Cappadocia and four days in Fethiye. Our guide was well-versed in the locals, fluent in English a great storyteller and a great historian. We hit all the first time spots one should hit in Istanbul, but also had a chance to find some out-of-the-way places, thanks to our guide for delicious teas and a Turkish breakfast. She arranged all transportation, which is highly recommended as is Istanbul is one of the most congested cities in the world. She reconnected with us in Fethiye and showed us the beautiful archaeological sites Our group was from Western Florida Chicago and the San Francisco area. We all asked her to come visit us in the USA. And so will you if you’re lucky enough to use this tour group. Sidenote. We spent a few days in Cappadocia - stunningly beautiful environment known for its hot air balloons. 160 hot air balloons take off right before and at Dawn every day. If you go spend the extra money and get one of the smaller capacity baskets. We had 16 in our basket and were able to move around and get good photos. I saw some baskets with 20 or 20+ people, really packed like sardines.
Dear Tony. Thank you for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that you had an outstanding experience with Private Istanbul Walking Tours during your recent trip to Turkey. Your trust in us is greatly appreciated, and we’re proud that Derya provided you with exceptional care. It was a pleasure to support you and your group. We look forward to welcoming you back for another incredible Private Istanbul Walking Tours experience in the near future. All the best, Furkan G.
My friend and I, both first time visitors to Istanbul, booked a day and a half custom tour - the first evening was a food tour and the second full day was the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern and the other Istanbul highlights. Our day and half with Derya was not a tour - it was having a friend show you her city. We had the best food in places we would never have found on our own. We learned so much about Istanbul’s history and culture - and have the most wonderful photos thanks to Derya (you’ll get a bonus iPhone photo tutorial with her!). I’ll definitely be back with my family - but only if Derya is available to show us more of her country!!
Dear Tahoetravellers. Thank you so much for your heartfelt and detailed review. It means a great deal to us when our guests share their experiences; we understand how busy life can be and truly appreciate the time you took to reach out. Your kind words are vital to us as we strive to maintain our reputation. We're absolutely thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed Derya and her fabulous guiding skills, she truly is a gem for Private Istanbul Walking Tours! We can’t wait to welcome you and your family back in the future; it would be wonderful to see you all again! All the best, Furkan G.
We took an old city walking tour with Furkan. He met us in the lobby at 8:00 AM and led us on a very informative and enjoyable tour of Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. He had booked the tickets in advance, allowing us to skip the long lines, and since we started early, we were able to beat the large crowds at the museums. Furkan was incredibly knowledgeable about his country and its history. His great sense of humor made the historical tour even more enjoyable. At the end of the tour, he also assisted us with our shopping in the bazaar, helping us negotiate and find authentic handcrafted rugs and tiles. He was so impressive that we ended up booking another tour with him for the following day to explore less-visited tourist sites and local food. Once again, we were not disappointed! The food tour was the highlight of our Istanbul trip. This was our first food tour, and from now on, we plan to book a food tour wherever we go. We loved it!
Dear Karol R. Thank you for your wonderful review! I truly enjoyed my time with you as well. We are so grateful when our guests take a moment from their busy lives to support us with their kind words. Your feedback is vital to our reputation. We appreciate your recommendation and would love for you to visit us again in the future. All the best, Furkan G.
I typically don’t post reviews, but the Istanbul old city tour I took with Derya was amazing, and I want to share my experience with anyone visiting Istanbul. Derya was incredibly friendly from the moment she greeted me at the hotel. It felt like I was exploring Istanbul with a long time friend. She even went above and beyond, extending her time to help me shop for authentic handcrafted items in the bazaar. I wish I had more time to spend with her in Istanbul. I will definitely return to see more of this wonderful city.
Dear Wrenly D. Thank you for your wonderful review! Derya, along with all our other guides, truly brings her love and passion to every tour, making it incredibly infectious. Everyone leaves with a new or renewed appreciation for Istanbul and everything it has to offer. We look forward to seeing you again soon. All the best, Furkan G.
We were so lucky to find Furkan on TripAdvisor. From the first email to the end of the tour, he was always helpful and polite. He showed us around Istanbul for two and a half days, taking us to all the must-see spots like Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar. We even had the best food tasting tour ever. To cap it off, we ended our time with a Bosporus cruise on a private yacht, which was incredibly relaxing and peaceful. We’ve traveled a lot, but these were the best guided tours ever. Furkan knows Istanbul inside out and is an excellent storyteller, so we had a blast with him!
Dear Leah C. Thank you very much for your thorough and detailed review. Your feedback is highly valuable to us, and we are grateful for the time you took to share your thoughts. It is truly motivating for our team to receive such positive reviews as we continue to strive for improvement in our services. We appreciate your recommendation and would love for you to visit us again sometime in the future. All the best, Furkan G.
We had two awesome private tours with Furkan. We checked out the old city of Istanbul, did some shopping in the Grand Bazaar, and explored some off the beaten path spots for food tasting. Turkish food has always been a favorite, but after this tour, I don’t think it will ever taste the same. The food, history culture, and especially Furkan’s knowledge and humor were terrific. We had such a great time. We really wish we had more time in Istanbul with him.
Dear Violeta K. Thank you very much for your kind comments. They have truly made us happy. We are thrilled that you enjoyed walking through Istanbul with us and that our team provided excellent care for you. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another Private Istanbul Walking Tour very soon. All the best, Furkan
To visit Topkapi Palace it is highly recommended to go first thing, at 9,00 am to not expect queues and be able to see it without many people, then it is unbearable queues and heat if it is summer. If you go with students you are discounted at the entrance, but only if you have the ISIC card (45 €, includes palace, harem and church Santa Irene). Seeing how expensive the ticket is with 2 children, it is worth knowing (I did not know 😭). Carry enough water because the visit lasts between 3 and 4 hours and they only sell you water at the entrance. To catch the free audio guide with the ticket you are asked to leave an ID for each one (passport, ID, driving license,...). It is very well preserved and worth seeing, but better first thing because of the people and the heat. You have to go comfortable to walk a lot
