Private Guided Istanbul Highlights Tour Top Historical Sites
Description
Discover the heart of Istanbul with a fully private guided Old City highlights tour designed for a personalized and flexible experience. Explore the most iconic landmarks of the historic peninsula in a carefully planned route including Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar, while learning the rich history of both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Unlike group tours, this experience allows you to move at your own pace, ask questions freely, and enjoy a more comfortable and intimate exploration of Istanbul’s Old City. This tour is perfect for visitors who want to experience the essential highlights of Istanbul in a limited time with a knowledgeable local guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover the Ancient Heart of Istanbul: Step into history of the Hippodrome, the ancient sporting and social center of Istanbul and hear captivating stories and secrets from an expert local guide, bringing the ancient site to life.
Unveil the Splendor of Istanbul through one of Istanbul's most iconic landmarks, the Blue Mosque. Admire the intricate designs, grand dome, and beautiful calligraphy that adorn the mosque's interior. As you gain deep insights from an experienced local guide who will share captivating stories and lesser-known facts.
Experience the Majesty of Istanbul through the centuries with our guided tour of Hagia Sophia, one of Istanbul's most iconic and historic landmarks. Learn from a knowledgeable local guide who will share fascinating stories and insights about this magnificent monument, learn from a knowledgeable local guide who will share fascinating stories and insights about this magnificent monument.
Step into Royalty! Discover the opulence and grandeur of the Ottoman Empire with our guided tour of Topkapi Palace, the heart of imperial power in Istanbul. Gain exclusive insights into the secluded world of the palace harem and its intriguing history and benefit from the deep knowledge of a local guide who will bring the history of the palace to life with engaging stories and facts.
Dive into the Mysteries of Istanbul on an enchanting journey through the subterranean marvel of the Basilica Cistern, Istanbul’s ancient and awe-inspiring underground treasure. Discover the impressive engineering of this ancient underground cistern. Experience the eerie yet captivating ambiance created by the dim lighting, echoing water, and forest of columns, capture stunning photos of this unique and atmospheric location, perfect for creating lasting memories.
Immerse Yourself in Tradition. Explore one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, with over 4,000 shops spread across 61 streets. Discover an incredible variety of goods, from exquisite jewelry and handcrafted ceramics to luxurious textiles and aromatic spices, enjoy tastings of Turkish delights, teas, and other local delicacies as you wander through the bazaar.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
You will be picked up from your hotel or the port (Galataport) by your guide.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
- Please be aware that if you choose to start the tour after noon, some locations may not be visited due to their closing hours.
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
Reviews(58)
We joined this tour as three friends and we had a great time on this tour. Our Batu guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, he was able to answer all our questions and explained the history behind each place. We especially enjoyed being able to take our time and ask questions along the way since it was a private tour. We visited Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern. We decided to skip Topkapi Palace due to the hot weather, but everything else was amazing, especially the lunch stop and the Grand Bazaar. Overall, a really enjoyable way to see the main sights of Istanbul, especially if it’s your first time in the city. Would definitely recommend it!
Batu was absolutely amazing. Very knowledgeable and articulate. He is very versed in local history and was able to share in a way to understand. He was also so patient with us. And he is an amazing photographer as well!! :)
Batu was absolutely a delight. He was so patient and knowledgeable. Absolutely recommend him!
We had a great guided tour with Batu who was very knowledgeable and helped us understand the historic sites. He also took the time to ensure we had plenty of time to explore what interested us at our pace as well. Thanks Batu.
Batu was a fabulous guide! Super friendly, informative, & flexible. Took us to a locals lunch place & had great detail for all the sites & history! He made the day outstanding 😍
It was a very interesting day, the guide Batu was friendly and willing to show us the different places we visited. Very attentive and we really made the most of the experience of getting to know the old town with him. I highly recommend this tour.
Burak was great! His English is excellent and so is his knowledge! It was great to go at our own speed and choose what we wanted to see. Highly recommended!!
Eda was a truly outstanding guide. I’ve been on many tours in various countries, and she is one of the best guides I’ve had. Very knowledgeable and eager to answer any questions and discuss a variety of topics. She also went above and beyond to create exactly the type of experience we wanted, including adding a trip to a traditional Turkish tea house that I don’t think anyone, but a local would ever fine. It was hidden in a half abandoned building with a bunch of workshops in it. However, we had a spectacular view while we enjoyed our drinks and conversation. All of the main stops on the tour were excellent as well. A great introduction to and overview of these main historic spots as well as Turkish history. Highly recommend.
Our guide Eda was warm, friendly and very knowledgeable. She did not leave our side for the entire day as she navigated the city with us, assisted with shopping and changing currency . She went out of her way to make our experience very enjoyable. Highly recommended.
I took my father to Istanbul to celebrate his 60th birthday, and Batu made the day very memorable. He met us right at the Ahikapi pier and from there it was a full day packed (Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and its gardens, the Hippodrome, and the Basilica Cistern). Batu clearly knows Istanbul inside out, weaving together its history from Roman times right up to today, and he did it all with a sharp sense of humor that kept the day light and fun rather than feeling overly academic. As Scots, we ended up chatting away about Scottish football and British television over a Turkish coffee break. It felt less like a guided tour and more like spending the day with a knowledgeable local. He also sorted us out with great value tickets to Hagia Sophia at the very last minute, which was a surprise. What really stood out was his kindness. He stayed with us right until our hotel transfer arrived, well beyond what he needed to do. I’ve done a fair bit of traveling over the years, and Batu is one of the best guides I’ve come across. If I’m back in Istanbul, I’ll be booking him again without a second thought.
