Private Istanbul Byzantine & Ottoman Tour
Description
Spend the day sightseeing in Istanbul with your local driver who will show you around. Admire popular attractions from the comfort of your own private car in a fully customizable tour. Your Welcomer will share historical facts and immerse you into the Turkish lifestyle. Explore the Historical Peninsula where the heart of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empire once beat. The name might have changed - Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul - but the beauty remains timeless. Marvel at magnificent buildings such as the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Galata Tower, the Dolmabahçe Palace and unravel the past of the region. Finish off your tour admiring the view from the Bosphorus Bridge. Our drivers are not licensed to accompany you into the sights but are very knowledgeable of the places visited and will provide all the necessary historical information and their local perspective. At the end of the ride, your friendly driver will drop you off at your accommodation.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Or Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a still-functioning place of workship featuring stained glass windows with intricate designs and hand-painted blue tiles.
Οnce the centre of public life in Constantinople, the Hippodrome was the scene of ferocious chariot races. The Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine are located here.
The former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral dedicated to Holy Wisdom, later an Ottoman imperial mosque and now a museum.
An opulent complex of four courtyards, a harem, and a garden that served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans.
Called Christea Turris by the Genoese — is a medieval stone tower in the Galata/Karaköy quarter of the city.
A 19th century, baroque-style building is one of the most glamorous palaces in the world. It was the administrative center of the late Ottoman Empire.
Known officially as the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, is one of the three bridges spanning the Bosphorus strait while connecting Europe and Asia.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your Welcome Pickups driver will be waiting for you at the selected pickup location and time. Before your ride, you’ll receive your driver’s details — including their name, phone number, and car information — so you can easily recognize them. Your driver will arrive on time and be ready to assist you and any special requests before starting your journey. Please note that our sightseeing tours does not automatically include airport pickup or drop-off. If you wish to start or end your tour at the airport, simply select the option with airport pickup included when booking if available. Kindly share any special requirements, such as traveling with a service animal or needing extra assistance, when booking your ride. This ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience for you.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- For 1-3 people: A comfortable sedan will be assigned to your group.
- For 4-8 people: A spacious minivan will be assigned to your group.
- Each traveler is allowed a maximum of 1 suitcase and 1 carry-on bag. Oversized or excessive luggage (e.g. surfboards, golf clubs, or bikes) may be subject to restrictions—please inquire with the operator prior to travel to confirm if your excess luggage can be accommodated. Please note: If your group consists of 3 travelers and each person has large luggage, a minivan may be required for a comfortable fit. To ensure a minivan is assigned, please make the booking for 5 passengers.
- Throughout your ride, our drivers serve as informal local guides—sharing stories, history, and local tips at every stop. Please note that drivers are not permitted to enter museums or archaeological areas, but they’ll ensure you make the most of your visit with suggestions and background information before you explore on your own.
- Some stops on your itinerary may be closed on the date of travel due to public holidays, maintenance or special events. We recommend verifying opening hours on the attraction’s official website or contacting us before your tour. If a stop is unexpectedly closed, we will try to offer a suitable alternative.
Reviews(29)
We had a few hours in Istanbul with 2 ladies with limited mobility. We've been there before so wanted to make the most of the shopping at the Spice Bazaar and have a relaxing cruise on the Bosporus. Ahmet picked us up in his beautiful van and made sure that we did everything we wanted. Remained in contact so we knew exactly where he was when we went shopping. Wonderful day in Istanbul. We can recommend Ahmet Caglar 💯
This was a fantastic 1/2 trip to get to see Istanbul. Our guide was so helpful and we had a great time. My husband has mobility issues so we adapted the tour to see more of the city. Highly recommend if you want to get a good overview of the differing districts of this magical city.
Thanks to our driver Ökmen, we did both airport transfers. We had a nice tour of Istanbul, it was very enjoyable for us. I will come with my family next time.
Ümit was on time for our pickup, and communicated with me prior to the pick up with a picture of him and the location. He was very friendly, spoke good English, and his Mercedes Van was very clean, not a spec of dirt to be found! VERY PLEASED!
Our private driver was will inc to take us any place we requested. He spoke good English and was on time at every drop off stop.
Riding through Istanbul in style with chauffeur Fikret Erkan was an unforgettable experience. From Tuzla to Ayasofya and the Sultanahmet Camii, everything was smooth, professional, and luxurious. Fikret was punctual, polite, and made the journey as enjoyable as the destinations. Highly recommended!
Ozkan Guven Is a great driver and friendly guy. He created a comfortable ride and I was able to make us a great visit experience.
The experience with Erol was exceptional. It rained all day. But Erol guided us throughout the day to ensure we still had a good time. We really appreciated his attention to detail and customer service skills.
Driver Yuce is fantastic.Transfer airport/hotel in Istanbul.Puntual and honest.It was a fantastic experience.
I had a wonderful experience with Fatih. I let him know what I would like to do and he arranged everything. He was on time but if traffic was heavy he let me know when he would be arriving. This was my first time in Istanbul so I appreciated having someone with me who could guide me around the area. It was well worth it. I would highly recommend Welcome Pickups and Fatih if you are heading to Istanbul.
