Small Group Tour: Essential Istanbul
Description
Explore the main highlights of Istanbul’s Old Town on this small-group, full-day tour led by an expert guide. Discover UNESCO World Heritage sites, renowned monuments, and remarkable archaeological treasures as you immerse yourself in the city’s rich history and vibrant culture. Enjoy exclusive privileges designed to enhance your experience and give you a true taste of Turkish heritage. Tours run daily from approximately 09:00 to 17:00 (timing may vary based on hotel location, group size, interests, weather, or queue lengths), with intimate groups of 1–10 people for a more personalized journey.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our accredited guide will accompany you during your visit and will give you all the detailed explanations about the mosque.
Our accredited guide will accompany you during your visit and will give you all the detailed explanations about the bazaar.
Our accredited guide will give you all the detailed explanations about the world famous historical building from outside of the mosque (Hagia Sophia). General entrance of mosque is available only for Turkish citizens. Foreign tourists can only visit Gallery Section with an additional entrance fee (25 Euro per person).
Our accredited guide will give you all the detailed explanations about all the historical monuments in this square.
Our accredited guide will give you all the detailed information about the palace. You can consult your guide to purchase skip the line ticket. The ticket also includes Harem section visit.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Depends on hotel's location, sometimes we can't use vehicle since vehicles are not allowed in some parts of old city. We don't have free pick up and drop off service from hotels located out of city centre and airports.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- 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
- Please Note:Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays and replaced with Underground Cistern. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and will be replaced with Spice Bazaar.
- Our accredited guide will give you all the detailed explanations about the world famous historical building from outside of the mosque. General entrance of mosque is available only for Turkish citizens. Foreign tourists can only visit Gallery Section with an additional entrance fee (25 Euro per person). Gallery section visit of Hagia Sophia is not included in our tour.
- While visiting a mosque in Istanbul, women need to cover their heads, shoulders, knees. You can carry your own scarf to cover your head but please note scarves are provided at the entrance of every mosque (available at a charge). If you are wearing leggings, tights or skirts, wraps will be provided at the entrance (available at a charge).
- For the ladies, a headscarf and decent dress covering shoulders and legs are required during their visit to mosque. You can carry your own scarf to cover your head but please note disposable scarves are provided at the entrance of every mosque (.available at a charge).
- Please be aware of that there is a lot of walking in this tour. We can't use vehicle between sites since centre of Sultanahmet area is closed to traffic.
Reviews(718)
THE best tour guide in Erkan, EVER! He had a wealth of knowledge, is very, very personable, funny and the nicest person ever. DO ask for him; you won't be disappointed.
Dear Sheila, Thank you for all these nice words about our guide. It is really appreciated. All the best... Baris Tugberk (Global Travel Services)
We had a great time. Ozlem was an excellent tour guide. She explained things well and very patient & caring since I have trouble walking fast.
Dear Corazon, Thank you for this review. We are pleased to know that you had great time with Ozlem. Hope to see you again in our country. All the best... Baris Tugberk (Global Travel Services)
Having a guide who is both educated and fluent in English. Makes for a seamless and fun experience. She gave us a historical and regional overview that really adds to our understanding. We are viewing hundreds of years of history, so having it in manageable quantities, Helps to understand how and why people lived and built the beautiful world we live in. Zeliha Turkkan was really good no she was great!! This will be the highlight of my first trip to Istanbul. The memories will always be with us.
Dear Owen, Thank you very much for this wonderful review. We are pleased to know that you will have great memories from Istanbul thanks to our guide and tour. Hope you can visit again our country in the future. All the best... Baris Tugberk (Global Travel Services)
This is a comprehensive full day tour which takes in lots of sights. Wear good walking shoes and be prepared for a long day. Our guide Lale was brilliant and very friendly. We really felt like we'd made the most of the day.
Dear Elizabeth, Thank you for writing a review for us. Your suggestions are important. We are pleased to know that you liked the tour and our guide. Hope to see you again. All the best... Baris Tugberk (Global Travel Services)
I had a lovely tour with Zel who was informative and tailored the tour as it was just me. She collected me at my hotel and gave me information on tram stops and tips about the area I was staying in. She is passionate and knowledgeable about all aspects of Istanbul and Turkey and I liked her immediately. She gave me plenty of photo opportunities and became my photographer for certain photos! We toured the Blue Mosque, the Topaki Palace, the Hippodrome, the Grand Bazaar, & had lunch. I would 100% recommend Zel on this tour as your guide. Thank you Zel.
Dear Jennifer, Thank you for this great review. We are pleased to know that you liked our tour and guide very much. Hope to see you again in our country. All the best... Baris Tugberk (Global Travel Services)
Turns out it was just me on the tour. It was a wonderful day. My guide tailored the tour since we had some time and I got to see a pottery demonstration and a rug knotting demonstration. I learned about the way the tiles for the Sultan’s palace were made and saw some amazing Turkish carpets. The Blue Mosque is so beautiful and the tour of the Grand Bazaar was great. I really enjoyed and highly recommend this tour.
Dear Angela, Thank you for this great review. It is really appreciated. Hope to see you again in another tour of our company. All the best... Baris Tugberk (Global Travel Services)
My tour guide Zel was excellent. She was knowledgeable, kept a good pace and answered all my questions.
Dear Christel, Thank you for your review. We are pleased to know that all went well during the tour. All the best... Baris Tugberk (Global Travel Services)
This tour ended up being just me, and it turned into one of the most meaningful experiences of my trip. Lale was absolutely wonderful, knowledgeable, warm, and incredibly attentive. Beyond the historical and cultural depth she brought to Istanbul’s landmarks, she was immensely helpful as a solo traveler. She generously shared practical tips on language, customs, transportation, and what and where to eat, all in a way that felt thoughtful and personal rather than scripted. The pacing was relaxed, the conversation engaging, and the experience felt more like being shown the city by a trusted local friend than taking a formal tour. I truly appreciated her care and insight and look forward to staying in touch with her. I couldn’t recommend this tour, and Lale, more highly.
Dear Jennifer, Thank you very much for this detailed review regarding our tour. We are pleased to know that you had an unforgettable memory. Hope to see you again for a longer tour with our company and Lale. All the best... Baris Tugberk (Global Travel Services)
The guide Ace was incredible very knowledgeable great communicator very interesting visit of major sites but also learned a lot about Istanbul and Turquia. We wish we had more time. We loved the cetamic visit the delicious turquish delight and the cashemir scarfs… we will definitely come back thanks to this amazing guide!!!
Dear Nadine, We are pleased to know that you had a great time during our tour. Hope to see you again in our country for a longer trip. All the best... Baris Tugberk (Global Travel Services)
We did quite a bit of walking so wear comfortable shoes. I learned a lot and visited many sites on our day tour. Our guide, Alev was a gem. I enjoyed her very much and would highly recommend this tour.
Dear Aimee, Thank you for recommending our tour. It is really appreciated. Hope to see you again for more tours. All the best... Baris Tugberk (Global Travel Services)
