Istanbul Shore Excursion: Small-Group Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul Egyptian Bazaar
Description
When your cruise ship docks in Istanbul, head out on a 3.5-hour shore excursion to visit the city’s famous Spice Bazaar and then cruise along the Bosphorus Strait. Travel between each site by coach as an onboard guide talks about the city’s history, and make the most of free time at the bazaar to browse its colorful and aromatic produce at leisure. Then, hop aboard a sightseeing boat and admire Dolmabahçe Palace, Rumeli Hisarı Fortress and other grand mosques and fortresses that line the Bosphorus’ shores.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Choose from a morning or afternoon tour, and then start your shore excursion with a pickup from the Port of Istanbul. As you travel through the city, sit back and relax as your onboard guide talks about Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar — your first destination of the tour. One of the city’s most colorful and bustling attractions, the market has operated since the 17th century and remains as popular with locals as it is with visitors. Hop out of your coach and head inside the market while breathing in its heady aromas of fragrant spices and herbs. Hear tips for interesting stalls to visit from your guide, and then enjoy roughly 45 minutes of free time to explore and shop at leisure. After shopping and sightseeing around the famous souk, travel by coach to the banks of the Bosphorus Strait for your cruise. Learn about the famous stretch of water that straddles both the Asian and European continents as you travel, and then board your sightseeing boat for the cruise. Take a seat out on deck or inside the cabin, and cruise past an impressive selection of Istanbul’s showpiece sights. Look out for Dolmabahçe Palace with its decadent façade, 15th-century Rumeli Hisarı Fortress and Beylerbeyi Palace where Ottoman-era sultans spent their summer vacations. Your route takes in sights on both the European and Asian shores and, in addition to Istanbul’s big-name attractions, the cruise also passes some the city’s lesser-known gems: mosques, fortresses, palaces and more. After admiring the sights of the Bosphorus Strait from the water, return to land and finally finish your experience with a port drop-off. Worry-Free Shore Excursion: We will ensure your timely return to the Port of Istanbul for this activity. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of-call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.
spice bazaar
Passing through the Galata Bridge
Watching the golden horn crossing the bridge
Walkıng ın the hıstorıcal Eminonu square
Pass under the Bosphorus brıdge that connects the two contınents
View the Palace outside
View the Palace outside
View the Fortress outside
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Nidya Hotel Galataport
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for child aged 4 and under, but you may taken them if you wish. They will pay the child rate
- Children aged 18 years and under must be accompanied by an adult
Reviews(23)
After a boat ride we've upgraded our tour to full day. Lunch was great, hotel pick up/dropp off as agreed. Ali, the guide, was great. Provided a lot of info and funny. All and all, worth paying for.
<p>It was a great tour. The combination of land and sea tours was fantastic. Our guide was very well spoken had great knowledge of the city and gave us great advice when we went to the spice bazar.</p>
<p>What a fascinating place Istanbul is.We were very pleased with our short tour,particularly with the Bosphorus cruise.</p>
<p>The Bazaar was OK, though not anywhere near the variety you get at the Grand Bazaar. Mostly spices and jewelry--that's about it. The Bosphorus Cruise was disappointing. The boat was a ferry boat, not very comfortable. But the real problem was that only the few people sitting closest to the guide could hear what she was saying! For the rest of us, it was just a long ferry boat ride with some nice scenery but no narration at all, so we didn't know what we were seeing.</p>
<p>Excellent tour to see the Bosphorus and Istanbul from a different perspective. Love the Egyptian Bazaar - smaller than the Grand Bazaar so easier to get around. Wonderful spices and Turkish Delight! Friendlt locals but not pushy!</p>
<p>You have to travel along the Bosphorus to see the beautiful areas and houses of Istanbul otherwise you would miss so much Our guide was excellent</p>
<p>Your local contractor was very professional. We arrived early, and they were there for us, so we left early. Seckin was a great guide who was very informational.</p>
<p>This was not one of my favorite tours. Our driver and guide were very friendly and knowledgeable. They picked us up in a very nice van and took us to the Egyptian Bazaar which is a quarter of the size of the Grand Bazaar, but still very cool. He took us to one of the shops where they sell teas and Turkish delights and nuts - but the prices are not cheap! Each of us walked out of there spending over 50 Euros for just a few items, and you don't find out the price until they are ringing it up. After that, we drove to the boat for the cruise. This was a very relaxing and uneventful cruise of the Bosphorus. The sights were interesting and it was cool to be on two continents but overall, but I think it could have been better.</p>
<p>Tour guide was very accommodating with our tight schedule</p>
<p>Had nice tour with 2 other couples from another ship. The van was right outside the exit from the ship as it should be. Was glad to have him with us in the Spice Bazaar because we felt safe. Enjoyed the boat ride in the Bosphorous strait. Our guide did a good job</p>