On this private tour of Istanbul, you'll have a guide all to yourselves as you visit iconic spots like Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, and the Blue Mosque. It's one seriously complete route!
Private Istanbul Tour
When you book, you can choose one of the following options:
4-Hour Tour
After picking you up in the city center, we'll kick off this tour of Istanbul with a visit to Hagia Sophia, one of the city's most fascinating mosques. Originally a Christian basilica, this building has also served as an Orthodox church and a museum.
From there, we'll continue to the Basilica Cistern, one of the great underground water reservoirs from the Byzantine era. Its forest of columns is sure to amaze you!
After learning about its history, we'll head to Topkapı Palace to discover how the sultans lived during the Ottoman Empire. We'll visit its main rooms and try to unravel the mysteries and legends hidden in each one.
Finally, we'll wrap up this tour of Istanbul back at the starting point. Keep in mind that since this is a private tour, you can customize the itinerary to suit your interests.
8-Hour Tour
With this option, you also get to decide the itinerary. For 8 hours, an English-speaking guide will accompany you as you explore Istanbul's must-see sights.
Not sure what to see? We recommend starting at the majestic Topkapı Palace, the former residence of the Ottoman sultans, where we'll spend about 2.5 hours exploring its courtyards, imperial rooms, and treasures.
Since it's closed on Tuesdays, on those days we'll swap it for the elegant Dolmabahçe Palace, with a visit lasting about 1.5 hours.
Next, we can dive into the city's thousands of years of history at Hagia Sophia, one of the most iconic architectural landmarks in the world. We'll continue on to the Hippodrome of Constantinople, the center of social life in Roman times, followed by the Blue Mosque, famous for its tiles and graceful silhouette.
At lunchtime, we'll stop so you can grab lunch on your own. And if you'd like to change the order or add other spots like the Grand Bazaar, your guide will be happy to adapt the route. Your wish is our command!
Transportation Options
Along with choosing a 4- or 8-hour tour, when you book, you can also choose between a tour with just a guide or with a guide and transportation:
Guide-Only Tour
If you choose the guide-only option, which is much more affordable, the tour will be done on foot and by public transportation. We'll meet at a central spot in Istanbul, which we'll share in your booking confirmation.
Guide + Vehicle Tour
If you choose the vehicle option, you'll have a private vehicle with a driver at your disposal all day.
With this option, the tour includes pickup from hotels in the following central Istanbul areas: Bayrampaşa, Beşiktaş, Beyoğlu, Eminönü, Eyüp, Fatih, Kağıthane, Şişli, and Zeytinburnu. If you're staying outside these areas, you'll need to make your way to a meeting point in the city center, which we'll share in your booking confirmation.
