Amazing tour of the city, really worth the effort! Latif did a great job with the time we had and showed me some of the famous city highlights as well as more local spots. The only thing to improve was the pickup: communication was very poor and it took me half an hour to confirm with the driver that he understood that I had to be picked up the same day.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Private Walking Tour
- Private Airport to City & City to Airport Rides
- Professional Tour Guide
Excludes
- Food & Drinks
- Cabin Bags and Carry-ons should be stored at the Left Lugagge.
- Private vehicle for the whole tour duration
- Topkapı Palace
- Hagia Sophia Mosque
- Basilica Cistern
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Arrival & Meet-Up: Upon landing at Istanbul Airport, proceed through passport control and follow signs to the Exit. Please Do NOT go to the Transit Area, unless you are arriving significantly earlier than the earliest starting time (which varies seasonally and by weekday, typically 06:00 AM or 06:30 AM on weekends) or heading to Business Lounge. If you are not going directly to your accommodation for an overnight stay, it is highly recommended to store your luggage at the airport's left luggage facility next to the Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk before exiting. Exit through Door #13 in the Arrivals Terminal. Look for MEET&GREET representative holding an “M55” sign outside the terminal, just beyond the exit of door #13. They will be waiting for you there, not inside the terminal. Please approach and check-in for transfer. Expect to meet your representative approximately 1 hour after your flight lands. The MEET and Greet service is a 3rd party service to help direct you to your driver. They have no information on your tour. For any issues or if you cannot find the team, contact Mr. Latif immediately at +90 544 585 98 51 (WhatsApp available). Tour Commencement & Transfer Details: The standard tour service includes two-way airport transfers. Vehicles provided are not dedicated and reserved for the full day. After meeting the representative, you will be transferred to the city center (45-60 minutes). There, you will meet your tour guide for your personalized Istanbul tour. After the tour, you will be returned to the airport at least 2 hours prior to your departure. If you require the van to be dedicated and reserved for the full day, or if you request a detour for hotels located outside of the standard touring area, additional fees will apply. For Cruise Travelers or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) Arrivals, pickup point info will be provided separately. Wish you a great Istanbul Experience on your layover!
Itinerary
All listed attractions below are not meant to be visited on every tour scenario due to the time limitations and the tour itinerary can be shortened and altered by the guide's suggestion or traveler's instructions with traveler's consent due to the crowds or restoration work at the sites /museums, personal interests & fitness level, weather conditions & closure times of the places, public gatherings, political rallies, religious/public holidays, marathons, traffic situation and flight arrival times. A tentative itinerary will be communicated prior to the day.
The equivalent of Maxiumus Circus, city of Rome was immitated in new capital of Roman Empire as we call Byzantine Hippodrome; Hear the stories of glory chariot riders and amazed with monuments erected by the ambitios Roman engineers; Egpytian Obelisk, Serpent Colomn and Colomn of Constantine.
As an operating mosque, your guide will take you inside of mosque complex in between praying times and help you to barrow a scarf or skirt if needed. it is closed until 14.00 pm on Fridays due to Friday noon prayer service.
Explore the architectural marvel of Hagia Sophia Mosque with our licensed tour guide, delving into its significance in terms of architecture, religion, and politics. Note that Hagia Sophia opens at 10:00 am, closes on Fridays until 14:00 pm, and welcomes visitors until 22:00 pm. Hagia Sophia serves a dual purpose today, operating as an active mosque for Muslim worshippers and a museum for international visitors. Please be aware that the admission fee is 850 TL or 28 USD, and the duration of this enlightening experience is approximately 45 minutes. Admission ticket is not included.
Descending the stairs, you'll encounter a palace-like underground water system, crafted by the Romans in the 6th century. Its colossal dimensions allowed it to store ample water, catering to the needs of the Roman Palace and the surrounding neighborhood until it faded into obscurity. Today, it patiently awaits rediscovery. The admission fee for this historical site is 1500 TL or 35 USD.
The world's oldest shopping mall was buit in 1460s by the order of Ottoman Sultan Mehmet the Conqurer, in order to generate income for maintaining their newly converted mosque. The city, being in the meeting point of oriental trade routes made the bazaar Grand and Famous. Today, with 3000 thousand shops offer huge range of colourful item from simple souviners to expensive items such as jewelery, carpets, mosaic lamps, magnets, leather. Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
The mosque is active since 1556 and named after its commissioner, the famous sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. It is located on the 3rd hill of the old city. In a short walk from Grand Bazaar along the wall of Istanbul University, you will be guided through and rest by the amazing view of Asian side and new city from the terrace.
Taste delicious Turkish Delights, nuts and dried fruits while passing through a 400 year old stracture, Spice Market will help you to understand the origin of spices and Turkish Food.
Hop on a public ferry and make the fastest intercontinental trip to Asian Side of Istanbul. See Istanbul from old to new while passing by Bosphorus Bridge in distance. 2 USD Per Person
Explore hip neigborhood of Kadıkoy and eat your way through Kadıkoy Food Market. Sample Turkish food sourced from local suppliers. Maybe you would like to try some home cooked style in Ciya Sofrası, which has been recently featured in Netflix.
Visit Iconic Topkapi Palace; Learn about Ottoman History and see impressive collections of pieces from treasury to medieval weapons in this massive museum. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. Admission Fee is 2400 TL or 60 USD.
Get a panaromic view of city form this iconic tower, built late 13th Century by Genoise Colony as a part of defence and watch tower.
The New Mosque and later New Valide Sultan Mosque after its partial reconstruction and completion between 1660 and 1665, is an Ottoman imperial mosque located in the Eminönü quarter of Istanbul
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Communication was great. Very thorough Tour given the time. Best to have an idea of what you want to see before you come on the tour, however
This was a professional and well run tour. The pick up at the airport was seamless. Alp was the friendliest guide we have ever had. He showed us all the highlights and more in our 7 hours. We met our driver and returned in plenty of time for our flight. If you've got a long layover in Istanbul, use this service. well worth it.
Bursa was a very friendly, flexible and kid tour guide. I had a tight schedule and wanted to see many things. Bursa listened carefully made good suggestions and answered all my questions! I strongly recommend this tour! It’s a very good private tour!!!
We had a fabulous day in Istanbul with Mev. We had an early start which helped with the crowds. Mev was a wonderful guide and a lovely person. We saw all of the main sites, went a small cruise and had a fantastic lunch. We really enjoyed the Haga Sophia experience. I am not one who loves museums, but this was so well done and not like a normal museum at all. We were able to dodge the rain! If you go to Istanbul, I highly recommend a local private tour and hope you are lucky enough to have mev!
Really enjoyed touring Istanbul with Mev. She was extremely knowledgeable about the city, it's history, people and culture. And with her sincere and kind personality it was more like traveling with a friend! Hope we get to do it again.
My friend and I enjoyed a wonderful layover tour with Latif on our way back to the states from Athens. We had very specific interests, and he made sure to check every single box! His depth and breadth of art history, religion and spirituality (including divine feminine 'Wisdom' energy at the site), the Marian mosaics, and, of course, Turkish culture, made it a very educational and entertaining tour. We enjoyed a delicious sampling of borek at the Grand Bazaar, and even had a little time for shopping for Turkish Delight and other small treats to bring home. I would heartily recommend a tour to get a small 'taste' of Istanbul-- it definitely whets the appetite for more time in that beautiful city. The pickup site was very clearly relayed to us-- there was a little bit of wait time between our arrival, check-in and driver arriving. It is a shared meeting area for many groups, but the guys doing the check-in seemed to have a well-oiled machine. Note: use the bathroom before you exit the airport building, as it's impossible to enter back in at that specific location. We upgraded to a private minivan so that we could leave our carry-ons safely in the vehicle, and it was very lux! Leather seating, comfortable, and driven by a very polite gentleman. Latif was VERY aware of our time limitations, and I felt completely comfortable leaving the timetable up to him -- he made sure we got back to the airport with a comfortable cushion of time to get back through security and to our gate without stress. Highly recommended! If you're reading this, don't hesitate to book now.
Mev guided me through an amazing tour of Instanbul. She is extremely knowledgeable and was efficient getting us through all the sites. We had enough time left in our day to grab an authentic local meal. I enthusiastically recommend this tour!
Very knowledgeable and helpful guide Flexible according to our ability Had travelled in a train and on a ferry
Everything went smooth the tour guide was awesome she met me on time showed me all the important sites .was very knowledgeable and courteous, tailored visit to all my preferences .I was able to enjoy every minute.
Büşra was a wonderful guide. It was a night-time tour between flights. She met us at the Blue Mosque and was able to get us inside to see it despite the late hour. A magical treat for me since I studied about it in college. We walked through the old city while she told us the history of Istanbul, pointing out the 7 mosques on 7 hills. She took us up to the top of a restaurant deck for an amazing view and photo, we walked by the market and across the bridge for more amazing views and architecture. We ended at a lovely local outdoor restaurant for tea. It was a magical night and I would recommend her to everyone. Great English, great energy and great knowledge.
We took a cruise that ended at Galataport in Istanbul. We had to be off the ship by 9:00 AM but weren't flying home until the next day, and our flight was out of Sabiha Gökçen International Airport which is at least an hour's drive away. We chose the Istanbul Layover Tour because it let us see the main sights while a van held our luggage, then dropped us at our hotel on the Asian side afterward. Our tour guide, Büşra, was awesome. She showed us all the main sites: the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia (under construction, so we only viewed it from outside), Basilica Cistern, and more. She also knew a few great spots to get the best photos and suggested a local restaurant with amazing Turkish food. We had a million questions about the culture and what it's really like to live in Turkey, and she was so patient answering them all with such thoughtful responses. We just loved her!
I chose a layover trip including transportation from & to the airport to take advantage of my 13 hour layover. My super guide, Alp modified the itinerary based on my interests. Alp was super friendly and very knowledgeable, and spoke excellent English. Everything was seamless, and I saw everything I wanted to see & more! Highly recommend.
We had an excellent time on a half day layover tour with Mev in Feb! She was knowledgeable, professional and super accommodating since I was traveling with my 3-year old son. The day was rainy and cold, but Mev made it so much better with her enthusiasm and adaptability. She modified the route so we can stay more indoor while still be able to fully enjoy the tour and learn about Istanbul. She also took us to a super tasty restaurant and tea shop! Thanks Mev! We highly recommend this tour to make the most of this layover time!
This was my first visit to Istanbul, and Büşra made it absolutely spectacular. Her explanations of the historic sites were incredibly detailed — we didn’t just sightsee, we truly understood the stories behind the Ottoman and Byzantine eras. One highlight I can’t stop talking about is the sabich sandwich she took us to try. It was hands-down one of the best things I’ve eaten on any trip. Büşra knows exactly where to find the real, local flavors that tourists would never discover on their own. Her English was clear and fluent, and she patiently answered every question we had. If you’re visiting Istanbul, booking a tour with Büşra Baltacı is an absolute no-brainer. I’d go back just to do it all over again!
This was an amazing experience with Latif. I was traveling as a family with little kids, and Latif was very accommodative to our needs and customized the tour accordingly. It was wonderful that he showed as all the key monuments, displaying the rich history of the city. The trip to Grand bazaar and the Spice Bazaar was incredible. The city is a melting point for History, Geography (between two continents), beauty (mountains and the seas), multicultural and stands as a testament of past. present and the future. Another highlight is he took us to the famous delicacies shops for Turkish Delights, Baklavas, Turkish Icecreams :) Right from the booking - he constantly kept in touch with us learning more about our needs and our plans. Stress free experience as we added also pickup/drop to the airport. I strongly recommend them, if you want to have a fullest experience of Istanbul tour.
The tour which was guided by the friendly and knowledgable Busra, was well organised and helped me to maximise the short time I had to explore the old city of Istanbul. Busra tried hard to make sure I was able to sample the foods and shop for the items I was looking for. The liaising with the driver was seamless and all very convenient for someone with a layover in Istanbul.
We had a wonderful experience with Mev. She was very knowledgeable and helpful. We enjoyed her immensely.
We were running late due to travel snafus, but our guide was waiting for us and extremely understanding! Once we started, we were able to prioritize and still see all the highlights possible. We learned a lot of the history and culture for such a quick trip. Made I sure we got a taste, and now we want to back for a more immersed experience!
We were unsure if we were going to leave the airport during our layover but we are SO glad that we did. Our guide Mev was incredible and made sure that we had the best time in Istanbul. Would recommend her to anyone!
This took me a while to write. Two opposites to the experience. The GUIDE was great Busra. I would have her guide and suggest her. However the driver was impaired, either drunk or drugs. On the trip to the airport, I clocked him driving so erratically. My notes from the trip: "38-86 mph on D020 - 61-138kph on D020. Constant drifting in lanes. Almost hit cars. Could not stay in lane. Constant jerk of car to correct. We had one car try to pull him over since he almost hit him. " When I went to speak with the owner about the experience, it was blown off and my experience devalued. Felt like he was trying to cover it up and address it.
This was an excellent and fluid layover trip through the city of Istanbul. Our guide Alp was in contact from the moment we touched down until he left us at our car back to catch our flight. He was knowledgeable about each stop and gave us options to ensure the tour was tailored to what we wanted to see in our amount of time we had in our layover. We ended our tour with a lovely dinner spot for locals and Alp ordered all his favorites for us to try. A perfect layover experience.
We had a 10-hour layover in Istanbul arriving very early in the morning, so rather than hanging out at the airport we booked an individual tour guide through Istanbul Layover Tours (ILT). We were picked up at the airport by a driver who took us into Istanbul itself. Our guide, Busra, met us at the car and took us on a walking tour starting with coffee at a great place with a gorgeous view over the Bosphorus Strait, then on to Sophia Hagia, the Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, a Turkish Coffee experience, and finally a stroll across the Galata Bridge before being picked up by our driver and taken back to the airport. Busra was the perfect guide for us, she had a lot of interesting facts to share, and was able to answer all our questions. She structured the tour to our pace and interests. We would highly recommend both ILT and Busra.
We had an incredible experience on this layover tour, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. From start to finish, everything was seamless, flexible, and thoughtfully tailored to our family — especially our four‑year‑old, who absolutely adored our guide. What made this tour stand out was how customizable it was. Our guide adjusted the pace, the stops, and even the timing based on what worked best for us, which made the entire day feel relaxed and enjoyable rather than rushed. Whether it was choosing quieter routes, adding kid‑friendly moments, or giving us options at every turn, the flexibility was outstanding. Our guide was also wonderful with our child — patient, warm, and genuinely engaging. They made the history and sights come alive in a way that kept all of us interested, and they never made us feel like our family’s needs were an inconvenience. Traveling with a young child can be unpredictable, but our guide handled everything with ease and kindness. We saw so much of Istanbul in such a short time, and yet it never felt overwhelming. It was the perfect way to turn a long layover into one of the highlights of our trip. I would recommend this tour — and this team — to anyone, but especially to families. Truly exceptional.
Very knowledgeable guide. we had a great time seeing the city highlights. Very personable and professional
On our last visit to Turkey we missed the Sultanahmet area. We took a long layover opportunity to visit this time. So this is a perspective from IST. First of all, IST is huge and take that into consideration when trying a layover tour. The instructions form tour operator were excellent. From gate to border control and exit plan about an hour with a good walk through IST. IST is big and beautiful and has everything you need so really don’t need to leave. We did because we were on a mission to see the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia. The organization tobhetbjntonourborovatebtoue was fairly simple with little waiting. Off we went for about an hour drive into the city. Half the commute was navigating the city. Upon arriving our guide, Latif, joined us. Because of the commute in and anticipation of the same back we informed Latif that time is a concern for us. He was happy to accommodate us and customize the tour to fit our time. Since we were focused on a couple things and they were logistically close it was t a problem The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia were as expected, beautiful and historically important. Latif was educated in tourism and he easily enlightening the history and facts about the area, religions and empires. The Sultanahmet area was easy to navigate and accommodates tourists. I highly recommend this tour operator as they know how to get you a proper layover tour. I also recommend Latif as a tour guide. He was kind and knowledgeable.
My wife and I had a 12-hour layover in Istanbul and thanks to Latif we enjoyed the best the city had to offer. He took us to all the most important landmarks but also spent time showing us daily life in Istanbul which included sampling some of the local food and drink favorites. The airport pick up was seamless and Latif's tour was a great way to spend our extended layover in Istanbul. Highly recommended!
Had a fabulous evening tour with Latif. We saw several different neighborhoods as well as the key historical sites. Istanbul is magical in the evening! We visited an excellent restaurant as well. Everything ran very smoothly. I was especially interested in the history and Latif was super knowledgeable about it.
I had an amazing 🤩 experience exploring Turkey 🇹🇷 ,it was lovely. Busra made me feel like I have known for years. She didn’t act like a tour guide but a friend on a tour with you. She is amazing highly recommended To explore Istanbul with Busra. She is amazing ❤️ it was more than worth it the price I payed.
Meg was wonderful as our guide - knowledgeable and flexible, based on our needs, given we were in a layover tour and I had 2 kids with me.
We just finished up an amazing tour with Busra and Istanbul Layover Tours. This was our second tour with them and once again they exceeded expectations. Busra was knowledgeable, knew all of the best places to eat and try different foods, and even managed to solve an issue with our hotel. She was an amazing guide and adapted the tour for what we were interested in. Be sure to ask for Busra and we will be back.
Busra made everything so easy from the start and we enjoyed the customization she created for us. Historical tour, Hammam experience and a unique dinner together we loved every minute. She even checked on us that we made our flight. Make sure you ask for her! Thank you for the wonderful time shared together. Highly recommend
We had an amazing experience on this tour, and our guide truly made it special. He was professional, knowledgeable, kind, and incredibly engaging from start to finish. His explanations were clear, thoughtful, and full of insight, and he made the day feel personal rather than rushed. What stood out most was his character — warm, respectful, and genuinely passionate about what he does. By the end of the tour, he felt more like a friend than just a guide. This was one of the highlights of our trip, and we would absolutely recommend him to anyone visiting. Thank you for a fantastic day!
Had an excellent time with Latif. Even though it was only for an evening and the weather was poor, he took us to a lot of great spots. He was very knowledgeable and gave us some great history. He recommended a great restaurant so we could enjoy local cuisine. Definitely recommended
Latif was very knowledgeable and kind! We arrived early from a layover flight and we were hungry and he took us right away to get breakfast and helped us with a good restaurant recommendation to walk to and then helped us with translation to get our orders right. He then took us to start the tour. I would def recommend him.
Latif was wonderful. We received detailed instructions on what to do starting from exiting the plane to receive a shuttle to the old town. He was patient and knowledgeable, mostly, flexible with our requests. The tour was truly tailored to what we wanted to do and was efficient to get us through everything within the time we had. Highly recommend!
Büşra(Busra) Was a Fabulouse tour guide. She was so sweet and friendly, and willing to totally customize our tour to our short time allowed and interests. We enjoyed a traditional Turkish breakfast at a local shop, and got to experience a few things we would have otherwise not known where to find that location or hidden gem… But thanks to her, she knew all the places to go. She made our time so enjoyable and maximized the time that we had to be in Istanbul. She is also incredibly knowledgeable of the history of the are… which was super interesting, especially for my husband, who loves history and facts about different places that we visit. Highly recommend Büşra(Busra)!!
The exceptional service I received from Viator and our guide- Busra not only fascinated my travel experience but also left a lasting impression of Istanbul as a welcoming and tourist friendly destination. Please extend my gratitude and appreciation to Busra for her outstanding performance and commitment to excellence.
Alp, what can I say? He sold Istanbul to us! Wow! We were blown away and will definitely be back, next time for longer. The tour was a lot of info and sites compressed into a very tight space due to a mistake on flight times from our side. The tour was adapted to suit with a quick alignment to our wishes at the start. It gave a wonderful peak into the old, new and European part, including the bazars, mosques, and good views. Going across the Bosporus has always been on my to do list and we put our feed on the Asian continent! We got a good sense of the vibe and evening street food / street café life, with some tasting, before being taken back to the airport in good time by a comfortable ride. I can truly recommend the tour operated by Alp!
I was a solo traveler, and I did the Istanbul layover night tour. My driver was there pretty quickly once I got out of the airport. The instructions the company gives work perfectly. If you follow them, you’ll be able to get out of the airport, easily. I was a little worried about being a woman traveling at night, but my tour guide was amazing. Busra made me feel so comfortable and I was so happy that I was placed with a woman because I was a solo traveler traveling at night. We went all over and seen a ton of things and took a lot of pictures! I tried different teas and foods. I’m so happy that I booked the tour and left the airport! Make sure you grab a bottle of water before leaving the airport. That is the only thing I would say I didn’t have water and the drive was about 40 minutes.
Shorter than we anticipated layover in Istanbul due in no part to Layover Tours but to delayed flight on arrival. A bit chaotic at the airport, and our recommended hotel was further from the airport than we were led to believe. Thus we needed to shorten our tour the next morning …. which was fine as the weather was rainy as well. However when we met our guide Mev, we couldn’t have asked to be in better hands!!! She met us at the hotel and reorganized our day tour to accommodate our needs but was so great in suggesting what she thought the best use of our time would be. The result was a fabulous day seeing some major sights but some off the tourist path places, which, in addition to fascinating and lovely candid conversations with Mev, we were given a true glimpse into the local’s lives. Mev was also so considerate of our timing and mobility issues. Wish we had more time to spend but plan to go back and will DEFINITELY be reaching out to Latif and MEV LETS GO SHOPPING!!!! Miss you Mev!! You are the BEST!!
I was very excited about exploring Turkey with my husband over a long layover and I wanted to book something separate from Turkish Airlines bc they didn’t offer much for the day we would be there. And boy! Was that a great idea. Mev is a star!!! She was friendly and gave such good energy. Not only was she knowledgeable but her timing with everything went so well. She also altered our tour so that we could see the most without feeling too pressed with time. She gave good insight when we were shopping and when we were walking through the bazaar. And the food spots we went to were so good we still talk about the kebaps. Setting up the tour was also a breeze, I was pleasantly surprised! Latif was responsive and provided clear communication which made me feel good about booking with them. I absolutely recommend Istanbul Layover Tours. We had a 12 hour flight where we barely slept so truthfully we were struggling but our experience with Mev energized our day!!
Istanbul completely stole my heart. I only had a long layover this time, but even in those few hours the city’s beauty and energy were overwhelming in the best possible way. From the winding streets to the skyline dotted with domes and minarets, it felt like stepping into a living storybook. What made the experience even more special was my guide, Busra. She wasn’t just knowledgeable—though she knows the history, culture, and secret corners of the city like no one else—she was also warm, fun, and kind. Spending the day with her felt less like a tour and more like catching up with an old friend who happened to know every hidden gem and every perfect photo spot. We laughed, explored, and soaked up as much as possible, but honestly, a few hours was nowhere near enough. Istanbul deserves days—at least two or three—to even begin to take it all in. This city exceeded every expectation I had, and Busra made it shine even brighter. I already know I’ll be back. And when I am, it’ll be with more time and absolutely with Busra by my side again.
Really great tour. We only had about 2 hours, but our guide tried to show us as much as possible in the short timeframe. Very knowledgable about everything.
I’ve used Barak as my private guide in Istanbul twice now, and both times were absolutely amazing. Each trip started with an easy airport pickup by a driver, and then Barak met me in the city to start exploring. Everything ran smoothly, and the whole experience felt effortless. We visited many of Istanbul’s top landmarks — the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, the lively Grand Bazaar, and the colorful Spice Market. In between sightseeing, Barak introduced me to incredible Turkish coffee spots and arranged a fresh seafood dinner overlooking the Bosphorus. On one trip, I even fit in a traditional Turkish bath (hamam) — and the car was waiting right outside when I was done. What makes this so special is how customized the tour feels. Barak tailored everything to my schedule and interests, which made the experience far better than the free group tours Turkish Airlines offers. With him, you get both the famous sights and authentic local touches — without the crowds or rigid itineraries. Having done this twice now on round trips, I can honestly say it’s the best way to experience Istanbul. Highly recommend Barak if you want a stress-free, personalized, and unforgettable tour of the city.
I cannot thank Alp enough for the amazing tour! He packed as much as humanly possible into one 8 hour tour. Sights, foods, drinks, culture - he can explain it all down to the minute details other guides would overlook. Throughout the tour Alp was courteous and made fantastic recommendations such as the Turkish bath, various shops with authentic foods and even took my picture whenever I wanted. Absolutely recommend this tour, especially with Alp!!
Busra not only took me exactly where I wanted to go and HOW I wanted to do it all, she also went over the top AFTER our tour ended to make sure i knew where I was going with all the locations pinned and recommendations made. She was friendly, informative and made my one-day layover in Istanbul truly spectacular. (Ps. If you have time to go to a hamam (Turkish bath) DO IT!!!)
Did it very last minute - as in made the reservation while waiting to board our flight to Istanbul. Amazing experience and time well spent. Great directions on how to get to the pick up point. Just remember that 1) Istanbul airport is huge and 2) Istanbul is about an hour away from the airport. We had a bit over an hour of walking tour on the ground and learned so much about the rich history in such a short period of time. We’re already thinking when we should come back to spend more time after that sampler of the city. They made sure to keep track of time to get us back for our connection flight too.
We had an 8 hour layover in Istanbul, so we scheduled a tour with ILT to see a few sights in Istanbul. The communication from the company was excellent. I decided the day prior to schedule this evening tour and they responded and confirmed right away. They sent detailed instructions where to meet the driver and we were transported to the city in a high end vehicle. Now on to our guide Berk. He was such a GREAT guide! When we met he knew the main site I wanted to see was Hagia Sophia and he made it happen even though it was close to closing time. He provided a great tour with so much interesting information. We also went to the Blue Mosque and the bazaar and I wish we had more time. I highly recommend using Istanbul layover tours. They really provide a great product!
We had an unforgettable layover tour in Istanbul, thanks to our driver Ümit. He went above and beyond, taking us to more sites than we expected and ensuring that we felt safe and well cared for throughout the night. After midnight, he personally walked with us to Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, patiently waiting while we took photos. He showed us the historic city walls, the Golden Horn, Topkapi Palace, beautiful fountains, Galata Bridge, and Galata Tower, where we enjoyed coffee and cakes. He even drove us across the Bosphorus Bridge to the Asian side, giving us stunning views of the city, the boats passing, and the call to prayer echoing from the minarets. It was truly magical. Ümit was relaxed, calm, and always in a good mood. Although his English was basic, we communicated well, sometimes with the help of Google Translate. His limousine was very comfortable, with a fridge stocked with cold water, which he kindly offered to us. We felt completely safe and protected the entire time, and his thoughtful guidance made our short stay in Istanbul incredibly special. We highly recommend Istanbul Layover Tours and especially Ümit for anyone looking for a unique and memorable experience.
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