Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul In One Day Sightseeing Tour

Gurkan was an excellent guide who planned the tour well, picked us up on time, was very knowledgeable and accommodating of our needs. The vehicle we were collected in was very comfortable, but we did do a lot of walking.

Beware it is essentially a 6 hour walking tour. That said, our guide Arzu was very friendly, showed extensive knowledge of the locations, and amended the itinerary to include the sights we wanted to see (at a reasonable extra cost). Would definitely recommend this tour.

Ten Stars!!! Our private guided tour with Berrin was one of the best tours we have had in many years. Her knowledge of the country, th conquering nations form the past, the sultans as well as buildings and their content as well as sharing her culture made our day in Istanbul. We were able to see the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and all its treasures, Grand Bazaar and so much more. Our tour included lunch, and knowing we preferred local cuisine, Berrin took us to a quaint local restaurant where we sampled various meat and vegetable dishes as well as freshly prepared lemonade and Turkish coffee. Berrin’s kindness made it feel like we spent a memorable day with a friend. Our one day in Istanbul will never be forgotten!

The quality of the Guide who was very knowledgable without being over facing. Berry also took into account we were an older couple and looked after us. We highly recommend her

Gurkan was a wonderful, knowledgeable tour guide! Our full day included all the highlights of Istanbul - Topkapi Palace, The Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, and Hagia Sophia, with lunch on a rooftop terrace.

Although the morning half of the tour to the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, etc. went ok and the lunch arrangement was excellent, the afternoon half to visit the Grand Bazaar was a disaster. During the Grand Bazaar tour, we were led to attend sales pitches in 5 different shops and didn't have a chance to walk around the Grand Bazaar at all. Although the shop owners were okay, we simply were not interested in their merchandise, and felt that the whole time spent at the Grand Bazaar was a waste. Our tour guide was actually okay as she was flexible and guided us through the Blue Mosque, etc. smoothly. I would just not recommend this tour due to the multiple sales pitches included in the itinerary.

Excellent Tour Guide and Excellent driver for our private tour !! Outstanding experience with professional driver and knowledgeable tour Guide !! Thanks for a great day!!

The places we went to were amazing, however, he was not a good tour guide, we had a couple with a pacemaker and he would just continue to walk without even looking back to see were the group was. He just kept on walking!!!! No consideration.... He dropped us off not the same place as pick up, and he was just counting the tips given, Horrible customer service!!!!!

the tour was with only 5 people which was great as we were very quick in and out. The Guide (Omar) is very good and his english is excellent. All entrance fees are included and we could fast track, which was great. Lunch was also included and very delicious. Pick-up and drop off on time. We can certainly recommend this tour!

Our guide was amazing, she knew so much about all the sites we walked (and walked) to. Suggestion: she should turn around to address her group, much of her information went into the wind. She took us to so many places, including the Aya Sofia, the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace, the cisterns and the Grand Bazaar. She also took us to some unique Turkish craftsmen, where several of us bought spices and treats and Turkish rugs. It was an amazing day, don't miss it (but be ready to walk!).

<p>This was a great tour. The guide met us at the ship and took us to all the highlights of Istanbul. He was very informative and was attentive to our questions and comfort. Lunch was nice and included. The grand bazaar was crowded and somewhat overwhelming but the items we bought were much cheaper there.</p> <p>Photos Optional</p>

<p>wonderful tour,we saw so much in a day,would highly recommend this tour!</p>

<p>A neat way to cover the highlights of the city in a short time. The guide expertly took us through the city through various attractions avoiding the famous traffic jam. The only downside was that she allotted too much time in a obligatory carpet shop. We negotiated a shorter time there and visited a market instead.</p>

<p>Wonderful tour. Omar was very professional and knowledgeable. He was aware when we needed a break. The sites were wonderful. I found the sites to be peaceful and inspiring.</p>

<p>The pick up from the port was simple. Ugur, our tour guide was a lovely young man who bent over backwards to make our tour exceptional. He included a visit to the Cisterns because we would not get to the Grand Bazaar as we needed to make it back to the ship on time. He also made sure we were picked up by one of their staff in plenty of time. Love Istanbul and the people were so lovely too.</p>

<p>Our tour guide was good and very knowledgeable with cleared explanation. The only comment I like to put was taken too long at the carpet demonstration ended up not enough time at the Great <br/> Bazaar, we only stopped at the Turkish delight candy store, everywhere else was just fast pasted passing through.</p>

<p>This tour could have been more enjoyable, if the tour guide was more attentive.</p>

<p>So disappointed. Entire group agreed and advised guide our prime interest was the Blue Mosque. We didn't see it! Also didn't see the last ruin, he advised it just wasn't worth it. Lines very long at palace, and our advance tickets did nothing. He stopped every time anyone wanted a potty break,</p>

<p>Guide was most helpful under adverse weather conditions and, in general, did an excellent job.</p>

<p>An enjoyable day to visit all the main attractions guide was very knowledgeable.</p>

<p>I really enjoyed this day and found it interesting and informative. I would have preferred to know in advance how much walking was involved.</p>

<p>Plusses and minuses... Istanbul is a very old city and walking conditions are rough... lots of stairs, and broken tiles. It was very hard to keep up with the leader, and once we caught up with her and the rest of the group... she would move on right away. This despite being made aware that we were having trouble. The included parts of the tour were the usual high points, and our guide was very knowledgable and informative. The included lunch was delicious and in a nice restaurant with lots of stairs, of course! I was very disappointed to be forced into another carpet sales shop and we were a captive audience. We paid for the tour and not a strong-arm commercial message.</p>

<p>Picked us up at hotel..Good guide..Wonderful lunch and more sights seen than my previous tour years ago. Only problem, a couple of members of our group stayed way too long in the spice bazaar.. Carol and Anne-Marie Lindstedt</p>

<p>The tour guide did a good job, but if he had audio and head phones, it would have been much better.</p>

<p>We had a great time. The tour guide was excellent and she explained in details the history of all the places we went. Very informative and interesting tour. The tour Cie was also very accommodating as after the tour ended the driver dropped us off at the airport for our flight. Of course we paid extra for that but it was so easy and convenient. <br/> Leila</p>

<p>It was great! The only issue was that this tour contrary to its name Shore Excursion, was not meant for those in a cruise line just spending the day in Istanbul. We had to leave the tour on our own and get back to the ship in order to be onboard by the time the ship sailed away. It is the perfect tour for those staying in town for a couple of days. It manages to go to a lot of the main attractions in only one day.</p>

<p>This was an excellent tour with an excellent guide. It may have been the highlight og our three week trip.</p>

<p>This was an excellent tour. Our guide, Hakan Adagume, provided very detailed and interesting historical information at each of the sights we visited. In addition he had a great sense of humor that made the tour even more enjoyable. The lunch of typical Turkish food was very good as well. The carpet demonstration at a private shop provided a comfortable and informative interlude. <br/> A suggestion for the future would be to incorporate a brief cruise up the Bosphorus as part of the tour. I would have preferred that to the carpet demo.</p>

<p>Very nice tour, we really enjoy it. The guide was very informative , is so nice being able to skip the long lines to buy the tickets.<br/> Good experience whit Viator!!!</p>

<p>Our tour guide was very knowledgeable! This was on the first day of Ramadan, so he rearranged our tour order so we could enter the Blue Mosque which was very appreciated. I would highly recommend this tour. The only bump was that the tour we were assigned to actually left early without anyone from our ship. We were among the first off. However, a quick phone call and we were on the same tour but with this tour guide. Everything was planned well!</p>

<p>What an amazing city and our guide was fantastic. So much to see and she was so knowledgeable it made the whole trip for us. Our favourite place.</p>

<p>Perfect day, very competent guide and delicious lunch</p>

<p>Fantastic tour, very well organised with an excellent guide</p>

<p>Gullay Gunay was our tour guide and was excellent! She moved us around to where the queues were the smallest and even added in the tour of the ancient cisterns!</p>

<p>Our tour guide for this excursion was Gokhan. He was very friendly and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the tour very much except for the part where we were cheated out of our money in the restaurant we went to for the dinner. We were aware that dinner was included but the drinks/beverages were on us. The waiter charged us 38 Euro for two cans of soda. My boyfriend gave him 50 Euro and he gave us about four Euro back in Lira. We sat at a table with several other people and it would be impolite to start arguing with him over the bill. After the dinner our guide whispered something in the waiters ear and asked us if everything is okay. It is a shame our tour ended this way. We would recommend this tour, but advise everyone to be careful with their money because people will find ways to make you pay more for something that is worth pennies.</p>

<p>This tour was not what I expected and I looked at several. I specifically did not go on a shore excursion with the cruise because I did not want to go to a rug demonstration nor did I want to look at rugs. Little did I know that this was what Hakan had planned for the end of our day. We got to spend a grand total of 45 minutes at the Grand Bazaar and he told us not to buy anything there. This amount of time didn't even scratch the surface of being able to experience the Grand Bazaar. Very disappointing. <br/> We were allowed 30 minutes at the Topkapi palace - which wouldn't even allow time to make it through one line into a building. <br/> Lunch was average. The Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque were very interesting - but these were quick - which was fine for thee two places. I thought we were suppose to see the Basilica Cistern, but instead we went to a rug demo and presentation for an 1.5 hours - the most time anywhere - where there also happens to be a cistern in the basement. <br/> Don't waste your time or money with this local tour operator. They are not flexible nor willing to accommodate the group in regards to how they would like to spend their day.</p>

<p>Our guide was very knowledgeable and flexible with the schedule so that we minimized our time in line and maximized the sightseeing. Lunch was at a good restaurant down an alley with authentic turkish food. I wish I had more than 1 day to see this great city!</p>

<p>Our tour in Istanbul was wonderful. Our guide took us first to the Grand Bazaar in the morning which meant we could explore without the large crowds later in the day. Our guide knew a lot of the history which was good because he did not n a lot of names but gave us straight history. He was was outstanding. Another ships passenger who were to be part of the group, did not arrive so there were just four of us and it was a private tour. The Blue Mosque is magnificent, the palace, its history and cultural told us so much that we would use the same Viator tour again. Highly recommend it.</p>

<p>It was a wonderful tour! Exhausting and hot, but the girl who led our group was flexible and tried to get us in <br/> everywhere we asked her. She even bought us baklava at the end of the tour! Five stars for........I wish I could remember her name but you probably know already. Anyway, it was the tour on Sat. July 25!</p>

<p>Myself and my wife thoroughly enjoyed the tour. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and took us to the main sites in old Istanbul. An even bigger bonus was that it was just the two of us, you cant ask for more than that!</p>

<p>Fantastic. Our guide Guly was wonderful. Very informative, charming, friendly and funny. She ensured we got to see everything on the tour plus more. Gave us all fantastic advice. Made the tour. Was a small group so private attention given to us all</p>

<p>Knowledgeable guide took us to all the major spots and provided lots of local interest.<br/> Be prepared for dress requirements to get into Blue Mosque - very strict.</p>

<p>This was a very comprehensive, informative, and enjoyable tour. Our guide Cheran I believe was waiting for us as we came off our ship. She handled a mixed crowd, youngest being 7, with great grace and style, enlisting the 7 yr. old to be her helper. We visited Topkapi Palace, Haggia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar, with a stop at a carpet dealer thrown in. Lunch was included as well, good food and several choices. All in all it was a great way to visit a city new to us, and to capture some highlights.</p>

<p>Best way to try to see everything in one day. Lunch included at Omar Cafe choice of meat or vegan/vegetarian, drinks cost extra. No high pressure carpet sales pitch at the end, like some other tours.</p>

<p>Our tour guide was really knowledgeable and made our excursion and visit to Istanbul very enjoyable and fun!!</p>

<p>Our guide, Gulia, was absolutely fantastic, so informative from the minute she collected us from the cruise port. We were a small group of 8 on a minibus which was a great number-everyone feeling included and given the opportunity to ask any questions throughout the day. She have us the option to visit the cistern when we all said that we would like to go even though it was. It on the original schedule. all in all it was a fantastic day.</p>

<p>Nice small tour group . There were 12 to start but we lost an older couple after some long hot walking and lost a few more who didn't want to go to the rug demonstration which was really quite interesting and not pushy at all. Traffic can be really crazy by the port so be prepared . Well worth the price .</p>

<p>Visited the major sites, but thought we were going to see the large Underground Cistern which we did not. Our guide was knowledgeable and helpful, but needed a high sign or umbrella to be followed more easily.</p>

<p>Your tour Guide in Istanbul Mr. UGRU was very good !!! We only had a few hours to visit the monuments and he made all the efforts so that we could saw everthing.</p>