Wonderful tour. My guide Volkan was amazing, kind and create an unforgettable moment.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Private transportation
- Entry/Admission - Topkapi Palace - 2750 TL Per Person
- Entry/Admission - Hagia Sophia - 25 € Per Person
- Guide will meet you at central Istanbul hotels, Airbnb Locations or ISTANBUL CRUISE PORT GALATAPORT
- Unique time to discover Turkish Handicrafts
- Professional Private Guide
- Entry/Admission - Basilica Cistern - 1950 TL Per Person
Excludes
- Gratuities (suggested)
- Lunch
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, is a historic mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. It was built between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Sultan Ahmed I. The mosque is known for its stunning architecture, with its six minarets and beautiful blue tiles adorning the interior, which give it the nickname "Blue Mosque." It is a popular tourist attraction and a significant symbol of Istanbul's skyline.
The Hagia Sophia, also known as Ayasofya in Turkish, is a famous historic building located in oldtown Istanbul. It was originally built as the biggest cathedral in the world by Byzantine Empire in the 6th century and later converted into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire. The building is renowned for its massive dome and beautiful mosaics that reflect its rich history and architectural significance. In 1935, it was converted into a museum and in 2020, it was reconverted into a mosque. The Hagia Sophia has an important place in the art world with its architecture, grandness, size and functionality.The Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all around the world.
Basilica Cistern Museum is one of the most important cultural assets where we can trace the traces of glorious Istanbul history. This grand underground cistern, built by Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I (527-565), is nicknamed “Yerebatan Sarayı” (Sunken Palace) among the public due to its numerous marble columns rising from the water. It is also known as “Bazilika Sarnıcı” (Basilica Cistern) by some, as it was built on the site of the former Stoa Basilica, which was a basilica. the Basilica Cistern visited by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Impresive Roman empire structure as featured in Dan Brown's novel, "Inferno" and James Bond "From Russia with Love" The Basilica Cistern is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all around the world.
The Topkapi Palace is a grand and historically significant palace located in Istanbul. It served as the primary residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. The palace complex is known for its stunning architecture, beautiful courtyards, and extensive collections of art, manuscripts, and other treasures. The Topkapi Palace consists of several interconnected courtyards and buildings, including the Imperial Harem, where the sultan's family resided. The palace also houses the Treasury, which contains an impressive collection of priceless jewels, including the famous Spoonmaker's Diamond and Topkapi Dagger. Today, the Topkapi Palace is a popular museum and a major tourist attraction, offering visitors a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the Ottoman sultans and the rich history of the empire. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, drawing visitors from around the world to explore its magnificent grounds and learn about its fascinating past.
The Hippodrome of Constantinople, also known as the Sultanahmet Square, is an ancient chariot racing track and the sporting and social center of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Located in present-day Istanbul. the site is now a public square known for its historical significance and the remnants of its ancient structures. The Hippodrome was a major venue for chariot races and other public events during the Byzantine era. It was adorned with monuments and sculptures, some of which still stand today, including the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpent Column, and the Column of Constantine. These monuments are important relics from the Roman and Byzantine periods and provide a glimpse into the city's rich history. Today, the Hippodrome area is a popular tourist destination and a public space where visitors can explore the ancient ruins, learn about the historical and cultural heritage of Constantinople and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of modern Istanbul.
The Grand Bazaar, also known as the Kapalıçarşı, is one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, located in the heart of Istanbul. Dating back to the 15th century, the Grand Bazaar is a sprawling complex of over 60 streets and alleys, housing more than 4,000 shops and stalls. The bazaar is a vibrant and bustling place, offering a wide array of goods, including jewelry, carpets, textiles, ceramics, spices, leather goods, and traditional Turkish crafts. It's a paradise for shoppers looking for unique souvenirs and gifts. The architecture of the Grand Bazaar is a sight to behold, with its labyrinthine layout, vaulted ceilings, and colorful displays. Visitors can immerse themselves in the rich history and culture of Istanbul as they wander through the maze of shops and interact with local merchants.
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Reviews
This tour was excellent. Vulkan was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. He gave such a great background on the different sites and the history of how they were built that added a unique aspect to the experience. He also took me around to some restaurants and shops to experience more of the local food and craftsmanship. I would highly recommend.
We really enjoyed the tour – it was very interesting and beautifully organized. Our guide, Berke Can Gürsoy, was incredibly kind, friendly, and funny, which made the whole experience even better. We had a great time and learned a lot! The only small downside is that we felt the package was a bit overpriced for what it included. Other than that, everything was great and we truly appreciated the experience.
It was a great experience! A lot of info jammed into this tour. Volkan was super entertaining and shared a wealth of information. Prepare to do some walking - we got in over 11k steps before lunch. We saw the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Basicilica Cistern, Hague Sofia, the Topkapi Palace and more. Very comprehensive!!
Fully packed day in a very busy city. Istanbul is vibrant and large. So thankful to have a personal guide to navigate it. We saw the highlights and were able to dart between the crowds and avoid the lines. Sabit did a marvellous job of time management so we weren’t lost in an endless sea of tourists following large group tours. He explained the history and culture in a fun and kind manor. We also had plenty of free time to shop after lunch. Back to the ship with time to spare.
This was an exceptional tour. Sabit was knowledgeable, had a great sense of how to best organize our day, and was enthusiastic as he shared the history and culture of the places we visited. Lunch spot Sabit suggested was delicious, and an authentic local meal. He took great care of us throughout the day.
We had an incredible experience in Istanbul on this tour, where we delved into the rich history of iconic landmarks, soaked up the energy of bustling street activities, and had the pleasure of exploring the city with the outstanding tour guide Volkan
Our guide was absolutely amazing. We were able to see many of the highlights of the city and even with the amount of attractions we saw, we were never rushed and were able to learn and enjoy. Our guide knew the local history and displayed a sense of local and pride and ownership that was terrific. It was terrific!!
Our tour guide was Volcan who was very knowledgeable about everything in the Sultanamet district, including Topkapi Palace, Aye Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Cistern, etc. He also was very easy going and pleasant to talk with and ask questions of. He arranged for a sequence of attractions to minimize walking distance to accommodate my bad hip. Note that with even the best of sequencing this tour includes a LOT of walking. They pick you up at your hotel and return you but the rest of the time is walking. All these attractions are close in the old city but the total adds up so be prepared. Having pre-purchased or priority purchase for attractions as well as entrance line priority saves a tremendous amount of precious tour time. This by itself makes going private worth the money in my opinion. For lunch you can choose street food, locals type sit down (which we did and it was great) or a more formal sit down restaurant. Time is budgeted but cost is not included so you are free to pick what you like. This tour covers all the attractions in the old city except the Archaeological Museum which requires several hours by itself and a specialized guide. I recommend this tour and especially our guide to anyone wanting a comprehensive private tour of the old city and it's many attractions. It may seem expensive but it does include almost $100 per person in entrance fees that most other tours exclude. Definitely worth it.
We saw with our trip the Great and Beautiful architecture of Istanbul so many building there were fabulous and amazing With that we had a best chance to visit and Make a Trip to Amazing place like Isthabul with Matt .
Great Tour. We had an excellent tour of all the top sights of istanbul. Guide was impressive knowledgeable about Turkey and Istanbul history. The city alive with history and shopping spots. The Hotel Peninsula hotel is not far away to Major sights. You can use vehicle or tram. Ask The Matt for kebab resturants and Handmade carpets. We are happy.
The tour was wonderful. An 1 day highlight of the main points on Istanbul. Would definitely recommend as a starting point to know Istambul. Our guide, Umutcan, was o impressive knowledgeable about Turkey and Istanbul history, giving very detailed explanations about everything, answering all our questions, besides being very patient and helpful with our pictures, and giving lots of hints about the city for the coming days. Would definitely thank and recommend him a lot!
Professional Guide with high quality knowledge was prompt at our hotel Four Seasons Bosphorus. All entry tickets and transfers included. Promised sites and sophisticated carpet conference was visited. Highly recommend.
Guide was OUTSTANDING! His knowledge was second to none. He is clearly passionate about the landmarks he showed us and goes above and beyond to gain and share his knowledge of them. In all of my travels, I truly rank this tour as one of my top tours. We have visited Turkish Carpet Galerry and Sevan Bicakci Jewellery Store. Pick up and drop of top service. All tickets included. Best regards.
Our tour guide was Hasan. What a great gentleman and super guide. They were very cooperative and helpful during the entire tour and showed us through Istanbul with great patience and enthusiasm. Overall experience was extremely good and I would definitely recommend this to all.
Serkan, our tour guide, was awesome! He introduced himself on WhatsApp shortly before the meeting at our hotel. He was punctual and arranged the pick up to and from our hotel with the drivers for us. Serkan spoke English well and was very knowledgeable; The tour was not rushed and lasted about 7 hours including a stop for lunch. We saw all the famous mosques as well as a palace and cistern in old town Istanbul and even walked thru the Grand Bazaar and Hippodrome area. The tour was a great value for the time spent and included all site entry tickets. Thank you Serkan for a very memorable time in Istanbul.
Our guide Batuhan was absolutely fantastic. He was engaging, friendly and very knowledgeable. The tour itself was excellent, we took in almost all the sights across Istanbul and very much enjoyed it. We booked this private tour at the last minute (and I mean the very last minute, 60 minutes before) and Mehmet (organiser) was spectacular in getting everything organised in less than an hour. It was first class. We had booked one of those group tours with another company and it was chaos, standing outside waiting for tickets etc. So we left and booked our own. It was an excellent decision. If you're booking a tour of the sights in Istanbul definitely give Mehmet a call, he's brilliant.
Amazing cultural experience of the true Istanbul and its art and history! Mehmet our tour guide was so kind, helpful, informative and such a generous host from start to finish. We started the day with the Blue Mosque and finished with a traditional Turkish cuisine lunch. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience in seeing all the beauties and treasures that Turkey has to offer! Highly recommended this tour as five stars! :)
Guide was very informative and professional. Tour was great and from start to end all luxury. Price worth it. I so recommend this tour for over class people.
This tour was the best one mehmet was a good guide. I recommend this tour for tourists coming istanbul.
It was a great experience.the Ozgur Mutlu guide, proved not only very knowledgeable and professional, but also kind and helpful, meeting our expectations.the language used was understandable English by the standards of all participants. We recommend it
Mehmet is a super attentive and passionate guide.. he transmits his knowledge in a very communicative way... I highly recommend
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