ISTANBUL BEST: Iconic Landmarks Full Day PRIVATE Guided City Tour
Description
Discover Ottoman and Byzantine history on this private Istanbul city tour, perfect for cruise passengers, first-time visitors, and travelers with limited time seeking a deeper cultural experience. Explore Istanbul’s Old City (Sultanahmet) with a private guide, visiting UNESCO World Heritage landmarks and the city’s most famous historical attractions. Visit the Hippodrome of Constantinople and see the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpent Column, and German Fountain. Enter the iconic Blue Mosque, renowned for its six minarets and Iznik tiles. Admire Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site reflecting Byzantine and Ottoman history. Tour Topkapi Palace, former residence of Ottoman sultans with Bosphorus views. Descend into the Basilica Cistern, famous for its Medusa heads and featured in Inferno and James Bond’s From Russia with Love. Conclude at the Grand Bazaar, with shopping opportunities for carpets, jewelry, leather, and bags. A private tour designed for unforgettable memories.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
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 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 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.
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.
Unique time to Discover Turkish Handcrafts ( Turkish Carpets, Leathers, ceramics) shopping opportunities
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.
Home to some of Istanbul’s most recognizable attractions, the Sultanahmet District is an ideal place to explore the city’s complex history. With the rose-colored Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) sitting across from the six minarets of the Blue Mosque and down the street from the energetic Grand Bazaar, this neighborhood packs in a wealth of culture.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Tour guide will meet you at Istanbul Hotels, Airbnb Locations or ISTANBUL CRUISE PORT (GALATAPORT- Sali Pazari). there are 3 options: 1) Private Guided tour : Guide will meet you at your hotel. Recommended to the Hotels in Sultanahmet Area, Cruise passengers and airbnb 2) Private Guided tour with Transfers ( pick up and Drop off included) Recommended to Cruise passengers, European side Hotels and air bnb 3) Private Guided tour with Full Day Vehicle. (spice market included) Recommended to The Hotels : The Peninsula, Four seasons Bosphorus, Kempinsky Ciragan, Mandarin, Conrad, Ritz-Carlton, Swiss, St.Regis, 6sense, The International, Hilton, Shangr-la, Raffles, Macka park, Asian side hotels and Cruise passengers. We COLLECT the all tourist from their places. If location is not centrally located, please contact the operator.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays can be replaced with alternatives.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays can be replaced with Spice Market.
- Ladies should bring scarf to cover heads
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- If the tour starts at 12:00, the duration of the tour is 6 hours.
- Period of Ramadan aid and sacrifice aid Grand baazar and spice market is closed
Reviews(1,383)
Our guide, Sabit, was very knowledgeable and flexible. He tailored our day to our interests and was willing to make adjustments as needed. We couldn’t think of a better day in Istanbul than the one we had with him.
Our local guide John was awesome. We learned a lot from him about the history of the Byzantine era, the Ottoman empire, the mosques and everything about the whole tour. He was very friendly and accommodating. Would recommend the tour and definitely John as a local tour guide.
Emel was a fantastic guide and made our excursion truly special. She was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive throughout the day. She also took us to the best lunch spot in town—the food was absolutely delicious! The whole day was such a pleasant experience, and Emel even made sure to take us to the best spots for photos. We came away with wonderful memories and beautiful pictures. Highly recommended!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had an amazing tour in Istanbul with Anil! He was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the history and culture of this beautiful city. He made every stop interesting and took the time to answer all of our questions. Anil was organized, patient, and made sure everyone in the group felt comfortable throughout the day. His recommendations for local food and hidden gems were fantastic and made our experience even more memorable. If you’re booking a tour through Viator, I highly recommend requesting Anil. He truly went above and beyond to make our visit to Istanbul unforgettable. Thank you, Anil, for an outstanding experience!
Akran our guide, was great. He was knowledgeable, approachable and recommended some great places to eat and spend time after the tour.
This tour was excellent. Sabit picked us up at our hotel (Park Hyatt) which was a bit from the main sites. He was incredibly knowledgable and passionate about history but was able to meet us where we were with our Turkish history for our first time in Istanbul. He was very flexible and offered many sights. In the morning we did the blue mosque, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cisterns. Then we had a nice lunch that was tasty and had good A/C for a little rest (very hot day in August!) We were debating going to the Topkapi Palace but once we realized how knowledgeable Sabit was we decided to go for it. It’s a much more extensive stop but we were able to do a significant part of it and see what we wanted with an engaged and informative guide. Then Sabit walked us to the Grand Bazaar and we did a quick walk through on our own and in the area. This tour is a great value for what you get. Sabit was flexible and clearly skilled in talking, letting us take breaks and knowing how to skip lines! He had all the insiders knowledge to cut some of the largest lines and get us in faster (especially valuable in the heat and summer crowds). He clearly loves his job and it shows in how the tour goes.
An excellent experience with our tour guide John. Very down to earth local with great knowledge of the cities history. Since it was an all day private tour we ended up trying some really good local spots for food along the way which was a bonus. The tour was well paced and there was lots of freedom to see anything you had interest in even if it wasn’t mentioned on the tour description. The places we visited all had a fee to enter which felt like we were being hosed but that had nothing to do with John. Because of John, we got to skip all the long lines to all these iconic places which was worth it. Can’t recommend John enough! We hope we get invited to his wedding !
Our guide in Istanbul, Sema, was wonderful and very knowledgeable. We learned so much from spending a few hours on the tour with her, saw many interesting spots and got recommendations for restaurants and activities. Highly recommend her!
Zel was extremely knowledgeable about all the spots on the tour and helpful recommendations for what else to do in Istanbul for the authentic experience. Very friendly and also able to adapt the tour based on your preferences.
Thanks Resul for guiding us around all major attractions in Instabul. He’s knowledgeable of history, very friendly and truly a story teller. It’s been an amazing one day tour.
