Istanbul Shore Excursion : Best Seller Private Istanbul Tour
Description
See the best of Istanbul in a short amount of time with this Private Istanbul Tour, which is perfect for cruise passengers looking for a Shore Excursion. Easily meet your licensed guide at the cruise port, hop into your private transportation, and begin your guided city tour. Visit the Hagia Sophia Mosque on a guided visit, explore the Blue Mosque Tour area, enjoy a Skip-the-Line style entry approach at major sites when possible, and discover the history of the Topkapi Palace along with many other highlights before returning to your ship right on time with this cruise-friendly itinerary. Note that some admission is included and others you must pay on the spot. Visit several top spots in Istanbul on this private guided shore excursion Purchase authentic souvenirs at the Grand Bazaar or around the Sultanahmet District Go at your own pace on this fully private, customizable tour
Tour Options
Itinerary
Hagia Sophia Museum / Ayasofya / Santa Sofia — Built in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian, it played a very important role in both the Christian and Islamic world. It has recently changed its regulation for non-believer visitors; with your ticket, you will get a headset provided by the mosque. When visiting Istanbul, one must make sure to include a shore excursion to the iconic Hagia Sophia. Its historical significance and breathtaking architecture make it a must-see for any visitor. With Istanbul shore excursions, guests can enjoy a guided visit to Hagia Sophia, experiencing this ancient and stunning building while also taking in the beauty of the city's shoreline. An unforgettable highlight of any Private Istanbul Tour.
Topkapi Palace Museum / Topkapı Sarayı — More than just an imperial residence of Ottoman sultans, it was the seat of the Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for almost 400 years. A monumental example of Oriental architecture that reflects the power of the Ottoman Empire. Istanbul shore excursions to Topkapi Palace offer visitors the chance to explore one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. This historical site, once home to Ottoman sultans, is now a museum showcasing a vast collection of treasures. A guided Topkapi Palace tour allows guests to immerse themselves in Istanbul’s rich heritage while enjoying its stunning courtyards and gardens. A must-see destination and a highlight of any cruise-friendly itinerary.
Blue Mosque / Sultanahmet Camii — Built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I, the Blue Mosque is a masterpiece of architecture with delicate proportions for such a grand structure. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul offers shore excursion visitors the opportunity to admire its beautiful design, iconic blue tiles, and majestic domes. Its perfect location near the cruise-friendly Sultanahmet area makes it an ideal stop for those on a private guided tour. This is one of Istanbul’s most photographed landmarks and should not be missed.
The Serpent Column (Ancient Greek: Τρικάρηνος Ὄφις), also known as the Serpentine Column or Plataean Tripod, is an ancient bronze monument at the Hippodrome of Constantinople. A historically significant stop often included in walking portions of private Istanbul tours.
The Hippodrome of Constantinople (Greek: Ἱππόδρομος τῆς Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, romanized: Hippódromos tēs Kōnstantinoupóleōs; Latin: Circus Maximus Constantinopolitanus; Turkish: Hipodrom), was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square in Istanbul, Turkey, known as Sultanahmet Square (Turkish: Sultanahmet Meydanı).
Grand Bazaar / Kapalı Çarşı One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with over 4,000 shops with colorful products of ceramic, leather, rugs, carpets, handicrafts, clothes, silver, and gold.
The Basilica Cistern, or Cisterna Basilica (Greek: Βασιλική Κινστέρνα, Turkish: Yerebatan Sarnıcı or Yerebatan Saray, "Subterranean Cistern" or "Subterranean Palace"), is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The cistern, located 150 metres (490 ft) southwest of the Hagia Sophia on the historical peninsula of Sarayburnu, was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine emperor Justinian I. Today it is kept with little water, for public access inside the space.
Unique time to Discover Turkish Handcrafts ( Turkish Carpets, Leathers, ceramics) shopping opportunities
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Traveler pickup is offered. Guaranteed On-Time Return To Your Ship *FOR LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS AND LATE DEPARTURES, as museums and some sites will be closed around 17:00 pm, alternative tour sites will be advised by the tour guide during the tour. *Tour guide meets you at central Istanbul hotels or Galata Port. If the hotel is not centrally located, the meeting point will be in front of the Binbirdirek, **GERMAN FOUNTAIN**, Fatih/İstanbul, If van service is not chosen your guide will pick you up at centrally located hotels on foot. We pick up all guests from CRUISE PORT Ports: Istanbul Cruise Port Galataport Istanbul, Kılıçali Paşa Mah. Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. No: 8 İç Kapı No: 102, Kılıçali Paşa, 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Guaranteed On-Time Return To Your Ship
Reviews(298)
We had a great day out, our tour guide Ayşe Yıldırım could not have been more helpful. Her knowledge, enthusiasm and helpfulness were excellent. She made sure we saw all the highlights, and took us to a wonderful restaurant for lunch. This is a good tour, and Ayşe is a great guide.
Our private tour with Emeryy was truly one of the highlights of our trip to Istanbul!! From the moment the day began until the very end, everything was seamless, organized, and completely stress. His knowledge of Istanbul’s history, culture, and landmarks was exceptional. He shared fascinating stories and historical details throughout the day that brought each site to life, making the experience so much more meaningful than simply walking through the attractions on our own. We were able to see so many incredible places in just one day, including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern. Navigating these busy attractions could have been overwhelming, but with Emreyy leading the way, everything felt effortless. He knew the best routes, kept us moving at the perfect pace, and made the entire day easy and enjoyable. One of our favorite parts of the tour was lunch. Emreyy recommended a restaurant that we never would have found on our own, and it was absolutely fantastic. Throughout the tour, Emery was personable, knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely passionate about sharing his city. He was always happy to answer our questions, offer recommendations, and make sure we were comfortable. It truly felt like we were exploring Istanbul with a knowledgeable local rather than just following a tour. If you’re visiting Istanbul and want to experience the city’s incredible history and culture without the stress of planning or navigating everything yourself, we cannot recommend Emreyy highly enough. His expertise, organization, and warm personality made for an unforgettable day, and we would absolutely book another tour with him in the future. Thank you, Emreyy, for giving us such a wonderful experience and memories that we’ll always cherish! We can’t wait to come back :)
We had an excellent tour of Istanbul with Sercan. He took us to the beautiful Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and several other fascinating places around the city and its markets. Sercan was very knowledgeable, friendly, and patient, and he made everything easy to understand. We truly enjoyed the experience and are very grateful for his kindness and excellent service. We highly recommend Sercan to anyone visiting Istanbul. Thank you for a wonderful day!
Such a great trip around the sights of Istanbul with our private guide who was amazing. We loved seeing the astonishing sights and the Basilica Cistern is a must in our opinion! Very informative and the history of Istanbul was so fascinating thanks to Evrem. She made the trip! It is a walking tour primarily with lovely air conditioned transport and we highly recommend.
Was very good tour. Pinar was very knowledgeable. Book this tour to get a good layout of city center.
Absolutely amazing! Alef paid close attention to our preferences and designed a day that was beyond perfect! Would absolutely recommend her to anyone wanting the best tour guide imaginable!
We had an incredible tour today in Istanbul with Savas (Sam) and it was truly one of the highlights of our trip. From the moment we met him, he was warm, caring, and genuinely attentive to our needs. He tailored the day to suit our interests, making the experience feel personal and relaxed rather than rushed. Sam’s knowledge of Istanbul’s history and culture was exceptional. He brought the city’s fascinating past to life with engaging history and insights that we would never have discovered on our own. Throughout the day, he also introduced us to some fabulous local places to eat, which made the experience even more authentic and memorable. If you’re looking for a guide who is knowledgeable, passionate, thoughtful, and dedicated to creating a truly memorable cultural experience, we couldn’t recommend Sam more highly. Thank you for making our day in Istanbul so special!
Our tour guide, Mert, was very knowledgeable, informative and caring for us as we explored all the fascinating and historic sites Istanbul has to offer! He answered all our questions in great detail and provided a wonderful historic perspective on each site we visited. We strongly recommend this tour group and suggest you ask for Mert!
The best tour, experience and guide! Emre was so knowledgeable, helpful, accommodating and enjoyable! The sites were fantastic, the pace was just right and we loved our time in Istanbul! Emre went above and beyond helping all of our needs with the hotel and transfers!
Sercan was amazing. He gave us all the hidden secrets—even a good rooftop bar to visit. The night before he texted us all the information we would need to conveniently exit the ship and find him. We appreciated that the most.
