Private Istanbul Day Tour
Description
Discover Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks with rich historical context and engaging storytelling. Your journey begins at Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture that has stood for over 1,500 years and reflects the city’s unique cultural heritage. Continue to the Blue Mosque, celebrated for its stunning blue Iznik tiles and magnificent domes, representing one of the finest examples of classical Ottoman design. Walk through the Hippodrome, once the center of public life during the Byzantine era, where grand ceremonies and sporting events shaped the city’s social and political landscape. Conclude your experience at the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, filled with vibrant stalls offering spices, textiles, jewelry, and Turkish handicrafts. Your private guide will bring each stop to life with engaging stories, ensuring a personalized and deeply enriching experience across Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Visit the most important palace of the Ottoman Empire This 15th-century royal residence served as the political, administrative, and ceremonial heart of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 400 years.
Built in the 6th century, this vast underground reservoir once supplied water to Istanbul’s imperial palaces and still fascinates visitors with its atmospheric columns and Medusa heads.
Completed in 1616, the mosque is renowned for its striking blue Iznik tiles and stands as one of the greatest architectural achievements of the Ottoman era.
Originally built in 537, Hagia Sophia has served as a cathedral, mosque, and museum, reflecting Istanbul’s layered history and unmatched architectural legacy.
Established in the 15th century, the Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, famous for its centuries-old trade tradition and vibrant atmosphere.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
You’re guaranteed to arrive back at your ship on time, without ever feeling rushed. Pickup / drop off service is provided from/to centrally located hotels at European side of Istanbul
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- This is a walking tour.
- Dolmabahce is closed on Mondays
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
Reviews(89)
Our tour guide Elif was great. She selected sites that gave us a great understanding of Instanbul Culture & History. In addition, she was very informative about the city and added many additional comments and perspectives. Highly recommend selecting her for a private tour!
Renan our guide was excellent. Had all the knowledge to navigate the main attractions without the queues. Did exactly what we wanted to do and see.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We are delighted to hear that you had an excellent experience with Renan and that her knowledge helped you enjoy the main attractions efficiently, avoiding queues and focusing on what you wanted to see. We truly appreciate your comments and will be happy to share them with her. We hope to welcome you again in the future.
We had a long day, but wonderful tour with Omer. We saw so many historical sights! The Cistern was a highlight! Prepare for a lot of walking and photo opportunities. Our guide was very kind and was happy to stop for rest breaks whenever necessary. He knew the right time for us to enter the Blue Mosque, with limited waiting. He knew which shopping areas had the best quality products.
We are delighted to hear that you had a wonderful day with Omer and enjoyed exploring so many historical sites, especially the Basilica Cistern. It is great to know that his guidance, timing, and local knowledge helped you make the most of your visit, including minimizing waiting times and finding quality shopping areas. We also appreciate your helpful note regarding the walking involved, as this is valuable information for future guests. Thank you again for sharing your experience. We hope to welcome you back in the future.
Great overview of primary sites. Informative and professionally done. Guide was competent, professional, friendly, and genuine.
Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it informative and professionally organized. It’s wonderful to know that your guide provided such a friendly, genuine, and professional experience while helping you discover the main highlights of Istanbul.
Brilliant day being shown around Istanbul by Ali. It was easy, relaxed and flexible and he provided us with wonderful information and historical facts. Highly recommend.
It is good to know something about the history of Turkey but I missed visiting more sites as I think I could have taken better advantage of the opportunity to have a private guide
Hola Jerome, Muchas gracias por sus comentarios constructivos. En este tour, nuestro guía le acompañó a visitar el Palacio de Topkapi, la Cisterna Basílica, la Mezquita Azul (Sultanahmet), la Mezquita de Santa Sofía (Hagia Sophia) y el Gran Bazar. En nuestros tours privados procuramos aprovechar el tiempo de la mejor manera posible, teniendo en cuenta los intereses y el ritmo de nuestros visitantes. Sus opiniones son muy valiosas para seguir mejorando la calidad de nuestro servicio. Le agradecemos nuevamente su interés y esperamos tener el placer de recibirle en el futuro.
We had a very rewarding experience. It was very well organized and executed, from the driver to the hotels provided. Our guide, Aykut, was extremely competent. He is very knowledgeable about the history and culture of the region. He was very helpful and kind throughout the entire trip. I highly recommend the ADA company and the guide Aykut. Marcos, Salete and Bruno.
Customized tour of Istanbul was perfect. Saref was able to accommodate my 83yr old mother's mobility limitations while helping the rest of the group see all the sights on our list!
With only 3 days in the incredible city of Istanbul, we wanted to maximize every moment. Thank goodness we booked with Naz the first full day!!! She was incredible! Knowledgeable of Turkish history, architecture, and able to navigate all of the major sites with ease. But more than that, she was such a special person, sharing with us her story, in such a professional yet personal way, that we felt we had made a new friend too! Excellent experience in every way!
Our tour with Eda was incredible! She made every stop come alive with her deep historical knowledge, and she took such great care of our group of eight. Eda was patient, thoughtful, and truly went the extra mile to make our day unforgettable. We would 100% request her again—highly recommended. Thank you so much, Eda!
