Private Istanbul Day Tour and Famous Grand Bazaar
Description
Experience Istanbul’s rich cultural tapestry as you visit the Blue Mosque, a masterpiece of Ottoman Islamic architecture adorned with iconic İznik tiles. Step into Hagia Sophia, a monument where centuries of Christian and Islamic history meet under one magnificent dome. Walk through the Hippodrome, once the vibrant heart of Byzantine public life, and explore the Grand Bazaar, where centuries of Ottoman trade and culture come alive in every alley and stall. This journey immerses you in Istanbul’s layered history, blending faith, art, and daily life in unforgettable ways.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Step into the Blue Mosque and admire the beautiful blue İznik tiles that give this iconic landmark its name, along with its elegant domes and peaceful atmosphere.
Explore Hagia Sophia, a timeless masterpiece where grand architecture, rich history, and stunning mosaics come together under one magnificent dome.
Wander through the Grand Bazaar, a vibrant maze of shops and stalls offering everything from colorful carpets to intricate jewelry and traditional Turkish goods.
Discover the Hippodrome, the ancient center of Byzantine chariot races, adorned with historic monuments and fascinating stories from Istanbul’s past.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your guide will pick you up from and drop you off at the lobby of your centrally located hotel on the European side.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
- At the time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time.
- Hagia Sophia is not a museum and is open to public viewing, so long lines may occur. For skip-the-line tickets, please contact the supplier via WhatsApp.
- The Grand Bazaar is closed to visitors on Sundays. Your guide will provide alternative options, such as a visit to the Spice Bazaar
- A minimum of two guests per booking is required.
Reviews(32)
Appreciated our tour guide, Ratan being flexible to meet our needs. She was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Istanbul, very friendly and helpful. We highly recommend her.
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊 We are truly happy to hear that you enjoyed your Istanbul experience and that the tour met your expectations. It means a lot to us to know that the guide’s flexibility, knowledge, and friendliness made your trip even more memorable.
Excellent tour guide very knowledgeable friendly & considerate to all our needs. Had fun in the Grand Bazar with his help bartering with shop keepers.
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re so happy to hear you had such a great experience with our guide. Grand Bazaar is always a highlight, and it’s wonderful that his knowledge, friendliness, and bargaining skills helped make it even more fun and memorable.
Renan met us as scheduled. We travel with our handicapped daughter and she was always assisting her. Her kind heart was evident throughout our trip. She showed us through a mosque and then took us to the Grand Bazaar. She gave us numerous stories and facts as we travelled. In fact, often there was so much, that we didn’t get to ask some questions that we wanted to ask. She was a highly educated tour guide. Although she was Muslim, she was very tolerant and respectful to the fact that we were Christians. One disappointment that we had was that we didn’t get to see the interior of the Blue Mosque or the Hagia Sophia. It was offered at the end of the trip but we were tired by then and just wanted to get back to the ship. She was a kind, thoughtful tour guide for our first time in Istanbul.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your time with Renan and appreciated her care, knowledge, and support throughout the tour. We also appreciate your comments regarding the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, and we completely understand after a long day of touring. Thank you again for choosing us for your first visit to Istanbul. We hope to welcome you again in the future
Our guide was very knowledgeable and informative regarding the historic sights we saw. We were a bit disappointed with the Grand Bazaar part of the tour which was visiting several “clone” and “super clone” handbag and watch shops - despite telling the guide we were not interested in this. When it was evident we weren’t going to purchase the Grand Bazaar experience was over. We would have liked to be shown through more of the Bazaar with less pressure to buy.
Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed the historical part of the tour and found your guide informative. We’re sorry the Grand Bazaar visit did not meet your expectations and felt too focused on specific shops. Your comments are noted, and we will address this to ensure a more balanced and enjoyable experience in the future. We appreciate your review and hope to welcome you again.
The tour went as combined. The Fatma guide was excellent, knows a lot about the history of the city and all the sights, in addition to giving tips and saving time with queues. I highly recommend the private tour.
Que alegria saber que o seu dia foi tão especial! Ficámos encantados por saber que a Sra. Fatma tornou a sua experiência inesquecível com todo o seu conhecimento e carinho. Muito obrigado por partilhar este momento tão positivo connosco!
Beautiful Tour with the Sait guide who took us around Istanbul making us know its beauties and hidden corners. He is really good and flexible. highly recommended
Grazie per il consiglio! Siamo felici che il tour con Sait sia stato all'altezza delle vostre aspettative. Vi aspettiamo di nuovo a Istanbul!
Sait was an awesome tour guide! He was very knowledgeable, nice, and friendly . Very funny, helpful and caring as well. Took me to some hidden gems in the grand bazaar. Overall best tour I ever had. I would recommend him for any tour you’re looking for. He was great with historical facts and shopping.
Thank you for your kind words! We are delighted that Sait’s historical knowledge and expertise in the Grand Bazaar made your tour so memorable. Your high recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you back
My tour guide was Sait. He was very prompt, informative, and knew all the places I wanted to see. He was super generous and personable. I stupidly forgot to tip him which is a shame. I feel awful and would love to know to fix this. The company said it was too late.This man deserves more than 5 stars. I would encourage people to ask for him personally.
Thank you for your excellent feedback. We are pleased to hear that Sait provided such a professional and informative experience. Please do not worry about the gratuity; your high recommendation and kind words are the best rewards for our guides. We will ensure Sait receives your appreciation. We look forward to seeing you again
Our guide, Burak, was excellent and gave us a thorough and interesting insight into the Old Town area of Istanbul. He was informative, enthusiastic and flexible. Our tour adapted to our interests without any issue. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful city with us
WE arrived in Istanbul at 2:00 a.m., booked the tour and met with Z around 10:00 a.m. that morning! Very quick response, super knowledgeable and outgoing. Is it possible to share too much? Not with Z, she was absolutely amazing, a spitfire!
