Private & Mini Group 7-8 Hours Guided Istanbul Tour / Cruise Port
Description
Why Private Tours with Us? Special discounts. You will decide on departure time. Our tour guide will meet you at the port with your name sign, Our professional tour guide and A/C vehicle will be with you from arrival till departure, Our professional guide will be with you in the sites. Our guide will have pre-paid tickets to skip the lines. Fees can be paid to our guide after the tour. You will have flexibilty to spend how much time you want in each site and make small changes on the itinerary, You do not have to wait for other group members. You will have a chance to make stops to have pictues during the tour. Our Private tour rates are more reasonable than cruise shore tours, You will have several alternatives to taste famous Turkish Delicious foods, if you want to have lunch during your trip
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your private guide will meet you at Istanbul port Terminal Building with a sign written “Your Name“ on it at pre-arranged time ( mostly 30 minutes after your cruise doct into port ) or from the listed hotel receptions with room numbers. - Every cruise lines has different dock in times. Pick up times are different for each cruise. Thats why pick up time for your tour will be emailed with in 24 hours after your reservation. Please check your emails and note pick up time and all details you will need during the tour.
After Greeting, walk to our A/C van and start to visit Istanbul the only city in the world located on two continents is Istanbul, which has been the capital of three great empires – Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman – for more than 2000 years. Our first stop is Hippodrome Square where used to take place for chariot races and the Byzantine riots during Roman & Byzantine period.
After a short lunch break in famous local restaurants like Pudding Shop, we will walk to visit Grand Bazaar where is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 1,200 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. Opened in 1461, it is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops.
Our second stap is Blue Mosque where is a few meters to Ancient Hipodromme. Blue Mosque has its fame from its beautiful blue Iznik tiles
Continue walking around 300 meters to Topkapi Palace, was not only the residence of the Ottoman sultans, but also the administrative and educational center of the state. It was constructed between 1460 and 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople. We will visit the Topkapi Palace including weapons section.
Only a short walk away, reaches Hagia Sophia built in 532 AD by ORoman Emperor Justinian I. Update for St. Sophia interior visit : Live guiding is not allowed in St. Sophia after the 15th January 2024. Guests have to have their smart phones and headphones during their visit. If guests do not have a headphone, they can buy at the entrance at the cost of 3,5-USD The system is similar to audio guide system. Guests who does not have smart phones will follow the signs and the given informations on the signs .
Pass by Galata bridge over Golden Horn.
After Grand Bazaar we will walk back to our van and drive to Porth through Galata port where you will see local people taking feries , having street foods and fishing . Arrival back to port or to your hotel and the end of our services
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
- Every cruise lines has different dock in times. Pick up times are different for each cruise. Thats why pick up time for your tour will be emailed with in 24 hours after your reservation. Please check your emails and note pick up time and all details you will need during the tour. - Our tours include Private Professional Licenced Tour guide, A/C transportations, Pick up and drop off, All tax and handling fees - Our tour guide will meet you at the port / at the listed hotels' lobby with your name sign. - Our professional tour guide and A/C vehicle will be with you from arrival till departure. - Our professional guide will be with you in the sites. - You will have flexibilty to spend how much time you want in each site and make small changes on the itinerary. - Your guide will have pre-paid tickets to skip the lines . Entrance fees can be paid to our guide after the tour in cash or by visa or master card - You will have several alternatives to taste famous Turkish Delicious foods, if you want to have lunch during your trip
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Dress Code Men : Knees MUST be covered. Long shorts and/or pants Women : Head, shoulders and legs must be covered. Covers will ve sold in front of St. Sophia and will be given for use in fron of blue mosque Shoes are not to be worn in mosques. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements.
- In the event of any museum closures, an alternative similar museum will be visited. On Tuesdays : Topkapi Palace replaced by Underground Cistern, On Sundays: Grand Bazaar will be replaced by Spice Market. Grand Bazaar and Spice Market are closed on religious holidays. Arasta Bazaar will be visited. On Fridays: Blue Mosque is open from 15.00 to 17.30
- Private tour for your family and friends
- There will be around 2,5-3 miles walk in this tour. Traffic is not allowed in Sultanahmet Square where all the highlights are . If you have walking problem, you have to book private option and have a slow tour with stops to relax in the cafees in old city
Reviews(287)
Turkan, our private tour guide, made the tour very special and shecustomized it to our desires. We saw Hippodrome - Chariot races and Obelisks, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Gülhane (National Park) - The private courtyard of the palace. Then we went to the Spice Market, where she showed us the best places to buy spices, tea, and coffee. We ended up eating lunch in a local restaurant Ocakbaşı, which was fabulous.
For May, 2026 we arranged a 2 day private tour of Istanbul booked through Curio Travel with Ephesus Shuttle Tours and Leyla as our guide. We had general ideas about what we wanted to see and do, hitting historical and cultural sights and experiencing different parts of the incredible city. All the drivers were on time, dependable and careful and Leyla was always on time as well. Leyla, was really great. She was very personable and professional. Her style as a guide was conversational and open, a perfect match for our way of learning and spending time in a new culture. She provided interesting and important historical, cultural and social context to ancient and modern day Istanbul and offered her personal perspectives when we wanted to know. She was flexible and adapted to changes in our energy and availability, provided suggestions and guidance and we liked her so much, that we asked for an additional day which she was able to accommodate. We would use Curio and Ephesus Shuttle Tours again and would definitely ask for Leyla. She added much to our experience and enjoyment.
Hello, Once again, we deeply appreciate your long-standing loyalty and the detailed feedback you’ve provided. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. We will share your kind message and opinions with your guide. Thank you on behalf of her. We would be delighted to see you in our wonderfull country again. Ephesus Shuttle Turkey Team
We had a great time with Ezgi in Istanbul! Her knowledge about the history and architecture of the various places we visited was impressive and made the excursion all the more enjoyable. She was able to steer us away from some of the more obvious tourist traps and used her experience and connections with some of the local vendors to get us into places faster and easier. She was even willing to indulge us by waiting in a lengthy (but fast moving) line to see the Blue Mosque. I’ll never forget her quick thinking when we started getting hounded by all the rug merchants in the Grand Bazaar. I had just purchased a rug from a trusted vendor outside the market and the bag they gave me made it obvious to all the other vendors at the Bazaar that I had just bought one. They were eager to help me buy more when Ezgi had the brilliant idea to put the bag inside another one to disguise it. She also made an excellent suggestion for lunch at Rumeli Kebab & Steak House. Not only was the food delicious but the waitstaff were funny and engaging. Highly recommended Ezgi for your future Istanbul tours and Rumeli for the food and atmosphere.
Haggard Sophia is covered in scaffolding so this should be mentioned if you are choosing this tour. Topkapi Palace was beautiful. Our guide walked a little too fast for us older folks. Honestly we should have taken the T1 tram and done it by ourselves.
Our tour was absolutely fantastic and one of the highlights of our trip. We learned so much about the city’s rich history, culture, and the significance behind many of its architectural masterpieces. The itinerary was excellent — we visited the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace Museum, the Grand Bazaar, and the Spice Market, all while getting detailed historical context that really brought each place to life. Our guide, Tayfun, was exceptional. His knowledge, experience, and flexibility made the tour feel very personalized. He gave great recommendations throughout the day and allowed us to tailor the pace and timing to our interests. One example was the Hagia Sophia Mosque, which was under renovation during our visit. Based on Tayfun’s advice that much of the interior was obstructed, we chose to skip going inside and spend more time enjoying other sites — definitely the right call. This tour is perfect for anyone who wants an immersive overview of the city’s history, landmarks, and cultural evolution. Be prepared for a fair amount of walking, though it was completely manageable and worth it for everything we experienced. If you enjoy fascinating history, stunning architecture, vibrant markets, and don’t mind getting your steps in, this is absolutely the tour to book.
Engi was a fantastic guide. She guided us through all the main sites in Istanbul to include the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar! She was very knowledgeable and it was amazing to see and learn about all these sites in one day. She picked us up right at the port and dropped us off there following our tour.
Dear Christie, Your kind words will be shared with our entire team, who will be thrilled to know they helped create this memorable experience. We will share your kind message and opinions with your guide. Thank you on behalf of her. We would be delighted to see you in our wonderful country again. Ephesus Shuttle Turkey Team
Note to all you English speakers heading to or in Istanbul: Leyla is an exceptionally good tour guide. My husband and I - a travel group of 2 - just spent 3 days (April 6-9 2026) with Leyla as our guide. She is thoroughly knowledgeable about Turkish history,, art, culture, and what tourists need to know to feel comfortable. She is excellent at giving background information leading up to events and famous sites you will visit. She also anticipates what you’ll need to know to feel comfortable on your own in Istanbul. My husband and I have traveled around the world. Leyla is probably the best tour guide we have ever worked with. Many shared laughs and smiles, many memorable moments, and much learning. Many thanks Leyla!
Dear Gail, Thank you again for your loyalty and thoughtful insights. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next trip to Ephesus and will do everything we can to ensure another wonderful travel. We will share your kind message and opinions with your guide. Thank you on behalf of her. We would be delighted to see you in our wonderful country again. Ephesus Shuttle Turkey Team
Ceren provided excellent commentary about the places we visited. She was on time for our tour, was very personable, knowledgeable, and made us feel welcome in her city of Istanbul. Highly recommended.
Dear John, We don't know how to thank you enough for your comment. Your feedback is precious and has been proudly share with the entire team. Our colleagues' dedication to our guests is fully rewarded when we received such wonderful comments. We will share your kind message and opinions with your guide. Thank you on behalf of her. We would be delighted to see you in our wonderful country again. Ephesus Shuttle Turkey Team
Leyla was an absolute delight to have spend this tour with . She guided us in a way that we were ahead of the crowds . Her knowledge of Istanbul and its history was just amazing . She shared so much insight as we walked through the city . Where we went for lunch was such good food.She also was prompt in getting us back to the cruise ship terminal in time . Sorry it took me a while to write this review
Dear Don, We don't know how to thank you enough for your comment. Your feedback is precious and has been proudly share with the entire team. Our colleagues' dedication to our guests is fully rewarded when we received such wonderful comments. We will share your kind message and opinions with your guide. Thank you on behalf of her. We would be delighted to see you in our wonderful country again. Ephesus Shuttle Turkey Team
We have a private shore excursion with Ephesus Shuttle when our cruise stopped in Istanbul. We highly recommend their service. The service provided by Ephesus Shuttle and our tour guide Özge are excellent and professional. From the initial planning stage to the day of tour, everything was perfect.
Hello, Thank you so much for sharing your experience and giving us such a good note! We hope to have the occasion to welcome you back soon. Thank you for taking the time to share such a lovely review. We will share your kind message and opinions with your guide. Thank you on behalf of her. We would be delighted to see you in our wonderful country again. Ephesus Shuttle Turkey Team
