Istanbul City and Hidden Gem Private Guided Tour 1, 2, 3 Day opt.
Description
Whether you are interested in history, architecture, culture or cuisine while exploring highlights or hidden gems of Istanbul our very well-made itinerary for 1,2 or 3 days private guided walking tour has you covered ! Istanbul: no other city on earth straddles two continents -Europe and Asia- and has been home to three great empires (Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman). We will discover Hagia Sophia, visit Topkapi Palace, stroll through Grand Bazaar and enjoy the beauty of Blue Mosque. In a city like this, it's important to have an experienced local guide who can help you to navigate, all the while ensuring you the most personal experience possible. We will sometimes use a ferry, subway or tram to navigate through the city. Don't forget that the best way of exploring a new city is to use public transport or walking. • Skip-the-Line Access to the Museums • Well-Made Itinerary for 1,2 or 3 Days Private Guided Walking Tour • Customize the itinerary according to your interest • Taste Local Food
Tour Options
Itinerary
TOPKAPI PALACE (Highlights), the former imperial residence from which the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled for nearly 400 years. Today a spectacular museum, it is famous for its collections of treasury of the Ottoman Royal Family. You will chase the memories of the sultans and the Ottoman Empire through 400 years of the most glorious victories, happiest moments, and mournful days.
HAGIA SOPHIA is a 6th century church, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, welcomes you with its legends and mosaics. You will have a chance to touch the history of this church, a main attraction of the city since its construction.
BLUE MOSQUE, also known as the Sultanahment Mosque is one of the biggest mosques and principal adornments of the Istanbul skyline. It was built in the 17th century. Once inside the mosque, blue Iznik tiles and stained glass will surround you.
HIPODROME: The former center of sportive and political activities of Constantinople. You will be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt, Serpentine Column from Delphi and fountain of Willhelm II.
GRAND BAZAAR is both the oldest and the biggest covered bazaar in the world. Your guide will provide the history of the Bazaar as well as some helpful tips on navigating its more than 4000 shops.
This palace, constructed between 1843 and 1858 by Sultan I Abdulmecit, contains eclectic elements from the Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical styles, blended with traditional Ottoman architecture to create a new synthesis.
Bosphorus Cruise. Bosphorus is a unique natural water strait both sides of which filled in Palaces, Yalis ( old Ottoman Houses), historical mosques and many other buildings and many neighbourhoods with their own unique cultures.
Kadikoy is probably the most vibrant and local district of Istanbul.
Rustem Pasha is famous for the most beautiful examples of Ottoman Tile art pieces adorning it’s walls on the inside.
This market is famous for Turkish delights and spices.
The largest underground water reservoir from the Byzantine time. This 6th century underground cistern became famous with the Medusa heads located in one corner of the cistern.
This mosque, constructed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan in 1557, is regarded as the most beautiful of all imperial mosques.
Chora monastery, represents one of the oldest and most important religious foundations of Byzantine Constantinople. Second in renown only to Justinian’s Great Church, the Kariye is an increasingly popular tourist destination, known primarily for its splendid mosaic and fresco decoration.
BALAT is where you will enjoy the most authentic houses of Istanbul.
This is a unique church which is fully made of iron.
This is the Petriarchate of the Orthodox.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
* This is a walking tour and whenever necessary you will use public transport. If your hotel is centrally located your tour guide will meet you at the hotel/port/apartment on foot. Otherwise meeting point will be in front of Adamar Hotel. * If your hotel is located in/around old city (Sultanahmet Area) private van is unnecessary. All the highlights on the one day itinerary are located in one pedestrian area and walking tour is the only option to visit the sites. * If you still would like to request a private van please get in touch with us.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. Basilica Cistern will be visited instead.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. Spice Market will be visited instead.
- Grand Bazaar and Spice Market will be closed in 2026 in the following dates; March 20/21/22-Ramadan Celebrations. May 27/28/29/30-Eid Celebrations. October 29-Republic Day.
- We have Kid-Friendly Tour Guides in our team.
- For the cruise passengers public transportation (tram) is strongly recommended due to heavy traffic in/around the old city. By the tram the old city takes only 10 minutes. Please book the tour accordingly
- If you book the tour with a private van, please beware that extra charges may apply if your hotel/apartment is located in the Asian Side or far from the city center.
Reviews(267)
Semih was an amazing guide- knowledgeable, professional, and ever so personable and fun! My friend and I asked endless questions about history, the city, and anything else we were curious about and Semih knew the answers! Our pickups were on time, drivers were great, but the tours themselves were absolutely fantastic! My friend and I are already planning another trip to Turkey! I cannot recommend Semih highly enough! I would recommend him to anyone who wants to fall in love with Istanbul / Turkey! I will definitely consult him first my next trip to Turkey!
We had an incredible experience with Semih and Derya during our time in Cappadocia and Istanbul. Both of our guides were outstanding—knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely fun to spend time with. They brought each location to life with rich history, local insights, and stories we never would have discovered on our own. We felt well taken care of every step of the way, from navigating busy sites to making sure we experienced the highlights without feeling rushed. In a relatively short amount of time, we were able to see so many amazing places and truly get a “taste” of Turkey. It struck the perfect balance between structured touring and enjoying the moment. If you’re looking for a seamless, informative, and enjoyable experience, I would absolutely recommend this team. They made our trip memorable in all the right ways.
My daughter and I booked Duygu for a private tour of Istanbul and we couldn’t have picked a more perfect guide. She gave us a very special day seeing the most iconic sites- Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, and lots of shopping. She took us to her favorite places in the Old Town which was so helpful. Otherwise the grand bazaar would have been completely overwhelming! We feel like we made a fried with Duygu and hope see her again in the future.
Tours by Locals assigned guide Semih Gümüsay for our 3-day guided tour of Istanbul. He picked us up at our hotel on each day punctually and took us to many famous and not so famous (but mighty interesting) attractions by bus, tram and boat. He was wonderful - knowledgeable, proud of his country and speaking very good English. We felt safe and well cared for at all times.
Hamide was great! She was able to plan our visits so that we essentially did not have to wait in queues at all. In addition to helping us to focus on the most relevant parts (there is so much to see), she told us about everyday life in Istanbul. And we got great recommendations about restaurants.
Emel, totally customized our tour in advance and was able to adjust to our changing interests. Totally flexible. We saw what we wanted to see and experienced what we had hoped in a short period of time. She was extremely considerate of my physical limitations and took lots of shortcuts to minimize walking. She was very adept at telling the story of Turkish culture with a western perspective for us to readily absorb the info. She knew all the right shopping spots away from the heavily touristed areas. Can’t say enough about the quality of the tour.
We got to experience all that Istanbul has to offer. Our guide was knowledgeable and let us go at our own pace. The grand bizarre was the highlight
Emre was an excellent guide. We started with the most visited sites in the morning and the afternoon activities were specific to our interests. The visits were scheduled such that we did not waste time standing in long lines.
Duygu was such a wonderful guide. My wife and I immediately had a great connection and felt like we were long time friends. Her knowledge of the area was great but what made it even more meaningful was her ability to weave in personal experiences as well her knowledge of other businesses that we were introduced to. Lunch with her was a highlight!
We had a wonderful 2 day introduction to Istanbul. Our guide was amazing and very personal. He took us to all the major sites and to places we would never have found on our own. He was so knowledgeable about Istanbul and its history and you could tell he loved his country. This 2 day tour was one of the best tours of our 3 week filled vacation. Thank you very much Mehmet for a once in a lifetime experience. Mike & Mary
