We are a couple with a keen interest in history. We arranged a day walking tour of the Classic buildings of Istanbul. Mustafa met us at our hotel and from there we spent the day exploring the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome remains and various local attractions. Mustafa was able to explain clearly the time line of both the building and the rulers, which always makes history come alive. We succumbed to the delights of the Grand Bazaar, I never knew that I could get giddy on a small tea, and bought several beautiful silk scarves. We had a quick traditional lunch at a local cafe, then down to the port for a 1hr 45 mins boat trip on the Bosporus. It was a super, stress free day with a charming, personable guide. We feel our appreciation of Istanbul was much the better for a well informed guide.
Istanbul Classics and Bosphorus Cruise Private Tour
+8 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 6h 30min
- Price from
- $150 / person
- Location
- Istanbul, Türkiye
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 58 reviews
- Languages
- DE, PT, EN, ES
- Group
- Private
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Food Trail Istanbul Tours
- Meeting point
- We will meet in front of Sultanahmet's B entrance , across from the German Fountain.
Description
This is a great tour option for the ones who only have one day to explore and still want to understand what Istanbul is all about. On this private 7-hours walking tour your guide will take you to an exciting journey through the centuries to the Istanbul's ancient Ottoman and Roman roots. You will learn about the most famous highlights and must see monuments of Istanbul. Marvel at the iconic Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, Spectacular views of Istanbul's skyline, Discover the top attractions with an expert, local tour guide A great insight into Turkish culture and daily life Cruise along the Bosphorus Strait with public ferry
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 9 times a day, 8:30 AM–12:30 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 22
- Adult (ages 18–60)
- $150
- Senior (ages 61–90)
- $150
- Youth (ages 9–17)
- $150
- Child (ages 4–8)
- $125
- Infant (ages 0–3)
- Free
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 21.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Hippodrome
The tour will start in the ancient Hippodrome which was once the beating hearth of the Constantinople. This arena was used for chariots racing and hundreds and thousands of people would entertain themselves watching the chariot racing, wild animal shows, dancers and acrobats.
Blue Mosque
From there we will make our way to the Blue Mosque to visit one of the most majestic Ottoman mosques famous for its six minarets and 17th century handmade blue tiles.
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Next stop will be one of the most iconic buildings in the world; Breathtakingly beautiful and grandiose Hagia Sophia. It is the place where Christianity meets Islam. Originally built as a church in the sixth century AD and then converted into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest, it has been the symbol of civilization and culture. Surely no visit to Istanbul is complete without Hagia Sophia.
Grand Bazaar
From the Hagia Sophia we will continue our journey to the famous and authentic Grand Bazaar which is unique to Istanbul. It is the oldest shopping mall in the world and a paradise for the ones who especially appreciate traditional textiles, tiles and much more with its more than 4000 shops. The tour will continue in the backstreets of the Grand bazaar walking downhill up until the spice market.
Misir Carsisi
Spice market which is full of inviting aromas will be a feast for your eyes with its colorful, fragrant spices and Turkish delights.
Bosphorus Strait
Last but not least we will take a public ferry along the Bosphorus to make the Istanbul experience unforgettable. It is the best way to see Istanbul in all its glory with its beautiful skyline, Ottoman palaces and pavilions, castles and much more. At the end of the cruise we will be back in Eminonu pier and end of our tour. Hope to see you all next time.
Galata Koprusu
This point offers travelers a great panorama of the old town.
What's included
Included
Hotel pickup (central hotels only)
Private tour for your family
Skip the line priority with museum tickets
Private guiding service by an expert tour guide
Not included
Transportation to/from attractions
Alcoholic Beverages
Hotel drop-off
Lunch
Entrance tickets
Pickup Locations & Times
Our guides meets our guests at their centrally located Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Karakoy and Taksim hotels, for non-central hotels MEETING POINT can be set by guest after booking. Please make sure you note your hotel information during booking. For cruise passengers this tour can be operated as Shore Excursion Tour from GalataPort.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
58 reviews
How it compares in Istanbul
- Rated higher than 71% of 988 reviewed tours in Istanbul
- Starting price $150 is close to the typical $143 for tours of similar length in Istanbul
Excurgo comparison of 3,640 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Istanbul Classics and Bosphorus Cruise Private Tour take?
Istanbul Classics and Bosphorus Cruise Private Tour lasts about 6h 30min. The itinerary has 7 stops.
How much does Istanbul Classics and Bosphorus Cruise Private Tour cost?
Prices start at $150 per person for this Istanbul experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Istanbul Classics and Bosphorus Cruise Private Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 9 departures a day between 8:30 AM and 12:30 PM.
How much does Istanbul Classics and Bosphorus Cruise Private Tour cost for children?
Children aged 4–8 pay from $125, adults from $150. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Istanbul Classics and Bosphorus Cruise Private Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Our guides meets our guests at their centrally located Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Karakoy and Taksim hotels, for non-central hotels MEETING POINT can be set by guest after booking. Please make sure you note your hotel information during booking. For cruise passengers this tour can be operated as Shore Excursion Tour from GalataPort. Pickup points include Harbour Suites Old City.
What languages is Istanbul Classics and Bosphorus Cruise Private Tour offered in?
The experience is available in DE, PT, EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 10 travellers can book together.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Istanbul Classics and Bosphorus Cruise Private Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 58 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Food Trail Istanbul Tours.
Reviews(58)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
J
Classic walking tour of Istanbul
S
Walking tour with Esra round Istanbul
We had a lovely day exploring the sights of Istanbul with Esra. She was very knowledgeable and interesting. Well worth it.
2
Istanbul classics tour
Our first day in Istanbul started with meeting our pleasant and smiling guide Sedat. He was very well versed in the history and cultural significance of this experience. We tried authentic Turkish food in the bland of Taksim square and even got a first hand experience of tram and metro travel with him. Soaked in the Bosphorus Cruise. We had a wonderful time in Istanbul. Thank you Sedat for wonderful day.
S
Great overview of Istanbul
Great overview of Istanbul with Burak, lots of interesting information in a relaxed way.
D
Istanbul walking tour
Esra? our guide, was very informative and great company, we really enjoyed our day with her. We learnt a lot about the history of Istanbul and enjoyed being like a local on the tram and ferry.
T
A day around Istanbul
Burak was a great tour guide, he took his time and explained what we were seeing and showed us elements of Istanbul that we would not have seen. A couple of trips on the local ferries, some local restaurants and cafes along with a great bar. He was flexible and very helpful in showing us around. We really enjoyed our trip to the Asian side of the city, experiencing the different feel and culture. The tour was a fantastic start to our break and really helped us orientate ourselves. Thank you Burak, we had a fantastic day.
W
What’s not to like?
Esra Koçak was simply the best tour guide ever. The tour was extensive but well paced, interesting and informative, while Esra was polite, personable and professional. What’s not to like?
E
wonderful tour!!!!!
An absolutely wonderful day! The Viator Istanbul private tour we booked exceeded all our expectations. We couldn't have asked for a better experience in Istanbul. Our guide was just perfectHighly recommended!
K
A great day
The whole day was excellent. Our guide Sadat was very knowledgeable and we managed to fit everything we wanted to see into the day. We used the public transport which made it easy to get around. Highly recommend our tour for a group of 4.
K
Maximized Istanbul Experience
My daughter and I chose to fly back to the US via Istanbul and had less than 48 hours to see the sights. We were able to book a private tour through Trip Advisor with Resul who really knew how to navigate the city effectively so that we saw the beautiful sites that we wanted to see as well as had interesting interactions with residents. Resul was patient with my daughter's interest in jewelry, paced the tour to accommodate our needs and was a delightful companion
Compare similar tours in Istanbul
- Lowest price: Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Show with Private Table — $30
- Best rated: Istanbul Bosphorus Yacht Cruise with Live Guide & Asian Side Stop — 5.0 (2,390 reviews)
- Shortest: Istanbul Bosphorus Sunset Cruise Experience on Luxury Yacht — 2h 15min
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul Classics and Bosphorus Cruise Private Tour | 6h 30min | 5.0 (58) | $150 | |
 Istanbul Combo: Bosphorus Cruise and Classic City Tour | 7 hours | 5.0 (3) | $100 | View |
 Istanbul Bosphorus Sunset Cruise Experience on Luxury Yacht | 2h 15min | 4.9 (5,654) | $34 | View |
 Istanbul Bosphorus Yacht Cruise with Live Guide & Asian Side Stop | 2h 30min | 5.0 (2,390) | $57 | View |
 Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table | 3 hours | 4.9 (1,186) | $31 | View |
 Istanbul Mega Lufer Dinner Cruise Bosphorus and Show Pvt Table | 3 hours | 4.6 (3,274) | $32 | View |
 Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Show with Private Table | 3 hours | 4.9 (142) | $30 | View |
from$150
5.0(58) Free cancellation