4
Worth it!
Faruk was a fantastic guide! He was super knowledgeable and matched our pace, making it a comfortable day of exploring. We learnt so much about the history of Istanbul.
Istanbul Small-Group Old City Tour with Local Guide
+29 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3h 30min
- Price from
- $55 / person
- Location
- Istanbul, Türkiye
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 196 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 12
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Guided Istanbul Tours
- Meeting point
- Your guide will welcome you at the exit gate and then you will head to the main meeting point. (German Fountain) to pick up the rest of the travellers.
Description
* Please note that the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. Therefore, Sunday tours will be switched to Spice Market visit instead, which will also be the final stop of the tour. Discover Istanbul’s Old City on a small-group walking tour. Discover the mystery of Hagia Sophia and explore Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar. Take in everything by admiring the beauty of the buildings, the priceless history behind each monument, and the undeniable fact that this place was the heart of both Christian and Islamic civilizations at one point. You will feel like you have been in a time travel machine where you have explored all the different periods that shaped Istanbul within the blink of an eye.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 9:00 AM and 1:30 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 8
- Adult
- $55
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Itinerary
German Fountain
The German Fountain, located in Sultanahmet Square, was a gift from German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1901 and is a neo-Byzantine style fountain commemorating his visit to Istanbul, symbolizing the friendship between the Ottoman and German Empires.
Sultanahmet Square
We will see the Ancient Hippodrome and 3 obelisks which are located along the central spine of the ancient Hippodrome in Sultanahmet, just steps away from the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.
Blue Mosque
It’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Istanbul and we will take a look at the mosque from inside to see a blend of Ottoman and Byzantine styles, with a massive central dome, elegant arches, and cascading semi-domes.
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Hagia Sophia, originally built in 537 as a Byzantine cathedral, later converted into a mosque, then a museum, and now a mosque again, is an architectural masterpiece that reflects the rich layers of Istanbul’s religious and imperial history.
Basilica Cistern
Descend beneath Istanbul’s streets to explore a remarkable Byzantine reservoir, where ancient columns, soft lighting, and shimmering reflections create an unforgettable atmosphere.
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı), dating back to the 15th century, is one of the world’s largest and oldest covered markets, featuring over 4,000 shops offering everything from carpets and jewelry to antiques and ceramics.
What's included
Included
Skip-the-Line Access to Buy Tickets
Professional Tour Guide
Not included
Transportation
Lunch
Gratuity (Suggested)
Hagia Sophia Entrance Tickets
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
196 reviews
How it compares in Istanbul
- Rated higher than 74% of 985 reviewed tours in Istanbul
- Starting price $55 is 52% below the typical $114 for tours of similar length in Istanbul
Excurgo comparison of 3,624 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum participants to run this tour is 4 people.
- Please note that the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. Therefore, Sunday tours will be switched to Spice Market visit instead, which will also be the final stop of the tour.
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 Small-Group Old City Tour with Local Guide take?
Istanbul Small-Group Old City Tour with Local Guide lasts about 3h 30min. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does Istanbul Small-Group Old City Tour with Local Guide cost?
Prices start at $55 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 Small-Group Old City Tour with Local Guide run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:00 AM and 1:30 PM.
Can I cancel Istanbul Small-Group Old City Tour with Local Guide for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Your guide will welcome you at the exit gate and then you will head to the main meeting point. (German Fountain) to pick up the rest of the travellers. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Istanbul Small-Group Old City Tour with Local Guide offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Specialized infant seats are available
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Istanbul Small-Group Old City Tour with Local Guide worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 196 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Guided Istanbul Tours.
Reviews(196)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
D
My your with Merve was excellent!
I took the small group tour with Merve. She was very flexible in tailoring the tour to my desires and was very knowledgeable. She excelled at explaining the vast and complicated history of the city without letting it get boring. I highly recommend touring with Merve!
Z
Great afternoon tour in Istanbul with Volkan
In Istanbul, we booked a tour with Viator and spent a great afternoon visiting the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. Our guide, Volkan, was amazing. He was very knowledgeable, and patient with all our questions. He also helped us skip the line ups, which meant we had more time visiting sights instead of standing in line-ups. Big thank you to Volkan who we highly recommend.
9
Hilal great tour guide
2 day tour was great. Tour guide Hilal was terrific and accommodated all of our requests and answered all of our questions
C
Fabulous walking tour as intro to Istanbul
A Fabulous walking tour. Merve was just amazing and so informative about Istanbul- a pleasure to listen to. Not rushed and plenty time for discussion. Just a wonderful introduction to Istanbul
R
Enjoyable and immersive city tour
We had a fantastic small group tour of Istanbul with our guide Kemal. His deep knowledge of the sites that we visited and his wonderful story telling style made this an enjoyable way to learn about the history and culture of Istanbul. We also appreciated the helpful and honest tips and advice about other aspects of visiting Istanbul. Thx Kemal.
V
Flexible fun tour
Ozan (Ozzy) was a very helpful guide. We were able to customize our itinerary, were never rushed, saw everything we wanted, and he had given us helpful recommendations. Planning on booking a tour again next year.
L
Excellent guide & tour for a fast track of historic sites
Kemal gave us an excellent tour of the main attractions in the old city, including Grand Bazaar. He was very informative, knew his history, could answer any questions we had. He was professional but also with good humour. We felt like we were well looked after by Kemal & everything he contributed to our tour. We would highly recommend his services.
S
Great tour of main sights
We had a great time on this small tour (4 of us) with Kemal. He was very knowledgeable, happy to answer questions and organised our skip the line access to the Hagia Sophia (undergoing renovation so expect scaffolding inside and out, but still plenty to see) and Basilica Cistern with no issues. It was busy but not overcrowded. We had plenty of time for photos and Kemal gave us tips for lunch spots after visiting the Spice Bazaar (the Grand Bazaar closed on Sunday). Would recommend.
S
Great experience with Merve
Merve was our guide for the 1 day tour and did a great job. She is very knowledgeable of the history, culture and food. Great value for the experience.
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| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul Small-Group Old City Tour with Local Guide | 3h 30min | 5.0 (196) | $55 | |
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 Istanbul Old City Highlights: Private Walking Tour | 4–6 hours | 5.0 (85) | $90 | View |
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 Istanbul Bosphorus Sunset Cruise Experience on Luxury Yacht | 2h 15min | 4.9 (5,571) | $34 | View |
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 İstanbul Mega Lüfer Dinner Cruise Bosphorus and Show - Pvt. Table | 3 hours | 4.6 (3,238) | $32 | View |
from$55
5.0(196) Free cancellation