D
Friendly and informative
Our guide Israfil , was informative and good company. As it is a small group tour he has time to talk with each member of the group , which is nice for solo travellers . I would strongly recommend this tour .
Small-Group Istanbul Old City Highlights Guided Tour
+7 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Price from
- $45 / person
- Location
- Istanbul, Türkiye
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 · 66 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 10
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Israfil Oncel Tours - Licensed Istanbul Guide
- Meeting point
- Our meeting point is GERMAN FOUNTAIN (Alman Çeşmesi in Turkish language) located in the heart of the main tourist area of Istanbul.It is just one minute away from Sultan Ahmet Tramway station.
Description
This tour is mainly for first-time visitors of Istanbul, offering a comprehensive exploration of the city's gems. It serves as a great introduction to Istanbul, providing a deeper visit to significant historical attractions than the usual tourist routes. You'll experience a personalized tour where questions are welcome, and have the opportunity to discover hidden gems, gaining a better understanding of the city in this carefully tailored one-day experience. As a licensed tour guide with seven years of experience, a language teacher, and a PhD candidate student of art philosophy, I'm here to accompany you on your Istanbul journey for a few hours.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, and Sun
- Start times
- 9:30 AM
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 14
- Adult (ages 18–60)
- $45
- Senior (ages 61–95)
- $45
- Youth (ages 13–17)
- $45
- Child (ages 6–12)
- $34
- Infant (ages 0–5)
- Free
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Itinerary
German Fountain
This is our meeting point and the starting point of the tour. We will begin with a brief introduction, including general information about Istanbul, the historic Hippodrome, and the sites included in the itinerary.
Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, also known by its official name, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultan Ahmet Camii), is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. It was constructed between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I and remains a functioning mosque today.
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Only OUTER visit. Due to the new regulations by the Ministerry of Tourism, tour guides are not allowed to give explanations inside of Hagia Sophia since 15th of January 2024. And additionally there is no skip the line for tour guides anymore. That's why our visit to Hagia Sophia will be only outer explanation. The Hagia Sophia Mosque is a true masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and a significant symbol of history and culture. It is known for its Grand Central Dome, intricate mosaics, and delicate stonework. Hagia Sophia's history spans 1500 years. Once a Church, then a Museum, and now a Mosque, the monument has witnessed the rise and fall of several dynasties.
Caferaga Medresesi
A 300 hundreds years old muslim school. This is the place where we will have a tea break and talk about the prolific architect of Ottoman Era. The place serves as a centre for some Turkish handcraft arts where youı can see some good example of this arts.
Basilica Cistern
Skip the line. Entrance fee is 2250 Turkish Lira per person and is not included in the tour price. To AVOID the long wait please bring cash (only in Turkish Lira) A water storage dates back to the 6th century which has a spectacular sample of Roman architecture.
Grand Bazaar
Grand Bazaar! A market with more than 500 years of history, 64 streets, 21 gates, and more than 4,000 shops. Not only a shopping mall but also a manufacturing center. A place where you can lose yourself in history and mystery. That is the most significant and oldest market in the world. Closed on Sundays! We will visit Spice market on Sundays.
What's included
Included
Guiding fee
Not included
Entrance fee for Basilica Cistern
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
66 reviews
How it compares in Istanbul
- Starting price $45 is 22% below the typical $57 for tours of similar length in Istanbul
Excurgo comparison of 3,635 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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 Small-Group Istanbul Old City Highlights Guided Tour take?
Small-Group Istanbul Old City Highlights Guided Tour lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does Small-Group Istanbul Old City Highlights Guided Tour cost?
Prices start at $45 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 Small-Group Istanbul Old City Highlights Guided Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, starting at 9:30 AM.
How much does Small-Group Istanbul Old City Highlights Guided Tour cost for children?
Children aged 6–12 pay from $34, adults from $45. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Small-Group Istanbul Old City Highlights Guided Tour 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 Our meeting point is GERMAN FOUNTAIN (Alman Çeşmesi in Turkish language) located in the heart of the main tourist area of Istanbul. It is just one minute away from Sultan Ahmet Tramway station. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Small-Group Istanbul Old City Highlights Guided Tour 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 10 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(66)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
F
A great introduction to...
A great introduction to Istanbul covering most old town sights . Our guide Israfil was very knowledgeable and happy to tailor our experience. He also gave excellent tips on where to go next and where to eat. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.
A
Excellent Tour through the historical sites of Istanbul
I had a great experience with a fantastic guide, who knows how to read the group and how to blend knowledge with humor and presence in a way that will make you remember.
L
Highly Recommend!
Israfil was such a wonderful guide. Friendly, Knowledgeable and entertaining! Thank you Israfil for showing us all the wonders of Istanbul!
C
Highly recommend
The guide makes all the difference and Israfil is excellent. The tour touches the key sights in the Old City and he leaves you with a lot of other great recommendations. Israfil has great English and a wonderful blend of intellect and humor. Highly recommend.
H
Great insight into some of the key historical sights in Istanbul
İsrafil is a very good tour guide. His English is excellent and he is friendly, very knowledgeable and approachable. We joined him on a small group walking tour and visited the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and Spice Market.
7
Would recommend
Highly recommend this tour. Our guide was very educated and spoke excellent English. The tour itself was well paced, and the proper length of time. The information was interesting and digestible and provided unique historical context. We hit the major places in the historic center and the guide provided an excellent info packet for other places to visit during your stay. Please remember to bring cash for the cistern! Additionally, we stopped for coffee and tea at an outdoor restaurant that was also a hookah spot; so make a note if you are sensitive to smoke. Istanbul is very smoke friendly. Love this tour and so happy I went.
1 people found this helpful
7
Perfect!
We Had a great trip with the family! Absolutely recommend! Great stories, skip the lines and Israfil is a nice tourguide.
1 people found this helpful
N
Wonderful tour with Israfil
We had a wonderful and very informative tour with Israfil. He knows very well, has a very good sense of humor, told us very interesting stories and facts and at the end also gave some helpful tips.
H
Israfil was...
Israfil was knowledgeable, courteous and accommodating. So much good information really heightened my experience of the city. Would definitely do again!
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from$45
4.9(66) Free cancellation