Colors of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Guided Private Istanbul Tours

Commentary: Guide · en

About this activity

On this escorted tour of Istanbul you will see such world-famous sites as Topkapı Palace, Haghia Sofia and the Blue Mosque through expert eyes, and compare them with some seldom-visited wonders that only the true connoisseurs of the city ever visit.

Full description

1-day tour, begins with a visit to the Hagia Sophia, a 6th-century Byzantine cathedral adorned in spectacular gold mosaics. Then, cover attractions like the ancient Basilica Cistern in the heritage district of Sultanahmet, and learn how the Blue Mosque got its nickname. You also have time to explore Topkapi Palace, once home to the Ottoman sultans and their famous harems.

2-day tour, begin with Dolmabahce Palace, which was built in the 19th century is one of the glamorous palaces in the world. Then, visit Spicy Bazaar that you can buy delightful and lovely presents.

You have Bosphorus cruise by boat and you see Ciragan Palace, Ortakoy Mosque and Rumeli Fortress.

Suleymaniye Mosque, was built in the 16th century by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. The mosque is the largest mosque of Istanbul.

3-day tour, covers the vibrant pedestrian street of Istiklal, and make a stop at Galata Tower, a medieval stone monument with incredible panoramas over the city. Fener & Balat District.

Included / Excluded

  • Guide Will Meet You at Your Hotel in the SultanahmetProfessional Licensed Local Tour GuidePrivate Tour
  • Personal ExpensesGuide Gratitude (Suggested)Admission fee to Hagia Sophia 25 €Pick Up & Drop Off (from/to hotel, between sites)Meal & BeveragesAdmission fee to Topkapi Palace 2400 TRY

Important information

Know before you book

  • Public Transportation Nearby
  • Infants Must Sit On Laps
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Grand Bazaar is closed on every Sunday can be replaced with Spice Market, Topkapi Palace is closed on every Tuesday can be replaced with alternatives, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia closed until 2 pm on Fridays, will be visited in the afternoon.
  • Galata Tower will be visited from outside unless you would like to pay entrance fee there.
  • At the time of booking the tour with vehicle, if your hotel is located in Sultanahmet area you will be steps away from the museums, so the vehicle will not be used as much.
  • Yearly Closing Dates of museums and bazaars in Istanbul are; January 1 – New Year April 21, 22, 23 – Ramadan Celebrations June 28, 29, 30, July 1 – Eid al-Fitr Celebrations October 29 – Republic Day
  • As Hagia Sophia is not a museum anymore, tour guides don't have skip-the-line priority there. You may need to wait in the security line, in order to avoid queues we suggest departing at 8:30am or 9:00am.
  • Admission fee to Hagia Sophia is 25 € per person.
  • Admission fee to Topkapi Palace is 2000 TRY per person. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
  • *Tour guide will meet you at Sultanahmet hotels or Galata Port. If the hotel is not centrally located, the meeting point will be in front of the German Fountain. If vehicle service is not selected your guide will pick you up at located in Sultanahmet hotels by foot. Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts

Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund

Reviews

Google
Nasir Shaikh
Jan 2026
5.0

We had very good experience with Nile cruise, dinner was nice and our guide Ms Soaud was very helpful and cooperative. She helped and guide us to move around without any hassle. Much appreciated to Soaud for her all help.

Google
Tmm H
Jan 2026
5.0

I want to thank Alaa magdy for making my trip to Egypt unforgettable. We spent a day in the El fayoum oasis. She showed us the beauty of Egypt and I can recommend a tour with her to anyone!

Google
Vaibhav Agarwal
Jan 2026
5.0

Hazem is a really good guide, made the tour a really great experience. Helped us take a lot of photos. Explained the history related to the pyramids in a professional way. Would really recommend to book a tour with him. Very charming and fun guide.

Additional information

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