Private Guided Exploration of Istanbul's Old City
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore the historic Sultanahmet district
- Visit the iconic Hagia Sophia
- Discover the grandeur of the Blue Mosque
- Wander through the bustling Grand Bazaar
- Experience the opulence of Topkapi Palace
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Expert local guide
- Customized itinerary
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Meaning Divine Wisdom, Hagia Sophia was the largest building on earth barring the Egyptian Pyramids or the Great Wall of China. Today's Hagia Sophia was built by Emperor Justinian in 537AD. It was the religious center of the city during the Byzantine period. It was used as a church for 916 years and as a mosque for 481 years, In 1934, by the order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, it was converted into a museum and has since been open to visitors
As well as being the imperial residence of the Sultan, the palace was also the seat of government for the ottoman empire. It housed the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years until the Dolmabahçe palace was built. In 1924 it was converted into a museum. Today it is famous with a harem, royal treasury, and holy relics sections.
is the size of a cathedral; it is 143m long and 65m wide and can hold up to 80,000 cubic meters (or 17.5 million gallons) of water. There are 336 giant columns (mostly Ionic or Corinthian in style) supporting the structure in 12 rows of 28 columns.
Built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in the year 1616, it is located opposite the Hagia Sophia. Blue mosque today is one of the most famous landmarks of the old city with its famous six minarets and magnificent dome. Although it is officially named Sultanahmet Mosque, the (nıck) name Blue Mosque was given to it by the visitors because of the amazing blue tiles decorating the interior walls.
Pass by: Built by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203AD, during the Roman period hippodrome was the civil center for the people of the city where once 100,000 spectators could be held. Located in the heart of Sultanahmet surrounded by Blue mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace, today it is home to The Egyptian Obelisk (Dikilitaş), The Serpentine Column(Burma sütun), The Constantine Column, and German Fountain.
With 18 entrances and more than 4000 shops, it is one of the greatest bazaars in the world. It was built between 1455-1461 by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. Today, shops selling the same kind of merchandise tend to be congregated in their own streets or inns as it was the original Ottoman system.
Meeting point
Start Location
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı, Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is customizable; discuss your interests with the guide beforehand.
- Photography may be restricted in certain areas; ask for permission when in doubt.
- Some sites may have entry fees; check with the guide for any additional costs.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes as the tour involves extensive walking.
- Bring a hat and sunscreen to protect against the sun.
- Carry a bottle of water to stay hydrated throughout the tour.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- Entry fees to historical sites are excluded.
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
- Blue Mosque is closed on Fridays due to Friday prayer we will visit from the garden.
- Free entry for chıldrens below 8yr. Please take passport for children if any.
- We guarantee that you will be dropped off at the port before your ship onboard time. (for cruise guests)
- Pick-up times will be updated according to your cruise arrival&departure times. (for cruise guests)
Traveler reviews
Great Tour for small groups
Our group of 4 Canadian ladies enjoyed our day with our extremely well knowledgeable guide. Ege not only a great history lesson while leading us through all the highlights, her personality & humour was a great delight which made all the difference. Highly recommend this tour ... It's ideal for a small group who doesn't want to feel like a tourist in much larger group.
We enjoyed the tour
The guided tour was fun and informative . We visited Topkapi palace and Hagia Sophia, unfortunately basilica cistern was closed due to private event so our tour was cut a bit short. However, there were teens and seniors in our group and it was just enough for them. Our guide was Hodi and everyone liked him and his storytelling style, the price is very reasonable too.
A Relaxed 2nd Day in Istanbul
The meeting time was at 830AM; we were early and we didn't mind that. We went to the Dolmabahce Palace but since they open at 9am, we took a sneak at the mosque beside it. Twas not as grand as the Hagia Sofia but beautiful nonetheless. The Dolmabahce palace was surprisingly captivating as well. After that, Fuat led us to the port for the Bosphorus Cruise... this was al unforgettable and interesting. Fuat would occasionally speak about the places that we'd pass by. Then, after that a stop at the Spice Bazaar. Twas an activity that wasn't really hurried buy it took us to several places before we had to leave on our cruise ship. We are very grateful for Fuat's Guided tour..Twas really well worth the money.
A must for anyone visiting Istanbul
Our tour guide was amazing! So happy we did this our first day and saw so much. We also asked questions for the remaining days and she took care to make sure we had the best time in Turkey plus offered to text and help after the tours. Saw amazing sites and got a robust explanation- would recommend to anyone visiting Istanbul.
Very good services & tour guides for the whole customized program
We decided to choose Kusadasi Tour Company, because of recommendation by others Thai tourists who have used this company before. And we definitely found that we made a right decision to let Kusadasi Tour Company arrange private tour program for us to Ephesus / Pamukkale / and Cappadocia. 1st - Quick respond when we ask questions through website and e-mails. 2nd - Deposit cost prior the trip happen is more reasonable than other company offers. 3rd - We found that all tour guides ( we got 3 for each places ) are very friendly and professional. We really enjoy our vacations in Turkey. 4th - Vehicles & Drivers they arrange for us also very good size and Drivers also friendly. For anyone who looking for spending your vacation in Turkey, we highly recommended to consider Kusadasi Tour Company.