Experience the best of Istanbul in just 2 days with a private tour. Explore the historic old town and immerse yourself in the modern lifestyle with a local guide. Discover the city’s rich history and vibrant culture while tasting traditional food and experiencing the local ambiance.
Classic Old City Tour
Sultanahmet District - Day 1: Explore the historic Old Town (Sultanahmet) where you can visit the Hippodrome (a site for Roman chariot races and gladiator battles), the Blue Mosque adorned with unique Iznik tiles, the Underground Cistern (an ancient Roman water reservoir), St. Sophia (the largest church when it was constructed in 537 A.D.), Topkapi Palace (the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire), and the Grand Bazaar with its impressive 3,700 shops. Since all these attractions are in close proximity, this will be a walking tour.
Topkapi Palace - Serving as both the residence and administrative hub of the Ottoman Emperors for nearly 400 years, Topkapi Palace remains a popular and fascinating destination for both locals and tourists.
Hagia Sophia Mosque - Visit the grandest church of its time, completed in 537 A.D. With a history spanning 1,500 years, it boasts intricate details from its periods as a Greek Orthodox Church, a Catholic Church, a mosque, a museum, and now a mosque again.
Hippodrome - Experience the historic Hippodrome, once a stadium for chariot races and gladiator fights. Four remarkable monuments remain for visitors to explore.
Basilica Cistern - Discover Istanbul’s largest ancient underground cistern, designed to store water and supported by 336 marble columns arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns, each standing 9 meters tall.
Kapali Carsi - Explore one of the world’s largest and oldest covered bazaars, featuring 61 covered streets. It is often considered one of the earliest shopping malls in the world.
Blue Mosque - Admire one of Turkey’s most stunning mosques, renowned for its lavish İznik tile decorations. Note: The mosque is closed for renovations from January 1 until the end of March.
Local Attractions with Stunning Mosque Visits
Misir Carsisi (Spice Market) - Day 2: A private minivan will pick you up from your hotel or residence and take you to Suleymaniye Mosque, Rustem Pasha Mosque with its beautiful Iznik tiles, and the Spice Market where you can shop for spices, herbs, Turkish delights, saffron, dried nuts and fruits, herbal teas, and more. Then, take a public ferry to explore the local neighborhood of Kadikoy, known for its vibrant atmosphere.
Suleymaniye Mosque - Visit an Ottoman imperial mosque commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent. It was Istanbul’s largest mosque for 462 years. Designed by the renowned architect Mimar Sinan, who drew inspiration from Hagia Sophia and Bayezid II Mosque, the mosque has been restored after a devastating fire in 1660.
Rustem Pasha Mosque - Often considered a smaller version of the Blue Mosque, this mosque was designed by the royal architect Mimar Sinan for Rustem Pasha, the Grand Vizier to Suleiman the Magnificent. Although Rustem Pasha died before its completion in 1563, the mosque is celebrated for its lavish Iznik tile decorations in 80 different patterns.
Misir Carsisi (Spice Market) - Enjoy one of Istanbul’s most colorful bazaars, established in 1664. In addition to exploring the market, you can savor delicious Turkish delights and spices, and learn about the various fresh spices sold there.
Kadikoy Carsisi - As a bustling city with over 20 million residents, Istanbul has several city centers, and Kadikoy is one of the best places to experience local life. Here, you can see how locals live, eat, drink, and shop at the fish market, and enjoy a variety of street foods.
- 2 days of guided tour
- Private transportation on the second day
- Fees (admission, gratuities, lunch, etc.)
- Food and drinks (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, wine, soft drinks, etc.)
- Admission fee to Topkapi Palace - 750 TL pp (without Harem)
- Admission fee to the Underground Cistern - 450 TL pp
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- DAY-Public Transportation to the Old City by tram/cap, fee depends on the distance
- 2.DAY Public Ferry to Kadikoy - 150 TL pp for round trip
As you will have more than a day in the city, it is better to do both historic and modern way of life in Istanbul. Visiting old town (Sultanahmet) will give you the historic background and discovering a local neighborhood will show the real local ambiance.
Discover the history of Istanbul with its spectacular old remains and live Turkish life with natives by hanging around Kadikoy where you will feel the locals’ aura. Get the chance to taste traditional food in the Asian part of Istanbul to experience what we eat, what we do, how we dress up and more.
It’s not enough to spend even a week in Istanbul (when you think that this is the biggest city in Turkey), but 2 days will be pretty efficient to explore. This package will definitely picture the image of the country in your mind in terms of historic and modern Turkey.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
