Small-Group Istanbul Old City Guided Tour
5.0
26 Ratings
Fatih
Discover Istanbul's hidden gems with a personalized, in-depth guided tour. Perfect for first-time visitors seeking a deeper understanding of the city's rich history and culture.
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • German Fountain - Our meeting point…
  • Hippodrome - The Hippodrome, the stadium of ancient Byzantium, held 100,000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire. Of these, an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture of three entwined serpents from Delphi have survived.

The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social center of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square named Sultanahmet Meydanı, internationaly referred to as the Sultan Ahmet Square and located in the heart of the historical peninsula of Istanbul.

  • Arasta Bazaar - Located on the side of the Blue Mosque, Arasta Bazaar was constructed as a part of the Blue Mosque complex in the 17th century. The primary purpose of the market was creating funds by the rents of the shops to upkeep the massive mosque complex. The majority of the mosques in Istanbul have a need that was initially financing the free services of the mosques up to the Republic Era. After the republic, most shops were bought by people and turned out to have no connection to the mosques. Arasta Bazaar has lots of shops focusing on different products and still serves its guests.
  • 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 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.
  • Grand Bazaar - Grand Bazaar! A market with more than 500 years of history, 64 streets, 22 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)
  • Misir Carsisi (Spice Market) - Built in 1664, as part of the Yeni Camii (New Mosque) complex, it is known in Turkish as Mısır Çarşısı, and sometimes translated to “Egyptian Bazaar” or “Corn Market” (mısır means both Egypt and corn in Turkish)

Just about every spice you can imagine is on offer, heaped into vibrant domes. However, rather than go home with the familiar, it’s better to look out for some typically Turkish spices and products, so you can continue to enjoy your favorite Turkish tastes on your return.

  • Basilica Cistern - Skip the line. Entrance fee is 18 Eruos and is not included in the tour price.

A water storage dates back to the 6th century which has a spectacular sample of Roman architecture.

What's Included
  • Tea and coffee
Additional Information

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.

Exploring a new place goes beyond merely visiting historical monuments; gaining a profound understanding of the destination’s sociological and cultural facets enhances the experience. I am committed to crafting a tour that not only showcases landmarks but also enriches through meaningful connections.

Location
German Fountain
At Meydanı Caddesi
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.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(26 Ratings)
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Alessandra_b
Jun 3, 2024
A tour not to be missed! - We can not exspress enough how lucky we were to have Isarfil as our tour guide for our small group. Very knowledge about the history of all the places we visited. We were not rushed around places, but we had the right time to appreciate every moment of the tour. Highly recommended also for the tips and suggestions he gave us to enjoy our stay in Istanbul. We will book with him again when we will return to this beautiful city!
Review provided by Viator
Norma_a
May 22, 2024
The best small-group tour in Istanbul - This tour was perfect and exceded our expectations in many ways. It has the right combination of places to visit in the perfect amount of time. My kids enjoyed the experience and we all learned so much about the history, architecture and culture of Istanbul. Israfil is an excellent guide, he shared so much information and had interesting stories about each location. He was very attentive and made the point of talking with everyone in the group. I highly recommend this tour and will do it again next time I come to Istanbul.
Review provided by Viator
Melipe
May 22, 2024
Hidden gems of the city; great tour guide - I was traveling to Bali and had an extended layover in Istanbul. I wanted to use that opportunity to explore a bit of the city and so I booked this day tour with Israfil. I’m very happy I made this decision because he was an awesome tour guide that made me feel safe which was incredibly important as a solo, female traveler. The tour was great as we explored different parts of the city including the major mosques / attractions, as well as hidden gems such as eating Turkish pizza at a small diner where locals go. I would 100% recommend booking this tour. You will learn a lot about the culture and history of Istanbul with Israfil.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Катерина
May 16, 2024
The best tour guide in Istanbul old city - It was a real pleasure to meet such a guide Israfil and explore the old city of Istanbul. it was very interesting, educational and humorous with a lot of recommendations of interesting places in the city. I'm really looking forward to the next trip to explore the city again with you!
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183kingap
May 16, 2024
Fantastic day tour with a very funny and knowledgeable guide - I'm so glad I booked this tour with Israfil. The entire experience felt personalized to my interests, and he shared fascinating insights about each location we visited. It wasn’t 'touristy' at all, making it perfect for anyone seeking an authentic experience. Moreover, if you are traveling solo to Istanbul, I highly recommend him. I felt safe and well-cared for throughout the entire tour.
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Gideon_s
May 15, 2024
Loved our stunning walk though Istanbul - What an amazing walking tour with the very genial Israfil! The day started drizzly but the dazzling sites he took us to quickly lifted our spirits... The breathtaking Blue Dome of Sultanahmet and the sparkling stalls of the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar were a feast for the eyes. We met his old colleague and friend who operates a shop in the Egyptian spice market to sample his wares and made a stop at the old hippy hangout to try and jog my wife's memories of her last visit to the city over 30 years ago. But our favourite places were the Basilica Cistern (well worth the extra entrance fee to witness this subterranean masterpiece of Roman engineering) and the tea stop at atmospheric hooka café, in a former ancient school, that is straight out of Indiana Jones. Israfil is charming and engaging with passion and a depth of knowledge for Istanbul . He is generous with his time and genuinely interested in what his guests ask him. I was most impressed when someone not on our tour asked him a question and he answered them fully with patience and warmth. 10/10
Review provided by Viator
Robert_p
May 15, 2024
See what assemble really really has an offer! - My time with Israfil exploring Istanbul was amazing! I actually came for a Hair Transplant and wanted to do a tour of the city, but didn’t know where to start. By selecting him as my tour guide changed the entire trip. From start to finish, I felt I was talking to an absolute expert on what the city has an offer. Starting off at the ✔️ Blue mosque moving to the Hodges Sophia checking out the underground water system and more. We actually found time to check out some local spots like the putting shop and an old hookah bar. We checked out all the markets, specifically spice market, and some of the spots within the market that aren’t just tourist traps. Amazing stuff. I promise you, I would not have learned as much as I did I would not have experienced the local facets of the city without going with him!
Review provided by Viator
D9702yprobertf
May 7, 2024
Found a friend and a great guide in Istanbul. - Had a great tour of old tow Istanbul with Israfil. His historical and contemporary knowledge made for an insightful and engaging experience. We felt like we met a friend who shared the best of Istanbul with us. Highly recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
328zzz
May 2, 2024
mister israfil is the sultan of tour guides - We met Mr. Israfil in the old town The first place he took us to was the Royal Cistern, the enchanting old aqueducts. Mr. Israfil impressed us with his authentically Ottoman presence, with the style and naturalness with which he conveyed his knowledge to us as well as his deep voice that sometimes making dramatic pauses he caused us even greater awe. Continuing the tour with him gave us the feeling that we were with someone who deeply loves his city.. At the same time, he offered us an overall unique experience by presenting the places he toured us completely naturally and without pompous expressions, uniting the mysterious past of the City with her fascinating present. We highly recommend Mr. Israfil and the rating could not be anything less than 5 stars.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Valvarez20
May 2, 2024
Kind funny knowledge and fluent in English - Had a fantastic time. Israeli is fluent in English and extremely knowledgeable about history. More than anything though he was so kind and fun! Highly recommend.
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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