• Sultanahmet District - Sultanahmet District
• Hippodrome - Hippodrome Square / Atmeydanı
  The Hippodrome, a site for chariot races during the Roman Empire, features the Egyptian Column from the Byzantine era and the German Fountain, a key landmark from the Ottoman Empire.
• German Fountain - German Fountain / Alman Çeşmesi
• Sultanahmet Square - Sultanahmet Square
• Hagia Sophia Mosque - Hagia Sophia Museum / Ayasofya / Santa Sofia
  Constructed in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian, it has been pivotal in both the Christian and Islamic worlds. Following the Ottoman conquest, the bells, altar, iconoclastic, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and many mosaics were plastered over to transform the church into a mosque, then a museum, and now a mosque once more. It is a crucial stop on any Istanbul tour in the Old City Istanbul / Constantinople.

*Please note that as it is no longer a museum, tour guides do not have skip-the-line privileges. To avoid queues, it is recommended to arrive at 8:30 am or 9:00 am.

• Blue Mosque - Blue Mosque / Sultanahmet Camii
  Built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I of the Ottoman Empire, the Blue Mosque is a magnificent architectural masterpiece with remarkably delicate proportions for such a grand structure.
• Grand Bazaar - Grand Bazaar / Kapalı Çarşı
  One of the largest and oldest covered markets globally, featuring over 4,000 shops with vibrant products including ceramics, leather, rugs, carpets, handicrafts, clothing, silver, and gold.
• Bosphorus Strait - Bosphorus Cruise by Public Ferry or Private Cruise (if option is chosen)
  Take a public ferry for a Bosphorus Cruise to view both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul, including Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, the Rumeli Fortress, old Ottoman villas, Bosphorus bridges, and mosques. The Bosphorus will surely be a highlight of your Istanbul tour.
• Dolmabahce Palace - Dolmabahce Palace / Dolmabahçe Sarayı
  A stunning palace with luxurious decorations, chandeliers, rugs, crystals, and ceramic fireplaces. Located on the Bosphorus, it boasts exquisite furnishings, paintings, and porcelains crafted specifically for Dolmabahce.
• Taksim Square - Taksim Square / Taksim Meydanı
  A significant site in modern Turkey, having witnessed key historical events. It is near Istiklal Street (Istiklal Caddesi) and Galata Tower, along with European embassies in Taksim. Cicek Passage offers excellent dining, cafes, shops, bars, and nightclubs around Taksim.
• Topkapi Palace - Topkapi Palace Museum / Topkapı Sarayı
  Beyond being an Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans, it served as the seat of the Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for nearly 400 years. Topkapi Palace is a remarkable monument of Oriental architecture, symbolizing the power of the Ottoman Empire.
• Istiklal Caddesi - Istiklal Street is the vibrant and modern face of Turkey, featuring churches, modern art galleries, embassies, pubs, cafes, and shops offering a variety of products.
• Galata Tower - The tower will be viewed from the outside due to regulations, as tour guides do not have skip-the-line privileges, resulting in long wait times. Your tour guide will provide an explanation about the tower.
• Misir Carsisi (Spice Market) - Spice Market / Mısır Çarşısı
  The Egyptian Bazaar is a lively indoor market with numerous shops offering a wide range of spices, purses, flavored teas, Turkish delight, nuts, ceramics, and small souvenirs. The Spice Bazaar is located in Eminonu Square, the junction of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn.
• Cicek Pasaji - Cicek Passage / Flower Passage
  Originally named Cite de Pera, it combines traditional and modern construction methods and architectural styles from the Ottoman Empire, now featuring small shops and cafes.
• Suleymaniye Mosque - Suleymaniye Mosque / Süleymaniye Camii is the largest mosque in Istanbul, impressive both inside and out. The Suleymaniye terrace behind the mosque offers beautiful views of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus.
• Balat - Fener-Balat Neighborhood backstreet walk
  Continue exploring Istanbul’s rich religious history with a visit to the Church of St. George. Since the 1600s, the church has been the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, recognized as the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Religion.
  Balat District features lines of drying laundry across steep, winding streets. Century-old Ottoman houses in reds, blues, and greens lean against each other, with art galleries and design shops dotting the area along the water.
• Fener Rum Patrikhanesi - Orthodox Patriarch
• Historic Areas of Istanbul - Historic Areas of Istanbul
• Pierre Loti Tepesi - Pierre Loti Hill and Cable Car are popular attractions offering stunning views. Take the cable car to the top and enjoy the scenery while sipping Turkish coffee or tea.
• Chora Museum - Formerly the Church of St. Saviour in Chora, it is renowned for its well-preserved mosaics and frescoes. It showcases significant examples of East Roman painting in its final period, with the depth in mosaics and dynamic style in figures being artistically significant in the Middle Ages, foreshadowing the Renaissance.
• Halic - Golden Horn region, one of the oldest settlements in the city of Constantinople.
• Bulgarian Orthodox Church - St. Stephen Church; Located on the Golden Horn’s shore, the church is also known as the Iron Church, made entirely of prefabricated cast iron in the 19th century.

• Professional local guide
• Private tour
• Central hotel meet-up

• Transportation (from/back to hotel, between sites (unless option selected)
• Museum/Ferry/Cable Car Tickets
• Lunch
• Gratitude (suggested)

Explore the wonders of Istanbul with a private tour guide over 1, 2, or 3 days, featuring a flexible itinerary.

Day 1 - Discover the Topkapi Palace Museum, Byzantine Hippodrome/Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Grand Bazaar.

Day 2 - Enjoy a Bosphorus Cruise via Public Ferry, visit Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, view Galata Tower from the outside, and explore the Spice Market.

Day 3 - Visit Suleymaniye Mosque, Fener and Balat Districts, St. Stephen Church (Iron Church), ascend Pierre Lotti Panoramic Hill by Cable Car, and see Chora Church (or alternative sites).

Important Notes:

• “Skip the line” service is unavailable for active mosques, so expect a queue at the entrance.

• If a mosque visit is missed, the Basilica Cistern will be included instead.

• For tours starting after 11 am, please be aware that some sites may need to be skipped as they close by 7 pm. The guide will tailor the itinerary to suit your preferences.

• Skip the line service is not available for active mosques - there is a queue for the entrance.

• On Fridays, Hagia Sophia or Blue Mosque will be visited from outside because of the worship.

• Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays. Due to museum regulations, live guide service is not available at Dolmabahce Palace.

• Tour guides don’t have skip-the-line priority in Hagia Sophia. You may need to wait in the security line, in order to avoid queues we suggest departing at 8:30am or 9:00am.

• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays can be replaced with Spice Market.

• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays can be replaced with alternatives.

• For the tours that start later than 11 am, kindly note that you may have to skip one/a couple of sites as the sites are closed by 7 pm. Your guide will adjust the program according to your priorities.

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