Enjoy a royal welcome to Istanbul with a full-day private guided tour. Get whisked to the front of the queue at the city's most popular attractions with your guide's priority entrance pass. This is the perfect activity for first-time visitors.
Start Point: End Point: Duration: Departure:
Start Point: End Point: Duration: Departure:
REQUEST TO BOOK Fit all of Istanbul's attractions at the top of your bucket list into one packed day, with the help of an expert local guide. Stroll Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet neighborhood, brimming with iconic buildings and storied streets. Tour the Blue Mosque, one of the most important sites in the Muslim world. Delve into history of the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Istanbul Hippodrome as well as the 'sunken palace' of Basilica Cistern. And you won't want to miss the and the bustling Grand Bazaar or savory 3-course lunch.
Experience Highlights of Istanbul Islamic Tour
Enjoy the perfect introduction for first-time visitors
Full-day Istanbul sightseeing tour around the Sultanahmet neighborhood
Visit top Istanbul attractions with a knowledgeable local guide
Private tour for more personalized attention from a guide
Description of Istanbul Historical City Tour
The 8-hour excursion starts with a pick-up from your Istanbul hotel and a walk through the lively streets of Turkey's largest city to visit the dramatic former basilica of the Hagia Sophia, a great architectural beauty and an important monument during the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. For many centuries, this was the largest church in the world, and it still boasts the 4th largest dome after St. Paul's in London, St. Peter's in Rome and the Duomo in Florence.
Dedicated to the Hagia Sophia or 'divine wisdom', it is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. Move on to the Blue Mosque, more officially known as the Sultanahmet Mosque. The mosque's striking blue tiles give it its more common name and make it one of Istanbul's most iconic attractions. Located close to Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque was considered the Supreme Imperial Mosque in Istanbul. Continue to Topkapi Palace, a relic of the glory days of the great Ottoman Empire. The former palace boasted a population of about 4,000 people at its peak and was home to 25 sultans over a period of 400 years. Located on a promontory overlooking the Golden Horn, it sits in tranquil gardens that provide shade from the blazing heat of the summer.
Pop in to the museum to see the gorgeous Iznik tiles and the ornate stateroom of the harem, among other attractions. You will also visit the Hippodrome, the former circus built in 203 AD by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus. Three monuments from the original building remain, including the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and the Constantine Column. You will also pause to look at the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, made from 8 marble columns. Your day won't be complete, however, without a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. With hundreds of small handcraft shops selling everything from handmade carpets to Turkish coffee, the atmosphere is electric, and it's a great place to try out your bargaining skills.
Tour Inclusions
Private Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Private professional licensed tour guide
All entrance tickets to the museums and sites
Deluxe transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
Lunch
