Small Group Tour: Essential Istanbul Discover the main highlights
4.7
649 Ratings
Fatih
Discover the main highlights of Istanbul's old town on a small group tour. Explore UNESCO World Heritage sites, archaeological and natural monuments, and unrivaled artifacts with an expert guide.
Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Blue Mosque - Our accredited guide will accompany you during your visit and will give you all the detailed explanations about the mosque.
  • Kapali Carsi - Our accredited guide will accompany you during your visit and will give you all the detailed explanations about the bazaar.
  • Hagia Sophia Mosque - Our accredited guide will assist you to enter the mosque and will give you all the detailed explanations about the world famous historical building.
  • Hippodrome - Our accredited guide will give you all the detailed explanations about all the historical monuments in this square.
  • Topkapi Palace - Our accredited guide will assist you to enter the museum with prepaid ticket and will give you all the detailed explanations about the palace.
What's Included
  • Museum entrance fees included
  • Guided tour with a professional English-speaking guide
  • Comfortable transport in an air-conditioned minivan
  • Convenient hotel/port pickup and drop-off (check for eligible locations)
What's Not Included
  • Museum entrance fees
  • Meals and drinks
  • Pick up and drop off at airports or hotels out of city centre (additional fee)
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Experience the prime attractions in Istanbul’s ancient district during this intimate full-day trip guided by a professional. Wander the old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and marvel at celebrated archaeological attractions, unparalleled artifacts, and stunning natural wonders. You’ll relish the special accommodations we are happy to set up to enhance your enjoyment of the Turkish culture. This trip is scheduled every day between 09:00 and 17:00 (however, times might vary based on hotel locations, group size, interests, weather, queue lengths, etc.). The group will consist of 1 to 10 participants.

  • Please Note:Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays and replaced with Underground Cistern. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and will be replaced with Spice Bazaar.
  • Our accredited guide will give you all the detailed explanations about the world famous historical building from outside of the mosque. General entrance of mosque is available only for Turkish citizens. Foreign tourists can only visit Gallery Section with an additional entrance fee (25 Euro per person). Gallery section visit of Hagia Sophia is not included in our tour.
  • While visiting a mosque in Istanbul, women need to cover their heads, shoulders, knees. You can carry your own scarf to cover your head but please note scarves are provided at the entrance of every mosque (available at a charge). If you are wearing leggings, tights or skirts, wraps will be provided at the entrance (available at a charge).
  • For the ladies, a headscarf and decent dress covering shoulders and legs are required during their visit to mosque. You can carry your own scarf to cover your head but please note disposable scarves are provided at the entrance of every mosque (.available at a charge).
  • Please be aware of that there is a lot of walking in this tour. We can’t use vehicle between sites since centre of Sultanahmet area is closed to traffic.
Location
Serpent Column
At Meydanı Caddesi
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Y%C4%B1lanl%C4%B1+S%C3%BCtun/@41.0056544,28.9728885,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x14cab9961977e587:0xb392b815015a2638!8m2!3d41.0056504!4d28.9750772
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.7
(649 Ratings)
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Yogesh_j
May 28, 2024
An Enjoyable Day - The guide, Mr. Burhan, was very knowledgeable, helpful and pleasant. We enjoyed many historical, cultural and religious sites. Topkapi palace was particularly enjoyable and the view of the Bosphorus was breathtaking. A pleasant lunch in a Turkish restaurant and a stroll through the Grand Bazaar made it a great tour. We missed Hagia Sophia due to current restrictions. It should be replaced by a trip to other sites like the water ducts. Overall, the tour is highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Brian_m
May 21, 2024
Blue Mosque was... - Blue Mosque was impressive! Our guide was very informative. The Grand Bazaar was unbelievable! The Topkapi Palace was truly over the top!
Review provided by Viator
Julie_h
May 19, 2024
Wonderful Istanbul - Thank you Zel for a wonderful and informative tour of your beautiful City of Istanbul. Some incredible sights. Don't hesitate in booking this trip.
Review provided by Viator
Michael_m
May 18, 2024
A good into to Istanbul - This tour covered most of the high spots of Istanbul and our guide was extremely knowledgeable. A good tour!
Review provided by Viator
F6051asdebbief
May 17, 2024
Fabulous Trip - My husband and I joined 13 other people for the Essential Istanbul Intrepid Tour. We met other lovely people and had a great time. The tour information was correct in saying that there were some long travel days but you did get to see so much of the country. Our only disappointment (and nothing to do with Intrepid) was that the hot air balloons were not operating due to poor weather conditions on the day we had booked. Otherwise the trip was great. We saw so much! Visiting Gallipoli was very emotional as was seeing Lone Pine. The pamukkale thermal pools were absolutely amazing and our day trip on the gutlet from Kas was fabulous! Overall we had a fabulous trip!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bob_m
May 16, 2024
Istanbul Tour - Our Guide Ozlem, was very knowledgeable and gave us a fantastic and informative tour of Istanbul. She allowed time to take in the splendor of her city. We both would very highly recommend this tour (especially with Ozlem as the guide)
Review provided by Viator
Mirel_i
May 15, 2024
Great agency, very... - Great agency, very friendfull and helpfull. It was wonderfull, we saw and expirenced alot with them.
Review provided by Viator
Deborah_s
May 14, 2024
Istanbul's Timeless Treasures and Ancient Heritage - The history was fantastic and our guide Zel was so very knowledgeable! I learned a lot about Turkey that exceeded my expectations!
Review provided by Viator
Aaron_m
May 13, 2024
Ozlem was so... - Ozlem was so knowledgeable and friendly. I’m sure she’s led this tour countless times but she made it special for me nonetheless and indulged me on all of my questions. She was terrific and a joy to spend the day with!
Review provided by Viator
Michelle_b
May 15, 2024
Despite the bad weather... - Despite the bad weather which had us standing in the rain for the first part of our tour, we had a great time. Our guide Burham was friendly and informative. He shared with us the history of this beautiful city of Istanbul and as well as taking us to all the usual sights he also showed us some charming areas off the beaten tourist track. His help and guidance with shopping in the Grand Bazaar made the experience so much more enjoyable. I would happily recommend this tour to anyone visiting Istanbul.
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 10 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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