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Tour of Major Istanbul Sights: Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace
5.0
25 Ratings
Fatih
Tour of Major Sights of Istanbul. Hagia Sophia, Basilica cistern and Topkapi Palace. Also Blue Mosque will be visioned during the tour from outside.
Fast track tour of the Major Sights of Istanbul.
Duration:
3 hours, 15 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - Meet infront of Hagia Sophia, 1500 years old once church, mosque, museum and mpsque again.
- Basilica Cistern - Water reservoir from 6th Century for Hagia Sophia and Great Palace of the Romans in Constantinople.
- Topkapi Palace - House of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years from 16th Century.
What's Included
- Professional guide
What's Not Included
- Bottled water
Additional Information
- A maximum of 10 people per booking
Location
Soğuk Çeşme Sk. No:4
Soğuk Çeşme Sokak
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(25 Ratings)
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D1675brcm
Jul 21, 2024
Great day in Istanbul - My husband and I enjoyed a great day with Metin who showed us all of the highlights of the old city. We learned history and were able to squeeze in everything we wanted to on our one day in Istanbul. He was very flexible and allowed us to adapt the tour to our interests. He was very knowledgeable and navigated us well. Recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
X8729yckarlam
Jul 4, 2024
Wealth of Information - Metin is an outstanding host and guide to his city. He shared so much history, culture, and architectural information. He enthusiastically answered my questions- and I had many. Metin was personable and professional guide. Highly recommend Metin’s tours!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Csanc049
Jun 6, 2024
Metin will help you make the most of your trip to Türkiye - We heard about Metin from. Rick Steves forum where many visitors recommended Metin as a guide. He lived up to and surpassed all expectations. My wife and I were able to see many of Istanbul’s highlights efficiently and enjoyably over the course of 2 days. He drew up an itinerary tailored to our interests and kept us on schedule and helped us skip all the lines. We felt safe the entire time and he helped us navigate any language barriers at restaurants, sites, etc. We felt like friends and that we knew him for more than two days by the end of the tour with Metin.
He also coordinated with various transportation and tour companies in other cities in Turkey such as Cappadocia and Izmir so that we would picked up in a private transportation from the airport and have a private guide at all other destinations.
Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jephlee
Jun 3, 2024
Metin felt like a cousin showing me around - 2 days with Metin in Istanbul were perfect. We saw the essentials, with historical background. More importantly, I wanted a winding path through the city to see what it’s like to live here.
We spent time in less crowded areas, usually with no other tourists. We saw under appreciated, equally beautiful sites. Again, we were often the only ones there.
I heard just the sounds of the locals and the city, without the crowded tourist chatter.
It felt like I had a cousin in Istanbul to me around. Exactly what I came here for.
10/10 I recommend Metin.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
B1877nqvictoriac
May 24, 2024
One would be hard-pressed to find a better guide in Istanbul than Metin Koca. - As mentioned over & over again in these reviews, he’s friendly & extremely knowledgeable. Metin's knowledge of the city & its history & culture runs deep. An art & history nerd, I had told him what I was interested in when I first contacted him, & he did not disappoint. We, of course, hit the “biggies”, but as I listened to other guides sort of just ramble off stuff one could find in any tour book, Metin went into the details. He is also VERY good at pointing out the best places from which to get the best photos 😀
I spent two days with Metin. He is a kind person, funny, & flexible. He will tailor a tour to your interests. If you’re interested in buying souvenirs he knows the honest dealers. If not (like me) then he doesn’t question your decision. And he gives valuable information for your time away from him including how to use the metro, how to deal with taxi drivers, when to go places, where to eat, & what to avoid. And, since everyone in Istanbul seems to know him, there is no waiting in line!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wes
May 5, 2024
Metin - The best guide in Istanbul (or maybe anywhere) - I came to Istanbul in May 2024 with my wife and my parents. We researched guides and found Metin. Thank God we did. Of all the vacations I’ve been on, Metin is by far the best tour guide I’ve ever found. His knowledge of the Hagia Sophia was especially detailed. We got there early and he took us right to the best spot for pictures before the crowds showed up. Then he took us all over the best places to see. Metin was fantastic. He also had great recommendations for dinner and other things to see after we left him. If you are in Istanbul and want a great tour guide, look no further.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cdurleytravels
Apr 2, 2024
Outstanding service and great introduction to Istanbul - Istanbul is a big city with a lot of history. You could read many books and watch many videos but nothing can replace time with someone like Metin, who both knows and loves the city and its history. What you are paying for is both the depth of his knowledge of the sites and also how to navigate through all the sites. On our own we probably would have been able to see only Hagia Sophia on our first day, as the lines were so long and we would have wandered through aimlessly. Metin had pre-purchased tickets so we entered right away and he led us through purposefully, pointing out the highlights and suggesting spots for photos. As well, we visited The Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market, the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent, and took the tram and helped us get a tram pass for the week ahead. All in one day!! It was worth every penny. Moreover, Metin is warm, personable and very easy to spend the day with.
Highly recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katii87
Mar 27, 2024
Awesome day with Metin - Amazing day - we loved Metin! We’ve had many private tours in various cities and this one ranks at the top. Metin was the perfect guide who provided as much or little information as we requested. Highly recommend for any Istanbul tour!!
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Pennyannte
Mar 24, 2024
So much beauty and history ! - Metin loves his city and feels it in his bones. He conveys it well with stories and history (and even tips on the best places to photograph . There are so many layers and nuances to Istanbul. This tour was a joy. And an eye opener.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jacquie_18
Nov 13, 2023
Amazing tour of Istanbul! - Metin was an awesome tour guide!! We were a group of 7 and he did a wonderful job showing us the highlights of Istanbul and provided very interesting information and spent the entire day with our group making sure we saw everything we wanted to! His knowledge, expertise and experience was evident throughout the day. He is so easy to be around and talk to I highly recommend him!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor