For Last minute Istanbul tour inquiry, please call or WhatsApp us at +90 542 591 99 25
Duration: 7 hours each day
Tour starting point: Istanbul Cruise Port / Galata Port
Tour ending point: Istanbul Cruise Port / Galata Port
Includes: Officially licensed tour guide, private tour, transportation with private van
Excludes: Entrance tickets, lunch, drinks, tips to guide & driver ( recommended)
Sights to see:
Day 1 - Hippodrome, Highlights of Topkapi Palace Museum, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar
Day 2 - Spice Market, Bosphorus Cruise, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, Galata Tower (from outside)
Private Tour
Professional Local Guide
Transportation
Museum/Attraction Tickets
Lunch, Drinks
Tips to guide & driver
This private experience gives you a chance to witness the beauty that Istanbul offers in either one or two days. Wandering privately with your family-friendly tour guide and van will make you minimize the time loss and customize your tour regarding your interests. Istanbul shore excursion will be a great chance for your family to discover the city.
You will be picked up from the Galataport by your tour guide and the driver.
Byzantine Hippodrome / Sultanahmet Square; Our guide will give you a detailed explanation about the center of Constantinopolis where also the horse races were held.
Blue Mosque (skip the line service is not available for active mosques – there is a queue for the entrance); You will enter the Blue Mosque to see the beautiful architecture and mosaics from inside.
Highlights of Topkapi Palace Museum; (Topkapi Sarayi) You will witness the Ottoman era and the relics they have inherited during ages.
Hagia Sophia (skip the line service is not available for active mosques – there is a queue for the entrance); (Ayasofya, Santa Sofia) You will have the chance to experience the holy Hagia Sophia which is sacred for both Christianity and Islam and a must-see spot for shore excursion visitors.
Grand Bazaar; (Kapali Carsi) Marvel at the World’s biggest historical market where you may find the best souvenirs for your trip.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel or cruise ship.
Important Notes:
– This trip can be operated as walking tour because sites of visit are near to each other. But if your hotel is not centrally located, booking private van is recommended from and back to your hotel.
– If one of the mosques is not visited, Basilica Cistern will be visited as a replacement.
On the second day of your shore excursion, you will be picked up from the hotel or cruise ship by your tour guide and the driver.
Dolmabahce Palace: You will visit one of the most glamorous palaces built in the 19th century.
Bosphorus Cruise: You will enjoy the beauties of the Bosphorus Strait with a public ferry.
Taksim Square: Your guide will explain to you the facts about Taksim Square, the monumental pedestrian city center of Modern Istanbul.
Istiklal Street: You will walk along the most famous shopping street in the city and experience the local life. Shopping is also possible.
St Anthony Padua Church: You will visit the biggest Catholic Church in the city which is located on Istiklal Street.
Galata Tower: You may take photos from outside while listening to the history of the Tower.
Spie Market: You will stop by the market to taste the local products and find nice souvenirs to take home.
After your shore excursion tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel or cruise ship.
istanbul shore excursion
Please Note:
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
Blue Mosque is closed until 2 pm on Fridays.
Hagia Sophia entrance will be restricted during praying time.
Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays. Due to regulations, a live guide service is not available at Dolmabahce Palace.
Children aged 7 and under are free of charge. Please make sure that you have passport copies of children as you have to verify their ages at museums for free tickets in a shore excursion.
*FOR LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS AND LATE DEPARTURES, as museums and some sites will be closed around 17:30 pm, alternative tour sites will be advised by the tour guide during the tour.
*Tour guide meets you at central Istanbul hotels or Galata Port. If the hotel is not centrally located, the meeting point will be in front of the German Fountain.
If van service is not chosen your guide will pick you up at centrally located hotels on foot.
If private van service is booked, please note that there will be a surcharge if your hotel is located outside of the city center or on the Asian Side.
Annual Closing Dates of all museums and bazaars in Istanbul are as follows;
Q: How to meet my tour guide?
A: Your tour guide will be waiting in your hotel lobby to meet you at a determined time.
Q: Can I state the departure time for my tour?
A: Of course! We operate tours on a private basis, so you can customize the departure time.
Q: Can I choose the sights to visit on my own?
A: Sure! You can choose the sights and museums along with all sorts of criteria you like in accordance with your tour guide.
Q: How to buy museum tickets?
A: No need to buy tickets in advance, during the tour your tour guide will help you to purchase them. Official tour guides have priority at museum ticket offices.
Q: Am I traveling with a group on the tour?
A: No, we provide Private Guided Istanbul Tours for your best experience so you will have a private professional tour guide in your preferred language.
Q: How about transportation?
A: Transportation will be made by private van service with a professional driver.
Q: How about shopping in Istanbul?
A: We do not include any shopping stops unless you wish to visit one of the traditional workshops of handmade rugs, tiles, jewelry. If you have any interest in workshops, please indicate while booking.
Q: How do I book this Private Guided Istanbul Tour?
A: Easy! All you need to do is;
Fill in the 'Booking' form where you will put your full details such as personal information, date, hotel or cruise name, arrival and departure times. Once you complete your booking, there will be a payment button to complete your deposit payment, when you complete payment we will get back to you with a confirmation email within 24 hours.
Q: How do I pay?
A: After filling the Book Now form, there will be a payment button to complete your deposit payment, when you complete payment and secure the booking, we will confirm your tour details and the balance payment will be in cash directly to the tour guide during the tour. You can choose to pay in Usd, Euro or Turkish Lira.
Q: Does the status of Hagia Sophia affect our tour?
A: After conversion to mosque entrance will be restricted during praying times however your tour guide will revise the route of your tour accordingly and entrance is free of charge. Please note that as it's not a museum anymore, tour guides don't have skip-the-line priority, so you may need to wait in the security line.
