Unlock Istanbul's Soul: Private 1-3 Day Guided Discovery
Visit highlights of Istanbul with your private tour guide in 1, 2 or 3 days with a flexible itinerary. Day 1 - Highlights of Topkapi Palace Museum, Byzantine Hippodrome / Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar. Day 2 - Bosphorus Cruise by Public Ferry, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, Galata Tower (from outside), Spice Market. Day 3 - Suleymaniye Mosque, Fener and Balat Districts, St. Stephen Church (Iron Church), Pierre Lotti Panoramic Hill by Cable Car, Chora Church (or alternative sites). Important Notes: - Skip the line service is not available for active mosques - there is a queue for the entrance. - If one of the mosques is not visited, Basilica Cistern will be visited as a replacement. - 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.
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
5 stars
Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
Roving42387479345, 12/13/2025 11:48:03 AM
Great day out in Istanbul. Worked out well to be able to customize our itinerary. Shebnem, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and provided great insights into the places we visited. She was very accommodating and patient with our itinerary changes. We did not stay in the old city and used the tour transportation which was nice as we were able to talk with our guide during 45 min plus ride to and from the old city.
Rick L, 12/13/2025 11:23:16 AM
Our guide Atihan was wonderful. He was exceptionally knowledgeable; genuinely personable; and incredibly flexible with our tour and interests. We spent two days with him, and would recommend him to anyone interested in privately touring Istanbul.
jamessW3215AQ, 12/13/2025 8:41:39 AM
Great experience with awesome guide Ahmet one the best trips ever done istanbul is magical and Ahmet the tour guide is highly recomended the best one
jelmutiger, 12/12/2025 12:45:22 PM
Simply one of the best private tours we’ve ever had. Burak was really quite impressive throughout our 2 days together. A near encyclopedic knowledge of history and the local artifacts combined with a great welcoming personality. We loved his ability to adapt to the situation whether it be our requests or chance in weather. This tour and Burak’s insight truly enhanced our appreciation of our time in Istanbul. He also recommended some food stops that were the total highlight for us!
lisabZ1214XI, 12/12/2025 9:30:19 AM
Visiting Istanbul on a work trip, we decided to kick off our stay with a private guided tour for our small group, and I’m so glad we did. The experience felt less like a formal tour and more like being shown around by a knowledgeable local friend. We were able to fully customize the day, see all of the major sights, and even discover a few lesser-known gems along the way. There was no upselling or touristy pressure, something I really appreciated, as that’s often unavoidable on guided tours. Tolga, our guide, was wonderful. He handled every detail seamlessly and made the entire day feel effortless. I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone who wants to explore Istanbul in a thoughtful, authentic way.
Doug H, 12/11/2025 8:42:55 AM
Kemal was very knowledgeable and wonderful in sharing the history and culture of Istanbul, along with recommendations of the local cuisine. We thoroughly enjoyed the three days and look forward to exploring more of Turkey in the future.
554dineshn, 12/11/2025 4:42:06 AM
umran is the guide you want for your tour of old Istanbul. she's very friendly, knowledgeable and can give you great insight about life in modern day turkey in addition to the history and culture of the ancient turkey and the ottoman empire. this tour was easy to book and reasonably priced.
Lindsay_C, 12/10/2025 6:49:38 PM
Our tour guide Hazan was so awesome! He was very personable and helped us find out way through Istanbul. He steered us in the right direction to what we wanted to do or what we wanted to afford in the city. Lunch was perfect and he helped us order our food. All sites were great and we couldn't have done it without him! The carpet guy was hilarious. Would definitely recommend!
anuragistripping, 12/10/2025 7:45:32 AM
I did the two-day tour and really liked how well the itinerary was planned. I was able to cover all the key spots at a comfortable pace, while I also learned to use the local transport, and I got some good lunch recommendations along the way. My guide, Ozan, felt more like a friendly local showing me around, and he answered all my random questions with clear explanations. He was on time to pick me up at the hotel and even brought an umbrella when it drizzled, and helped navigate the bazaars with shop suggestions. The palace visits were my favorite part, and the mix of structure and good conversation made the whole experience enjoyable.
Sherpa57642915517, 12/10/2025 7:01:40 AM
Housekeeping maintained a good level of hygiene on a daily basis, ensuring the room stayed fresh even during a longer stay.
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The suggested first-day tour is designed as a walking tour, with transportation needed only between the hotel and the Old Town if the hotel is outside old town.
- The suggested second-day tour can be easily managed by public transportation
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays can be replaced with alternatives such as Turkish And Islamic Arts Museum or Archaeological Museum or Basilica Cistern.
- If one of the mosques or museums is not visited, Basilica Cistern will be visited as a replacement.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and replaced with Spice Market.
- Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays. Due to museum regulations, live guide service is not available at Dolmabahce Palace.
- 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.
- On Fridays, Blue Mosque will be visited in the afternoon.
- Grand Bazaar and Spice Market is closed during Eid. (March 20-22, May 27-30 in 2026)
Departure point
Contact details of your tour guide will be provided ahead of your trip. This will allow you to get in touch directly to clarify any questions, confirm meeting points, or coordinate arrival times.Return details
Visit highlights of Istanbul with your private tour guide in 1, 2 or 3 days with a flexible itinerary. Day 1 - Highlights of Topkapi Palace Museum, Byzantine Hippodrome / Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar. Day 2 - Bosphorus Cruise by Public Ferry, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, Galata Tower (from outside), Spice Market. Day 3 - Suleymaniye Mosque, Fener and Balat Districts, St. Stephen Church (Iron Church), Pierre Lotti Panoramic Hill by Cable Car, Chora Church (or alternative sites). Important Notes: - Skip the line service is not available for active mosques - there is a queue for the entrance. - If one of the mosques is not visited, Basilica Cistern will be visited as a replacement. - 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.No redemption information available
24 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund