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
SpookyGhostK, 12/15/2025 3:41:52 AM
Kemal was a fantastic tour guide. My kids and I have been to over 30 countries and they said the day they spent with Kemal was the BEST vacation day they’ve ever had. That really speaks for itself. We learned so much we wouldn’t have known and he presented it so naturally. I normally hate eating lunch while on a tour because time is ticking, but it was really part of the experience with Kemal. We invited him to the table and let him doing all the ordering. Delicious. He provided us with days worth of other food recommendations and even told us the best place to get our daughter new shoelaces. He was patient with a couple of us who needed to take things slower; we never felt rushed. He even stayed with us an extra hour past planned to ensure we got the full experience. I could have left Istanbul after just one day with Kemal and felt like I really got a true taste to the city. Highly recommend. And the price is truly unbeatable. Thanks, Kemal!
KevinInPortland, 12/14/2025 9:28:16 PM
Our one-day tour with Volkan was excellent. We visited the main sites in the old town. He was quick to accommodate our time constraints and designed a terrific route that hit everything we hoped to see. He extensive knowledge of the area, the history of the region, and the architecture made for a wonderful experience. (We grabbed a coffee with him, and it turns out he knows a lot about that too!) As a bonus, he walked us to the subway and provided crystal clear instructions on how to return to our hotel without having to sort a taxi. Highly recommended.
Douglas_H, 12/14/2025 1:15:25 PM
Kamel was an excellent guide as we visited Istanbul for the first time and he shared its storied history, the many sites, and local areas within the city in a very enjoyable private three-day tour. If you’re wanting an immersive visit to the city I highly recommend this tour, made better by Kamel sharing his deep knowledge of the city.
SchmidA7, 12/14/2025 7:55:25 AM
Great experience. Kemal knows all about Istanbul’s great history. I highly recommend a tour with him. He shows you all the musts in Istanbul.
Compass509980, 12/14/2025 7:05:57 AM
5 out of 5, great way to see the city!. Very informative and easy way to learn where to go as the tour covers the highlights.
B P, 12/14/2025 3:43:06 AM
We had fantastic time on this tour. Ozzy, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable about Istanbul and in general. We got detail explanations and he adjusted the pace as per our needs ( seniors with walking issues). I would recommend this to anyone with a day to spare to get all Istanbul highlights.
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!
- 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