Topkapi Sarayi (Cannon Gate Palace)

Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable. It was a great tour and we got to see alot in one day. I wish the lunch was at the Topkapi palace though with great views. Lunch was just ok..pretty touristy spot..

Doing what: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

This was probably the best tour of the ones I did on my trip to Istanbul and Athens. Our tour guide was beyond friendly and excited about showing us all of the cool sites that we were going to see in our full day. The small group walking tour was great because it was limited to a certain number of people so it was easier to follow and listen to our guide with no problems at all. We got to see and tour the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and the Topkapi Palace. The tour also included lunch at a great restaurant in the middle of the day. Our guide was very friendly and very gracious and warm with all of our questions and observations on the trip, even helping to take photos for people who wanted to remember the amazing sites that we were visiting. I have done a number of Viator tours and this one was probably the best one because the guide was so great. She really had a great deal of knowledge to past and when I even brought up a story that another guide had mentioned, she didn't shoot my story down but rather seemed genuinely interested in learning this new information and excited to research it as she might have learned something new herself. I would say that if you go to Istanbul you absolutely must do this tour because it covers four of the most visited sites in Istanbul in great detail and its so helpful to have someone showing you around and explaining what it is you are looking at, especially in the Topkapi Palace which has so many parts and rooms and things to look at. I would highly recommend this tour and hopefully you end up with the great tour guide that we had.

Doing what: Istanbul Small-Group Walking Tour: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar

This tour was everything we expected it to be, and more. Thanks to our helpful and knowledgeable guide Omer, we saw and learned about all the major historical sights. To be sure, it is a very full day so be prepared for a cultural inundation. Omer was able to get us at the front of some very long lines which made the process quite effortless. Having a private guide made us feel special, in particular among the hordes of people who would not have the benefit of immediate facts and knowledge provided by Omer. One thing to note is that it is not permitted for the guide to accompany you inside the various wings of Topkapi and provide any narration. This they must do before you enter so you get a preview of what to look for.

Doing what: Private Tour: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour including Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace

I really enjoyed this tour, which was the perfect introduction to Istanbul, including all the top attractions which can´t be missed! I was really impressed by the Blue Mosque, it was probably my favourite. And Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia were also definitely worth seeing. The guide was really knowledgable and made the tour and explanations very interesting. We were in a very small group, which was great as it almost felt private! Really recommend this tour!

Doing what: Istanbul Small-Group Walking Tour: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar

This tour was the perfect introduction to Istanbul, including all the top attractions which can´t be missed! I was really impressed by the Blue Mosque, it was probably my favourite. And Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia were also definitely worth seeing. The guide was really knowledgable and made the tour and explanations very interesting. Really recommend to do it on first day to Istanbul!

Doing what: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

Be prepared for a lot of walking but also for a lot of very interesting sites and sounds. Topkapi is amazing and has so much to offer. The Blue Mosque is beautiful and definitely a must to see, as is the Hagia Sophia. Unfortunately by the time we got to the Grand Bazaar, we were all a little tired and very hot but it gives you a little taste of the bazaar and certainly makes a future visit to the bazaar a little easier. The lunch that we had on this tour was exceptionally good and made for a nice break in the middle of the day.

Doing what: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

If you want to have a tour that provides you with the opportunity to see most of the important sites of Istanbul in one day, this is it! Really enjoyed it! There is a nice lunch included as well. The guide provided us with 1 hour free time at the Topkapi Palace - absolutely worthwhile to use the time to go and see the Harem. Additional entrance fee payable, but it was so worth it! Extremely hot in July, make sure you have sunscreen and light breathable clothes on!

Doing what: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

Great tour, I wish we had more time at the Topkapi Palace, but definitely a great overall tour.

Doing what: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

I am really amazed by the service, there is absolutely no trouble. These guys were really professional and they were are on time to pick me up from my hotel and dropped me back to the hotel after completing the tour. The guide is full of knowledge, he explained everything in detail. Though I missed the Grand Bazaar because of Sunday, I enjoyed seeing Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace.

Doing what: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

This is a really great tour to take on your first day in Istanbul when you're overwhelmed with the largeness of the city. Our guide and his driver picked us up at our hotel as planned. Only one other couple was on the tour so we had plenty of time to ask questions. Our guide spoke very good English and he explained the history of the sites very well. The provided lunch was at the restaurant at Topkapi Palace overlooking the Bosphorus--really wonderful view! We toured all the main sites in 7 hours. They will take you to a nice store and try to sell you a carpet. We didn't show any interest, so we did not stay too long and our next stop was the Grand Bazaar.

Doing what: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

Our guide was very good she was friendly and knew her stuff. The Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace were fantastic. At the Topkapi Palace our guide recommended certain rooms to visit. This saved on time and also meant that we didnt have to queue up everywhere.We made our own way back from the Grand Bazaar. It was also nice being collected from the hotel though.

Doing what: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

All I can say is that Istanbul is such a beautiful city. The only damper was the fact that it was raining while we were doing the tour. I had to buy an overpriced umbrella from a street vendor, and I was not able to enjoy taking pictures outside. Fortunately, the sun shone eventually when we were in Topkapi Palace. Words are not enough to describe the beauty of each of these structures. One will be captured by the treasures on display. If one has only a few days to spare in Istanbul, this is the tour to take!

Doing what: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

We were picked up from the cruise port right on time and then taken to our hotel at the end of the tour. Our guide was very informative and spoke perfect English. The meal at the Topkapi Palace was good and quick. We saw lots during the day, and with the traffic in Istanbul it was nice to have someone else do the driving! Carpet demo was interesting, no one in our group bought any rugs, so even though we did feel pressured it wasn't that intense. Would advise anyone going to Istanbul to take this tour to get the "basics" in all in one day.

Doing what: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

A superb overview of Istanbul and a must for any short-term visitor to the city. The Blue Mosque takes your breath away, while the magnificent Haghia Sophia and Topkapi Palace hold tales told over centuries. Don’t try and figure them out for yourself – a Private Guide will illuminate your tour and make the experience far more worthwhile. The Grand Bazaar is a crazy rabbit-warren of a place but offers a great chance to practise your haggling for traditional Turkish goods. The tour finishes close to a waterpipe bar, which is the perfect place to relax and take in the experiences of a memorable day.

Doing what: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

I was the only person, so it was essentially a private tour. The guide was wonderful. He was friendly and very knowledgeable. He gave me enough time to walk around each place on my own. We had a nice lunch inside the Topkapi Palace, and I got addicted to apple tea. The only part of the tour I didn't care for was the visit to the rug gallery. Since I was the only person, they had a captive audience. Though I did see many beautiful carpets, I didn't know enough to actually invest in one. I had to resist giving into the sales pitch. What I was more interested in were the ceramic tiles and brilliant plates they had. Most of the sites are close to each other, so you'll walk most of the time. I didn't mind it because everything was so interesting. It was almost a visual overload. Just remember a lot of these places do not allow flash photography, so bring a camera that can take good photos at slow speed. Also, no photos allowed at all of the artifacts inside the Topaki Palace. The visit to the Grand Bazaar was mainly just a walk-through at the end of the tour. My hotel was only a block away so I went back in the evening and bought some souvenirs. There's much to see in the old part of Istanbul, and the tour covers the most essential places. Many guidebooks recommend a few other places like the archeological museum and Suleymaniye mosque, which one can explorer on his or her own.

Doing what: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar