Read what other Viator.com travelers think about the Istanbul Ottoman Tour: Topkapi Palace and Blue Mosque. What they loved, what they liked and what they think could be improved, it's all here to help you make the most of your next trip.
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Margaret F
Ireland
Myself and my husband were the only 2 on the tour and our guide was wonderful! Very informative and a lovely friendly fellow. The palace was wonderful, and we visited the Blue Mosque instead of The Mosque of Soleman, as it was closed on the day. After the tour ended our guide offered to walk us through Taksim Square. It was really enjoyable! I would definitely recommend the tour for value for money, excellent tour guide and transportation provided.
Rory M
Ireland
Really good. Had a guide, a Merc minibus and driver just for the two of us. Our "half day tour" was from 1pm to about 7pm and even then the guide was in no hurry home. In the end we felt guilty had to tell him to go on home! He was really excellent. Much better than the Ship organized tours which are twice the price, shorter and much less personal.
Dick
USA
This tour was truly exceptional. The guide was very knowledgeable, especially concerning the history of the area and the religions involved. The tour added a historical carpet museum that was not on the list of places to be visited that was very interesting. Of course, there was the obligatory visit to the guide's favorite jewelry and carpet shop, but that was accomplished in a very low key manner. Pickup at the port and drop-off at our hotel after the tour for us and all our baggage was effortlessly accomplished. This tour was much cheaper and a much smaller group than one offered by the cruise line.
Marsha P
USA
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable. Superb!
Anonymous
Very competent and interesting guide. Excellent tour. I would recommend it highly.
Krishnan ...
Australia
Easiest way to beat the serpentine queues - the sights are magnificent.
Desmond T
Canada
It was a good tour with a fantastic guide. However, the half day tour actually did not include Grand Bazaar and we ended up walking to the Blue Mosque ourselves. The problem was that those attractions were only included in the whole day trip.
Anonymous
We had to meet another group to combine coaches which wasted a lot of time. We didn't even visit the bazaar.
Ronald P
USA
We were picked up at the hotel and taken to the ship after the tour with our luggage. Our tour guide was well informed and communicated very well.
Very interesting. Unfortunately very crowded. Difficult to see anything and no time for the harem because of the waits. Not the tours fault. It is what it is.
Paul C
United Kingdom
Enjoyed this trip and the guide was very good as he had a lot of knowledge about the Topkapi Palace, however, we did not stay for very long at the other site, Mosque of Soleman. I thought the tour was too short, it should have gone on for another hour. However, overall it was good and I recommend the guide.
This is surely not a popular tour and I could guess why so.
--This tour is done thru a third party so there are many inconsistencies in viator itinerary and what the third party provides you.
a.Guide was told to do either Rustam Pasha Mosque OR Sulemaniye Mosque.On showing the itinerary though she took us to Sulemaniye.
b.As per viator itinerary there is Grand Bazaar involved but guide told us it was not so..We didn't mind as we had Hagia Sophia tour the other day and anyway it was being covered in there.
c.There was some itinerary change of which we had no prior information.She came on Monday morning instead of afternoon. Thankfully it was early and we had not made any other plans having arrived just the day before. So we went ahead..
--Guide was poorly informed giving us facts like spoon diamond is called so as its shaped like spoon. When asked about architecture of Sulemaniye Mosque,its typical ottoman.Well I already know that don't I..
--Guide didnt even take us inside the state rooms/treasury rooms.I could see other guides in there explaining stuff to visitors.
I was not happy with this tour and the quality of guide made me believe I could have been the guide myself.
Maria M
Ireland
I was very disappointed with this trip.Firstly it was nearly an hour late starting. Then we were brought to a very small Mosque for about ten minutes. Then on to the Palace were the guide told us where the different things were,gave us nearly no information and told to go off and do our own thing and meet back at the bus at 4. The whole tour took about 2 hours.The guide a nice person but not much good as a guide. Very bad value for money.
Laurie L
United Kingdom
We joined what was a full day tour. Took a large tour bus to a different mosque than the blue mosque. We got about a 10 minute explanation about that mosque. Then took a bus to Tokapi palace got another 10 minute talk and were sent to explore by ourselves. Then we were dropped off at the Grand Bazaar without any info at all. We would have gotten more doing it ourselves. Very disappointed.
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