Dive into Istanbul’s Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history on a small-group 7-hour tour, and visit the city’s historical highlights. Traveling mostly by foot, hear revealing facts and historical anecdotes about the city, and visit must-sees such the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Learn about Istanbul’s remarkable past from your informative guide, and stop for lunch and a shopping session at the Grand Bazaar, home to a myriad of tempting stalls. Numbers are limited to 15 people on this small-group tour to ensure personalized attention from a guide.

7-hour Istanbul highlights walking tour, including lunch
Explore the best of old Istanbul as you learn about its history and culture
Visit the spectacular Hagia Sophia, a Byzantine and Ottoman marvel dating to the 6th century
Soak up the beauty of the Blue Mosque, with its 20,000 blue Iznik tiles
Walk around the Hippodrome, once the sporting and social hub of Constantinople
Experience the halls and treasures of the Topkapi Palace and browse the Grand Bazaar
Small-group tour limited to 15 people for a more intimate atmosphere

Operated by:

What's Included

Lunch
Local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Air-conditioned vehicle

Drinks
Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

08:45 AM

What To Expect

Start with a pickup from your Istanbul hotel and set out to explore the highlights of this history-steeped city with your professional guide.

Traveling between the sights mostly by foot, hear intriguing facts about Istanbul’s Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman past, and the city's long-standing importance due to its position at the meeting point of Asia and Europe.

Make your first stop at the Hagia Sophia museum, a one-time mosque converted from a 6th-century Christian basilica built by Emperor Justinian I. Marvel at the incredible building and admire the interior’s glimmering, handcrafted mosaics and rich decoration.

Next, walk across the street to see the stunning Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque). Take in the immense, flat dome and famous minarets, and explore inside with your guide. Absorb the ocean of over 20,000 Iznik tiles that lend the mosque its name, and behold the magnificent, rich carpets and windows.

Heading outside again, stop to view the Hippodrome, the former sporting and social center of Constantinople. See the remnants of this historical arena, and imagine how the long-ago locals felt when they came here to watch exciting horse and chariot races.

From here, continue to the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest covered markets. Scout around some of the 4,000 stalls and get haggling tips from your guide on buying everything from leatherware to perfumes, gold and spices.

Stop for an included lunch and lastly, explore the Topkapi Palace, home to the Ottoman court from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Now a museum, this grandiose palace is testament to the lavish lifestyles of the sultans. Stroll through the ornate chambers, courts and gardens, and behold some of the imperial treasures, ranging from precious Chinese porcelain to jewels and relics of the Prophet Mohammed.

Your tour then concludes with a hotel drop-off.

Blue Mosque

Built during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I during 1609-1616. It is the only mosque in Turkey with six minarets. Due to its magnificent hand-dyed blue, green and white Iznik tiles it has been named the "Blue Mosque" by Europeans. The central dome is 43 m in height and is 33.4 m in diameter; it also boasts 260 windows.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Kapali Carsi

One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 1,200 shops. Opened in 1461, it is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by the type of goods, with special areas for leather coats, gold jewelry and the like. The bazaar contains two bedestens (domed masonry structures built for storage and safe keeping), the first of which was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.The grand bazaar consists of 12 major buildings and has 22 doors.

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Wheelchair accessible

Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

about cancellations.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

19 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-1 of 19 reviews

Our private tour (booked as group...

David A, Jun 2016

Our private tour (booked as group) was great and included Blue Mosque area, shops and restaurants around the Grand Bazaar, Old City tour and Sultans Palace. All tickets and lunch are included. Our tour guide Galat (sp) was friendly and knowledgeable. Five stars!! Have fun!!