Istanbul boasts numerous attractions that could take over a week to explore fully. However, this tour is an excellent option for experiencing the city’s main and most significant highlights in just 7-8 hours. With a private guide, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of Istanbul’s rich history.
Istanbul boasts numerous attractions that could take over a week to explore fully. However, this tour is an excellent option for experiencing the city’s main and most significant highlights in just 7-8 hours. With a private guide, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of Istanbul’s rich history.
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, also known as Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, stands as a testament to innovative architecture, rich history, and religious significance. It has withstood the test of time for centuries and was the largest Eastern Roman Church in İstanbul. Built three times on the same site, it is the world’s…
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, also known as Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, stands as a testament to innovative architecture, rich history, and religious significance. It has withstood the test of time for centuries and was the largest Eastern Roman Church in İstanbul. Built three times on the same site, it is the world’s oldest and fastest-completed cathedral. Its awe-inspiring domes, seemingly suspended in air, monolithic marble columns, and unique mosaics make it a marvel in the history of world architecture. The mosque’s stunning beauty, with its magnificent interplay of space, light, and color, inspires worship among believers. Hagia Sophia is situated on the first hill of İstanbul, at the tip of the historic peninsula, surrounded by the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus, and the Golden Horn on three sides.
- Blue Mosque - İstanbul’s most photogenic building was the grand vision of Sultan Ahmet I (r 1603–17), whose tomb is located on the north side of the site facing Sultanahmet Park. The mosque’s beautifully curvaceous exterior features a cascade of domes and six slender minarets. The interior is adorned with blue İznik tiles, giving the building its unofficial but widely recognized name.
The architect, Sedefkâr Mehmet Ağa, created an exterior that delivers a visual impact akin to the interior of the nearby Aya Sofya. Its voluptuous curves, six minarets (more than any other mosque at the time of its construction), and the largest courtyard of all Ottoman mosques make it truly remarkable.
- Hippodrome - The Hippodrome of Constantinople was an arena for chariot racing during the Byzantine era. Initially constructed during the reign of Roman emperor Septimius Severus in the early 3rd century CE, it was later enhanced by emperor Constantine I in the 4th century CE. The Hippodrome also hosted parades, public executions, and the public shaming of the emperor’s enemies. After the Fourth Crusade in the early 13th century CE, the Hippodrome fell into disuse, and its magnificent monuments and artworks were looted.
- Grand Bazaar - The world-renowned bazaar of Istanbul, featuring over 3800 shops and 29 gates, offers a vast selection of products, including gold, leather goods, textiles, tiles, jewelry, and food corners.
- Misir Carsisi (Spice Market) - A charming and cozy place with 188 shops offering a variety of Turkish delights, herbs, dried fruits, and spices.
- Bosphorus Strait - Embark on a 90-minute cruise with a guide on a public cruise to explore the Bosphorus. The Bosphorus Strait is a natural waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, dividing Istanbul into two parts: the European side to the west and the Asian side to the east. Cruising along the Bosphorus provides breathtaking views of the city’s iconic landmarks, palaces, and beautiful waterfront mansions.
Bosphorus Cruise Tours in Istanbul, Turkey, offer a brief overview of the Bosphorus. As a maritime city, many travelers find that boarding one of its famous flotillas of ferries becomes a highlight of their visit. Additionally, there is an opportunity to enjoy Turkish coffee or tea during the cruise.

- Admission Fees Included
- In-person English Guide
- Cruise Tickets Included
- Turkish tea or coffee on the cruise included
- Admission Fees Included
- In-person English Guide
- Cruise Tickets Included
- Turkish tea or coffee on the cruise included
- Lunch
- Lunch
- The remaining hours are allotted for the travel time
- The remaining hours are allotted for the travel time
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.