Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul
Traveler rating
4.2/5
Based on 6 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul worth booking?
Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul is a 5-hour experience in Istanbul, Turkey, from $55 per person. It scores 59 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.2/5 rating across 6 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 59 / 100
- Rating
- 4.2/5 (6)
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $55 per person
Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel and you will visit, Hagia Sophia , Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar. Your tour guide will be with you from the start of your tour to the end. This is a private tour, there is no rush on your tour we are there for you if you have any specific requirements. Please note; Hagia Sophia is opened to the public and has NO skip the line
What you get
About this experience
Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel and you will visit, Hagia Sophia , Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar. Your tour guide will be with you from the start of your tour to the end. This is a private tour, there is no rush on your tour we are there for you if you have any specific requirements. Please note; Hagia Sophia is opened to the public and has NO skip the line
What's included
Included
- Pickup / drop off service is provided from/to centrally located hotels at European side of Istanbul
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Transport by taxi (transportation provided only when necessary)
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Entrance fees
What you'll see and do
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Beautiful Hagia Sophia
45 minutes here · Admission not included
Blue Mosque
Blue Mosque
35 minutes here
TopkapI Palace
Topkapi Palace from the Ottoman era
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Hippodrome
The famous Hippodrome
20 minutes here
Grand Bazaar
Shop in the maze of the Grand Bazaar
60 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 14 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Ada Vegas Travel
Know before you go
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Car Seats are available on request
- Due to the COVID-19 Virus
- Topkapi Palace is closed on tuesdays.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on sundays.
- Dolmabahce is closed on mondays.
- This is a walking tour.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 6 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
6 verified traveler reviews for Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Very good
Eyüp was very patient, the service was personalized and according to our needs.
via Tripadvisor (translated)
Review your tour choices carefully
We were impressed with the depth of understanding of the history, religion and culture of Turkey our guide provided. We loved the walking tour of the Sultanahmet but did not appreciate being guided into select shops with the subtle expectation we should buy something from the shopkeeper. So much more to this beautiful city that was not a part of this half day walking tour. The title of the tour “the best of Istanbul” is a bit deceiving.
Response from the operator: Thank you very much for your valuable feedback. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your guide’s knowledge and your time in Sultanahmet. At the same time, we appreciate your comments regarding the shop visits and the tour description. Your feedback is very important to us and will certainly be shared with our team for future improvements. Thank you once again for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back to Istanbul in the future.
via Viator
Awesome day in Istanbul.
Loved Istanbul. I fiund it to be a clean modern/ancient city. Easy to get around on the tram. The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia were quite beautiful and well preserved and I found the Badilica Cistern fascinating. Our guide was knowledgeable and personable and made our tour memorable.
Response from the operator: Dear Betty , Thank you so much for your detailed and kind review! Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back on another tour in the future. Warm Regards,
via Viator
Great tour guide- terrible company
Our tour guide was fabulous and both stars are for him. This was incredibly overpriced for what we received. It’s advertised as “priority entrance to all sites- no lines”, yet we waited 45 ish min in line to Hagia Sophia. Blue Mosque is under renovation so we went inside for 10 minutes to look at scaffolding and boards. We found out at the END of the tour Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays so we wouldn’t be going. Why would 1) they sell a tour they knew they couldn't fulfill 2) not give us a heads up (I know why- they didn’t want us to cancel) ? Since we stayed on the Asia side it didn’t provide transportation (this was stated before I booked), but because of this, we way overpaid for what we received. $500 for a tour guide for 2/3 sites we paid to see. Will never book with viator again.
Response from the operator: Dear Stephanie, First of all, thank you for your comments about the service; but we would like to explain some details with important notes, to see your comments from different angle: - Hagia Sophia was a museum, but this year it has been converted to a active mosque and open to public. So there is always the queue front of the most popular sights, around the world. - Blue Mosque is under the renovation, it's not under our control, we would like to make our guests happy by showing Blue Mosque from outside and inside even it's under the renovation, because it's one of the most popular. You had the chance to tell your guide that you do not want to visit it. - Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays; it's clearly mentioned on the details. But of course there are so many places can be visited at Old City area, so the tour can not be closed to sell because of Topkapi Palace is closed; the tour guides always offer an alternative, because we always tell them in this way. - You were informed few days ago about the meeting point; because the service does not cover the pickup / drop off service from / to Asia part of Istanbul. Because Istanbul is a huge city it's not possible to arrange this kind of services from every corner of Istanbul. You had a chance to cancel it, but you said that you will come to the meeting point. If you said that you would like to cancel the tour, we would assist you on this issue, without any penalty, but you did not. Put in a nutshell, this service is a customized tour service, you have chance to change the visits / sights by discussing your tour guide while you are on the tour, also private basis and you can visit where you would like to see and the tour guide assist you according your request. Frankly, there is not a specific issue taking its source from our compamy and Viator. We hope to see you again in Istanbul / Turkey next time and will be pleased to be at your service again. Thanks, Kind Regards, Gokhan ALKAYA
via Viator
Interesting
Very informative and interesting tour. Friendly guide. Definitely recommend. So much insight into history
Response from the operator: Dear Davron, Thank you for your kind sharing of your valuable thoughts and comments. Your comments will absolutely assist someone who would like to travel to Istanbul with Ada Vegas Travel. We are very happy to hear and pleased that you had wonderful memories and times during the tour with our services
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $55 to $96
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Ada Vegas Travel, who run 27 experiences we rank across 4 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 53.5.
See everything Ada Vegas Travel runsWhy this scores 59
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Istanbul.
How much does Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul cost?
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Prices start at $55 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Istanbul usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul take?
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Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Istanbul is not rushed.
Is Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 59 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.2/5 across 6 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Istanbul, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul?
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Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Istanbul can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Istanbul and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Istanbul within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Istanbul?
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On Outty we rank every Istanbul experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Princes Islands Blue Journey from Old City Istanbul, Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience, Best of Istanbul 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Istanbul?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul?
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Included: Pickup / drop off service is provided from/to centrally located hotels at European side of; Private tour; Professional guide; and Transport by taxi (transportation provided only when necessary). Not included: Food and drinks; and Entrance fees. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 3690 listed pickup locations in and around Istanbul. Be ready about 5 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul offered in?
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It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Specialized infant seats are available. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Istanbul. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Exclusive Guided Best of Istanbul?
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Across 6 reviews averaging 4.2 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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