Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion
Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion

Outty Ranking 56 5.0 · 6 traveler reviews7 hoursFrom $359
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Outty Ranking

56/100

Worth a Look. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

5.0/5

Based on 6 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion worth booking?

Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion is a 7-hour experience in Istanbul, Turkey, from $359 per person. It scores 56 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 6 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
56 / 100
Rating
5/5 (6)
Duration
7 hours
From
$359 per person

Welcome to Istanbul, where Europe and Asia meets. Your private guide will meet with you at your hotel lobby or at Istanbul cruise port. Visit the highlights of Istanbul with your private guide. This is a customize tour so, you can decide where you want to visit on your tour day with the help of the recommendations of your guide. - You will have flexibilty to spend how much time you want in each site and make small changes on the itinerary. - You do not have to wait for other group members. - You will have a chance to make stops to have pictues during the tour. - Our Private tour rates are more reasonable than cruise shore tours. - Your guide will have pre-paid tickets to skip the lines - You will have several alternatives to taste famous Turkish Delicious foods, if you want to have lunch during your trip.

What you get

    About this experience

    Welcome to Istanbul, where Europe and Asia meets. Your private guide will meet with you at your hotel lobby or at Istanbul cruise port. Visit the highlights of Istanbul with your private guide. This is a customize tour so, you can decide where you want to visit on your tour day with the help of the recommendations of your guide. - You will have flexibilty to spend how much time you want in each site and make small changes on the itinerary. - You do not have to wait for other group members. - You will have a chance to make stops to have pictues during the tour. - Our Private tour rates are more reasonable than cruise shore tours. - Your guide will have pre-paid tickets to skip the lines - You will have several alternatives to taste famous Turkish Delicious foods, if you want to have lunch during your trip.

    What's included

    Included

    • GUARANTEED On Time Return to PORT
    • Transportation with brand new air-conditioned minivan/minibus
    • Private Professional English speaking tour guide
    • Private tour for your family and Friends only.

    Not included

    • Food and drinks
    • Entrance Fees ( Our guide will have pre-paid tickets to skip line )
    • Tips

    What you'll see and do

    1. Istanbul

      Your private guide will meet you at Istanbul port or hotel with a sign written “ Your Name “ on it, anytime you want.

      30 minutes here

    2. Historic Areas of Istanbul

      After greeted by your guide, you are going to customize your private tour with recommendations of your guide due to your interests. You can decide where you will visit with your guide’s recommendations and you can pay extra for the entrance and parking fees. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped off to your hotel or to cruise port. List of places that you may visit: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, Ancient Hippodrome Update for St. Sophia interior visit : Live guiding is not allowed in St. Sophia after the 15th January 2024. Guests have to have their smart phones and headphones during their visit. If guests do not have a headphone, they can buy at the entrance at the cost of 3,5-USD The system is similar to audio guide system. Guests who does not have smart phones will follow the signs and the given informations on the signs .

      420 minutes here · Admission not included

    Where it starts and ends

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 30 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Private & Small Group Ephesus & Istanbul & Turkey Tours

    Know before you go

    • Specialized infant seats are available
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    • During religious holidays the Spice market and Grand Bazaar will be closed. Arasta bazaar will be visited instead
    • In the event of any museum closures, an alternative similar museum will be visited
    • Not recommended for participants with walking difficulties
    • Bare shoulders are not permitted in holy places of worship such as churches, monasteries, mosques and synagogues.
    • Shoes are not permitted in mosques
    • In the event of any museum closures, an alternative similar museum will be visited. On Tuesdays : Topkapi Palace replaced by Underground Cistern, On Sundays: Grand Bazaar will be replaced by Spice Market. Grand Bazaar will be replaced by Arasta Bazaar when closed. On Fridays: Blue Mosque is open from 15.00 to 16.30

    Photos

    Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion, photo 2Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion, photo 3Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion, photo 4Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion, photo 5Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion, photo 6Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 5 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    4 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    3 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Small groups

    2 mentions

    The group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.

    Value for money

    1 mention

    Travelers feel they got more than they paid for.

    Food and drink

    1 mention

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    Good for families

    1 mention

    Reviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.

    Traveler reviews

    5 verified traveler reviews for Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    5
    4 star
    0
    3 star
    0
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    0
    Sort
    OliDe-1972 · July 2026

    Perfect Choice!

    Whenever we are in Turkey, Ephesus Shuttle is our first choice. Always reliable, always flexible, always great guides and always the best tour!

    Response from the operator: Hello, Thank you again for your loyalty and thoughtful insights. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next trip to Ephesus and will do everything we can to ensure another wonderful travel. We will share your kind message and opinions with your guide. We would be delighted to see you in our wonderfull country again. Curio Travel Team

    via Tripadvisor

    Markham316 · May 2026

    Excellent sight seeing around Istanbul for first time visitors

    We had an excellent excursion around Istanbul today. My wife and had not been to the city before and it was on our cruise itinerary, so we wanted a private tour so we could sample the main sights without large crowds and also be able to have conversation with a knowledgeable guide. Our guide Buse met us at the Cruise Terminal having messaged on WhatsApp in advance. She was super friendly and helpful, and she met up with as at 8am ahead of being taken in a car to the Blue Mosque. We got there before the crowds and she explained everything about the building and its history. From there we went to the Hagia Sofia Mosque and saw some more amazing architecture. After this we had a stop to Sample Turkish Tea before heading to the Grand Bazaar, where we had free time to shop and also sample Turkish Coffee and Baklava from one of the local cafés. All in all walking between sites and being driven back to the Cruise Terminal we had around 5 hours exploring Istanbul which is for us to sample the city was great. We highly recommend the tour and company having booked this through Venture Ashore.

    Response from the operator: Hello, Thank you again for your loyalty and thoughtful insights. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next trip to Ephesus and will do everything we can to ensure another wonderful travel. We will share your kind message and opinions with your guide. Thank you on behalf of her. We would be delighted to see you in our wonderfull country again. Curio Travel Team

    via Tripadvisor

    S9335JXstephanieh · April 2026

    10/10 tour experience

    My family and I had an amazing time exploring Istanbul with our wonderful tour guide Ezgi. Ezgi was very knowledgeable and made us feel so welcome. I would recommend this guided experience with Ezgi to anyone.

    Response from the operator: Hello, Once again, we deeply appreciate your long-standing loyalty and the detailed feedback you’ve provided. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. We will share your kind message and opinions with your guide. Thank you on behalf of her. We would be delighted to see you in our wonderfull country again. Curio Travel Team

    via Tripadvisor

    kimmM7286IQ · October 2025

    Private Tour Turkey

    Great tour with Eda. Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, Cathedral Cisterns and Grand Bazaar. We were picked up promptly at the Cruise Ship port by Eda and transported in a very nice van. We were well educated on the various times in Turkey’s history and culture. Everything was explained very well by Eda. We stopped at a nice restaurant for lunch (not included in our tour) for a great Donair. Great value and Eda was very enjoyable to spend most of the day with! There were no hidden fees.

    Response from the operator: Hello, Thank you so much for sharing your experience and giving us such a good note! We hope to have the occasion to welcome you back soon. Thank you for taking the time to share such a lovely review. We will share your kind message and opinions with your guide. Thank you on behalf of her. We would be delighted to see you in our wonderfull country again. Curio Travel Team

    via Tripadvisor

    PBPG · April 2025

    Great tour

    Driver and guide. Typhoon was very good. He seems to know his subject matter very well and delivers it in interesting ways. We went round foot mosques, a spice bizarre and shopping streets, called in for a coffee on the way round. Finished off with a trip to the Galatan tower. Would recommend this to anyone.

    Response from the operator: Hello, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your kind words. We are delighted to hear that your experience with us exceeded your expectations, and your compliments have been shared with our team with great pleasure. We will share your kind message and opinions with your guide. Thank you on behalf of him. We would be delighted to see you in our wonderfull country again. Curio Travel Team

    via Tripadvisor

    Good to know

    Duration
    7 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Hotel pickup
    Included for all travelers
    Booked in 30 days
    2
    Verdict
    Worth a Look

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by Private & Small Group Ephesus & Istanbul & Turkey Tours, who run 31 experiences we rank across 4 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 60.0.

    See everything Private & Small Group Ephesus & Istanbul & Turkey Tours runs

    Why this scores 56

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)83
    Review evidence (18% weight)30
    Booking momentum (14% weight)20
    Value for money (12% weight)10
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)59
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Istanbul.

    How much does Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion cost?

    +

    Prices start at $359 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 Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion take?

    +

    Plan for about 7 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 Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 56 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 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 Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion?

    +

    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 Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 7-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion?

    +

    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?

    +

    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 7-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion start and how do I get there?

    +

    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?

    +

    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?

    +

    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?

    +

    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?

    +

    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 Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion?

    +

    Included: GUARANTEED On Time Return to PORT; Transportation with brand new air-conditioned minivan/minibus; Private Professional English speaking tour guide; and Private tour for your family and Friends only. Not included: Food and drinks; Entrance Fees ( Our guide will have pre-paid tickets to skip line ); and Tips. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Does Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion include hotel pickup?

    +

    Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 26 listed pickup locations in and around Istanbul. Be ready about 15 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.

    What languages is Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion offered in?

    +

    It runs in English. 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 Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion?

    +

    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 Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion wheelchair or stroller accessible?

    +

    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 Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion if the weather is bad?

    +

    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 Istanbul Highlights Private Full-Day Tour or Shore Excursion?

    +

    Across 6 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, small groups. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Ready to lock in your spot?

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