Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 5 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour worth booking?
Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour is a 7-hour experience in Istanbul, Turkey, from $258 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 5 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 (5)
- Duration
- 7 hours
- From
- $258 per person
Visit most popular sights of Istanbul with your private tour guide who has skip-the-line priority in 1-2 or 3 days; DAY-1 Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace. DAY-2 Spice Market, Bosphorus Cruise, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim-Istiklal Street, Galata Tower. Note: Booking private vehicle is suggested for this day as transportation is required between sites of visit. DAY-3 Suleymaniye Mosque, Fener and Balat Districts, St. Stephen Church (Iron Church), Eyüp Sultan District, Pierre Lotti Panoramic Hill Note: Booking private vehicle is suggested for this day as transportation is required between sites of visit.
What you get
About this experience
Visit most popular sights of Istanbul with your private tour guide who has skip-the-line priority in 1-2 or 3 days; DAY-1 Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace. DAY-2 Spice Market, Bosphorus Cruise, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim-Istiklal Street, Galata Tower. Note: Booking private vehicle is suggested for this day as transportation is required between sites of visit. DAY-3 Suleymaniye Mosque, Fener and Balat Districts, St. Stephen Church (Iron Church), Eyüp Sultan District, Pierre Lotti Panoramic Hill Note: Booking private vehicle is suggested for this day as transportation is required between sites of visit.
What's included
Included
- Private tour
- Skip-the-line entry to museums
- Officially licensed tour guide
Not included
- Museum/Activity tickets
- Lunch and drinks
- Transportation (unless option booked)
What you'll see and do
Blue Mosque
Built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I, Blue Mosque is truly a magnificent masterpiece of architecture with amazingly delicate proportions for a building of such massive scale.
40 minutes here
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Built in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian, played a very important role in the Christian and Islamic World. After the Ottoman conquest the bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and many of the mosaics were eventually plastered over to convert the church into a mosque then a museum and now it’s a mosque for second time.
60 minutes here
Hippodrome
Where the chariot races were held in the Roman Empire times.
20 minutes here
TopkapI Palace
More than just an Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans, it was the seat of the Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for almost 400 years long. Topkapi Palace is a great monument of Oriental architecture.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Grand Bazaar
One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with over 4,000 shops.
45 minutes here
Misir Carsisi
A colorful indoor bazaar and has lots of shops offering a variety of spices, purses, flavored teas, Turkish delight, nuts, as well as ceramics and small souvenirs.
45 minutes here
Bosphorus Strait
Bosphorus Cruise to see both Istanbul’s European and Asian sides, Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, the Rumelian Fortress, old Ottoman villas, Bosphorus bridges, mosques.
120 minutes here · Admission not included
Dolmabahce Palace
Elegance and beauty with the most luxury decoration, chandeliers, rugs, crystals, ceramic fireplaces. Beautiful palace, right on the Bosphorus with gorgeous furnishings, paintings, porcelains.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Taksim Square
A great place defining modern Turkey. Close to Istiklal Street and Galata Tower. Has very good food joints, cafes, shops, bars, night clubs around.
30 minutes here
Suleymaniye Mosque
The largest mosque in Istanbul and is as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside. In the garden behind the mosque, the terrace offers lovely views of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus.
30 minutes here
Fener & Balat
Fener District, continue exploring Istanbul’s rich religious history with a stop at the Church of St. George. Since the 1600s, the church has been the location of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and is recognized as the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Religion. Balat District; lines of drying laundry stretch across steep, winding streets. Century-old Ottoman houses lean against each other in a combination of reds, blues and greens. And art galleries and design shops dot the area along the water.
60 minutes here
Pierre Loti
One of the most popular sights to visit since it offers great views for the visitors. Take the cable car to reach to the top and enjoy the beautiful scenery while sipping your Turkish coffee or tea.
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 20 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
2 Day Private Guide
Blue Mosq, Hagia Sop, Topkapi Pal, Basilica Cis, Grand Baz, Hipp. Spice Mar, Bosph Cru, Dolmabahce Pal,Taksim Squ,Istiklal St Pickup included
1 Day Private Guide
This tour includes visits to; Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome Square, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar. Pickup included
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 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Cititrek Travel
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please note that; On Tuesdays Topkapi Palace, on Sundays Grand Bazaar, on Mondays Dolmabahce Palace is closed.
- Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are closed until 2pm on Fridays. If one of the mosques are not visited, Basilica Cistern will be visited as a replacement.
- When booking the tour with van for Day-1, if your hotel is located in Sultanahmet you will be steps from the museums, so the van will not be used as much. On Day-2 and Day-3 we suggest you to book a van as transfers are required between sights.
- Annual closing dates of museums and bazaars; New Year, Ramadan Festival, Sacrifice Eid/Festival
- Since Hagia Sophia is not a museum anymore tour guides don't have skip-the-line priority so you may need to wait in the security line. To avoid queues we suggest departing at 8:30am or 9:00am.
Photos
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
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.
Photo opportunities
1 mentionThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Food and drink
1 mentionThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Good for families
1 mentionReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
5 verified traveler reviews for Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Amazing city!
It was fascinating taking the Istanbul walking tour for the entire day. Any questions we had might have been answered by our experienced tour guide. Following a great lunch and a tour of the city's most significant sites, we completed the day with a romantic sunset yacht trip as our guide provided more commentary on the surroundings. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire day!
via Tripadvisor
Fantastic experience with a nice guide
Had a fantastic day with a very good English speaking guide. Was able to tell us a lot about the sights. Also about Lo Katies, which you don't come to as an average tourist. Day flew by. We had a great day and learned a lot about this fantastic city, its inhabitants and history
via Tripadvisor (translated)
Amazing introduction to city
A great way to discover a city especially if it’s your first time. We had an amazing tour guide who spoke English well and kept the attention of the kids during the tour and inform us all day about the rich history of Istanbul. What a day! Highly recommended!
via Tripadvisor
Amazing tour
"We were only in Istanbul for one whole day, but our tour guide was fantastic. She went above and above by introducing us to the greatest restaurants and shops, as well as all the stunning sites, rich history, and culture. She was not only an excellent tour guide; she also became our friend. A+ Recommendation!"
via Tripadvisor
Incredible experience in Istanbul
Amazing guide service, he was so kind and took us to all different attactions and places to meet and exceed our expectations
Response from the operator: Dear Juan Carlos, Thank you for rating us. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour with your tour guide. Hope to have you with us again in Istanbul.
via Viator
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
- Price range
- $258 to $425
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 56
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Istanbul.
How much does Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour cost?
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Prices start at $258 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 Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour take?
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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 Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 56 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 5 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 Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour?
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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 Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour suitable for kids and families?
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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 Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour?
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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 7-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour 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 Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour?
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Included: Private tour; Skip-the-line entry to museums; and Officially licensed tour guide. Not included: Museum/Activity tickets; Lunch and drinks; and Transportation (unless option booked). Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 1384 listed pickup locations in and around Istanbul. Be ready about 20 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour offered in?
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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 Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour?
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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 Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; and Specialized infant seats are available. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour 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 Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour?
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Across 5 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, photo opportunities. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for Top Sights of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including 2 Day Private Guide, 1 Day Private Guide. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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