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Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour

star-51,042 Reviews
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Istanbul, Turkey
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Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour
Basilica Cistern
Hagia Sophia
See More (49)
49

From $150.00 per group (up to 8)

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Free Cancellation
up to 24 hours in advance
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icon7 hours  (Approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
iconOffered in: English and 5 more
Good for avoiding crowds
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
What you can expect during your visit
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff
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Safety precautions are provided by the tour operator and are not checked by Viator for accuracy
More questions?
(888) 651-9785

Overview

Prepare to be awed by Istanbul’s magnificent architecture, rich history, and eclectic bazaars as you discover the unmissable highlights of the Old City on this 1-, 2-, or 3-day private tour. Marvel over the glorious Hagia Sophia, learn how the Blue Mosque earned its famous nickname, and see the ancient Basilica Cistern. Tour Topkapi Palace to gain an insight into the lavish lifestyles of the Ottoman sultans and their harem, and browse the legendary Grand Bazaar, where you find everything from carpets to Turkish delight.
  • Exclusive Istanbul tour led by a private guide
  • Comprehensive tour of the city over one, two, or three days
  • Explore the local streets on a walking tour of the city
  • Customize the itinerary according to your schedule
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From $150.00

Lowest Price Guarantee
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Private tour
Professional local guide
Museum/Attraction Tickets
Transportation from/back to hotel and between sites (unless option selected)
Lunch
Gratitude (suggested)

Departure Point

Traveler pickup is offered
Tour guide meets you at central Istanbul hotels or port. If hotel is not centrally located,
meeting point with tour guide is the front of Basilica Cistern Museum.

If van service is not chosen your guide will pick you up at centrally located hotels on foot.

If private van service is booked, please note that there will be a surcharge if your hotel is located outside of the city center or on the Asian Side.


Ports

  • Istanbul Cruise Port
  • Galataport İstanbul, Kılıçali Paşa Mah. Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. No: 8 İç Kapı No: 102, Kılıçali Paşa, 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey
  • Galataport İstanbul Tanıtım Ofisi, Kemankeş Cd. No:65 Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, 34425, Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey


  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays
  • Blue Mosque is closed until 2pm on Fridays
  • Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
  • For multiple day booking, private van service will be advised according to your hotel location and size of the group
  • Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays
  • Due to museum regulations, live guide service is not available at Dolmabahce Palace
  • Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Nov 10. Due to commemoration ceremony
  • When booking the tour with van, if your hotel is located in Sultanahmet you will be steps away from the museums, so the van will not be used as much.
  • Galata Tower will be visited from outside as tour guides have no priority to skip the line due to Galata Tower regulations
  • Annual Closing Dates of all museums and bazaars in Istanbul in 2021 as follows; January 1-New Year. May 13/14/15-Ramadan Celebrations. July 20/21/22/23-Eid Celebrations. October 29-Republic Day.
  • Hagia Sophia will be closed for visit during praying time
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Infant seats available
  • Families with young children will be accompanied by kid-friendly tour guide
  • For last minute bookings, tour starting time can be flexible.
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
  • OPERATED BY Guided Istanbul Tours

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour?
A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:

  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
See all safety measures taken by Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour.
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour?
A:The policy on sanitization is:

  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
See all safety measures taken by Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour.
Q:
What is the social distancing policy during Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour?
A:The policy on social distancing is:

  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
See all safety measures taken by Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour.
Q:
What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour?
A:The policies on staff health & safety are:

  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Regular temperature checks for staff
See all safety measures taken by Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour.
Q:
What is the maximum group size during Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour?
A:This activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers.

See all safety measures taken by Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour.

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Traveler Photos

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Reviews

5.0
star-5
1,042 Reviews
5 stars
1,006
4 stars
31
3 stars
1
2 stars
2
1 star
2

Reviews by Viator travelers

Showing 1-10 of 1,042 reviews
star-5
Last minute trip
Paul
, Jun 2021
Took the 2 day private tour with semih. I did not plan this trip at all and signed up the morning of the tour. For a last minute unplanned trip it was a wonderful experience. The tour guide was excellent and friendly and all around I had a spectacular time.
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star-5
Great tour
shane_w
, May 2021
The İstanbul tour was very informative, very interesting and Tayfun was fantastic. He knew a ton of information, picked us up in a taxi and led us through all the historic sites. We had a fantastic time.
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star-1
2 day Istanbul tour
Zain_K
, Mar 2021
Guide seems to be very distracted and not focused. He was doing things at his peril. Despite paying $300 US, we still had to pay for everything, including Topkapi palace etc, even the tram ride. He was taking us for lunch for the places he liked, even though we were requesting to take to other places. I was told he was getting commission from those places of his choice. Not satisfied with the tour. Total rip-off. Not worth it at all.
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icon Response from Host , Mar 2021
Dear Zain, We heard with regret that the tour and the tour guide did not meet any of your expectations. All of our tour guides are professional and competent and we hardly have negative feedbacks from our guests regarding the service that they provide, still, we would at least replace him the second day if we did receive a complaint from your side and even compensate your dissatisfaction accordingly. We courage our guides to give restaurant recommendations to help our guests have a nice experience for their lunch and dinner. However, our agency has a strict policy unlike some other companies, we do not ask and let our guides have commissions from eateries as we find it very unprofessional. We belive that you are unluckily misleaded in this subject by a rival company. We also want to underline that the additional payments such as transportation and admission fees, which you were not happy at all to pay for, were clearly stated in the list of exclusions in the email that we have sent to confirm the tour. We do not accept any fault regarding the extra payments you have made and do not think that we deserve the bad review because of that. We hope to have you here in the near future, in our beautiful city once more to provide a better service. All the best.
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star-5
Istanbul Private Tour
Stephen_B
, Mar 2021
Our tour guide was very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. It was great to see Istanbul with a private
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star-5
Istanbul 1 day private tour
LARISSA_P
, Feb 2021
Great tour with Cigdem as our guide! She arrived early and stayed an hour late with us, not asking for any extra money for the extra time! Very knowledgeable and flexible to adapt to our preferences. She speaks fluent English,easy to understand
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star-5
Amazing Tour of Istanbul
Nancy_H
, Nov 2020
I booked the 2-day private tour of Istanbul. The tour operator was very responsive to my questions prior to the trip. My tour guide, Duygu, was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Istanbul and always made sure I had sufficient time to spend at each location. I had a great experience and would highly recommend booking this tour!
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star-5
Great tour
Dmitry_K
, Nov 2020
Burak (the guide) was very knowledgeable and gave an amazing tour. While it was 1-day tour, I think I’ve got plenty of information for my first Istanbul visit.
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star-5
Must do tour with Ozgur!!
Jamel_W
, Nov 2020
This was one of my favorite tours in Istanbul! First of all my guide was Ozgur. He is so knowledgeable and full of cool facts that regular guides might forget to mention or not have time. However since it’s a private tour you are free to ask many questions and get more feedback. Having Ozgur was great because he knew what times the mosque would be closed for prayers and which sites to go to first to avoid big crowds. I had a great experience with the tour and learned so much from Ozgur, definitely request him if you can!
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star-2
Overpriced
Ivanna
, Oct 2020
Very little time spent in the historical places. My tour guide, Canero, seemed to give more importance to the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market which is filled with merchants ready to scam and inflate their prices 10x when they see you are a tourist. My tour guide also spent a decent amount of time texting and talking on the phone, not very formal. It was a waste of money in my opinion.
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icon Response from Host , Nov 2020
Dear Ivanna, Thanks for your review, We are sorry to see that we couldn't meet your expectations. We will use your feedback to improve ourselves and our service for our future guests. Caner is one of our best in-house tour guides. He has reported that he even included an extra site in your program, making sure that you make most of your day. We do value your feedback and we will use it to provide better service for our future guests. Kindest Regards Melissa
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star-5
Wonderful Private Tour!
Marisa_S
, Oct 2020
This curated private tour was a fantastic way to see Istanbul! Our guide, Sercan, was so knowledgeable! We learned so much and had our itinerary catered to what we wanted to see. The driver was great and we felt safe and well take care of the entire time. I would definitely recommend this tour and our guide to anyone visiting Istanbul. Especially as a good way to see the highlights and avoid the crowds! Thank you for a wonderful experience!
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Attractions in Istanbul

BeyogluHaydarpasa Railway Station (Haydarpasa Gari)Yedikule Fortress (Yedikule Hisari Müzesi)Sadberk Hanim Museum (Sadberk Hanım Müzesi)Church of St. Mary of the Spring (Balikli Kilise)Gülhane Park (Gülhane Parki)Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi)German Fountain (Alman Çeşmesi)Sapanca Lake (Sapanca Gölü)Aynalikavak Palace (Aynalikavak Kasri)Taksim Square (Taksim Meydani)BalatAnadolu KavagiEmirgan Park (Emirgan Korusu)Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi)Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayi)BosphorusIstiklal Street (Istiklal Caddesi)Yildiz Palace Museum (Yildiz Sarayi Müzesi)Bursa Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami)