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Istanbul Walking tours

Our most recommended Istanbul Walking tours

Istanbul: Topkapi Palace Guided Tour and Skip The Line

1. Istanbul: Topkapi Palace Guided Tour and Skip The Line

Skip the line and visit the most important museum of Turkey and the Balkan Peninsula. Discover how the Topkapi Palace was built between 1466 - 1478 and served for over 400 years as the residency and administrative headquarter of the Ottoman Sultans. The guide will explain to you the entire story of the Palace during a one hour tour. Marvel at the great architectural beauty of this important monument of the Ottoman Empire.

Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Tour and Skip The Line with Guide

2. Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Tour and Skip The Line with Guide

Discover the Basilica Cistern under the streets of Istanbul on a guided tour. Be amazed by the stunning architecture of the cistern during the tour and gaze at the Medusa Heads. Skip-the-line and avoid the long queue, as you follow your guide through history. Meet your guide in front of the exit gate of the Basilica Cistern and enter together. Skip the long lines and enjoy a highlights tour and learn interesting facts about the water cistern with an audio guide. Marvel at the engineering of the cistern while hearing the history with a downloadable audio guide. After your guided tour, stay and explore the building at your own pace. 

Hagia Sophia: Entry with Guided Tour

3. Hagia Sophia: Entry with Guided Tour

Travel back in time to experience the story of the ancient Hagia Sophia on a guided tour in Istanbul. Trace how this iconic site has transformed over time with a local guide. Uncover stunning details as you explore this architectural gem. Meet with your professional local guide in front of Hagia Sophia. Hear a short history of the Old City then start the Hagia Sophia tour.  Your guide will explain the mystery of the magnificent Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia is a great architectural beauty and an important monument both for the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empires. Once a church, later a mosque, the Hagia Sophia has always been a precious building for the locals.

Istanbul: Basilica Cistern & Hagia Sophia Combo Ticket

4. Istanbul: Basilica Cistern & Hagia Sophia Combo Ticket

Save time and money with this combo ticket with hassle-free entry to the Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern. Bypass the ticket lines to make the most of your time and hear the most important information and tips from your guide. Visit Hagia Sophia the largest Christian church in the world for 1,000 years and the 1,500-year-old Basilica Cistern, famous for its Medusa heads and many Hollywood Blockbusters. Both attractions are located right next to each other in the Old Town on Sultanahmet Square. Meet your guide at Sultanahmet Square (Yeşil Evi) and head straight for the security check. Once inside, your guide will show you the most important features. Then, enjoy free time to explore at your own pace with your in-app audio guide. Begin your tour at either attraction. Your guide will help you get oriented and advise you of the best time to visit both attractions. With this Combo there are 2 different options: Option 1: If you book the 10 am timeslot, you can enjoy all tours in one day with the same tour guide in 3 hours. Option 2: Or you can spread the tours across two days, giving you the freedom to see things as and when you like.

Istanbul: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Small-Group Tour

5. Istanbul: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Small-Group Tour

Discover the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Hippodrome on a private or shared guided walking tour in Istanbul. Admire the historic architecture and unique views of the city. Get an insider perspective of these must-see sights. Meet your guide in the Sultanahmet neighborhood at an easy spot and check out Istanbul's greatest monuments on a walking tour. Start with the Blue Mosque, the most visited monument in Istanbul famous for its stunning blue tiles. Marvel at this imperial Ottoman Mosque, commissioned by Sultan Ahmet. Witness the evocative power and splendor of its past as you enjoy a comprehensive guided tour of the Blue Mosque. Afterward, enjoy the courtyard for breathtaking views of modern Istanbulites and take a stroll around the neighborhood. Walk through the Hippodrome, the social and political center of the city, and learn about the significance of the famous obelisks. Visit the Hagia Sophia and witness the most significant site of the Greek Orthodox religion in Istanbul and learn how it was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Explore the stunning monument with elements of a mosque and a church standing next to each other. Admire the basilica’s stunning dome and minarets, and countless mosaics, paintings, and Roman columns. Learn how the impressive İznik tiles were added over time in the Mosque, how the stunning Virgin Mary mosaic was made, and why the Ottomans chose to bury their sultans in the courtyard. Explore the Arasta Bazaar nestled right under the shadow of the Blue Mosque to understand 17th Century architecture of public buildings. It is a well-known but modest open-air market in the heart of Sultanahmet. Enjoy a last-minute tea break and hunt for gifts to take home. End your tour in Sultanahmet Square with enough information and hints to help you be independent for the rest of your time in Istanbul.

Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

6. Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Visit the Basilica Cistern, built in the 4th century and enlarged in 532 AD, used as water storage during Byzantine times. Listen to your guide as they explain the mystery of Medusa heads from Greek mythology. Explore this cathedral-size cistern, built during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in 532 A.D. to supply water to the Great Palace. It stores up to 80,000 cubic meters of water, delivered via 20 kilometers of aqueducts from a reservoir near the Black Sea. Descend the fifty-two stone steps into the entrance of the cistern. The cistern is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of 4 meters, coated with a waterproofing mortar. Hear how the Basilica Cistern's water comes from the Eğrikapı Water Distribution Center in the Belgrade Forest and travels through the 971-meter-long Valens Aqueduct and the 115-meter-long Mağlova Aqueduct, built by the Emperor Justinian.

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Basilica Cistern

7. Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Basilica Cistern

Enjoy hassle-free entrance to Istanbul’s top 3 attractions, the Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and Topkapı Palace with this guided tour. Skip the ticket lines (though security lines can’t be skipped) for fast entrance and make the most of your time. Get the most important information and tips from your tour guide. If you're not comfortable with English, take advantage of the audio guide app available in 7 different languages. Visit Hagia Sophia, the largest Christian church in the world for the past 1,000 years, before seeing the majestic Topkapı Palace, which was home to Ottoman Sultans for centuries. Next, visit the 1500-year-old Basilica underground water cistern, famous for its Medusa heads. See all the highlights of these landmarks with your licensed tour guide. Then, enjoy free time to explore more at your own pace with exciting stories and interesting information frrom your audio guide. With this tour, there are 2 options: Option 1: With the 10 AM timeslot, you can enjoy all tours in a single day with the same tour guide within 5 hours. Option 2: Spread the tours across 3 days, giving you the freedom to see the sites as and when you like.

Dolmabahce Palace Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket and Audio

8. Dolmabahce Palace Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket and Audio

Meet your guide at the main entrance of the Dolmbahce Palace, skip the long ticket lines and enter the world's most luxurious Palace the shortest way. Save up to 2 hours by not standing in the famous ticket lines. Follow your guide through a 10-minute tour inside the garden of Dolmbahce Palace. Learn about the highlights inside the Dolmabahce Palace and its famous Harem and find out where the best spots are to capture the most amazing pictures. Afterward, receive your audio guide so you can explore the inside of the Palace, Harem, and Painting Museum at your own pace. Spend the whole day inside or just have a quick glance at its impressive beauty. Gaze in awe at the palace's beautiful location on the Bosphorus and its more than $1.5 billion worth of luxury decoration.

Istanbul: Topkapi Palace & Harem Tour with Entry Ticket

9. Istanbul: Topkapi Palace & Harem Tour with Entry Ticket

Discover the Topkapi Palace on a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets. Learn about Ottoman history in the Palace and the life of Sultan's family in the harem. Explore the splendor of Topkapi Palace, the heart of the Ottoman Empire. Discover how the complex of buildings, pavilions, and courtyards was a self-contained city, which most inhabitants rarely left. Explore the outer-terraced gardens and admire the view over the Golden Horn. Immerse yourself in the heart of the great Ottoman Empire. Stroll through the palace, and imagine the ruling Sultans who lived in its hundreds of rooms with their vast families and countless servants. Visit the harem, ruled by the Queen Mother who wielded domestic and political power. The harem housed hundreds of women and family members as well as hundreds of eunuchs, who performed a wide range of duties. Take a moment to spot the cupboard doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell. Walk through the Harem is also the only way to see the very early, exceptionally-crafted Iznik tiles decorated with floral designs and verses from the Quran. The tour ends with a visit to the holy relics and the imperial kitchens.

Istanbul: Topkapi Palace Ticket, Tour, & Audio Guide

10. Istanbul: Topkapi Palace Ticket, Tour, & Audio Guide

Skip-the-line entry to the glorious Topkapi Palace of Istanbul. Explore the museum with a guide, then take the time to discover the treasures at your own pace with an audio guide. Learn all about the palace's opulent pavilions, jewel-filled Treasury, and sprawling Harem. Meet your guide in front of the museum and go directly to the entrance. Save 2 to 3 hours by skipping the line. If you choose the private option, purchase your ticket to the palace upon arrival. Following security checks, discover the council hall, arms and armory section, and holy relics with your guide. Learn about the palace's colorful history. Then, enjoy the palace at your own pace with an audio guide. Take a long coffee break while enjoying a spectacular view of the Bosphorus. You can see all of the palace in an hour, or you can choose to stay inside for several hours to explore fully at your leisure.

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Frequently asked questions about Istanbul Walking tours

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Other Sightseeing Options in Istanbul

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What people are saying about Istanbul

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 2,133 reviews

We met our knowledgeable and friendly tour guide Ilke Nur at the entrance to Topkapi Palace and after a short queue for security walked through the Topkapi Palace Gardens with views of the Bosphorus. Ilke spoke to us about the Hagia Irene and the palace on the way. Ilke collected our museum entrance tickets and explained that we can visit all of the three museums with this ticket, the archeological, the Asian or the tile. Ilke then spent a generous amount of time explaining the highlights of the museum at each particular exhibit focusing on the ground floor. She also mentioned that the ticket price includes the beautiful park opposite the museums. This is a great tour to find out more about the ancient history of Turkey and the museums and parks are in themselves beautiful places to visit.

everything was great and as expected, tour was very on time and we were able to skip the line. the explanations of our guide were spot on and she answered happily all our questions

Chetan was really nice and very informative I will highly recommend for my friends as well

Mustafa was very helpful with the recommendations and knowledgeable about the city.

Really knowledgeable guide, really good experience. Very much recommend.