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Istanbul Bus & minivan tours

Our most recommended Istanbul Bus & minivan tours

Istanbul: 1-Day Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour with Commentary

1. Istanbul: 1-Day Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour with Commentary

Explore the beautiful city of Istanbul at your own pace with this hop-on-hop-off bus ticket including audio commentary in 8 languages. Your ticket is valid for 1 day and will let you spend more time discovering the highlights that most interest you. Jump aboard your double decker bus and enjoy a tour designed for those who want flexibility during their sightseeing exploration of Istanbul. With additional commentary from your audioguide, you will learn interesting facts about key sights whilst savoring delicious complimentary snacks on board. During the route you can stop at locations like Sultanahmet Square, Eminönü, Karaköy, Galataport, Dolmabahçe Palace, Naval Museum, Beylerbeyi Palace, Taksim Square, Beşiktaş Bazaar, Şişhane, and Egyptian Spice Bazaar.

Istanbul to Ephesus Private Day Trip

2. Istanbul to Ephesus Private Day Trip

Istanbul to Ephesus by flight to Izmir You will be picked up from your hotel in ISTANBUL the morning and transfer to Istanbul Airport IST or SAW for a morning flight to Izmir. ( Istanbul hotel pick up time, flight details will be emailed in your confirmation email ) After arriving in Izmir Airport, you will be met by your tour guide and driven to Ephesus (a 45-minute drive). Your tour will begin with a visit to the Artemission Temple, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Continuing to Ephesus, you will walk through history along the marble streets which are lined with wonderful public buildings. Among these buildings are the State Agora, Odeon, the Memnius Monument, the Temple of Domitian, the Polio Fountain, and Curetes Street. You will also encounter the Grand Theater which was built in the 3rd century B.C., before being later expanded to a 24,000 spectator arena by the Romans in the 1st century A.D. After Ephesus, lunch will be served in the garden of a local handicrafts center. Here you can see some of the traditional carpet weaving techniques used, and enjoy viewing some splendid displays of beautiful carpets. Following lunch, you will visit the House of Virgin Mary, located on the Aladag Mountains, 5 miles from Ephesus. At the third Ecumenical Council of 431 in Ephesus, it was claimed that Mary came to Ephesus with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived there until her death in 48 A.D. After the discovery of the house, the Archbishop of Izmir declared it a place of pilgrimage in 1892. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited this place and prayed here. Following this sacred place, you will drive back to to Izmir airport for your flight back to Istanbul. Once having landed at Istanbul you will be met by your representative and transferred back to your point of origin.

Istanbul: Bosphorus Cruise, Bus Tour, and Cable Car Ride

3. Istanbul: Bosphorus Cruise, Bus Tour, and Cable Car Ride

Explore Istanbul by land, sea, and air on this unique tour. Enjoy sights like the Eyup Sultan Mosque by bus, admire the city from the Bosphorus Strait on a scenic cruise, and take in the views from Pierre Loti Hill with a cable car ride.  Enjoy the convenience of being picked up from centrally-located hotels in Istanbul. Relax in an airconditioned bus on your way to the departure point for your cruise on the Bosphorus Strait. Hop aboard a comfortable ship and admire the city from the water. Take in unobstructed views of the Golden horn, the Topkapı palace, the Dolma Bahçe palace, the Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Maiden’s Tower, Galata Tower, the Blue mosque, and the Ortakoy mosque. Gaze out at the two bridges that connect Europe and Asia. Get back on the spacious bus and drive to the 19th century Eyup Sultan Mosque where Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (a friend to the Islamic prophet Muhammad) is thought to have been laid to rest. Pass by historical wooden houses, churches, synagogues, mosques and the remains of the Roman Wall. Drive up the Pierre Loti Hill to capture pictures of views of the city and the Golden horn. Enjoy the views on the way down with a thrilling cable car ride. Return to your hotel at the end of your tour.

Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out

4. Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out

Join this 7-hour pub crawl for a big night out in Istanbul if you’re looking for the best places to party and the craziest places in the city. Start out with a free welcome beer at the meeting point and then head to at least 3 of the top party spots, where your entrance is free! Act as the locals do and experience alternative venues that tourists have never heard of before. Gather your group of friends together, or head out into the night to meet new friends from around the world. The pub crawl ensures free and immediate entry to all locations visited. You’ll find this pub crawl to be different than many of the others, as the guide takes you to the most popular bars, clubs, and pubs in Istanbul.

Istanbul Highlights: Two Continents Half-Day Tour

5. Istanbul Highlights: Two Continents Half-Day Tour

Tell your friends you’ve been to Asia and Europe in one day by joining us on a guided tour of Istanbul’s most historic sites. Led by an expert guide, you’ll visit the impressive Dolmabahçe Palace, the official home of Ottoman Sultans. Built by two famous Ottoman architects, the palace houses a museum-worthy collection of European furniture, art and antiquities. Then it’s off to the Bosphorus Bridge, which straddles the narrow waterway that separates Europe and Asia. Once you’ve crossed the bridge it’s time to head to Camlica HIll, which offers dramatic, panoramic views of the city from almost 300 meters above sea level. Please note, on Mondays and Thursdays the palace is closed, so the tour will make three different stops: Eyüp Sultan Mosque and Tomb, Pierre Loti Coffee House and Miniatürk park.

Istanbul Private Guided Tour

6. Istanbul Private Guided Tour

Discover the highlights of Istanbul on a private full-day tour that takes in the major attractions. Begin with a walk through the lively streets of Turkey's largest city to visit the dramatic former basilica of the Hagia Sophia; a great architectural beauty and an important monument during the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Move on to the Blue Mosque, officially known as the Sultanahmet Mosque. It is the mosque's striking blue tiles that give it its more common name and make it one of Istanbul's most iconic attractions. Continue to Topkapi Palace, a relic of the glory days of the great Ottoman Empire. You will also visit the Hippodrome, the former circus built in 203 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus. See the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and the Constantine Column. You'll also get to check out the gazebo-like German Fountain of Wilhelm II, made from 8 marble columns. Finally, stop at the Grand Bazaar; one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with hundreds of small handcraft shops selling everything from handmade carpets to Turkish coffee.

Istanbul: 1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket and Scenic Cruise

7. Istanbul: 1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket and Scenic Cruise

Discover every corner of Istanbul with this unique sightseeing tour combination. Travel around the city on a hop-on hop-off bus tour with stops in both European and Asian parts of town. Navigate down the scenic Bosphorus Strait on a cruise and upgrade your experience with an insightful walking tour. Hop-on hop-off Bus Tour Travel aboard a double-decker bus and enjoy a hassle-free tour of Istanbul’s iconic landmarks and historical sites. Explore a looping route with 11 strategically placed stops close to must-see sights. Jump off at any of the stops or stay onboard for a relaxing ride through the vibrant streets. Pass by the famous Galata Bridge with fishermen lining the railing and Galata Tower soaring into the sky. Admire the view as you cross the legendary Bosphorus Bridge from Europe to Asia. The sightseeing route offers the following stops: 1. Sultanahmet 2. Eminönü 3. Karaköy 4. Galataport 5. Dolmabahce Palace 6. Istanbul Naval Museum 7. Beylerbeyi Palace 8. Beşiktaş Çarşısı 9. Taksim Square 10. Şişhane 11. Spice Bazaar 12. Sultanahmet Bosphorus cruise Step away from the hustle and bustle of the city and navigate past spectacular palaces, mosques, and mansions from different empires along both shores of the Strait. Start out in the Old City, then navigate along the European side until the second Bosphorus Bridge, then return along the Asian coast. See the city from a whole new perspective as you sail past historical landmarks like the Dolmabahce Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Ciragan Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, Rumeli Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace, Maiden Tower, and many more. Learn about the history and culture of Istanbul with the onboard audio guide. Optional walking tour Set foot on the Asian side of Istanbul by selecting the activity option with an included walking tour. Discover the famous local food market of Kadıköy, learn about Turkish food culture, and visit the backstreets of a local residential neighborhood.

Istanbul: Half-Day Imperial Morning Tour

8. Istanbul: Half-Day Imperial Morning Tour

Begin your tour of the Sultanahmet district, the heart of old Istanbul, at Hagia Sophia. Built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Emperor Justinian in the early 6th century A.D. and designed by Anthemius of Tralles and Isodore of Miletus, the church is one of the marvels of world architecture. Converted into a mosque in 1453, it is now a museum. Its massive dome still dominates the skyline of old Istanbul. It is also famed for its mosaics, including glittering portraits of emperors and empresses and a poignant Virgin and Child. Next, you will visit the Blue Mosque which takes its name from exquisite blue Iznik tiles adorning its interior. Built by Sultan Ahmet I in the early 17th century and designed by a pupil of Sinan, the greatest of Ottoman architects, it is the only imperial mosque with six minarets. Its courtyard is especially grand. The Hippodrome, the stadium of ancient Byzantium, held 100,000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire. Of these, an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture of three entwined serpents from Delphi survive. Finally, Brief Handicrafts Presentation & Lecture (Optional Attendance) next to the Grand Bazaar. Free time to explore Grand Bazaar on your own. The Grand Bazaar was the commercial heart of the old city and its 4,000 shops are full of treasures including carpets and kilims, silks, jewelry, ceramics, icons and leather goods. Wandering through the Grand Bazaar, indulge in some shopping, Ottoman style. Note: Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. On Sundays we visit Nuruosmaniye Street around Grand Bazaar since Grand Bazaar is closed.

Full-Day Walking Tour of Istanbul's Old City

9. Full-Day Walking Tour of Istanbul's Old City

The historic Old City in Istanbul is stunningly beautiful, and we can help you make the most of your visit with this full-day guided walking tour. Our professional local guide will take you through all the sights of the Old City, giving you valuable insight into the history of this fascinating place. The tour starts at the Hagia-Sophia Museum before you head to the world heritage monument. We will then walk to the Blue Mosque to see the glorious architecture of this historic building, which dates back to the early 1600s. Then it’s off to the Roman Hippodrome Square, where your tour will show you the Egyptian Obelisque, Roman Pillar, Greek Column and the German Fountain. Then it's off to a Roman Cistern. Afterwards, walk to the entrance gate of the world famous Grand Bazaar.

Istanbul Half-Day Historic Tour of Byzantium

10. Istanbul Half-Day Historic Tour of Byzantium

This 4-hour tour takes you back to the days when Istanbul was capital of the Byzantine Empire, a period of more than 1,000 years, from the 4th to the 15th-Century AD. You will start at the natural naval harbor of the Byzantines, named the Golden Horn due to its hornlike shape and golden reflection under sunshine when viewed from the hill tops. Visit the Patriarchate at Fener, the seat of Orthodox Christianity after Constantine The Great declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. Continue to the Church of Panagia of Blachernae, the best known and most celebrated shrine of the Holy Virgin, famed for its “Hagiasma” (holy water) and the “Hagion Lousma” (sacred bath). You will stop at St. Savior in Chora, now the Kariye Museum, but originally a Byzantine monastery with fantastic mosaics and frescoes that portray scenes from the bible. Next you will go to Anemas Dungeons, part of the Blachernae Palace and unique in the world for its architectural structure. Used as a prison for high ranking statesmen, it consisted of 14 separate dungeons, each with 2 basements below sea-level. Tour Tekfur Palace, built in the 12th-Century, adjacent to the city walls, and the only surviving pavilion of the Blachernae Palace. Finally you will see the remains of the 5th-Century Byzantine city walls, which surrounded the acropolis of Byzantium and were 13 miles (22 kilometers) long, with 96 towers and 9 main gates.

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What people are saying about Istanbul

Overall rating

4.2 / 5

based on 2,943 reviews

It was amazing, all the shows and the people envolve were very friendly and professional. 3h of a lot of fun and entertainment, from the DJs music to the dancers and the involvement with the public. The food was good, they also had vegetarian menu. Overall it was a incredible experience to see Istambul at night.

Excellent combo with a pleasant and professional guide! The only downside was the commercial break in a baklava shop where the sellers were cheeky and overly aggressive

Helpful and reliable service. Enjoy every minute of it and specially the learning opportunity it represents.

We should have got out much more often, despite the rain showers, but a nice tour.

It was a great experience, had good drinks, good dances, and met great people