Day trip

Istanbul: Small Group Skip-the-Line Luxury Day Tour

4.3 / 5

59 reviews

Activity provider: City Of Sultans
    Add to wishlist
    Day trip

    Istanbul: Small Group Skip-the-Line Luxury Day Tour

    Activity provider: City Of Sultans

    4.3

    59 reviews

    From US$ 89 per person

    Explore the best of Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman monuments on a 7-hour luxury sightseeing tour. Discover where East meets West at 5 top attractions, including the Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace, and learn more about the powerful empires.

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
    Reserve now & pay later
    Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
    Duration 7 hours
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Skip the ticket line
    Live tour guide
    English, Japanese
    Pickup included
    Pick-up from your hotel or cruise ship in Istanbul

    Experience

    Highlights
    • Explore the best of Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman monuments
    • Skip the long lines with pre-paid entry tickets
    • Admire the splendid architecture of the Hagia Sophia
    • Marvel at the blue Iznik tiles of the Blue Mosque
    • Go to the former residence of the Ottoman sultans
    Full description
    Discover the only city in the world on 2 continents - where east meets west - on a full-day sightseeing tour of Istanbul by luxury minibus. Following a pick-up from your hotel or cruise ship, visit the Hippodrome to explore the former center of sport and political activities in Constantinople. Marvel at the Obelisk from Egypt, Serpentine Column from Delphi, and fountain of Wilhelm II. Continue to the iconic Blue Mosque, known for its glorious blue Iznik tiles and 6 minarets. Admire the former imperial residence of the Ottoman sultans at Topkapi Palace, and learn how the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled. Today, the palace is a spectacular museum, with one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain, along with the famous treasury of the Royal Family. Next, go to the Hagia Sophia, a magnificent Byzantine Church that is considered one of the finest architectural works of art in the world. Stroll the alleys and warrens of the Grand Bazaar, and interact with the vendors selling their rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather, and souvenirs. Transfer back to your hotel or cruise ship for the end of the tour services.
    Includes
    • Transportation by luxury Mercedes minibus
    • English-speaking guide
    • All entrance tickets
    • Drinks
    Not suitable for
    • Pregnant women

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Important information

    Know before you go

    • Since Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays, tours on these days will visit the Nakkas little Cistern instead
    • The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia can't be visited during prayer times and special events. Some of the inner parts of the Blue Mosque are currently under renovation
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    4.3 /5

    based on 59 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      4.6/5
    • Transportation
      4/5
    • Service
      5/5
    • Organization
      5/5

    Sort by:

    Traveler type:

    Star rating:

    Overall, the Topkapi Palace tour was good. Disappointingly, we couldn’t see Hagia Sophia as the queues were very long (Saturday), and the Blue Mosque was temporarily closed. The guide was good and improvised, took us to a carpet museum. But the traffic was horrendous for hotel transfers (over 3 hours for a 7-hour tour - a very long day!)

    Read more

    March 26, 2023

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler – United Kingdom Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Baris was great! There was no question he couldn't answer. (He majored in history!) Travelers do need to know that even though a luxury van is mentioned, there is very little riding in the van. This is mostly a WALKING tour. It was a full day. I felt like I had been "everywhere" by the end of the day. Exhausted but in a good way and full of new knowledge.

    Read more

    March 26, 2023

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Our guide was very informative on the sites we visited but unfortunately some people don’t respect the times that you are given to see the sites and had a problem waiting for people .The food was average and I must say there is a bit of walking as you have to cover quite a bit of ground especially in the Palace

    March 26, 2023

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Product ID: 59221

    Top Attractions in Istanbul

    Things to Do in Istanbul

    Cities in Turkey

    Top destinations

    Popular on GetYourGuide

    Popular Attractions