Istanbul Tour Classics You Can’t Miss

Private Istanbul Tour

Meet your private tour guide in your hotel or cruise port and start Istanbul Classics Tour with highlights of city;

Highlights of Topkapi Palace Museum; (Topkapi Sarayi) More than just an Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans, it was seat of Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for almost 400 years long. Topkapi Palace is a great monument of Oriental architecture which houses exhibits of art, calligraphy, jewels, plates, costumes, the Ottoman Empire Treasury, and Holy Relics of prophet Muhammad.

Byzantine Hippodrome / Sultanahmet Square; where chariot races were held in Roman Empire times, Egyptian Column from Byzantine Empire time. Today German Fountain is cornerstone of square.

Hagia Sophia (skip the line service is not available for active mosques – there is a queue for the entrance);  (Ayasofya, Santa Sofia) here ancient cultures of East and West speak to you with a yet clear voice. Great blend of Christian and Islamic influence with beautiful interior mosaics, impressive and significant history. Built in 6th century by Emperor Justinian, played a very important role in Christian and Islamic World. After Ottoman Empire’s conquest the bells, altar and vessels were removed. Many mosaics were plastered over to convert the church into mosque, then museum in 1934. In July 2020 it is converted into a mosque again and one of the best sites in every daily Istanbul tours.

Blue Mosque (skip the line service is not available for active mosques – there is a queue for the entrance); 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. The blue shade of 27.000 pieces Iznik quart tiles gives mosque a popular name and 6 towering minarets give its unique structure.  

Grand Bazaar; (Kapali Carsi) the largest and oldest covered market of world with over 4,000 shops. It was constructed in 15th century and became the commercial hub of trade between Asia & Europe. Curiosity will be most charming effect taking you to get lost in streets of bazaar in your Istanbul tour.

After completing your private Istanbul tour here, your private guide will accompany you on the way back to your hotel or Istanbul port.

FOR LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS AND LATE DEPARTURES! *As museums and some sites are closed around 17:30 pm, alternative sites of visit will be advised by guide during the trip. *Your guide meets you at central Istanbul hotels or Galata Port. If hotel is not centrally located, meeting point will be in front of the German Fountain, guide meets you with company logo. *If van service is not chosen, your guide picks you up at centrally located hotels on foot. *Please note that there will be an additional charge if your hotel is located outside of city center.

Please Note:

This trip can be operated as walking tour because sites of visit are near to each other. But if your hotel is not centrally located, booking private van is recommended from and back to your hotel.

If one of the mosques are not visited, Basilica Cistern will be visited as a replacement. On Fridays, Hagia Sophia or Blue Mosque will be visited from outside because of the worship.Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.

Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.

Blue Mosque is closed until 2 pm on Fridays.

Hagia Sophia entrance is restricted during praying time.

Children aged 7 and under are free of charge. Please make sure that you have passport copies of children as you have to verify their ages at museums for free tickets.

Annual Closing Dates of all museums and bazaars in Istanbul are as follows;

January 1 – New YearApril 9, 10 and 11, 2024  – Ramadan Celebrations (Eid Al Fitr 2024)

June 16, 17, 18 and 19, 2024  – Eid Celebrations (Eid AL Adha 2024)