Highlights
- Discover Istanbul’s historic Old City with a professional guide
- Admire Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace
- Explore the colorful heritage of Balat and Fener
- Enjoy a traditional lunch with one drink
- Cruise the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia
Description
Experience Istanbul’s history, culture, and waterfront beauty on a full-day guided tour of the city’s historic peninsula. This rich sightseeing experience brings together famous monuments, Ottoman architecture, spiritual landmarks, colorful neighborhoods, and views that reveal the many layers of Istanbul.
Explore the atmosphere of Sultanahmet Square, where the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace reflect centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman history. Your guide will explain Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace from the outside, helping you understand their importance without requiring entrance tickets. Free time is provided in Sultanahmet Square for guests who wish to enter Hagia Sophia independently. A fast-entry Hagia Sophia ticket can be purchased from the guide during the tour.
Discover the elegant Blue Mosque and admire the architecture of Suleymaniye Mosque, one of the city’s most impressive Ottoman landmarks. The experience also introduces you to Istanbul’s multicultural character through the colorful streets of Balat and Fener and important religious sites such as St. Stephen’s Church and St. George’s Cathedral.
Enjoy a traditional lunch with one drink, then complete the day with a relaxing Bosphorus cruise. Sail between Europe and Asia while admiring waterfront palaces, historic mansions, mosques, bridges, and fortresses from the water.
Choose the hotel transfer option for convenient pickup and drop-off, or join at the confirmed meeting point. Guests who prefer not to take the cruise may finish the sightseeing portion earlier, making the experience flexible for different travel plans.
Includes
Hotel pickup and drop-off if the transfer option is selected
Professional English-speaking tour guide
Shared air-conditioned transportation
Guided Old City sightseeing
Traditional lunch with one drink
Two-hour Bosphorus sightseeing cruise
All applicable taxes and service fees
Excludes
Hagia Sophia entrance ticket (available for an additional on-site fee)
Topkapi Palace entrance ticket
Additional food and drinks
Personal expenses
Tips and gratuities
Any optional services purchased during the tour
Important Information
- Entrance tickets to Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace are not included in either option.
Your guide will provide explanations of Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace from outside.
Free time is available in Sultanahmet Square for guests who wish to enter Hagia Sophia.
A fast-entry Hagia Sophia ticket can be purchased from the guide during the tour.
Lunch with one drink is included in both options.
Guests may skip the Bosphorus cruise.
Guests with the hotel transfer option who skip the cruise will be returned to their hotel.
Meeting-point guests who skip the cruise will finish the tour at Eminonu Square.
The itinerary may change due to traffic, closures, or local conditions.
Wear comfortable shoes and modest clothing for mosque visits.
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
