The Best of Istanbul: Private Guided Istanbul Tours for 1, 2, or 3 Days

Sultanahmet District: District of Sultanahmet

Hippodrome: Hippodrome plaza / Atmeydan Hippodrome; where chariot races were held during the Roman Empire, the Egyptian Column during the Byzantine Empire, and the German Fountain nowadays are the key cornerstones of the Ottoman Empire’s plaza.

German Fountain: Alman eşmesi / Germa Fountain

Sultanahmet Square: Square Sultanahmet

Hagia Sophia Mosque: Ayasofya / Hagia Sophia Museum / Santa Sofia Emperor Justinian built it in the sixth century, and it played a significant role in the Christian and Islamic worlds. The bells, altar, iconoclastic, and sacrifice vessels were taken during the Ottoman takeover, and many of the mosaics were finally painted over to transform the church into a mosque, then a museum, and now a mosque for the second time. An Istanbul tour’s most essential stop is at Old City Istanbul / Constantinople. Please keep in mind that because it is no longer a museum, tour guides do not have preferential access. You may have to wait in the security line; to prevent lines, we recommend leaving by 8:30 or 9:00 a.m.

Blue Mosque: Sultanahmet Camii / Blue Mosque (TEMPORARILY CLOSED BETWEEN JANUARY 1 AND APRIL 1 ON 2023) The Blue Mosque, built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I of the Ottoman Empire, is a beautiful architectural masterpiece with incredibly exquisite proportions for a building of such immense scale.

Basilica Cistern: Byzantine Cistern; was a Byzantine Empire water storage facility that provided clean drinking water to city residents, particularly during sieges. You can visit Binbirdirek and Serefiye Cisterns by speaking with your tour guide on tour day. Please keep in mind that the Basilica Cistern is closed for repair until the end of 2022.

Topkapi Palace: Topkapi Saray / Topkapi Palace Museum It served as the headquarters of the Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for about 400 years, making it more than just an Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans. Topkapi Palace is a magnificent example of Oriental architecture that reflects the Ottoman Empire’s might.

Grand Bazaar: The Grand Bazaar / Kapal Arş One of the world’s largest and oldest covered marketplaces, with over 4,000 stores selling colorful ceramics, leather, rugs, carpets, handicrafts, clothing, silver, and gold.

Bosphorus Strait: Bosphorus Cruise via Public Ferry or Private Cruise (optional) Take the public boat for a Bosphorus Cruise to see both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul, as well as Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, the Rumeli Fortress, historic Ottoman palaces, Bosphorus bridges, and mosques. The Bosphorus will undoubtedly be one of your favorite Istanbul trip memories.

Dolmabahce Palace: Dolmabahce Saray / Dolmabahce Palace Elegance and beauty are enhanced by the most luxurious decorating, including chandeliers, carpets, crystals, and ceramic fireplaces. Beautiful mansion on the Bosphorus with exquisite furnishings, paintings, and porcelains built specifically for Dolmabahce.

Taksim Square: Taksim Meydan / Taksim Square A fantastic location that defines contemporary Turkey and has witnessed significant historical events. In Taxim, close to Istiklal Caddesi and Galata Tower, as well as embassies of European nations. Around Taksim, Cicek Passage contains excellent restaurants, cafés, boutiques, pubs, and nightclubs.

Istiklal Caddesi: Istiklal Street is Turkey’s modern and colorful face, with churches, modern art galleries, embassies, bars, cafés, and stores selling a variety of goods.

Cicek Pasaji: Cicek Passage / Flower Passage Originally titled Cite de Pera, a blended structure of traditional and contemporary building methods and architectural style by the Ottoman Empire is portrayed, and today we find little businesses and cafés here.

Galata Tower: We will see the tower from the outside; however, according to restrictions, tour guides do not have skip-the-line priority here, so we will have to wait in line for a long time. Your tour guide will explain the tower to you.

Misir Carsisi (Spice Market): Spice Market / Msr arşs Egyptian market is a colorful indoor market with many stores selling a variety of spices, handbags, flavored teas, Turkish pleasure, almonds, pottery, and other gifts. Spice Bazaar is located in Eminonu Square, which connects the Bosphorus and Golden Horn. We will visit the tower FROM THE OUTSIDE, however owing to restrictions, tour guides do not have to skip the line priority here, therefore the waiting will be long. Your tour guide will explain everything about the tower to you.

Historic Areas of Istanbul: Istanbul’s Historic Districts

Suleymaniye Mosque: The Suleymaniye Mosque / Süleymaniye Camii is Istanbul’s largest mosque and is equally stunning on the interior as it is on the outside. The Suleymaniye terrace, located in the garden behind the mosque, has beautiful views of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus.

Balat: Backstreet stroll in the Fener-Balat Neighborhood Continue your exploration of Istanbul’s rich religious heritage by visiting the Church of St. George. Since the 1600s, the cathedral has housed the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the spiritual authority of the Eastern Orthodox religion. Lines of drying clothes extend over steep, twisting streets in the Balat District. Ottoman mansions dating back centuries lie against each other in a rainbow of reds, blues, and greens. Along the lake, there are also art galleries and design boutiques.

Fener Rum Patrikhanesi: Patriarch of the Orthodox Church

Bulgarian Orthodox Church: St. Stephen Church; Located on the Golden Horn’s beach, the church is also known as the Iron Church since it was built completely of prefabricated cast iron in the 19th century.

Pierre Loti Tepesi: The Pierre Loti Hill and Cable Car are two of the most popular tourist attractions because they provide visitors with spectacular vistas. Take the cable car to the summit and take in the breathtaking landscape while sipping Turkish coffee or tea.

Rahmi M. Koc Museum: Rahmi Koc Museum is located in the northern portion of the Golden Horn. Here, we visit an industrial and cultural museum created by the famous Koc family, who have been the main power of the Turkish Republic in the industrial sphere since the early twentieth century.

Halic: The Golden Horn district is one of Constantinople’s oldest communities.