Istanbul · CITY TOURS
40 reviewed
Below are the 15 best city tours in Istanbul right now. Each entry lays out what it costs, how long it takes, and the kind of traveller it suits. Start at number one; it is there for a reason.
A private Turkish hamam in Istanbul’s Old City with scrub, foam massage, steam, sauna, and optional massage. $53, about 50–125 min.
“Everything was perfect from start to finish I would recommend a 100%, the staff was also really kind! think to bring your swimsuit if you are not comfortable naked!”
Private Istanbul full day: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar with English guide and pickup.
“We were blessed with a fantastic guide, Yasar, who made this tour memorable. Yasar’s thoughtfulness and kindness helped my family and me overcome harsh weather (cold and rain) and jetlag. We covered all the iconic landmarks of Istanbul, and Yasar brought them to life by providing the historical context. Yasar adjusted the tour to accommodate our needs and even got us reservations for the Dervish SEMA ceremony later in the evening.”
8 hours of Istanbul’s icons with transfers and a licensed guide. Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar.
“I was worried seeing the negative reviews & some days guides not showing up. I contacted GYG to see if the tour operator had responded to them about today’s tour. GYG agent said please wait patiently you still have half an hour before the tour. Just after that our wonderful guide(SHABAN) messaged me and said will be coming to the hotel reception in half an hour, he was there when we went down to the hotel reception. It was a walking tour & we used the tram which was close to our hotel and arguably the best decision to get to sultanhment square, where all the attractions were. Shaban our…”
7-hour private Istanbul highlights tour with a guide: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar.
“Great day with Samet our tour guide so knowledgeable. Great history of Istanbul. Loved all of it. Samet is the best tour guide highly recommended”
Tailor your Istanbul days 1–3 with a licensed private guide, skip-the-line entry, and key Byzantine and Ottoman highlights.
“Our guide, Gulsen, was marvellous. Knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and assisted us greatly during our trip, making it a memorable experience.”
Half-day Istanbul highlights with guided Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome ruins, and Grand Bazaar shopping for $41 in 4 hours.
“Small group with a knowledgeable and professional guide who have just the right amount of history and information without it being overwhelming”
A guided boat day from Istanbul’s Old City to the Princes Islands, with views of Galata Bridge, Maiden’s Tower, and Topkapi.
“I had booked this tour but I couldn't catch up as i was late. But the communication was very good. Easy to contact with operator. He gave me the option to travel next day but i couldn't. So i got the full refund.”
Turkish hammam in Istanbul’s Old City with sauna, steam, kese scrub, bubble wash and foaming. Choose public, private, or VIP.
“This was the most relaxing wonderful way to end our vacation. my muscles feel loose, my skin feels soft and baby smooth, and i just feel so relaxed and at ease. excellent first Hammam experience, i can't wait to come back!”
Private 1–3 day Istanbul tour with multilingual guides covering Hagia Sophia, Topkapi, Blue Mosque, Bosphorus, Dolmabahce, and Fener-Balat.
“Ozi was great. Lots of great stories. Met and sometimes exceeded my expectations”
Private Istanbul highlights in 5–7 hours: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi, and Grand Bazaar with pickup.
“Sema, our guide , was very knowledgeable and informative. She got us to the front of lines and was flexible about our interests and schedule.”
24/7 private Istanbul airport-to-hotel transfer with meet-and-greet, air-conditioned roomy van, and door-to-door ease from $90 pp.
“Our tour operator and driver were great, they negotiated the huge traffic jams at the time so we made all deadlines on time.”
Private Istanbul tour for up to 8: Topkapi, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, bazaars, Bosphorus, and neighborhoods, tailored to your pace.
“Rose our tour guide was perfect. She had so much information and fun to be with. Want to come back and see her again.”
A guided full-day Istanbul highlights loop of Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet, and the Grand Bazaar with lunch.
“Great tour and tour guide. It is a lot of walking, which it doesn’t say (no bus at all) but I really enjoyed learning about the mosques and palace. The lunch was great and we even got an education on rugs.”
Full-day Istanbul tour across two continents with lunch, Camlica views, Beylerbeyi Palace, Eyüp Mosque, Pierre Loti hill, and a Bosporus cruise.
“It was a wonderful tour, the guides were very experienced. We visited many different regions. Lunch was delicious. At the end of the tour, we took a boat trip and watched Istanbul under magical lights. After the tour, they dropped us back at our hotel.”
Private IST transfer with onboard Wi-Fi and bottled water. Easy Peron 13 pickup, direct rides to Beyoğlu, Şişli, Fatih, and more.
“We were met in Istanbul airport with a polite representative and taken to our van. The driver gave us a wild ride, abruptly braking or accelerating and weaving in and out of traffic. We were both feeling carsick and couldn’t relax at all. The driver seemed intent on driving fast with no regard for passenger comfort.”
