ISTANBUL BEST: Iconic Landmarks Full Day PRIVATE Guided City Tour
Overview
Discover Ottoman and Byzantine history on this private Istanbul city tour, perfect for cruise passengers, first-time visitors, and travelers with limited time seeking a deeper cultural experience.
Explore Istanbul’s Old City (Sultanahmet) with a private guide, visiting UNESCO World Heritage landmarks and the city’s most famous historical attractions.
Visit the Hippodrome of Constantinople and see the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpent Column, and German Fountain.
Enter the iconic Blue Mosque, renowned for its six minarets and Iznik tiles.
Admire Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site reflecting Byzantine and Ottoman history.
Tour Topkapi Palace, former residence of Ottoman sultans with Bosphorus views.
Descend into the Basilica Cistern, famous for its Medusa heads and featured in Inferno and James Bond’s From Russia with Love.
Conclude at the Grand Bazaar, with shopping opportunities for carpets, jewelry, leather, and bags.
A private tour designed for unforgettable memories.
What's Included
- Unique time to discover Turkish Handicrafts & Traditional Arts Gallery
- Guide will meet you at central Istanbul Hotels, Airbnb Locations or ISTANBUL CRUISE PORT GALATAPORT
- Guide will have fast track tickets, You will pay to guide for tickets to skil the lines
- Private Tour & Professional Guide
- Lunch and Gratuities (suggested)
- Transfer by AC Vehicle (Depends on option selected)
- Museums Entrance Fees
Meeting and Pickup
Tour guide will meet you at Istanbul Hotels, Airbnb Locations or ISTANBUL CRUISE PORT (GALATAPORT- Sali Pazari). there are 3 options:1) Private Guided tour : Guide will meet you at your hotel. Recommended to the Hotels in Sultanahmet Area, Cruise passengers and airbnb2) Private Guided tour with Transfers ( pick up and Drop off included) Recommended to Cruise passengers, European side Hotels and air bnb3) Private Guided tour with Full Day Vehicle. (spice market included) Recommended to The Hotels : The Peninsula, Four seasons Bosphorus, Kempinsky Ciragan, Mandarin, Conrad, Ritz-Carlton, Swiss, St.Regis, 6sense, The International, Hilton, Shangr-la, Raffles, Macka park, Asian side hotels and Cruise passengers.We COLLECT the all tourist from their places. If location is not centrally located, please contact the operator.
What To Expect
Book Online
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Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
1 hour Admission Ticket Free
Blue Mosque
30 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Hippodrome
30 minutes Admission Ticket Free
TopkapI Palace
2 hours Admission Ticket Free
Basilica Cistern
30 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Sultanahmet District
1 hour Admission Ticket Free
Grand Bazaar
2 hours Admission Ticket Free
Sultanahmet District (pass by)
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays can be replaced with alternatives.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays can be replaced with Spice Market.
- Ladies should bring scarf to cover heads
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- If the tour starts at 12:00, the duration of the tour is 6 hours.
- Period of Ramadan aid and sacrifice aid Grand baazar and spice market is closed
- Please note that the Grand Bazaar is closed every Sunday, as well as during the Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan Bayram) and Eid al-Adha (Sacrifice Bayram) holiday periods.
- Entrance fees will be paid in cash directly to your guide. Your guide will arrange fast-track access, allowing you to skip the line and enter without waiting in the regular ticket queue.
- Tour is mostly walking
Frequently Asked Questions (8)
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the ISTANBUL BEST: Iconic Landmarks Full Day PRIVATE Guided City Tour?
Cancellation Policy
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Activity code: C-147619P3
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Reviews
Average 4.95 out of 5 stars based on 1,663 traveler reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (8)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Balloon Tours customers.
Filter by:
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (+03).
- Unique time to discover Turkish Handicrafts & Traditional Arts Gallery.
- Guide will meet you at central Istanbul Hotels, Airbnb Locations or ISTANBUL CRUISE PORT GALATAPORT.
- Guide will have fast track tickets, You will pay to guide for tickets to skil the lines.
- Private Tour & Professional Guide.
- Lunch and Gratuities (suggested).
- Transfer by AC Vehicle (Depends on option selected).
- Museums Entrance Fees.
This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Apr 2025There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the ISTANBUL BEST: Iconic Landmarks Full Day PRIVATE Guided City Tour is as follows:
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for ISTANBUL BEST: Iconic Landmarks Full Day PRIVATE Guided City Tour will be included in your confirmation email from City Balloon Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.
Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.
If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.
Oct 2026What's Included
- Unique time to discover Turkish Handicrafts & Traditional Arts Gallery
- Guide will meet you at central Istanbul Hotels, Airbnb Locations or ISTANBUL CRUISE PORT GALATAPORT
- Guide will have fast track tickets, You will pay to guide for tickets to skil the lines
- Private Tour & Professional Guide
- Lunch and Gratuities (suggested)
- Transfer by AC Vehicle (Depends on option selected)
- Museums Entrance Fees
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays can be replaced with alternatives.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays can be replaced with Spice Market.
- Ladies should bring scarf to cover heads
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- If the tour starts at 12:00, the duration of the tour is 6 hours.
- Period of Ramadan aid and sacrifice aid Grand baazar and spice market is closed
- Please note that the Grand Bazaar is closed every Sunday, as well as during the Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan Bayram) and Eid al-Adha (Sacrifice Bayram) holiday periods.
- Entrance fees will be paid in cash directly to your guide. Your guide will arrange fast-track access, allowing you to skip the line and enter without waiting in the regular ticket queue.
- Tour is mostly walking
