Private Tour: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour including Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi P

Istanbul, Turkey

Take a hassle-free tour of Istanbul's most famous attractions with your own private guide to lead the way. You'll enjoy personalized attention on your private tour of magical Istanbul and its signature sights: the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.

On this tour you will visit the following historic sites:

Blue Mosque:
Just across from the Hippodrome, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) is a superb creation in the classical Ottoman style. The mosque has six towering minarets and 260 windows illuminating its vast main chamber, which is decorated with more than 20,000 Iznik tiles.

Hagia Sophia:
One of the finest and largest architectural works of art in the world, this former basilica and mosque is now the Saint Sophia Museum. Many historians have nominated it as the 8th wonder of the world. Take a moment to linger here to admire the fine Byzantine mosaics.

Topkapi Palace:
The largest and oldest palace in the world, Topkapi is the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire. With its treasury and exotic buildings overlooking the Golden Horn, your visit to Topkapi promises to be a truly fascinating experience.

Grand Bazaar:
In operation since the 14th century, the Grand Bazaar is one of the world's largest covered markets, with 58 streets and over 4,000 shops. The bazaar is specially known for its jewelry, leather, pottery, spices and carpets.

Please note: The Grand Bazaar is not open on Sundays and Hagia Sophia is not open on Mondays.

USD $81.25

Traveler Reviews

Review by: Gareth C	April 2012
Excellent day. Tour guide was patient and very informative. The day was set at our pace.

Review by: Gary A	December 2011
Our guide was terrific. He spoke good English and was very informative. We were well pleased.

Review by: Marilyn R	November 2011
I booked this tour so that I could have more input into how much walking I would have to do------and discovered that almost the whole thing was on foot!!!! I could have saved a lot by going on a group tour, as there were little or no variations given. The lunch was not acceptable to my family - being stuffed in a corner table that you literally could not get out of in a noisy room with absolutely NO view and food that was not very good did not help. The guide was a very nice knowledgeable man, but did not 'read' us right as to what we wanted from the tour ----- less lecturing for one thing since my husband and I had been to the sites several times before. I think that the extent of the walking needs to be made clearer, so that those of us who aren't able to walk as far will be better warned. Putting the lunch at the far end of Topkapi Palace ensures a very, very difficult walk, that must be taken in order to eat. Sorry, but I was very disappointed. Joyce Murray

Review by: Nancy K	October 2011
This private tour of Instanbul was the best tour my husband and I have ever been on. Our tour guide, Hatice Dogan, was incredible. She was extremely knowledgeable on all subjects, accommodating, friendly - in fact, everything you could wish for in a guide. This was a tour of a lifetime.

Review by: FREDERICK L	October 2011
What an enlightening experience!. My group of 8 would not have learned so much without our guide. He was wonderful and full of knowledge. Would recommend this tour to anyone going to Istanbul.

Review by: Cathleen M	October 2011
We enjoyed what we saw very much. Our Neon guide Sezen was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and the driver was very good. The lunch at Topkapi Palace was good. Our only disappointment was that the tour ended at 3pm and we thought that it was to end at 5pm.

Review by: Paul V	September 2011
excellent in every respect..

Review by: Richard B	September 2011
We were extremely disappointed in this tour- the tour guide showed up an hour and a half late - we spent at least thirty euro calling the tour office number- they kept telling us she would be there in ten minutes then it was twenty minutes then it was two minutes - turns out she was sent or went to the wrong hotel on the other side of the city - finally at ten thirty she shows up - no apology just it is what it is - since the hagia Sophia was closed on Monday - we assumed we would have extra time for perhaps the spice market which she did not offer or more time at the other venues - instead she takes us to a carpet store where she is kissy kissy with the owner and we are subjected to a high pressure sales pitch for almost an hour while she sits back and drinks coffee and visits with her rug friends - having escaped that we are then taken to the grand bazaar where we are "allowed" thirty minutes - really??? - it is then five o'clock when the tour would have been over if they had been on time so she says we are done - tour over - puts us on the bus- and she gets a taxi and leaves - so we were cheated out of an hour and a half - was taken where we did not want to go and spent alot of money using our phones to track them down.

Review by: Christine S W	September 2011
My husband and I were very disappointed with our "Private Istanbul Tour." Our guide arrived late, did not have a sign with our name on and asked us to wait for another couple she had to transport. We paid for a private tour and finally after waiting for 20 minutes, I insisted we begin our tour. She was on the phone constantly and had to give the van driver directions. She remarked she was not feeling well because she had her period. She looked like she had just gotten out of bed,was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans and had bad breath. What a waste of $312. I had booked a tour in Dubai earlier this year and loved it.

Review by: Tonya L	August 2011
Funda is absolutely the best (we called her 'Fabulous Funda'). She was ready for everything! We kept her hopping and she really delivered, showing us the most interesting and fun things about Istanbul in our one-day private tour. She's a PRO! Highly recommended.

Review by: Brian A	July 2011
Guide was very knowledgeable and spoke English well. We enjoyed the tour. Keeping the group small allowed us to hear everything the guide had to say.

Review by: Dennis C	July 2011
This was one of the besttours I have ever done thanks to the young lady that conducted the tour ,friendly,huge knowledge of her countries history, people, politics and religions.Unfortunately I have lost her name as she deserves to be acknowledged.

Review by: Robert R	July 2011
Excellent. Very knowledgeable guide with very good English. Good pace and variety of tour.

Review by: Balkis A	January 2011
Very efficient management of my changed dates.The guide was knowledgable and speaks good english but lacking in warmth and humour

Review by: Robert W	November 2010
Wonderful way to learn about and see these antiquities. All my questions answered promptly as I was alone and I saw things for only as long as I wanted to. Would recommend over a group tour. Interesting and knowledgeable guide, fluent English, discussed a lot about current politics, culture and religion.

Review by: Hans Ulrich H	October 2010
The 4 of us really enjoyed this tour. Our guide Mr Omar was very knowledgeable, polite, and flexible. The major sights are very popular/packed with larger tour groups, Being on a small private tour was of great advantage. Only negative point, was one stop at a " carpet making demonstration" which turned out to be a front for Carpet sales pitch. Overall however a good experience, and recommended.

Review by: MORAG H	October 2010
First of all i am Yvonne Cotton, not Morag H! We ahd a good private tour , my elderly mother was well cared for by the pleasant young and respectful guide. We went at oir own pace and saw every thing , if i could have made a suggestion to better this it would be that the vehicle was a saloon car and not a minibus as it took up a lot of space on the rad for only two people. Otherwise although not cheap for a day tour it was very good

Review by: Theodore F	October 2010
One of the best tours I have taken anywhere! Our guide was with us from the moment we left the ship and was full of insightful information on every aspect of Istanbul and all of the sights we visited. She spoke excellent English, was friendly and humorous and her passion and love for her country, her career and for other people was obvious. She knew all of the ins and outs of avoiding some of the ordinary and allowed us time and inspiration to view the extraordinary. I would recommend her (Hatice) to all.

Review by: Ken C	September 2010
Our tour guide, Touga, arrived on time was extremely professional. He was thorough in his explanations and took us to all the sites listed in the itinerary. We would definitely recommend him as a guide for Istanbul. And, as always, Viator provided first class service.

Review by: Anonymous	August 2010
Viator was easily accissible on-line and accommaded our olans and answered our questions promptly. We were delighted when the guide showed up on time to meet us at the cruise ship. The guide and bus driver were very knowledgeable and nice. We covered a lot ine one day as the guide was able to maximize our time. As the market was closed on Sunday, Viator and the guide accommodated our request to substitite a stop at the Spice Market.

Review by: Nancy K, Canada	July 2010
Very enjoyable.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	July 2010
Good guide which makes all the differance.

Review by: Andre A, Portugal	June 2010
Fabulous tour. The guide was awesome and his english perfect. I really recomend this private tour.

Review by: Spencer S, United States of America	May 2010
Our guide Ali was terrrific. Very knowledge and enjoyable.

Review by: John A, United States of America	May 2010
Guide was very good and her English excellent. The Grand Bazaar was closed which we knew about in advance. We substituted the Dolmebache Palace which may be what the tour should use as a suggestion.

Review by: Eileen F, United Kingdom	October 2009
Guide was excellent, her English was perfect and she was on time. With just my wife and myself it was easy to ask questions and to hear what she had to say.

Review by: Jennifer B, United States of America	July 2009
Our guide was excellent! He arrived promptly, and we walked the short distance to Sultan Ahmad Mosque, then the Hippodrome, Aya Sofya, lunch opposite the Spice Market, carpet shop, cistern, and finished at the Grand Bazaar. The guide was not only knowledgeable about the sites we visited, he knew their place in the greater scheme of history, which made the discussions very rich. He was fluent in history, archaeology, and English, and was fun to be with.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	June 2008
The guide was excellent, courteous, and friendly. I would book this again and would recommend to friends.

Review by: Cheryl W, United States of America	May 2008
Excellent guide, excellent tour. Stay in the old city for a real taste of history. Only watch out is to confirm that you are on a private tour--we booked one, but were linked with a lovely trio from Saskatchewan, Canada. Many thanks to Viator for our speedy refund!

Review by: Holly C, United States of America	January 2008
We had a wonderful guide.

Review by: James W, United States of America	January 2008
The guide was not as good as we expected or hoped.

Review by: Bill M, United States of America	November 2007
Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable, but spoke marginal English. This made the tour communications more difficult, and reduced our understanding of a great city and country.

Review by: Michael M, United States of America	October 2007
Very nice. I wish the places weren't so crowded, but that is definitely not your fault. The tour was great!

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	October 2007
Tour was fine, I wish our guide had spoken a little bit better English but he was very prepared. It was worth doing and we had a little flexibility in what we did and the time we spent at the sights.

Review by: Steve P, United States of America	October 2007
Watch out for the carpet salesmen that were given a free pass at the end of the tour to prey on unsuspecting tourists from the group. Not sure whether this was something the guide cooked up or the agency but it was also obvious money was changing hands.

Review by: Monica M	October 2007
Very nice. I wish the places weren't so crowded, but that is definitely not your fault. The tour was great!

Review by: Veronica H	October 2007
Watch out for the carpet salesmen that were given a free pass at the end of the tour to prey on unsuspecting tourists from the group. Not sure whether this was something the guide cooked up or the agency but it was also obvious money was changing hands.

Review by: Tunde R, Australia	May 2007
Our guide knew everything about the places we visited and their history. Simply amazing. I highly recommend it.

Review by: Anonymous, Germany	May 2007
Having a private guide was great. I highly recommend it for cities such as Istanbul, where there is much to see and loads of historical information. We were able to ask all of our questions as well as spend more time in areas where we were interested and less in those that were not a priority for our personal agenda. Having the driver waiting nearby was excellent in a city where traffic is comparable to Los Angeles.

Review by: Roderic B, United States of America	October 2006
It was very interesting and worthwhile, but we did not appreciate the 'hard sell' tactics at the carpet store and Grand Bazaar.