Home > Istanbul > Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour
USD $85.00
Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour
Istanbul, Turkey
This sightseeing tour of Istanbul provides the perfect introduction to the fabled city that spans Asia and Europe. On this shore excursion you will see how old meets new when you visit Istanbul's four "must-see" historic sites.
Formally called Constantinople, Istanbul was the capital of the Roman Empire and Europe's wealthiest metropolis, and is now the largest city in Turkey.
Blue Mosque: One of the most famous monuments in both the Turkish and Islamic worlds, 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: Now a museum, Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian, and was one of the largest basilicas in the Christian world. After the Ottoman conquest, it was converted to a mosque and is today one of the most magnificent museums in the world. Take a moment to linger here to admire the fine Byzantine mosaics. (closed on Mondays from October 20, 2015)
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. (closed on Tuesday)
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. (closed on Sunday additional time will be spent at the other locations)
Worry-free Shore Excursion: We will ensure your timely return to the Istanbul port for this activity. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of-call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.
This was a great tour. The guide met us at the ship and took us to all the highlights of Istanbul. He was very informative and was attentive to our questions and comfort. Lunch was nice and included. The grand bazaar was crowded and somewhat overwhelming but the items we bought were much cheaper there.
Review by: PEPPER, November 2017
wonderful tour,we saw so much in a day,would highly recommend this tour!
Review by: Tapan C, September 2017
A neat way to cover the highlights of the city in a short time. The guide expertly took us through the city through various attractions avoiding the famous traffic jam. The only downside was that she allotted too much time in a obligatory carpet shop. We negotiated a shorter time there and visited a market instead.
Review by: Bruce K, November 2016
Knowledgeable guide. Great experience
Review by: eemasden, July 2016
Wonderful tour. Omar was very professional and knowledgeable. He was aware when we needed a break. The sites were wonderful. I found the sites to be peaceful and inspiring.
Review by: joden, June 2016
The pick up from the port was simple. Ugur, our tour guide was a lovely young man who bent over backwards to make our tour exceptional. He included a visit to the Cisterns because we would not get to the Grand Bazaar as we needed to make it back to the ship on time. He also made sure we were picked up by one of their staff in plenty of time. Love Istanbul and the people were so lovely too.
Review by: gracesh.or, January 2016
Our tour guide was good and very knowledgeable with cleared explanation. The only comment I like to put was taken too long at the carpet demonstration ended up not enough time at the Great _br/_ Bazaar, we only stopped at the Turkish delight candy store, everywhere else was just fast pasted passing through.
Review by: Bre, December 2015
This tour could have been more enjoyable, if the tour guide was more attentive.
Review by: Stephan K B, December 2015
So disappointed. Entire group agreed and advised guide our prime interest was the Blue Mosque. We didn and #39;t see it! Also didn and #39;t see the last ruin, he advised it just wasn and #39;t worth it. Lines very long at palace, and our advance tickets did nothing. He stopped every time anyone wanted a potty break,
Review by: Alan R, November 2015
An enjoyable day to visit all the main attractions guide was very knowledgeable.
Review by: Arthur W, November 2015
Guide was most helpful under adverse weather conditions and, in general, did an excellent job.
Review by: Maria E G, November 2015
Good, nice and the guide was very informative.
Review by: Patrick T, November 2015
Excellent tour... excellent guide!
Review by: J M L, October 2015
I really enjoyed this day and found it interesting and informative. I would have preferred to know in advance how much walking was involved.
Review by: Judith C, October 2015
Plusses and minuses... Istanbul is a very old city and walking conditions are rough... lots of stairs, and broken tiles. It was very hard to keep up with the leader, and once we caught up with her and the rest of the group... she would move on right away. This despite being made aware that we were having trouble. The included parts of the tour were the usual high points, and our guide was very knowledgable and informative. The included lunch was delicious and in a nice restaurant with lots of stairs, of course! I was very disappointed to be forced into another carpet sales shop and we were a captive audience. We paid for the tour and not a strong-arm commercial message.
Review by: cb.lindstedt, October 2015
Picked us up at hotel..Good guide..Wonderful lunch and more sights seen than my previous tour years ago. Only problem, a couple of members of our group stayed way too long in the spice bazaar.. Carol and Anne-Marie Lindstedt
Review by: lil, October 2015
We had a great time. The tour guide was excellent and she explained in details the history of all the places we went. Very informative and interesting tour. The tour Cie was also very accommodating as after the tour ended the driver dropped us off at the airport for our flight. Of course we paid extra for that but it was so easy and convenient. _br/_ Leila
Review by: Jacqueline J, October 2015
The tour guide did a good job, but if he had audio and head phones, it would have been much better.
Review by: aglag, September 2015
It was great! The only issue was that this tour contrary to its name Shore Excursion, was not meant for those in a cruise line just spending the day in Istanbul. We had to leave the tour on our own and get back to the ship in order to be onboard by the time the ship sailed away. It is the perfect tour for those staying in town for a couple of days. It manages to go to a lot of the main attractions in only one day.
Review by: David C, September 2015
This was an excellent tour with an excellent guide. It may have been the highlight og our three week trip.
Review by: W. H. D, September 2015
This was an excellent tour. Our guide, Hakan Adagume, provided very detailed and interesting historical information at each of the sights we visited. In addition he had a great sense of humor that made the tour even more enjoyable. The lunch of typical Turkish food was very good as well. The carpet demonstration at a private shop provided a comfortable and informative interlude. _br/_ A suggestion for the future would be to incorporate a brief cruise up the Bosphorus as part of the tour. I would have preferred that to the carpet demo.
Review by: Alicia M, September 2015
Very nice tour, we really enjoy it. The guide was very informative , is so nice being able to skip the long lines to buy the tickets._br/_ Good experience whit Viator!!!
Review by: KsSunshine, September 2015
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable! This was on the first day of Ramadan, so he rearranged our tour order so we could enter the Blue Mosque which was very appreciated. I would highly recommend this tour. The only bump was that the tour we were assigned to actually left early without anyone from our ship. We were among the first off. However, a quick phone call and we were on the same tour but with this tour guide. Everything was planned well!
Review by: Pamela G, September 2015
What an amazing city and our guide was fantastic. So much to see and she was so knowledgeable it made the whole trip for us. Our favourite place.
Review by: Alison A, September 2015
Perfect day, very competent guide and delicious lunch
Review by: Donald M, August 2015
Our tour in Istanbul was wonderful. Our guide took us first to the Grand Bazaar in the morning which meant we could explore without the large crowds later in the day. Our guide knew a lot of the history which was good because he did not n a lot of names but gave us straight history. He was was outstanding. Another ships passenger who were to be part of the group, did not arrive so there were just four of us and it was a private tour. The Blue Mosque is magnificent, the palace, its history and cultural told us so much that we would use the same Viator tour again. Highly recommend it.
Review by: Evan W, August 2015
Our guide was very knowledgeable and flexible with the schedule so that we minimized our time in line and maximized the sightseeing. Lunch was at a good restaurant down an alley with authentic turkish food. I wish I had more than 1 day to see this great city!
Review by: Regina K, August 2015
It was a wonderful tour! Exhausting and hot, but the girl who led our group was flexible and tried to get us in _br/_
everywhere we asked her. She even bought us baklava at the end of the tour! Five stars for........I wish I could remember her name but you probably know already. Anyway, it was the tour on Sat. July 25!
Review by: ALFONSO B, August 2015
Excellent representation, great support.
Review by: Judith W, August 2015
Fantastic tour, very well organised with an excellent guide
Review by: martusiiiak, August 2015
Our tour guide for this excursion was Gokhan. He was very friendly and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the tour very much except for the part where we were cheated out of our money in the restaurant we went to for the dinner. We were aware that dinner was included but the drinks/beverages were on us. The waiter charged us 38 Euro for two cans of soda. My boyfriend gave him 50 Euro and he gave us about four Euro back in Lira. We sat at a table with several other people and it would be impolite to start arguing with him over the bill. After the dinner our guide whispered something in the waiters ear and asked us if everything is okay. It is a shame our tour ended this way. We would recommend this tour, but advise everyone to be careful with their money because people will find ways to make you pay more for something that is worth pennies.
Review by: Brian B, August 2015
Gullay Gunay was our tour guide and was excellent! She moved us around to where the queues were the smallest and even added in the tour of the ancient cisterns!
Review by: Momx2b, August 2015
This tour was not what I expected and I looked at several. I specifically did not go on a shore excursion with the cruise because I did not want to go to a rug demonstration nor did I want to look at rugs. Little did I know that this was what Hakan had planned for the end of our day. We got to spend a grand total of 45 minutes at the Grand Bazaar and he told us not to buy anything there. This amount of time didn't even scratch the surface of being able to experience the Grand Bazaar. Very disappointing. _br/_ We were allowed 30 minutes at the Topkapi palace - which wouldn't even allow time to make it through one line into a building. _br/_ Lunch was average. The Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque were very interesting - but these were quick - which was fine for thee two places. I thought we were suppose to see the Basilica Cistern, but instead we went to a rug demo and presentation for an 1.5 hours - the most time anywhere - where there also happens to be a cistern in the basement. _br/_ Don't waste your time or money with this local tour operator. They are not flexible nor willing to accommodate the group in regards to how they would like to spend their day.
Review by: Garrick S, July 2015
Myself and my wife thoroughly enjoyed the tour. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and took us to the main sites in old Istanbul. An even bigger bonus was that it was just the two of us, you cant ask for more than that!
Review by: D M M, July 2015
Fantastic. Our guide Guly was wonderful. Very informative, charming, friendly and funny. She ensured we got to see everything on the tour plus more. Gave us all fantastic advice. Made the tour. Was a small group so private attention given to us all
Review by: Barry B, July 2015
Knowledgeable guide took us to all the major spots and provided lots of local interest._br/_
Be prepared for dress requirements to get into Blue Mosque - very strict.
Review by: Thomas S, July 2015
This was a very comprehensive, informative, and enjoyable tour. Our guide Cheran I believe was waiting for us as we came off our ship. She handled a mixed crowd, youngest being 7, with great grace and style, enlisting the 7 yr. old to be her helper. We visited Topkapi Palace, Haggia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar, with a stop at a carpet dealer thrown in. Lunch was included as well, good food and several choices. All in all it was a great way to visit a city new to us, and to capture some highlights.
Review by: michelle.berg132, July 2015
Best way to try to see everything in one day. Lunch included at Omar Cafe choice of meat or vegan/vegetarian, drinks cost extra. No high pressure carpet sales pitch at the end, like some other tours.
Review by: Angela B, July 2015
Our tour guide was really knowledgeable and made our excursion and visit to Istanbul very enjoyable and fun!!
Review by: Donna C, July 2015
Our guide, Gulia, was absolutely fantastic, so informative from the minute she collected us from the cruise port. We were a small group of 8 on a minibus which was a great number-everyone feeling included and given the opportunity to ask any questions throughout the day. She have us the option to visit the cistern when we all said that we would like to go even though it was. It on the original schedule. all in all it was a fantastic day.
Review by: Christopher J, July 2015
Visited the major sites, but thought we were going to see the large Underground Cistern which we did not. Our guide was knowledgeable and helpful, but needed a high sign or umbrella to be followed more easily.
Review by: John J, June 2015
Nice small tour group . There were 12 to start but we lost an older couple after some long hot walking and lost a few more who didn't want to go to the rug demonstration which was really quite interesting and not pushy at all. Traffic can be really crazy by the port so be prepared . Well worth the price .
Review by: Ian H, June 2015
See my review of Kusadasi Private half day Tour. It seems nothing changes. Tour guide gets 5 stars administration gets 0 stars. Having had to wait an hour two days previously because the agent had messed up on pick up times for a private tour this time the tour guide was waiting in the wrong port for us. The implication was that because our ship had docked in a different place than usual that it was our fault ! Really poor start again but rectified by a fantastic tour of all the highlights and more with great commentary throughout. A small group of 8 ensured full attention from the guide throughout.
Review by: Goncalo M, June 2015
Your tour Guide in Istanbul Mr. UGRU was very good !!! We only had a few hours to visit the monuments and he made all the efforts so that we could saw everthing.
Review by: Cruzincat, June 2015
We were not expecting so much walking. Tour guide was very good, but too much time lost because of others of the tour. Luggage issues. We had to make a trip to their hotel, because it wouldn't fit the vehicle and wait while they got the luggage from ship, as well.
Review by: hanah s, June 2015
the tour lasted only 6 hours instead of close to 8 hours advertises. In Topkapi palace we were given only 45 minutes to view exhibits and the Harem was NOT included at all. too bad for us. INSTEAD we had to visit a carpet education place.
Review by: scubio, June 2015
I would give this tour a 10
Review by: Crystal B, June 2015
An amazing tour that included everything you want to see in Istanbul. Gokhan, our guide, spoke perfect English and gave us wonderful information about the places we visited. He picked us up from the ship with a van that looked like a limo. There were only 6 of us on the tour. The lunch was delicious. I definately recommend this tour over the ship's tour.
Review by: Lauren C, June 2015
Metmet was an excellent guide - full of information and stories about Turkey and Istanbul. We got to see a lot in spite of big crowds. Recommend to all!
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