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Istanbul · Turkey
2-Day Private Istanbul Highlights Tour: Old City, Bosphorus & Bazaars
Starting From
From $106.12 per person
Current Project Expedition rate
Experience inventory, live availability and secure booking provided by
Project Expedition
The Experience
What your day looks like
Prepare to be awed by Istanbul’s magnificent architecture, rich history, and eclectic bazaars as you discover the unmissable highlights of the Old City on this 2 -day private tour. Marvel over the glorious Hagia Sophia, learn how the Blue Mosque earned its famous nickname, and see the ancient Basilica Cistern. Tour Topkapi Palace to gain an insight into the lavish lifestyles of the Ottoman sultans and their harem, and browse the legendary Grand Bazaar, where you find everything from carpets to Turkish delight. Flexible daily itineraries: Day 1 - Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome Square, German Fountain, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar. Day 2 - Bosphorus Cruise by Public Ferry, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, Galata Tower (from outside), Spice Market.
At a Glance
The experience, in brief
- See Hagia Sophia, a great blend of Christian and Islamic influence
- Visit Hippodrome; where the chariot races were held in the Roman Empire times
- Visit the majestic Blue Mosque, a magnificent masterpiece of architecture
- Visit the Grand Bazaar; One of the largest and oldest covered markets
- See Topkapi Palace, an Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans
- Spice Market, a colorful indoor bazaar and has lots of shops offering a variety of spices
- Take the public ferry for Bosphorus Cruise, see both Istanbul’s European and Asian sides
- Dolmabahce Palace; Elegance and beauty with the most luxurious decoration
- Taksim Square and Istiklal Street, a great place defining modern Turkey
Your Itinerary
Your day, step by step
Day 1
Istanbul
Meet your tour guide in your hotel or port and start the tour with the highlights of Istanbul.
Continued
Istanbul
Local Flavor at Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia; Built in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian, played a very important role in the Christian and Islamic World. After the Ottoman conquest the bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and many of the mosaics were eventually plastered over to convert the church into a mosque.
Continued
Istanbul
Sightseeing at Hippodrome Of Constantinople. Hippodrome; where the chariot races were held in the Roman Empire times.
Continued
Istanbul
Sightseeing at Blue Mosque, Istanbul. Blue Mosque; Built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I, Blue Mosque is truly a magnificent masterpiece of architecture with amazingly delicate proportions for a building of such massive scale.
Continued
Istanbul
Local Flavor at Grand Bazaar, Istanbul. Grand Bazaar; One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with over 4,000 shops.
Continued
Istanbul
Sightseeing at Topkapı Palace. Topkapi Palace; More than just an Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans, it was the seat of the Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for almost 400 years long. Topkapi Palace is a great monument of Oriental architecture.
Day 2
Istanbul
Local Flavor at Spice Bazaar. Spice Market is a colorful indoor bazaar and has lots of shops offering a variety of spices, purses, flavored teas, Turkish delight, nuts, as well as ceramics and small souvenirs.
Continued
Istanbul
Local Flavor at Galata Tower. Take the public ferry for Bosphorus Cruise to see both Istanbul’s European and Asian sides, Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, the Rumelian Fortress, old Ottoman villas, Bosphorus bridges, mosques.
Continued
Istanbul
Sightseeing at Dolmabahçe Palace. Dolmabahce Palace; Elegance and beauty with the most luxury decoration, chandeliers, rugs, crystals, ceramic fireplaces. Beautiful palace, right on the Bosphorus with gorgeous furnishings, paintings, porcelains.
Continued
Istanbul
Sightseeing at Taksim Square. Taksim Square; A great place defining modern Turkey. Close to Istiklal Street and Galata Tower. Has very good food joints, cafes, shops, bars, night clubs around. Istiklal Street is the crossroad of cultures that creates Istanbul and the culture with mosques, churches and synagogues next to each other.
Before You Go
What to know before booking
Included
Private Tour Officially Licensed Tour Guide
Not Included
Museum/Attraction Tickets Transportation (unless option booked) Lunch and Drinks Gratitudes (recommended)
Restrictions
Children aged 7 and under are free of charge. Please make sure that you have passport copies of children as we have to verify their ages at museums for free tickets.
Meeting & Pickup
Meet your tour guide in your hotel or port. The tour ending point is same with departure point.
Planning Notes
Hotel pickup offered: Yes Confirmation: Manual By Business
Traveler Impressions
What travelers are saying
2025-11-02
4.00 / 5
Our guide was wonderful and very patient with us. He took us to his favorite spots. He asked us us what we were interested in seeing and took us to locations that were very local as far as restaurants and trustworthy as far as shopping. He told us what to look for and what to look out for in the bazaar. He was very knowledgeable with the history. The only negative was that it would have been more helpful if we had earbuds or if he had a microphone.
2024-10-23
5.00 / 5
The sights and food were amazing. The tour guide was the best. Hakan treated us like family. Of all the guides and all the tours (5),, Istanbul and Hakan , I would rate at an 11!
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