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IstanbulWalking tours

Our most recommended Istanbul Walking tours

Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Tour and Skip The Line with Guide

1. Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Tour and Skip The Line with Guide

Discover the Basilica Cistern under the streets of Istanbul on a guided tour. Be amazed by the stunning architecture of the cistern during the tour and gaze at the Medusa Heads. Skip-the-line and avoid the long queue, as you follow your guide through history. Meet your guide in front of the exit gate of the Basilica Cistern and enter together. Skip the long lines and enjoy a highlights tour and learn interesting facts about the water cistern with an audio guide. Marvel at the engineering of the cistern while hearing the history with a downloadable audio guide. After your guided tour, stay and explore the building at your own pace. 

Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern & Hagia Sophia Tour

2. Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern & Hagia Sophia Tour

Enjoy stress-free sightseeing and total flexibility with this combination tour of Istanbul. Decide the best time for you to visit each attraction across 2 days, skip the long lines at the Basilica Cistern, and learn about the fascinating history of the Blue Mosque. Visit the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and Hagia Sophia by choosing from multiple daily departure times. Meet your guide in the heart of the Old City and start your tour at the best time for you. 60-Minute Blue Mosque Tour: Daily except Tuesdays at 11:00 A.M. or 1:45 P.M. (Fridays only at 2:30 P.M.) Journey back in time in the courtyards ot the Blue Mosque. Then, step inside and admire the architecture and the famous blue Iznik tiles. As you explore, learn about Byzantine and Ottoman heritage, Islam, and Istanbul's rich history from your guide. After the tour, you can stay as long as you want. 30-Minute Basilica Cistern Tour: Daily tours at 10:00 A.M., 11:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 1:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M., 3:00 P.M., 4:00 P.M., and 5:00 P.M. Skip the long ticket lines with your guide and discover the Basilica Cistern beneath the streets of Istanbul. Wander through the ancient cistern and admire the architecture and Medusa heads from Greek mythology. Stay inside as long as you wish after the tour finishes. 60-Minute Hagia Sophia Tour: Daily except Tuesdays at 10:00 A.M., 2:00 P.M., and 3:15 P.M (Fridays only at 2:00 P.M. and 3:15 P.M.) Discover fascinating facts about this 1,500-year-old landmark as you explore with your guide. Get a closer look at the massive dome, beautiful mosaics, and the wishing column. After your tour, stay as long as you want to test the wishing column. Important Information: During high season the security check waiting time for Hagia Sophia is around 60 minutes and at Blue Mosque 45 minutes.

Istanbul: Topkapi Palace & Harem Tour with Entry Ticket

3. Istanbul: Topkapi Palace & Harem Tour with Entry Ticket

Discover the Topkapi Palace on a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets. Learn about Ottoman history in the Palace and the life of Sultan's family in the harem. Explore the splendor of Topkapi Palace, the heart of the Ottoman Empire. Discover how the complex of buildings, pavilions, and courtyards was a self-contained city, which most inhabitants rarely left. Explore the outer-terraced gardens and admire the view over the Golden Horn. Immerse yourself in the heart of the great Ottoman Empire. Stroll through the palace, and imagine the ruling Sultans who lived in its hundreds of rooms with their vast families and countless servants. Visit the harem, ruled by the Queen Mother who wielded domestic and political power. The harem housed hundreds of women and family members as well as hundreds of eunuchs, who performed a wide range of duties. Take a moment to spot the cupboard doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell. Walk through the Harem is also the only way to see the very early, exceptionally-crafted Iznik tiles decorated with floral designs and verses from the Quran. The tour ends with a visit to the holy relics and the imperial kitchens.

Istanbul: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Small-Group Tour

4. Istanbul: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Small-Group Tour

Discover the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Hippodrome on a private or shared guided walking tour in Istanbul. Admire the historic architecture and unique views of the city. Get an insider perspective of these must-see sights. Meet your guide in the Sultanahmet neighborhood at an easy spot and check out Istanbul's greatest monuments on a walking tour. Start with the Blue Mosque, the most visited monument in Istanbul famous for its stunning blue tiles. Marvel at this imperial Ottoman Mosque, commissioned by Sultan Ahmet. Witness the evocative power and splendor of its past as you enjoy a comprehensive guided tour of the Blue Mosque. Afterward, enjoy the courtyard for breathtaking views of modern Istanbulites and take a stroll around the neighborhood. Walk through the Hippodrome, the social and political center of the city, and learn about the significance of the famous obelisks. Visit the Hagia Sophia and witness the most significant site of the Greek Orthodox religion in Istanbul and learn how it was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Explore the stunning monument with elements of a mosque and a church standing next to each other. Admire the basilica’s stunning dome and minarets, and countless mosaics, paintings, and Roman columns. Learn how the impressive İznik tiles were added over time in the Mosque, how the stunning Virgin Mary mosaic was made, and why the Ottomans chose to bury their sultans in the courtyard. Explore the Arasta Bazaar nestled right under the shadow of the Blue Mosque to understand 17th Century architecture of public buildings. It is a well-known but modest open-air market in the heart of Sultanahmet. Enjoy a last-minute tea break and hunt for gifts to take home. End your tour in Sultanahmet Square with enough information and hints to help you be independent for the rest of your time in Istanbul.

İstanbul: Topkapi Palace & Harem Tour with Historian Guide

5. İstanbul: Topkapi Palace & Harem Tour with Historian Guide

Learn all about Istanbul’s Ottoman heritage, and visit one of the city’s top landmarks, on this small-group tour of the Topkapi Palace and the Harem chambers. Avoid the queues with fast track entry and explore the sprawling 15th Century palace and its expansive museum with an expert guide. Explore the extensive complex that winds down towards the Bosphorus. The palace itself is a balance of huge courtyards, cavernous council chambers and winding secret passageways, which were built to ensure the Ottoman sultans and their families could enjoy maximum privacy and discretion. A highlight of the tour is the Imperial Harem, comprising over 400 chambers in one of the sultan’s private apartments. The rooms are characterized by colorful mosaic floors and stained glass windows, and provide incredible insight into the private world of the Ottoman court.

Dolmabahce Palace Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket and Audio

6. Dolmabahce Palace Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket and Audio

Meet your guide at the main entrance of the Dolmbahce Palace, skip the long ticket lines and enter the world's most luxurious Palace the shortest way. Save up to 2 hours by not standing in the famous ticket lines. Follow your guide through a 10-minute tour inside the garden of Dolmbahce Palace. Learn about the highlights inside the Dolmabahce Palace and its famous Harem and find out where the best spots are to capture the most amazing pictures. Afterward, receive your audio guide so you can explore the inside of the Palace, Harem, and Painting Museum at your own pace. Spend the whole day inside or just have a quick glance at its impressive beauty. Gaze in awe at the palace's beautiful location on the Bosphorus and its more than $1.5 billion worth of luxury decoration.

Istanbul: Dolmabahce Palace Entry with Guided Tour Skip Line

7. Istanbul: Dolmabahce Palace Entry with Guided Tour Skip Line

Visit three of Istanbul's must-see highlights, Dolmabahçe Palace, Spice Bazaar and Rustempasha Mosque. Enjoy skip-the-line entry to Dolmabahce Palace including its Harem Section. Dolmabahce Palace Tour Times Mondays No Tours(Palace is closed) Tuesdays 09:30, 14:00, 15:45 Wednesdays 14:00, 15:45 Thursdays 09:30, 14:00, 15:45 Fridays 09:30, 14:00, 15:45 Saturdays 09:30, 14:00, 15:45 Sundays 09:30, 14:00, 15:45 Dolmabahce Palace Tour Meeting Point: Meet the guide in front of the clock tower in Dolmabahce Palace. Clock Tower is located at the entrance of Dolmabahce Palace after the security check. Spice Bazaar & Rustempasha Mosque Tour Times Tuesday 11:30 Thursday 11:30 Friday 11:30 Saturday 11:30 Sunday 11:30 Monday and Wednesday No Tours Visit the Dolmabahçe Palace, an impressive European-style structure. With 285 rooms, this palace is one of the biggest in Turkey. Learn from your guide about its foundations in the Ottoman Empire, and its royal inhabitants throughout the decades. Your ticket includes access to the Palace's Harem section, the private quarters where the Ottoman sultan lived with his family. Next stop is Spice Bazaar where your guide will explain miracle of Herbs in this old shopping center. Last stop is Rustempasha Mosque, one of the most beautiful works of Architect Sinan.

Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

8. Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Visit the Basilica Cistern, built in the 4th century and enlarged in 532 AD, used as water storage during Byzantine times. Listen to your guide as they explain the mystery of Medusa heads from Greek mythology. Explore this cathedral-size cistern, built during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in 532 A.D. to supply water to the Great Palace. It stores up to 80,000 cubic meters of water, delivered via 20 kilometers of aqueducts from a reservoir near the Black Sea. Descend the fifty-two stone steps into the entrance of the cistern. The cistern is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of 4 meters, coated with a waterproofing mortar. Hear how the Basilica Cistern's water comes from the Eğrikapı Water Distribution Center in the Belgrade Forest and travels through the 971-meter-long Valens Aqueduct and the 115-meter-long Mağlova Aqueduct, built by the Emperor Justinian.

Hagia Sophia: Entry with Guided Tour

9. Hagia Sophia: Entry with Guided Tour

Travel back in time to experience the story of the ancient Hagia Sophia on a guided tour in Istanbul. Trace how this iconic site has transformed over time with a local guide. Uncover stunning details as you explore this architectural gem. Meet with your professional local guide in front of Hagia Sophia. Hear a short history of the Old City then start the Hagia Sophia tour.  Your guide will explain the mystery of the magnificent Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia is a great architectural beauty and an important monument both for the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empires. Once a church, later a mosque, the Hagia Sophia has always been a precious building for the locals.

Istanbul: Dolmabahçe Palace Admission and Guided Tour

10. Istanbul: Dolmabahçe Palace Admission and Guided Tour

Explore Dolmabahçe Palace, the biggest royal residence of the Ottoman sultans and the imperial family. Check out incredible architecture and interior design as you learn about the palace's history from your guide. Meet your guide outside the monument and enter with your skip-the-line admission ticket. Begin a guided tour of the stunning interiors. Learn about how the palace was built by the orders of Sultan Abdülmecid I and opened in 1856. Admire the greatest collection of Baccarat and Bohemian chandeliers on the planet, including the biggest Bohemian chandelier ever. Marvel at the vast collection of gold inside, specifically on the ornate ceilings.  As you continue the tour, learn about the distinct differences between the Dolmabahçe Palace and the Topkapı Palace, from their architectural style to the use of furniture. Find out how the Dolmabahçe Palace was the last headquarters of the empire and was served until 1922.

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What people are saying about Istanbul

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 2,133 reviews

We met our knowledgeable and friendly tour guide Ilke Nur at the entrance to Topkapi Palace and after a short queue for security walked through the Topkapi Palace Gardens with views of the Bosphorus. Ilke spoke to us about the Hagia Irene and the palace on the way. Ilke collected our museum entrance tickets and explained that we can visit all of the three museums with this ticket, the archeological, the Asian or the tile. Ilke then spent a generous amount of time explaining the highlights of the museum at each particular exhibit focusing on the ground floor. She also mentioned that the ticket price includes the beautiful park opposite the museums. This is a great tour to find out more about the ancient history of Turkey and the museums and parks are in themselves beautiful places to visit.

everything was great and as expected, tour was very on time and we were able to skip the line. the explanations of our guide were spot on and she answered happily all our questions

Chetan was really nice and very informative I will highly recommend for my friends as well

Mustafa was very helpful with the recommendations and knowledgeable about the city.

Really knowledgeable guide, really good experience. Very much recommend.