The 6 Best 1-Day Tours in Istanbul

1.Sapanca and Masukiye Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,036 reviews · 12 hours · from $29Our pick

Leave Istanbul for a full day in Sapanca and Maşukiye, with hotel pickup, a guide in English or Arabic, lunch, lake time, and optional ATV, zipline, cable car, zoo, and aquarium stops. Guides such as Apo, Osman, and Oktay are known for keeping the busy schedule friendly and well organized.

“Amazing experience!! Everything was very well with our guide tour Asman. We apprecieted his explication. I love Sapanca!!”

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2.Bursa & Uludag Mountain Day Trip w/ Opt. Cable Car

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 447 reviews · 13.5 hours · from $31

Spend 13.5 hours leaving Istanbul for Bursa and Uludag Mountain. You’ll cross Izmit Bay by ferry, visit Turkish delight and honey shops, see a 610-year-old plane tree, ride the cable car if selected, and explore the Green Mosque. Guides such as Nuri and Mahmut are frequently assigned.

“Overall very good experience had lots of fun and saw some breathtaking views. Had option to do activities and was definitely worth it. Overall me and my family had an unbelievable time, better than we expected. Extremely satisfied with this trip😁”

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3.Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 273 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $100

Start at Galataport at 9 a.m. for an eight-hour guided tour of Istanbul’s Sultanahmet sights. You’ll visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar, with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport. Expect substantial walking and possible shopping stops.

“Although the morning half of the tour to the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, etc. went ok and the lunch arrangement was excellent, the afternoon half to visit the Grand Bazaar was a disaster. During the Grand Bazaar tour, we were led to attend sales pitches in 5 different shops and didn't have a chance to walk around the Grand Bazaar at all. Although the shop owners were okay, we simply were not interested in their merchandise, and felt that the whole time spent at the Grand Bazaar was a waste. Our tour guide was actually okay as she was flexible and guided us through the Blue Mosque, etc. smoothly. I…”

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4.Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flight & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 182 reviews · 16 hours · from $188

This 16-hour trip flies you from Istanbul to Kayseri, then covers Göreme Open Air Museum, Devrent Valley, Pasabag, Avanos, Göreme Panorama, and Uchisar. You get a guide, lunch, ground transport, and hotel transfers. Expect a very early start, a fast pace, and no hot-air balloon flight.

“Was the perfect day trip to ensure that we saw Cappadocia. Our guide Umit was awesome! This is a great tour if you are only in Istanbul for a week and would like to still see Cappadocia.”

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5.Bursa and Uludag Full-Day Trip with Cable Car Ride

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 164 reviews · 12 hours · from $58

Travel from Istanbul to Bursa and Uludag with hotel pickup, a guide, lunch, and a one-way cable-car ride. See the 600-year-old Inkaya Tree, Green Mosque, Green Tomb, Old Silk Market, and mountain resort. Guides may include Dohan, Yaqub, Omar, Burak, or Ali.

“I loved this trip. we did so much. we went to Bursa then onto Uludag where it was snowing. We then headed to the cable cars then onto a ferry back home. It was a very long journey but we'll worth the visit and definitely worth the price.”

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6.Gallipoli Day Trip from Istanbul

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 147 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $240

Travel from Istanbul to Gallipoli in an air-conditioned vehicle, then visit nine WWI sites with an English-speaking guide. See ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, The Nek, trenches, cemeteries, and Turkish memorials. Lunch, entry fees, and hotel pickup are included.

“We had a great day at Gallipoli. Guide was on time at our hotel and transport was fantastic. It’s a long day trip from Istanbul and our 10year old did pretty well. Our guide was very knowledgeable and keen to share. Thank you”

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