The 15 Best Istanbul City Tours

Best of Istanbul 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour - Timing, closures, and practical planning

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8,922 reviews · 7 to 21 hours (approx.) · from $100Our pick

Choose one to three private days with a licensed guide such as Mustafa, Merve, Burak, or Tuba. Walk Sultanahmet, visit Hagia Sophia and Topkapi, cruise the Bosphorus, explore Balat, and shape the schedule around your interests.

“Numan Taşdoğ is hands down the best tour guide we’ve ever had. His knowledge spans the city’s Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern history, and he has an incredible ability to read his guests—knowing when to go deep and when to keep things light. He treats his guests like people, not tourists, and never pushes a personal or commercial agenda. When we asked for authentic food, he took us off the beaten path to an amazing restaurant packed with locals. When we showed interest in art, he patiently stayed with us while we explored and customized pieces at a local lamp shop. He also guided us to a trusted jewelry store…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Full-Day, Guided, Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours

Istanbul: Full-Day Highlights Tour with Guide and Lunch

2.Full-Day Highlights Tour with Guide and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,662 reviews · 7 hours · from $37Best value

Cover Istanbul’s old city with a licensed guide, visiting Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar. Lunch is included, but Topkapi and Hagia Sophia admission costs extra. Guides such as Baris, Kemal, and Zeynab are frequently assigned.

“Baris our guide was excellent. He knows the history, he is courteous, patient and just funny enough to not deviate much from the topic. Got a great group of people as well making the tour even more special.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Guided, Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Istanbul Highlights Small-Group Walking Guided Tour

3.Istanbul Highlights Small-Group Walking Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,346 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $155

Spend about eight hours in Sultanahmet with an English-speaking guide, visiting the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar. Guides such as Sevilay and Mustafa are praised for clear explanations and helpful pacing. Expect a demanding, mostly walking day.

“Our guide Ozmen (not sure of spelling) was fantastic! She was a font of knowledge, there seemed to be no question she didn't know the answer to. We spent more than six hours with her, and the time just flew by. We never could have seen everything on our own and known what we were doing and seeing. She made everything so interesting! Totally worth the price.”

Check availability →Read our full review

City Tours, Full-Day, Guided, Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Istanbul Private Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

ISTANBUL BEST: Iconic Landmarks Full Day PRIVATE Guided City Tour

4.ISTANBUL BEST: Iconic Landmarks Full Day PRIVATE Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,032 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $80

This 6 to 8 hour private Istanbul tour links Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar. Your English-speaking guide can adjust the pace, suggest food and shopping stops, and help with practical details. Admissions and lunch cost extra.

“We booked this walking tour through viator and were gifted an incredible tour guide Zel. This was one of the best walking tours we’ve ever done and we’re so appreciative to have such a kind and knowledgable tour guide. Highly recommend doing this tour towards the beginning of your stay in Istanbul as you see the many of the large tourist attractions in a short amount of time leaving free time for other days. The only regret we have is not booking other tours with Zel around the city. If you don’t get her as a tour guide, you’re missing out! Thank you viator for putting us together! This tour…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Istanbul Private Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

Istanbul Highlights Private Tour: Hotel Pick-Up & Drop-Off

5.Istanbul Highlights Private Tour: Hotel Pick-Up & Drop-Off

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 672 reviews · 4 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $90

Explore Istanbul’s Old City with a private English-speaking guide, hotel or cruise-port pickup, and a route covering the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, and a rug-weaving demonstration. Guides such as Eylem, Kenan, Belgin, and Peri tailor the pace and stops to your interests.

“Be prepared for immersion in the history of old Istanbul. Also be prepared to walk. Our guide Kenan was both knowledgeable and fun to spend day with. It was a enjoyable as well as imformative day”

Check availability →Read our full review

Blue Mosque Tours, Hagia Sophia Tours, Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Topkapi Palace Tours, Tour Reviews

Istanbul Highlights! Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and More!

6.Istanbul Highlights! Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and More!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 618 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $175

Spend 8 to 9 hours on foot in Istanbul’s Old City with English-speaking guide Oguzhan Ceylan, known as Ozzy. Visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and Harem, Hagia Irene, the Grand Bazaar and historic squares, with entrance fees and a Turkish lunch included.

“We had a fantastic day learning all about Turkey’s history and culture. Our guide, Ozzy, was incredibly knowledgeable, communicative, spoke great English and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was phenomenal. We’d highly recommend this tour to see and learn as much as you can in a short period of time.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Food, Food & Drink, Guided, Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Istanbul: Guided Food and Culture Tour

7.Guided Food and Culture Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 528 reviews · 4 hours · from $136

Join an English-speaking guide such as Burak, Salih, or Cumali for a four-hour food walk from Karaköy to Kadıköy and back. You will cross the Bosphorus by public ferry, visit markets, taste Kurdish dishes, sip Turkish drinks, and finish with dessert.

“The best part of our tour was our guide, Burak. The evening was more than just a sampling of Turkish dishes. Burak shared his knowledge of Istanbul, Turkish history, and the customs of dining with family and friends in such an interesting way that we were thoroughly entertained and pleased with how much we learned. The foods were unlike anything we’d eaten in the 3 days we had been in Turkey so we were glad we booked this tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Istanbul Highlights: Small-Group Tour with a Local Expert

8.Istanbul Highlights: Small-Group Tour with a Local Expert

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 479 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $49

Spend 8 to 9 hours with an English-speaking local guide, visiting the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Topkapı Palace, Grand Bazaar, and Bosphorus. Guides such as Lütfullah, Uğur, and Ludwig tailor the pace when possible. Expect lots of walking and extra museum fees.

“Lufti was very knowledgeable, afable, fun-loving, colorful tour guide I’ve ever met❤️. He showed us the “not to miss places” in record time without feeling rushed. There were 6 of us and kept us all “marching” to the right tune👍😂 PLUS suggested where to take the best photo👏”

Check availability →Read our full review

3-Day Experiences, Guided, Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Istanbul Private Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

Best Of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour

9.Best Of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 435 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $85

Explore Istanbul with a private English-speaking guide and a flexible one, two, or three-day plan. Expect major sights such as Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, the Grand Bazaar, Dolmabahçe, and the Bosphorus, with guides such as Kerim, Kemal, Cicek, and Mustafa assigned according to availability. Entrance fees and most transport cost extra.

“We booked a two-day tour but needed flexible days because we couldn't do it back-to-back and needed to change slightly the program owing to professional obligations. Viator was very understanding and accommodated our requests. Praise to Murat, our guide, who was always very attentive, diligent and savvy, when it was needed. We very much appreciated nearly all the places he took us and his suggestions for other attractions in the city were spot on. The overall experience was grand and we are recommending Viator to friends & family. The only minus in our experience was the Galata Olympos restaurant we were taken, which was awfully expensive for the kind of…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Blue Mosque Tours, City Tours, Hagia Sophia Tours, Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Istanbul: City Highlights Tour w/Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque

10.City Highlights Tour w/Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 390 reviews · 4 hours · from $41

Spend four hours exploring Istanbul’s old city with a live guide in English, Spanish, Russian, or Japanese. Visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar. Pickup is offered from selected hotels and Istanbul Port. Guides such as Ali, Baris, and Sibel are praised for clear storytelling.

“Fadi, our guide was excellent, knowledgeable, answered all questions and made the tour very enjoyable. I would highly recommend him. The transport and choice of activities and sites was very good. We loved our tour…. Plus compared to others offered by our ship it was a good value. Group size was nice and small.”

Check availability →Read our full review

City Tours, Guided, Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

Istanbul: Private City Highlights Guided Tour

11.Private City Highlights Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 370 reviews · from $103

Spend seven hours with a private English or Spanish-speaking guide exploring Istanbul’s old city. Visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar, with hotel or port pickup and optional Mercedes Sprinter transport.

“This was a wonderful day. Gülşen was an exceptional guide. Her knowledge of the historic sites was comprehensive and really brought them alive to me. Helpful and kind, she works to make the experience the best that it can be for each of her clients. I cannot praise her too highly.”

Check availability →Read our full review

City Tours, Full-Day, Guided, Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

WONDERS of ISTANBUL: PRIVATE Full-Day Guided City Tour

12.WONDERS of ISTANBUL: PRIVATE Full-Day Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 295 reviews · 5 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $78

Explore Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar with a private English-speaking guide. Guides such as Volkan, Fettah, Aytaç, and Sema tailor the pace, suggest local food, and help you avoid long lines.

“Sema, our guide , was very knowledgeable and informative. She got us to the front of lines and was flexible about our interests and schedule.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Full-Day, Guided, Historical Tours, Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Istanbul Private Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

Full-Day Private Guided Cultural Tour of Istanbul

13.Full-Day Private Guided Cultural Tour of Istanbul

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 279 reviews · 5 to 7 hours (approx.)

Explore Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar with a private English-speaking guide. Guides such as Funda, Burak, Esra, and Sam tailor the route, explain the past, and help you handle Istanbul’s crowds.

“Funda was experienced and very knowledgable she is an amazing guide and helped us with our experience to make sure we dont miss any attractions and took right in front of the long lines helping to cut short the waiting times.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Coffee Experiences, Guided, Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Istanbul Highlights: Guided Tour with Turkish Tea or Coffee

14.Istanbul Highlights: Guided Tour with Turkish Tea or Coffee

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 278 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $60

Explore Istanbul’s Old City with an English-speaking guide in a group of up to 15. Visit Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar, with tea or Turkish coffee included. Entry fees are extra, so budget carefully before booking.

“So good. Friendly and knowledgeable guide Yasin new his stuff and made already impressive sites even more so. Highly recommend”

Check availability →Read our full review

1-Day Tours, Istanbul City Highlights Tours, Istanbul Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour

15.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…”

Check availability →Read our full review