The 2 Best Shore Excursions in Istanbul

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

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

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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2.Istanbul Shore Excursion : Best Seller Private Istanbul Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 258 reviews · 7 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $100Top rated

Spend about seven hours exploring Istanbul’s Old City with a private English-speaking guide. Visit Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar, using public transport or an optional van. Guides such as Sercan, Ayse, and Ramazan tailor the pace to your group.

“We had a nice day with our tour guide. It was a lot of walking though. I was glad he was with us to the markets as we probably would have gotten lost. It’s very hot in turkey which makes it hard to walk.”

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