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istanbul Private Old City Tour with Licensed Local Guide

96 Reviews 4.94 out of 5 stars Based on 96 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Istanbul, Turkey
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 26 (0) days in advance.

4 to 8 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
and 8 more
French, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese
Instant confirmation

Overview

This is not a standard group tour. Your licensed guide is dedicated exclusively to you, allowing complete flexibility and a fully personalized experience. Instead of following a fixed schedule, you set the pace and focus on the landmarks and stories that interest you most. With in-depth historical insight and tailored commentary, this private walking tour offers a refined and immersive way to discover Sultanahmet.

What's Included

  • Priority assistance and local guidance
  • Insider tips for dining and hidden gems
  • Flexible timing at each landmark
  • Skip-the-line tickets (available upon request)
  • Meals and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Binbirdirek
At Meydanı Caddesi, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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German Fountain

German Fountain / Alman Çeşmesi
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Sultanahmet District

Sultanahmet District
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Sultanahmet Square

Sultanahmet Square
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Hippodrome

Hippodrome Square / Atmeydanı Hippodrome; where the chariot races were held in the Roman Empire times, Egyptian Column from Byzantine Empire time and today German Fountain is the main cornerstone of the square of Ottoman Empire.
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

Hagia Sophia Museum / Ayasofya / Santa Sofia Built in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian, played a very important role in the Christian and Islamic World. After the Ottoman conquest the bells, altar, iconoclastic, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and many of the mosaics were eventually plastered over to convert the church into a mosque then a museum and now it’s a mosque for the second time. The most important stop of an Istanbul tour is operated in Old City Istanbul / Constantinople. *Please note that as it's not a museum anymore, tour guides don't have skip-the-line priority there. You may need to wait in the security line, in order to avoid queues we suggest departing at 8:30am or 9:00am
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1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque / Sultanahmet Camii Built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I of the Ottoman Empire, the Blue Mosque is truly a magnificent masterpiece of architecture with amazingly delicate proportions for a building of such massive scale.
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1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Basilica Cistern (pass by)

Have to skip one of the mosques to save time to visit the interior of The Basilica Cistern. A former water storage chamber and one of Istanbul's greatest surviving Byzantine sites.
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TopkapI Palace

Topkapi Palace Museum / Topkapı Sarayı 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 which resembles the power of the Ottoman Empire.
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2 hours Admission Ticket Free

Grand Bazaar

Grand Bazaar / Kapalı Çarşı One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with over 4,000 shops with colorful products of ceramic, leather, rugs, carpets, handicrafts, clothes, silver, and gold.
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1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Show 8 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • On Fridays, Hagia Sophia or Blue Mosque will be visited from outside because of the worship.
  • Tour guides don't have skip-the-line priority in Hagia Sophia. You may need to wait in the security line, in order to avoid queues we suggest departing at 9:00am.
  • Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays can be replaced with Spice Market.

Frequently Asked Questions (8)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the istanbul Private Old City Tour with Licensed Local Guide?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (+03).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-149067P21

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.94
96 reviews

Average 4.94 out of 5 stars based on 96 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
90
4 stars
6
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 26 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Priority assistance and local guidance
  • Insider tips for dining and hidden gems
  • Flexible timing at each landmark
  • Personalized route planning within Sultanahmet
  • Private licensed expert guide for the entire day
  • Skip-the-line tickets (available upon request)
  • Meals and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transportation (this is a walking experience)
  • Entrance tickets (can be purchased on-site with guide assistance)

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • On Fridays, Hagia Sophia or Blue Mosque will be visited from outside because of the worship.
  • Tour guides don't have skip-the-line priority in Hagia Sophia. You may need to wait in the security line, in order to avoid queues we suggest departing at 9:00am.
  • Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays can be replaced with Spice Market.
  • Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays can be replaced with alternatives.
  • Skip the line service is not available for active mosques - there is a queue for the entrance.
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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