Private 3 Day Istanbul Tour
Private 3 Day Istanbul Tour
The beautiful area surrounding the Hagia Sophia will make you feel like you have gone back a hundred years. The courtyard of the Topkapi Palace will make you feel as if you are amongst the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire. The neighbourhood whispers the history that this city holds.
During your day tour with your guide, they will explain all that you need to know about the sites you will visit. The Bosphorus Cruise is a spectacular ride to experience. Not a lot of tours cover the beautiful area of Fener and Ballet; therefore, not a lot of travelers are aware of this option.
Book This ExperienceA glimpse of the journey
Your Itinerary
A curated journey through the experience
Hagia Sophia Mosque
The Hagia Sophia was the primary church of Byzantine Constantinople build by Emperor Justinian I (527-565) and became the most important church of the Christen East. After Constantinople fell to the Ottomans in 1453, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque and was used as such throughout the Ottoman period. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the modern Turkish Republic’s most revered founding father and its first Prime Minister, initiated the process to have the Hagia Sophia transformed into a museum which opened for visitors in February 1935. In 2020 it was converted into a Mosque.
1 hourBlue Mosque
Sultanahmet Mosque/Blue Mosque: built by Sultan Ahmet I between 1609 and 1616, distinguished by its six slender minarets and located in the district of old Istanbul that is named after this Ottoman Sultan. There are 260 stained glass windows throughout the mosque, the central dome is 43 m in height, 33,4 m in diameter and due to the intricately decorated blue, green and red tiles of its interior, it has been referred to as the Blue Mosque. These tiles, produced and painted by hand in Iznik (ancient Nicaea), are an attraction in and of themselves. The Quranic inscriptions we can see throughout the mosque were made by Seyyid Kasım Gubari, one of the most famous calligraphers of his time.
1 hourGrand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is located inside the Walled city of Istanbul, in the district of Fatih and in the neighbourhood (mahalle) bearing the same name (Kapalıçarşı). It stretches roughly from west to east between the mosques of Beyazit and of Nuruosmaniye. The Bazaar can easily be reached from Sultanahmet and Sirkeci by trams (Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı stop). Today the Grand Bazaar is a thriving complex, employing 26,000 people visited by between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily, and one of the major landmarks of Istanbul.
1 hourHippodrome
Looking at the history of the Byzantine Empire, you can see the importance of the Hippodrome. This square was used to hold various competitions and important gatherings in the city. Many people from various social classes have been here through history to hold particular ceremonies and horse races. Their culture and lifestyles are gone, but these monuments remind us of the untold stories about ancient times. According to historians, the square was built in the third century AD. When Emperor Constantine decided in 324 to move his imperial capital to present-day Istanbul, he also ordered the
1 hourTopkapi Palace
Day 2: The views of Istanbul
1 hourPierre Loti Tepesi
There’s also a restaurant, and the famous Pierre Loti Coffee Shop where you can enjoy the views with a cup of Turkish tea or coffee in hand. It is said that Loti himself would sit in their area and write his well-known novels. The Golden Horn was once the center of the Byzantine and Ottoman navies. As you watch the ships and boats go by, it will take you in a magical journey through history.
1 hourMisir Carsisi (Spice Market)
This unique spice market, also known as Egyptian bazaar, it’s the most famous covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar. Built by the architect Kazim Aga in 1664 and hosts eighty five shops. You can find there Turkish delights and other sweets, jewelry, souvenirs, herbs, big variety of spices, dried fruits and nuts, fresh tea, scarves, lanterns and Nargile! A place that will satisfy all your senses!
1 hourDolmabahce Palace
The Palace was home to the later sultans of the Ottoman Empire. It was built with European style by Sultan Abdulmecit in 1843-1856 who was trying hard to do reforms and adapt the Ottoman Empire to European image with Tanzimat Reforms.
1 hourBosphorus Strait
The calm waters of the Bosphorus Strait beckon you to get aboard and take in the legendary remnants of ancient Constantinople, Byzantium, and the Ottoman Empire. A cruise through the Bosphorus Strait is like witnessing the past and present of Turkey. As you see the ancient monuments, you will also get to see newer buildings and mansions and see how the land has evolved over time. Seeing these monuments from the cruise will give you a panoramic view; a whole different perspective. The sunset from the cruise is awe-inspiring and just cannot be missed.
1 hourTaksim Square
Day 3: Balat and Fener Tour - The Colorful Walls
1 hourChora Museum
Ephesus was a city in ancient Greece. It was built in the 10th century BC on the site of the former Arzawan capital by Attic and Ionion Greek colonists. This place holds a special place the heart of Christianity. Ephesus is mentioned in the Bible under the Corinthians.
1 hourAhrida Synagogue
Ahrida (Ohrid) Synagogue is one of the oldest synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey. Often people do not believe that a Jewish community exit in what is predominantly a Muslim country. However, there are clear evidence of the influence of the Jewish people, which can be seen in this neighborhood. This synagogue is located in Balat, once a thriving Jewish quarter in the city. It was built by Romaniotes (Macedonian Jews), dating back to the 1430s, from the city of Ohrid (called 'Ahrid' in Greek) in what was then the Ottoman Empire and is now North Macedonia. Ahrida Synagogue is also the only synagogue in Istanbul at which Sabbatai Zevi, founder of the Jewish Sabbatean movement, prayed.
1 hourCathedral Church of St George
The church also sits near to Phanar Greek Orthodox College, a fully functioning school that implements the Turkish curriculum and additional subjects such as the Greek language. As locals in Turkey often do, they have given it their own names of the red building or castle, resembling its unique architectural style.
1 hourBalat
No accommodation included on this day.
1 hourIncluded
- Added transportation upon request
- Entry/Admission - Pierre Loti Tepesi
- Entry/Admission - Dolmabahce Palace
- Entry/Admission - Bosphorus Strait
- Entry/Admission - Cathedral Church of St George
- Entry/Admission - Topkapi Palace
Good to Know
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Tour primarily completed on foot; therefore, please wear comfortable clothing. We will use public transit via the tram. Travelers can request vehicle at extra cost. Please contact us for details.
- Most travelers can participate
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- At Istanbul Guide, we ensure that government rules and regulations outlined by the Republic of Turkey is adhered to at all times.
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Tickets & Cancellation
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.