Istanbul Private Walking Tour: Customizable Experience

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Fatih

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Experience a personalized Istanbul tour with a private local tour guide. Explore the city’s iconic landmarks and hidden gems based on your preferences. Book now!

Duration: 7 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Sultanahmet Square - Explore the “Sultanahmet Center,” the core of Istanbul’s “Old City,” where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were once governed. Our tour guide will meet you at the designated spot to begin your journey through the historic city.
Hagia Sophia Mosque - Once hailed as the greatest church in Christendom, Hagia Sophia is a…

Sultanahmet Square - Explore the “Sultanahmet Center,” the core of Istanbul’s “Old City,” where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were once governed. Our tour guide will meet you at the designated spot to begin your journey through the historic city.
Hagia Sophia Mosque - Once hailed as the greatest church in Christendom, Hagia Sophia is a true masterpiece blending Western and Eastern influences. Originally built by Constantine the Great in 325 on the site of a pagan temple, it was later reconstructed by Justinian and Theodora. In 1453, Mehmet the Conqueror added minarets to its grand dome, transforming the church into a mosque.
Blue Mosque - The Blue Mosque holds a unique place among the Ottoman structures in Sultanahmet Square. Designed by Sedefkar Mehmet Aga, who drew inspiration from classical Ottoman architecture and the Hagia Sophia, the mosque features a spacious, well-lit, and airy interior. It is famously known as the Blue Mosque due to the blue tiles that decorate its interior walls.
Topkapi Palace - Topkapi Palace (closed on Tuesday) served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over three continents for centuries. Constructed between 1460 and 1478 during the reign of Sultan Mehmed II (The Conqueror), it stands as a symbol of the empire’s grandeur.
Kapali Carsi - The Grand Bazaar (closed on Sunday) is the world’s oldest and largest covered market, established in 1461. Resembling a vast labyrinth, it features 60 streets and over 3,600 shops, offering a diverse array of products from copperware to glazed tiles, wedding items to ready-to-wear clothing, and various handicrafts to all kinds of spices. Western writers frequently mention the Grand Bazaar in their memoirs and travelogues.
Hippodrome - The Hippodrome was a public park during the Byzantine Empire, used for ceremonies and sporting events such as chariot races and athletics.
Basilica Cistern - Constructed in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, the Basilica Cistern served as a water reservoir for the Great Palace. Located southwest of Hagia Sophia, it is now one of Istanbul’s most remarkable museums.

What's Included

Private Walking Tour
Professional licensed Local Tour Guide (Private)

What's Not Included

Trasportation fees
Subways or Bus card
Foods and Drinks
Hotel pickup and drop off
Museum entrance fees

Additional Information

Explore Istanbul guided by a certified local Tour Leader. A completely personalized experience will be arranged according to your tastes and requests. Visitors flock from all around the globe to see Constantinapol, with some making their inaugural visit after an extended period of anticipation, while others may be marking their centenary visit. Everyone…

Location

Eyewitness Travel

Behind Blue Mosque. At the exit of Arasta Bazaar where is next to Blue Mosque. Across from Sultan Corner restaurant.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

5.0

(22 Ratings)

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1 star

Ryan

Jun 5, 2025

Best day in Istanbul! - Day 2 with Erdem was not planned before we arrived in Istanbul like our other tours but after we toured the Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern with his knowledge and guidance we booked another - this time to the Blue Mosque, Chora Church (now a mosque) and Galata Tower. Because of Erdem’s approachability and openness, our day ended up being so much more than these three sites; it became an opportunity to learn more about Turkish customs, cuisine and contemporary culture. Erdem met us close to our hotel to make it easy and we began at the Blue Mosque - a breathtaking and historied representation of traditional Muslim art and Ottoman style architecture. From there, we headed to Chora. DO NOT MISS THIS! It has the most beautiful and historic collection of Byzantine artwork and it’s off the tourist path in an unsuspecting, friendly neighborhood. Here’s the thing - to give it the depth it deserves you need to be with someone who can explain the meaning and history. Erdem brought it to life and made the golden mosaics shine (literally and figuratively). We then walked along the water to a Hungarian Orthodox church to observe the comparison in symbolism and artistic representation. Now hungry and in need of hydration (water and otherwise), Erdem recommended a Michelin Guide restaurant in the Spice Bazaar, a delightful yet reasonably priced gem on the second floor of a tiled staircase above the chaos of the bazaar. We ate stuffed grape leaves and Turkish meatballls beside an open window with Galata tower in the distance - this would be our final stop. Erdem led the way so we could experience the metro which was otherwise intimidating to us as visitors. We walked through colorful winding streets (uphill, wear sneakers!) to reach the tower. From there we learned about the structure’s history and took in breathtaking views of Istanbul’s sprawl over three major landmasses. Erdem kindly dropped us back off in our neighborhood and we returned to our hotel exhausted and satisfied (15,000 steps later). Our best day in the city and one we will always remember!