Istanbul History Tour: Byzantine to Ottoman

Immerse yourself in Istanbul’s captivating history on our meticulously crafted historic city tour. Explore iconic landmarks and discover the city’s Byzantine and Ottoman heritage.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Hagia Sophia Mosque - Constructed by Emperor Justinian in the sixth century, the Hagia Sophia Mosque holds significant importance in both Christian and Islamic traditions. Following the Ottoman conquest, the bells, altar, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and many mosaics were covered to transform the church into a mosque.
  • Hippodrome -…
What's Included
  • Fast Track Ticket Available to skip the huge queue
  • Discover rich tradition of Turkish handicrafts through unique art & shopping experiences in GORDES
  • Professional Tour Guide
  • Public Transportation Fees
  • Soft Drinks
What's Not Included
  • Entry Fees
  • Private transportation
  • Foods & Drinks
Additional Information

Experience the captivating history of Istanbul with our meticulously crafted historic city tour. Delve into the past as you visit Istanbul’s most renowned landmarks, each a testament to the city’s extraordinary heritage.
From the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia, showcasing Byzantine magnificence, to the vibrant Grand Bazaar, where the tapestry of Istanbul’s…

Location
Olea Travel
Muhterem Efendi Sokak
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(62 Ratings)
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1 star
Chiara
Jul 2, 2025
Wonderful!! - Bilge was a wonderful guide. From the moment we met her, she was warm, knowledgeable, and incredibly engaging. She brought the history of the city to life with fascinating stories and insights that you simply wouldn’t get from a guidebook. Her passion for the culture and her deep understanding of the area made the experience truly special.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G4206fumelanieb
Jul 1, 2025
Beautiful historic tour - Wonderful day in Istanbul! Our guide Burak was very knowledgeable and helpful with our planning the rest of our time in Istanbul. It is very nice that they meet you at the port to help with the public transport. Beware the carpet shop will try very hard to sell you on rug. Over all we had a wonderful day with Burak and would recommend this tour to anyone traveling in Istanbul.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Moiz
Jun 29, 2025
Josh is a must have guide! - Josh was an amazing guide. Spent a full 7 hours with us and optimised every moment, especially with helping us skip the queues, something all registered guides can do. He gave us the utmost flexibility in planning the day and offered practical tips of what best to see with him, and what we could do on our own on another day. The historical information provided was intriguing, without being overwhelming. We even ended the day with him with a late afternoon snack at a hole in the wall places which was simply yummy, and such great value! It was lovely sitting and chatting with him over doner kebabs and ayran, like you would with a friend, each of us opening up to the other, sharing life experiences. We feel in love with Istanbul all over again. Thank you Josh.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
James
Jun 14, 2025
A great way to visit the main tourist attractions in Istanbul - Mehmet our guide was very professional, informative and accomodating He provided a wealth of knowledge and was able to answer all our questions We would certainly recommend him to friends who will be visiting later this year
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kristiaa_13
Jun 14, 2025
Review for Unal in historic Istanbul - Unal was spectacular! He was so knowledgeable, funny, kind, and full of enthusiasm. One of the best guides we have ever had. I highly recommend him if he is available!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marc
Jun 13, 2025
Beautiful tour - Beautiful tour of the Old City of Istanbul and the mosques, the Grand Bazaar and the Sisterns. Very nice and informative guide
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L9331kaharis
May 10, 2025
Guided tour to Istanbul, historical Sultan Ahmet area - My wife and I (an architect) felt our visit to Istanbul and especially the historical Sultan Ahmet area would be more meaningful if had some additional insight. Atilla is pleasant, knowledgeable and experienced. He somehow knew what we were interested in made our experience interesting and more memorable. By the end of the day he also became a friend. We highly recommend him.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joan
May 2, 2025
Great tour of key sites - Onedi did a great job rearranging the tour as we saw the crowds in line. His timing made the difference in being able to see things nicely
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nish_v
Apr 24, 2025
Great Experience - Great private tour option. Our guide was Urgen. He is very knowledgeable and paced this trip well. There was a very long line at Hagia Sofia so we went to the palace, then the cisterns and finally Hagia Sofia, where he didn’t have fast track ticket purchase as a tour guide. He recommended some other things to do as well.
Review provided by Viator
Pioneer15419935307
Jun 29, 2025
Very good experience - I had a solo tour and it was a great way to spend a day in Istanbul. Gözde is very knowledgeable and pleasant to talk to. She met me at my hotel and was flexible with adding Topkapi to the schedule and never made it feel like we were in a rush, we took as much time as needed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $150 (Per Group)
up to 6 guests
1 - Traveler
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).