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Private Istanbul Tour: Skip Lines & Comfort
4.8
39 Ratings
Istanbul
Experience private and exclusive tours designed to optimize your time and enjoyment in the city with a knowledgeable guide. Benefit from skip-the-line tickets to make the most of your visit. Complimentary pick-up and drop-off services are included to ensure a comfortable and stress-free day.
Experience private and exclusive tours designed to optimize your time and enjoyment in the city with a knowledgeable guide. Benefit from skip-the-line tickets to make the most of your visit. Complimentary pick-up and drop-off services are included to ensure a comfortable and stress-free day.
Duration:
7 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Blue Mosque - The Blue Mosque is a significant landmark in Ottoman history. Its architecture is celebrated for its magnificence, and the interior is adorned with intricate designs and artwork. Situated on a hill in Istanbul, the Mosque is built atop an ancient Byzantine palace and is near the renowned Hippodrome and Hagia Sophia. The exterior of…
- Blue Mosque - The Blue Mosque is a significant landmark in Ottoman history. Its architecture is celebrated for its magnificence, and the interior is adorned with intricate designs and artwork. Situated on a hill in Istanbul, the Mosque is built atop an ancient Byzantine palace and is near the renowned Hippodrome and Hagia Sophia. The exterior of the Blue Mosque is constructed from a mix of red granite, marble, pudding stone, and porphyry. The interior features similar materials, along with ceramic tiling, wooden elements, and more.
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - Hagia Sophia translates to Church or Sanctuary of Holy Wisdom. Following the Muslim conquest of Constantinople, the name was changed to reflect its status as a mosque, becoming the Holy Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. Hagia Sophia holds significance for Christians as it was the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, akin to the Catholic Pope for Greek Orthodox Christians. It is renowned for its architectural beauty, art, symbolism of Roman political and religious power consolidation, and its rich history. For the Roman Empire, Hagia Sophia symbolized the unification of religious and political authority, exemplified by its use for ceremonial emperor coronations.
- Basilica Cistern - Discover the unique Basilica Cistern, also known as Yerebatan Palace, located in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district. Originally built under the Stoa Basilica, a center for commerce, justice, and art between the 3rd and 4th centuries, it was first constructed by Emperor Constantine and later rebuilt by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century following city corruption during the 532 uprisings. As Istanbul’s surrounding waters were saltwater, the Basilica Cistern provided filtered drinking water to the Great Palace and nearby buildings. After the Ottoman Empire’s conquest of Istanbul in 1453, it also supplied water to Topkapi Palace.
- Hippodrome - The history of the Hippodrome of Constantinople dates back to ancient times, originating in the early 3rd century AD under Emperor Septimius Severus. Byzantium already held a strategic and significant position, but it reached its peak of power in the 4th century when it became the Roman Empire’s capital under Constantine the Great, who renamed it Constantinople and expanded it with impressive structures.
- Grand Bazaar - Commissioned by Mehmet II (1444-1481) shortly after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453, the Grand Bazaar was intended to provide financial support for the Hagia Sophia. Construction began in 1461, and while initially a wooden structure, it is now entirely made of stone and brick. Bricks form the vaulted arches, cut stones are used at the arches’ base, and walls are plastered over bricks or stone. The oldest building is the Cevahir or İç Bedesten, followed by the Sandal Bedesten. Bedesten, a vaulted and fireproofed section of the Grand Bazaar, derives its name from “bez” (cloth) and means cloth seller’s market. Both bedestens are classic examples of Ottoman architecture.
- Sultanahmet District - Delight in the views of Sultanahmet while strolling between various attractions, enjoying the diverse architecture of buildings, parks, and fountains.
- 5K Rug Store - Experience and enjoy a weaving session in Istanbul, learn about the culture and techniques, and gain authentic insights into quality handicrafts.
- FIRCA El Sanatlari Merkezi Seramik - Participate in a pottery workshop led by a professional artist.

What's Included
- Private transportation
- Entrance fee of Hagia Sophia museum included with skip line tickets, we do not wait to buy tickets
- Entrances of Basilica cistern with skip line ticket included
- Private guiding service during the day
- All Fees and Taxes
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Free pick up and drop off from the city center hotels included
- Private transportation
- Entrance fee of Hagia Sophia museum included with skip line tickets, we do not wait to buy tickets
- Entrances of Basilica cistern with skip line ticket included
- Private guiding service during the day
- All Fees and Taxes
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Free pick up and drop off from the city center hotels included
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Lunch
Location
Blue Mosque
Sultanahmet Mah At Meydani Cad No 7
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(39 Ratings)
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Lynn_w
Nov 3, 2025
Great Tour of Istanbul with Karaman - We had a 5-6 hour tour with Karaman. He took us to the Blue Dome Mosque and Hagia Sophia. He was very knowledgeable about the history of these sites and the traditions associated with them. He also took us to the Basilica Cistern which was amazing. He had skip the line tickets to all sites which was really nice. After that he took us to a nice restaurant and guided us on what to order. Afterwards he took us to the Grand Bazar and let us shop for as long as we wanted. It was a great crash course of Istanbul! Highly recommend! We would never want to do Istanbul with a great guide. It is way too big! Great van/Limo transportation too!
Review provided by Viator
Roger_w
Oct 28, 2025
Very professional and... - Very professional and knowledgable Guide.
Spoke excellent English.
Made us feel totally at ease.
Our day flew by and we could not have had abetter time.
Review provided by Viator
Kathryn_s
Oct 18, 2025
Great way to see Ist - Fantastic way to see Istanbul. We saw all the top attractions. Our tour guide was flexible with the amount of time we wanted to spend at each location. No waiting for tickets because they were included. Our guide was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions.
Review provided by Viator
Mel
Oct 10, 2025
We had an amazing... - We had an amazing experience with our tour guide, Belgin! She was very punctual — arriving at our hotel 30 minutes before the tour even started. Throughout the day, she shared so much valuable information about Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, the Hippodrome, and the Blue Mosque. We also appreciated how she explained details about Turkish food and culture, which made the tour even more meaningful. We truly learned a lot from her and highly recommend Belgin to anyone visiting Istanbul!
Review provided by Viator
Athena_s
Oct 9, 2025
5 star service - 5 star tour experience! Belgin our tour
Guide could not have been kinder and worked hard at accommodating all of us! The pick up and drop off service was top notch.
Review provided by Viator
Aarbon
Sep 28, 2025
Highly recommended tour for people on a short timeline in Istanbul - I would highly recommend this tour for people with a short timeline in Istanbul. Our guide Eda was amazing. She was very knowledgeable at every site and was so enthusiastic and engaged our party of four.. we were collected from the port in a beautiful air-conditioned luxury van and headed to the sites. Eda. Explained the culture and connection to ancient times of these beautiful areas.. we then went to a beautiful Turkish restaurant for lunch and the food and wine was amazing, so much food but so beautiful. Then at the end of the day we finished up with a tour of a Turkish pottery store and where I purchased several items.. if you get the chance, please do this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oganes_s
Sep 26, 2025
We had an amazing day... - We had an amazing day suring this tour. Our guide Hilal was very professional and had great knowledge of the city and history. Definitely recommend this tour. You will see and learn a lot in short period of time
Review provided by Viator
Kristin_k
Nov 16, 2025
A Perfect Day in Istanbul with an Amazing Guide - We had the most wonderful day exploring Istanbul thanks to our incredible female guide. From the very beginning, she tailored the entire experience to exactly what we wanted to do, making it feel personal and effortless.
Blue Mosque: She shared fascinating insights and made sure we saw the highlights without feeling rushed.
Gluten-Free Lunch: Knowing our dietary needs, she found a delicious gluten-free restaurant that was perfect.
Basilica Cistern: She managed to skip the line, saving us so much time and letting us enjoy the magic of the site stress-free.
Grand Bazaar: Instead of wandering aimlessly, she took us straight to the shops that matched what we wanted to buy, making shopping both fun and efficient.
Street Tram & Return: Navigating public transport in a new city can be intimidating, but she guided us through the tram system and even brought us all the way back to our cruise ship.
Her warmth, knowledge, and attention to detail made the day truly special. Istanbul is an incredible city, but having a guide like her elevated the experience beyond expectations. We felt safe and cared for the entire day. A lovely day we’ll never forget!
Review provided by Viator
Unkemptp
Oct 12, 2025
Half-Day Tour in Istanbul - The tour was pleasant and interesting, thanks to Eda, a prepared, kind and smiling guide. We only stayed one day in town, too bad or we could have arranged something else.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andre_r
Sep 28, 2025
Private tour of Old Istanbul - Our guide was on time, very knowledgeable and pleasant to spend time with. He was open to suggestions on where to go and when, overall it was a good experience
Review provided by Viator