Istanbul Old City Highlights: Private Walking Tour

Explore Istanbul’s Old City with a private licensed guide dedicated to your group. Discover the stories behind its iconic landmarks at a pace that suits you, with time for questions, photos, and breaks. Shape your route with your guide around the places that interest you most. Suggested highlights include the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar. Your interests and the available time help determine the final itinerary. Choose which ticketed attractions, if any, you would like to enter. Admission tickets are not included and are paid separately only for the attractions you choose to enter. From Byzantine monuments to Ottoman architecture, your guide connects the sights with the people and events that shaped Istanbul, making your walk a personal and engaging introduction to the city.

1. 1

   Hippodrome

   20 min

   Explore the Hippodrome, once the center of Byzantine chariot racing and public life. Discover the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpent Column, and the Walled Obelisk as your guide explains their history and significance.

2. 2

   Blue Mosque

   25 min

   Visit the Blue Mosque, one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks. Admire its decorative tiles, grand dome, and elegant calligraphy as your guide explains the mosque’s history, architecture, and place in the city’s religious life.

3. 3

   Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

   45 min

   Discover Hagia Sophia as your guide explains its history and significance across the Byzantine and Ottoman eras. Learn about its remarkable architecture and changing role over the centuries.

4. 4

   TopkapI Palace

   2 hours

   Discover Topkapi Palace, once home to Ottoman sultans and the center of imperial power. Learn about palace life and the history of the Ottoman court with your private guide.

5. 5

   Basilica Cistern

   30 min

   Discover the Basilica Cistern, an underground reservoir showcasing Byzantine engineering. Admire its rows of columns and softly lit atmosphere as your guide explains its history and role in supplying water to the city.

6. 6

   Grand Bazaar

   45 min

   Immerse Yourself in Tradition. Explore one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, with over 4,000 shops spread across 61 streets. Discover an incredible variety of goods, from exquisite jewelry and handcrafted ceramics to luxurious textiles and aromatic spices, enjoy tastings of Turkish delights, teas, and other local delicacies as you wander through the bazaar.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• On Sundays, when the Grand Bazaar is closed, the Spice Bazaar can be visited instead.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.

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