Full-Day Private Guided Jewish Heritage Tour in Istanbul
Overview
Available languages
7 hours
Mobile ticket
We ensure that each Jewish Heritage Tour leaves you with treasured memories. Our itinerary combines explorations of Jewish history in Asia Minor; important local sites of interest; cultural delights, and the company of like-minded travelers. You’ll enjoy ease, camaraderie, and in-depth educational content with our knowledgeable guides.
Visiting Ahrida Synagogue can be done only with appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. We send a request letter to management with passport details and full names of visitors as an official Travel Agency latest one week before than tour date.
The visitors have to share passport details after booking this tour. Visiting the Synagogues and the Jewish Museums requires permits from Chief Rabia and you will need to present your passport during the visits.
Also Ahrida Synagogue is a functional Synagogue and is not a museum. They charge donation 45EURO per person. When we send our guest passport reservation, we send donation via bank.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This tour can be done only on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Because of Shabbat, Synagogues do not give appointments to visit on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
What To Expect
Ahrida Synagogue
Ahrida Synagogue was built by Romaniotes (Greek 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. Neve Shalom is said to have moved to Constantinople more than 550 years ago Sephardi Jews arrived in the Ottoman Empire from the Iberian peninsula beginning in 1492, and soon were a larger group of Jews in population than the Romaniotes. The Romaniotes of Istanbul, as in many communities, including Thessaloniki became assimilated into the Sephardic culture and adopted the Sephardic liturgy as well as the language of the Sefardim, Judezmo. The Ahrida synagogue building, one of the two ancient synagogues in Istanbul's Golden Horn. Ahrida Synagogue is known for its boat-shaped tevah (the reading platform, known in Ashkenazi communities as a bimah). It is also the only synagogue in Istanbul at which Sabbatai Zevi, founder of the Jewish Sabbatean movement, prayed.
Yanbol Synagogue
Yanbol Synagogue was built by Sephardi Jews who moved from the Bulgarian town of Yambol to Istanbul during the 15th century. The synagogue is also known as the Bulgarian Synagogue owing to the origin of the community. It was constructed in the 18th century. However, it underwent repairs during the end of the 19th century thus the structure today is not the original. Today, the synagogue is only open for Shabbat services due to a decrease in the Jewish community in the area.
Options
Full-Day Private Guided Jewish Heritage Tour in Istanbul
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Private Minivan with driver
Proffesional Guidance who has enough knowledge about Jewish Heritage
Parking
All drinks and meals are excluded
Admission fee of Ahrida Synagogue ( 25USD per person)
Admission fee of Jewish Museum 15EURO per person
Admission fee of Galata Tower-30 EURO per person
Galata Tower
The Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews
Ahrida Synagogue
Pickup points
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus
CIragan Caddesi No. 28 Besiktas Turkiye
Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus
Cumhuriyet Cad. No 50, Istanbul Turkiye
Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul
Ciragan Caddesi 32 Istanbul Turkiye
Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul
Kurucesme, Muallim Naci Caddesi No: 62, Kurucesme Mah Istanbul Turkiye
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At Sultanahmet
Tevkifhane Sokak No. 1, Sultanahmet Istanbul Turkiye
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Reviews
9 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Prepare to have your eyes opened
Randy and Free,Sep 10, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00These are difficult times for a Jewish Heritage tour in Turkiye, with most synagogues closed to the public for fear of a repeat of the bombings perpetrated by foreign terrorists in past years. Nevertheless, Zerrin put together a wonderful tour of Jewish neighborhoods, the Jewish Museum, and access to the largest synagogue in Istanbul. She is historically and culturally knowledgeable, filled with regional perspective on the long and rich history from 3rd century BCE through modern days, interlaced with influences of political power and foreign nation states. I came away significantly enlightened and a little embarrassed by my knowledge gaps regarding the significant role that Turkiye has played in fostering and protecting Jewish heritage and people through the centuries. Highly recommended.
Istanbul and its heritage
890marietai,Jan 1, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The city is the same, Istanbul. The attraction is different, the Jewish Heritage. And the agency. The agency is the same - Travel.Concierge. Again great performance, interesting facts told like fairytales by their guide. Great experience due to Travel.Concierge's professionalism and friendliness!
knowledgeable and flexible
U9673SLmarinat,Aug 21, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Zerrin was absolutely fabulous...she was with us for the whole 10 days of our trip. Very flexible when we needed changes made, extremely knowledgeable. You can choose to have a very history filled tour or a slightly more relaxed one. She listens to the client and adjusts accordingly. We have also recommended her to many of our friends who have traveled with children who told us that she was super accomodating with them as well.
Unique and unforgettable experience
513vadimu,Aug 13, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Simply amazing! Zerrin unveiled to us a storied and wondrous tale of Jews in Istanbul to in a way that only an expert and passionate guide can. Each stop on the tour was carefully curated to paint a picture of Jewish life in Istanbul. We felt the joy and melancholy of each temple, delighted in Zerrin's narrative, and were left astonished by the footprint that Jewish community left in this grand city. This tour was a unique experience for us to connect with our heritage and, most definitely, one of the most cherished memories of our trip to Turkey.
Great tour!
rakushka,Aug 13, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Thanks, Zerrin, for the lovely tour! Your knowledge and experience as a tour guide is very impressive. Zerrin planned our day in Istanbul perfectly, was able to get us into locations of interest quickly, and shared interesting stories with us that we otherwise would not hear anywhere. Thank you Zerrin!
Thank you. Zerin!
ElinaI 13,Aug 12, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing service, reasonable prices. Zerin is very professional, knowledgeable and interesting tour guide & companion. Well organised and very efficient in responses. She is highly recommended and we will, definitely, book with her again.
Memorable Istanbul visit
Tourist84077,Aug 11, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We found Zerrin via Family Travel Concierge and we really lucky to explore Jewish heritage quarters under her guidance! She is an expert in history and culture, but also super personable, accommodating and just fun to spend time with! We are looking forward to additional trips with her in the future!
Fantastic Jewish Heritage tour in Istanbul
familytc,Aug 4, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I took this tour twice. The first time - my wife and me and the second time we brought our kids . Both tours were fantastic! Both times we got to know new facts, interesting details about daily lives of Jewish people who lived in Istanbul , visited different neighbourhoods, came to several synagogues. As the tour guide Zerrin is outstanding! I would highly recommend this tour!
Unique experience!
juliak313,Aug 4, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It felt as a very authentic unique experience to visit synagogue per appointment, walk around and learn a lot about history of jewish community in Istanbul. It was of a major highlights of our trip to Istanbul.
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Operated by Travel Concierge Turkey & Cyprus