Private Tour
Best of Istanbul 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Visit highlights of Istanbul with your private tour guide in 1, 2 or 3 days with a flexible itinerary.
Day 1 - Highlights of Topkapi Palace Museum, Byzantine Hippodrome / Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar.
Day 2 - Bosphorus Cruise by Public Ferry, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, Galata Tower (from outside), Spice Market.
Day 3 - Suleymaniye Mosque, Fener and Balat Districts, St. Stephen Church (Iron Church), Pierre Lotti Panoramic Hill by Cable Car, Chora Church (or alternative sites).
Important Notes:
- Skip the line service is not available for active mosques - there is a queue for the entrance.
- If one of the mosques is not visited, Basilica Cistern will be visited as a replacement.
- For the tours that start later than 11 am, kindly note that you may have to skip one/a couple of sites as the sites are closed by 7 pm. Your guide will adjust the program according to your priorities.
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
The suggested first-day tour is designed as a walking tour, with transportation needed only between the hotel and the Old Town if the hotel is outside old town.
The suggested second-day tour can be easily managed by public transportation
Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays can be replaced with alternatives such as Turkish And Islamic Arts Museum or Archaeological Museum or Basilica Cistern.
If one of the mosques or museums is not visited, Basilica Cistern will be visited as a replacement.
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and replaced with Spice Market.
Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays. Due to museum regulations, live guide service is not available at Dolmabahce Palace.
For the tours that start later than 11 am, kindly note that you may have to skip one/a couple of sites as the sites are closed by 7 pm. Your guide will adjust the program according to your priorities.
On Fridays, Blue Mosque will be visited in the afternoon.
Grand Bazaar and Spice Market is closed during Eid. (March 20-22, May 27-30 in 2026)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Sultanahmet District
Sultanahmet District
Hippodrome
Hippodrome Square / Atmeydanı Hippodrome; where the chariot races were held in the Roman Empire times, Egyptian Column from Byzantine Empire time and today German Fountain is the main cornerstone of the square of Ottoman Empire.
What‘s Included
Professional Licensed Guide
Private tour
Guide meets you at central hotels
Transportation (from/back to hotel, between sites unless van is booked)
Museum/Ferry/Cable Car Tickets
Lunch
Gratuity (suggested)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
3 Days Private Guide-Van Tour
Mercedes Vito/Sprinter
Pickup included
2 Days Private Guide-Van Tour
Mercedes Vito/Sprinter
Pickup included
2-Day Private Guided Tour
Duration: 7 hours: 2 Day Tour(7 hours each day)
2-Day Without Transportation: Day 1: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Hippodrome.Day 2: Spice Market, Bosphorus Cruise, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street.
3-Day Private Guided Tour
(No transportation included)
Duration: 7 hours: 3 Day Tour(7 hours each day)
1-Day Private Guide & Van Tour
Mercedes Vito/Sprinter
Pickup included
1-Day Private Guided Tour
Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace Museum, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar. (No transportation included)
Reviews
8,884 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
2 day Istanbul tour
Expedition796346,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I enjoyed a great 2 day tour of all the major sites of Istanbul. The pace and organization of the tour were wonderful, and our guide, Sude, was very knowledgeable and professional. Highly recommend both Sude and the tour.
Great one day tour with Burak!
ppS9472DW,,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a good experience with Burak. He was friendly and jovial, and he catered to our wishes about what we wanted to spend time seeing. He had a lot of knowledge about Turkish, Ottoman, and Greek and Roman history and was more than happy to answer any questions about culture, religion, politics, anything. He was also able to recommend a good place to buy Turkish delights and spices and brought us to a good kebab place for lunch. It was easy to spend the day with him as a guide.
Great way to experience Istanbul’s treasures
I2045EOsuzannes,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Hakan is an excellent guide. Very worthwhile to go with him to better understand and appreciate Istanbul’s landmarks and history.
Best tour ever!
elizabethlW4976YC,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We loved our 2 day tour of Istanbul. Yucel was a fantastic guide and we will recommend him to anyone else coming to Istanbul. He was so patient with our children and catered the tour to our specific desires.
Another way to get to know Istanbul
Nomad20460041266,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It introduced us to Turkish culture and that helped to understand the visits. We visit the important things and other curiosities of the city
Very good experience
FloridaWes,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Guide was responsive, knowledgeable, flexible and dependable. Would highly recommend him
Private 1-day Tour in Istanbul
774azrab,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ümran was such a fantastic guide. She was so nice and accommodating to our family since we had a little one who was super tired so we moved at a slower pace. She adjusted so kindly and made sure we got to visit the most pertinent spots. She was so incredibly knowledgeable about everything and we truly felt so blessed that we got to tour with her. She made the entire experience that was already so beautiful, absolutely unforgettable! Thank you Ümran!
Hilal was phenomenal—knowledgeable and efficient. Warm, funny, and passionate, she truly brought Istanbul to life!
Abhiagrawal 007,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Perfect way to spend the time in Istanbul. It’s a must do!! Saw a lot, private tour is the one if the best ways to see Istanbul. So much history and things to see
Unforgettable 3-day tour
tinatine11,,Jan 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We recently completed the unforgettable 3-day tour of Istanbul, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have had Burak as our guide. From start to finish, Burak demonstrated exceptional knowledge of Istanbul’s rich history, culture, and architecture, bringing every site to life with insightful and engaging storytelling. Burak’s planning and pacing were perfect, balancing must-see landmarks with hidden gems and local experiences. We never felt rushed, yet we saw and learned more than we thought possible in three days. Thanks to Burak, our family not only saw Istanbul — we truly understood and connected with it. Thank you!
Great Istanbul tour with a very friendly and helpful guide.
Daniel L,,Jan 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great day with Ahmet who was extremely informative and very flexible with our day. Great tour to see the highlights of Istanbul.
Related Experiences
Operated by Guided Istanbul Tours