Private Tour
Private Guided 8 Hours Tour in Istanbul from Cruise port / Hotels
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Welcome to Istanbul, where Europe and Asia meets. Your private guide will meet with you at your hotel lobby or at Istanbul cruise port.
Visit the highlights of Istanbul with your private guide. This is a customize tour so, you can decide where you want to visit on your tour day with the help of the recommendations of your guide.
- You will have flexibilty to spend how much time you want in each site and make small changes on the itinerary.
- You do not have to wait for other group members.
- You will have a chance to make stops to have pictues during the tour.
- Our Private tour rates are more reasonable than cruise shore tours.
- Your guide will have pre-paid tickets to skip the lines
- You will have several alternatives to taste famous Turkish Delicious foods, if you want to have lunch during your trip.
Additional Info
Specialized infant seats are available
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
During religious holidays the Spice market and Grand Bazaar will be closed. Arasta bazaar will be visited instead
In the event of any museum closures, an alternative similar museum will be visited
Not recommended for participants with walking difficulties
Bare shoulders are not permitted in holy places of worship such as churches, monasteries, mosques and synagogues.
Shoes are not permitted in mosques
In the event of any museum closures, an alternative similar museum will be visited. On Tuesdays : Topkapi Palace replaced by Underground Cistern, On Sundays: Grand Bazaar will be replaced by Spice Market. Grand Bazaar will be replaced by Arasta Bazaar when closed. On Fridays: Blue Mosque is open from 15.00 to 16.30
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Istanbul
Your private guide will meet you at Istanbul port or hotel with a sign written “ Your Name “ on it, anytime you want.
Historic Areas of Istanbul
After greeted by your guide, you are going to customize your private tour with recommendations of your guide due to your interests. You can decide where you will visit with your guide’s recommendations and you can pay extra for the entrance and parking fees. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped off to your hotel or to cruise port. List of places that you may visit: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, Ancient Hippodrome Update for St. Sophia interior visit : Live guiding is not allowed in St. Sophia after the 15th January 2024. Guests have to have their smart phones and headphones during their visit. If guests do not have a headphone, they can buy at the entrance at the cost of 3,5-USD The system is similar to audio guide system. Guests who does not have smart phones will follow the signs and the given informations on the signs .
What‘s Included
GUARANTEED On Time Return to PORT
Transportation with brand new air-conditioned minivan/minibus
Private Professional English speaking tour guide
Private tour for your family and Friends only.
Food and drinks
Entrance Fees ( Our guide will have pre-paid tickets to skip line )
Tips
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Customized Istanbul Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
4 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent sight seeing around Istanbul for first time visitors
Markham316,May 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an excellent excursion around Istanbul today. My wife and had not been to the city before and it was on our cruise itinerary, so we wanted a private tour so we could sample the main sights without large crowds and also be able to have conversation with a knowledgeable guide. Our guide Buse met us at the Cruise Terminal having messaged on WhatsApp in advance. She was super friendly and helpful, and she met up with as at 8am ahead of being taken in a car to the Blue Mosque. We got there before the crowds and she explained everything about the building and its history. From there we went to the Hagia Sofia Mosque and saw some more amazing architecture. After this we had a stop to Sample Turkish Tea before heading to the Grand Bazaar, where we had free time to shop and also sample Turkish Coffee and Baklava from one of the local cafés. All in all walking between sites and being driven back to the Cruise Terminal we had around 5 hours exploring Istanbul which is for us to sample the city was great. We highly recommend the tour and company having booked this through Venture Ashore.
10/10 tour experience
S9335JXstephanieh,Apr 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My family and I had an amazing time exploring Istanbul with our wonderful tour guide Ezgi. Ezgi was very knowledgeable and made us feel so welcome. I would recommend this guided experience with Ezgi to anyone.
Private Tour Turkey
kimmM7286IQ,Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour with Eda. Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, Cathedral Cisterns and Grand Bazaar. We were picked up promptly at the Cruise Ship port by Eda and transported in a very nice van. We were well educated on the various times in Turkey’s history and culture. Everything was explained very well by Eda. We stopped at a nice restaurant for lunch (not included in our tour) for a great Donair. Great value and Eda was very enjoyable to spend most of the day with! There were no hidden fees.
Great tour
PBPG,Apr 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Driver and guide. Typhoon was very good. He seems to know his subject matter very well and delivers it in interesting ways. We went round foot mosques, a spice bizarre and shopping streets, called in for a coffee on the way round. Finished off with a trip to the Galatan tower. Would recommend this to anyone.
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