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Istanbul Tours
Istanbul Full Day Old City Tour
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Istanbul Full Day Old City Tour

By Turkey Tours Company
Recommended by 96% of travellers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 6–8 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Professional Licensed Tour Guide
  • Hotel Pick Up & Drop Off
  • Public Transport Such as Tram
  • Insurance
What's not included
  • Food & Drinks
  • Personal Expenses
  • Driver & Guide Tips – Gratitue
  • Admission Fees to Attractions
  • Entry/Admission - Hagia Sophia Mosque
  • Entry/Admission - Topkapı Palace
  • Entry/Admission - Hagia Irene Museum


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • The pick-up and drop-off by public transport such as tram, etc... If your hotel is located in the main attraction area, the guide will pick you up by walking from your hotel. For the guests who are coming with cruise ships, our meeting point is in front of the Hafız Mustafa Sweets Shop.
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      Port pickup offered
      During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included ports.
      • ISTANBUL PORT enterance, Kılıçali Paşa, 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Wheelchair accessible
        • Near public transportation
        • Infants must sit on laps
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 210351P8

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Most travellers can participate
        • Topkapi Palace entrance fee is 1700 TRY. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
        • Hagia Sophia entarance fee is 25 €. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
        • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 210351P8

        From
        AU$163.26
        AU$155.10
        per adult (price varies by group size)
        Select date and travellers
        Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

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        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Turkey Tours Company
          1,434
          Kusadasi, Türkiye
          Joined in October 2019
        • dz999
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Private Tour of Ephesus with Ceyda
          Ephesus, The House of the Virgin Mary and The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus are amazing. Ceyda did such a nice job giving us the highlights of these sites, and was very knowledgeable. Could not have asked for a better guide!
          Written 29 November 2024
        • Sandra_und_Holger
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great tour with Erdem
          Erdem was a very good Guide, telling us much about history of the places and about the sellers of tourist things in Ephesus. After visiting the great historic places we went to a pottery manufacturer and to Turkish delights, where all the sweets can be tested (even when you buy nothing) - the included lunch was a big and nice Buffett in Hitit Hotel.
          Written 24 November 2024
        • Lissa L
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Unforgettable experience
          I would describe this tour as awesome! It was fascinating to hear the ancient stories about Ephesus. What made it even better was my tour guide, Erden (Adam), who had an amazing vibe. He explained everything with passion and provided extra insights that made the experience even more memorable. If you're planning to visit and want an energetic, fun tour guide, I highly recommend Erden. You'll leave with a lot of knowledge and great memories
          Written 24 November 2024
        • chrissybordallo
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Wonderful!
          We were very happy with a great guide like Ceida. Beside being good company , she explained so much about Pamukkale and Hierapolis. It was a great experience. Thanks Ceida.
          Written 20 November 2024
        • 659yit
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Excellent tour operator for Turkey
          Excellent tour company, everything is well arranged. We went as a couple and the owner customized the tour after listening to our preferences. We won’t be able to do so much without his assistance. Highly recommended!
          Written 17 November 2024
        • Resort771990
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Ephesus
          Adam was very knowledgeable and gave us an detailed explanation for the history of the Ephesus We had a very good time here
          Written 10 November 2024
        • 303feliciab
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Ephesus, wine, and sweets- oh my!
          Wonderful tour! Our guide, Erdem, was very knowledgeable and shared many interesting facts. He also took us to some local areas to try wine and sweets. He arranged a nice lunch at a carpet making school where we were given a pressure- free demonstration. It was fascinating!
          Written 4 November 2024
        • C3036TOmariaj
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A blessed wonderful day in Ephesus
          A last minute decision to visit Ephesus again after 12 years turned out to be a blessing. The day started off with meeting our tour guide, Utku, who was at the port to pick us up on time. He is a very pleasant, friendly, and knowledgeable young person, who made us feel good and comfortable the whole time with him. He had great true knowledge of the historical people and places in Ephesus. He made sure that we see the important things that we need to see that day. We had a great with Utku and we wish him all the best and hope to meet him again someday soon. Thank you Utku!
          Written 30 October 2024
        • 138lorid
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Five Star Ephesus tour
          Yeliz was a phenomenal tour guide for our trip to Ephesus! Very knowledge and friendly. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting.
          Written 24 October 2024
        • Lee406
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A first rate tour at a good price
          We had an incredible and knowledgeable tour guide that spoke good English and knew so much about the places we visited. The van we rode in was very clean and comfortable with a great driver
          Written 17 October 2024
        • 273gabriellet
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          5 Star Ephesus Tour
          The Ephesus tour exceeded all of my expectations…the information; the local “artists”; the food and most of all our tour guide Adam!! Adam not only had a great personality but he was able to introduce us to some amazing people and cats lol. Can’t wait to visit again.
          Written 12 October 2024
        • AmishP509
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Very detailed tour.
          Our tour guide, Erdem "Adam" was one of a kind. He had a deep understanding of the history of the region. He was also able to tie in past history with modern day customs of the region. I didn't ask his background other than he was from the area. But I am guessing he has a history background or did extensive research on the sites we went to visit. He was even able to offer options of paths to take as we had kids and older adults which could have some trouble walking/stairs portion of the tour. My only complaint is the weather...mid 80's ughhhh. He went out of his way to stop in shaded areas to discuss what we were looking at throughout Ephesus. On most of my trips I use TripAdvisor reviews/other websites to plan what to see and research myself. This however, was a trip planned be a family member. I am glad we had Ergem this go around and will rethink my strategy because of this experience.
          Written 11 October 2024
        • G5970TWchristinea
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great Tour of Ephesus
          Caglar was an amazing tour guide. He took us to all the highlights and explained everything in great detail. He was very warm and friendly. We especially loved seeing the women’s shelter and having lunch there.
          Written 10 October 2024
        • Luke E
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A great tour of Ephesus with Adam!
          Adam was really great! He was informative, patient and tailored the tour to us. We loved the stop for food and comfy ride.
          Written 9 October 2024
        • B7563TNevanb
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Perfect day in a beautiful city.
          I would highly recommend this trip to anyone looking to get the most out of a short stay here. The tour guide was immensely knowledgeable of the entire surrounding area and more. Every question I asked had an answer! It was an incredible experience. Give this tour a try, you will not regret it. And consider yourself fortunate if Vedat is your guide. He's the best of the best!
          Written 9 October 2024
        See all 1,434 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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        5.0
        5.0 of 5 bubbles173 reviews
        Excellent
        152
        Very good
        15
        Average
        4
        Poor
        2
        Terrible
        0

        StotheN
        Stockholm, Sweden536 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        July 2021 • Solo
        This was a nice quaint tour spent in the old city side (Eminonu) of Istanbul. Mehmet was the guide and very easy to get along with.

        The tour started with a hotel pick up and we went to the Haga Sophia first. The place is so rich I'm history that you could spend hours here. Next stop was the Blue Mosque, followed by the Hippodrome. The Blue Mosque (or Sultanamet mosque, as be locals call it) is still under renovation and I cant wait to see it when finished.

        Now this is where I think some of the time was lost. We went to a Turkish rug shop, and a Turkish leather shop. While not forced to buy anything or spend money, I think it took the steam out of the tour. We spent around 90min in total at both places combined. They could have passed their contact info for us to visit on our own later. However I have to stress on their warm welcome and hospitality. Much appreciated since it was quiet warm outside and we could definitely use a cold drink.

        Next stop was the Grand Bazaar. This free time was also including lunch time. There wasn't much of a guidance required here and you are left to your own for another 90min.Before we went to the Topkapi Palace, there was a short stop at a traditional sweet shop. The Topkapi Palace stop only rivals the Haga Sophia on this tour. The sprawling gardens, the massive kitchens and the Sacred relics were sights to behold. One could easily spend a good 5-7 hrs here alone. The tour concluded here at around 4pm.

        I recommend this tour for any new traveler to Istanbul and take in the highlight sights of the city. The drive from the new city to the old city while going across the Galata bridge was also filled with sights to help get your sense of where things are in the city. Overall, it was a good one.
        Written 17 July 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for share your experience. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Kind Regards, TURKEY TOURS COMPANY
        Written 9 August 2021
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Navigator31448404382
        1 contribution
        2.0 of 5 bubbles
        Sept 2023 • Family
        I was quite disappointed in the tour actually. It is not worth it. Better to purchase your Topkapi palace tickets in advance to avoid entrance queues. Having the tour didn’t avoid enormous queues for the palace exhibits and we could have taken more time if we hadn’t been on the tour. The 2 mosques are free and better visited early evening as the tours does not avoid the queues here either, just again limits the available time. Really disappointed that even when were clear we did not want a restaurant lunch we were taken to a restaurant with a set menu of $US40 each.
        So easy to see the sights on your own, don’t bother booking
        Written 23 September 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        We sincerely apologize for your disappointment with the tour experience, and we value your feedback as it helps us improve our services. Regarding the queues at the Topkapi Palace and the mosques, we regret that the tour did not provide the expected convenience. We'd like to clarify that the tour is designed to provide guided insights and save time on ticket purchases, but it doesn't necessarily bypass any entrance queues, especially during peak hours. We will work on setting more accurate expectations in this regard. We appreciate your suggestion to visit the mosques in the early evening when queues might be shorter. However, it's important to note that Friday mosques are often closed for non-Muslim visitors during prayer times, and this is a factor beyond our control. We apologize if this information was not communicated clearly. Regarding the restaurant lunch, we apologize for the misunderstanding. It's never included meal option on our tours. We understand that some travelers prefer to explore sights independently, and we respect that choice. However, many guests appreciate the added value of guided tours for the historical and cultural insights they provide. Once again, we apologize for not meeting your expectations during your tour experience, and we appreciate your feedback. We are committed to improving our services, and we hope you might consider giving us another opportunity to provide a more enjoyable experience in the future. If you have any further comments or suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Your satisfaction is important to us, and we aim to create memorable travel experiences for all our customers.
        Written 3 October 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Michael Grant
        2 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2022 • Solo
        I booked a solo tour with Erdem Yildiz who met me at my hotel on time, I was impressed by his wealth of knowledge in Turkey’s culture. He educated me on interesting facts about the complex and dynamic history of Turkey in depth, I learned about everything we saw from the monuments, to the mosque’s, to the cistern, to weapons, art, cooking, royalty, politics and everything in between. Every question I had, he had an answer. Erdem went above and beyond my expectations, he is the most educated tour guide I ever met and his passion for Turkey’s history comes through effortlessly. He is a world-class professional and a great person to spend the day with as we became fast friends. Thank you Erdem for making my trip to Istanbul an unforgettable journey. To put it simply, Erdem is the greatest tour guide in all of Turkey! 🙏🏼
        Highly recommend!
        Written 14 January 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for sharing your experience. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Kind Regards, TURKEY TOURS COMPANY
        Written 8 February 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Emily B
        Fez, Morocco4 contributions
        2.0 of 5 bubbles
        Oct 2022 • Family
        Everything listed in the advert was visited or seen (if possible). One of the key attractions we were due to visit was closed on Tuesdays, this was not published in the information. Nor was the fact that the blue mosque was under renovations and impossible to actually view. This was all disclosed at the beginning of the tour. The disappointing parts were the unlisted visits. It was clearly evident that our tour guide was taking us to ‘friends’ businesses. This included, our very overpriced and disappointing lunch, a so called official tourist sales venue for carpets, jewellery and ceramics, and a spice vendor with sweets. (To us, it was evident there was highly likely a commission of some type involved). Although these places were interesting to view, it would have been nice to know beforehand that this was something that was included on the very expensive tour. Which with the price we paid, we could have visited all of the listed places ourselves at half the cost or less. Furthermore prior to the ending of our tour, we were advised to make our own way home on foot due to the traffic, we were told we were very close. (Close being a 33 minute walk, with elderly parents) Regardless of the fact that the tour clearly stated pick up and drop off. This tour was advertised as a private tour with a maximum of 8 guests, and there were 14 people in the tour. 4 people left the tour at lunch time, clearly disappointed with this experience so far. Had we not required the lift home ourselves (as we’d already paid for it) we would have left also.
        Written 26 October 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        We apologize for any disappointment you may have had on your tour. As stated in our tour program, all of the listed attractions were visited or seen if possible. However, we understand that some attractions may be closed on certain days, and the Blue Mosque was under renovations during your visit, which may have affected your experience. We regret that some of the additional visits were not clearly communicated in advance and understand that it may have been disappointing for you. We want to assure you that these visits were not included in the tour cost, we apologize for any inconvenience caused by the unplanned visits. We apologize for the lack of communication regarding the traffic and the drop-off location, it was not our intention to cause any inconvenience. We understand that you had elderly parents with you and we apologize that we did not provide adequate assistance in getting you home safely. We appreciate your feedback and will take it into consideration to improve our tour offerings in the future.
        Written 14 January 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Vacationer303422
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        July 2022 • Family
        Our tour guide was amazing, very knowledgeable and flexible in what we wanted to do. He was very personable and explained things clearly.
        The Old City tour was full of wonderful history and architecture.
        I would highly recommend this tour and company, they were on time, professional while at the same time understanding our needs.
        Written 26 July 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for the 5-star review! It is nice to hear that we can fulfill your needs. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to seeing you again.
        Written 27 July 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Dwight Smith
        41 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        May 2021 • Couples
        After we did Ephesus tour first we back to Istanbul. Before arrive in Turkey we had arranged everything from last year but we didint know that Covid 19 issue takes such long time. Joseph was our guide and and we did 2 days Istanbul tour with him ,it was so sad such a big and crowded city was so quite and empty. Joseph is a good guide and we have visited also extra places because Grand Bazaar was closed and we couldn't sail also in bosphorus as well . Not busy places and sites , guide was so friendly and helped us about everything.
        Written 9 May 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for share your experience. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Best Wishes, TURKEY TOURS COMPANY
        Written 27 May 2021
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Pixley O
        Miami, FL18 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Joseph provided was an amazing tour guide. He was very welcoming, patient, kind and informative. His knowledge of the old city and historical sites allowed for my girlfriend and I to stay engaged throughout the tour. Highly recommended especially during this time.
        Written 22 November 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for share your experience about our Agency. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with TURKEY TOURS COMPANY. Your feedbacks always motivate us to serve you better. We are looking forward to see you again.
        Written 24 November 2020
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Anastasia
        10 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        July 2022 • Family
        I didn't think we would be able to cover so many places in just one day! Our guide was Sercan who is very knowledgeable about everything from the pick up till the drop off was on point. The tour was very informative and interesting, all our questions were answered. We had a great time and the tour was tailored just for us and our interests! I recommend this tour for everyone especially if you're short on time and enjoy small groups or private tours.
        Written 23 July 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for the 5-star review! We are glad to hear that you enjoyed our tour. Thank you again for your feedback, which always inspires us to provide better service. We hope to see you again in the future.
        Written 24 July 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        OK
        Doha, Qatar33 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        July 2021 • Friends
        The tour was very exciting, insightful and fun thanks to our amazing guide Yuksel Celik.
        We were from Bahrain, Australia, Lebanon and Italy, and we’d all absolutely recommend him, as he tailored the tour to our requirements and was very knowledgeable and attentive.

        He took us to unique shops depending on our shopping requirements and helped us get amazing discounts.
        Written 20 July 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for share your experience. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Kind Regards, TURKEY TOURS COMPANY
        Written 9 August 2021
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        cicybretz
        Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates26 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Dec 2021
        We had an amazing experience with our private guided tour, mostly because of our super guide Erdem. He is so knowledgeable and friendly that we felt as walking around with an old friend.
        The weather was not that good (rainy, windy and cold) but he managed to tailor our way around it so we could have the best experience.
        Mind that it`s a walking tour so prepare yourself with confy clothes and shoes!
        Written 24 January 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for sharing your experience. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Kind Regards, TURKEY TOURS COMPANY
        Written 8 February 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        Istanbul Full Day Old City Tour provided by Turkey Tours Company

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