Best of Istanbul Private Istanbul Guided Tour

Meet your private tour guide in your hotel or port and start your Istanbul tour with the highlights of the city; The 8-hour excursion starts with a pick-up from your Istanbul hotel or port and a walk through the lively streets of Turkey’s largest city to visit the dramatic former basilica of the Hagia Sophia, great architectural beauty, and an important monument during the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. For many centuries, this was the largest church in the world, and it still boasts the 4th largest dome after St. Paul’s in London, St. Peter’s in Rome, and the Duomo in Florence. Dedicated to the Hagia Sophia or ‘divine wisdom’, it is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture.Move on to the Blue Mosque, more officially known as the Sultanahmet Mosque. The mosque’s striking blue tiles give it its more common name and make it one of Istanbul’s most iconic attractions. Located close to Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque was considered the Supreme Imperial Mosque in Istanbul.Continue to Topkapi Palace, a relic of the glory days of the great Ottoman Empire. The former palace boasted a population of about 4,000 people at its peak and was home to 25 sultans over a period of 400 years. Located on a promontory overlooking the Golden Horn, it sits in tranquil gardens that provide shade from the blazing heat of the summer. Pop into the museum to see the gorgeous Iznik tiles and the ornate stateroom of the harem, among other attractions.You will also visit the Hippodrome, the former circus built in 203 AD by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus. Three monuments from the original building remain, including the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and the Constantine Column. You will also pause to look at the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, made from 8 marble columns.Your day won’t be complete, however, without a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. With hundreds of small handcraft shops selling everything from handmade carpets to Turkish coffee, the atmosphere is electric, and it’s a great place to try out your bargaining skills.