Istanbul 3-Day Tour Package: Hotel, Old City Tour & Transfers

Istanbul 3-day package with hotel, Old City tour and transfers: the key facts

This is a 3-day, 2-night Istanbul package with one guided sightseeing day. Day 1 is your arrival: our representative meets you at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport and takes you to your hotel, and the rest of the day is free. Day 2 is a full guided walking day in the Old City from 09:30, covering the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar, with Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia as optional entries. Day 3 is the transfer to the airport or another place you choose.

It suits first-time visitors on a short city break who want the airport transfers, hotel and the main historic sights arranged, with time left for their own plans. The price is from $435 per person.

What exactly do we see on the guided day?

The Day 2 walk covers the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome with the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the German Fountain, and the Grand Bazaar. Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia are marked optional with an admission fee required. The overview also mentions the Spice Market, but the Day 2 plan does not list it, so ask us to confirm in writing whether it is part of the tour. The page says tours usually run from 09:30 to around 4:00 PM, depending on traffic.

Are the Topkapi and Hagia Sophia tickets included?

The inclusions say "admission fees in the itinerary", but the same itinerary marks Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia as optional with "admission fee required". Read that as: plan to pay for these two tickets unless your written plan says otherwise. Ask us for the current prices when you book and have them listed in the plan. Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays, so if your Day 2 falls on a Tuesday, ask how the tour is arranged. See our Hagia Sophia ticket price page.

What can we do on the free time?

Day 1 is free after check-in, and Day 3 has time before your transfer depending on your flight. The page offers one paid extra, a Bosphorus dinner cruise for $60; see our Bosphorus dinner cruise page. Other ideas close to the Old City are on our things to do in Sultanahmet page, and a full list of short trips is under Istanbul tours. Book any extra tour with us in advance if you want it in the same written plan.

Which hotel is used and where?

The package includes two nights with breakfast. The page does not name the hotel, its area or its category. Ask us to state the hotel name and neighbourhood in the written plan, since a hotel near the Old City makes the 09:30 pick-up and evening walks easier. If you have a preferred area, tell us when you enquire. Our where to stay in Istanbul guide explains the main districts.

What should we wear for the mosques?

For the Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia if you go in, cover shoulders and knees, women cover their hair, and shoes come off at the door. A scarf in your day bag is the simplest solution. Mosques close to visitors during prayer times, longest at Friday midday, so the order of the walk can change on the day. The tour is on foot for most of the day, so wear comfortable shoes. More advice is in what to wear in Istanbul.

When is the best time of year for this package?

Spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable for a walking day in Istanbul. Summer is warm and the Old City is crowded, while winter brings rain and shorter daylight but fewer queues. The package runs in any season. If your guided day falls on a Friday, the longer midday prayer closure at the mosques can change the order of the walk. For month-by-month advice, see our best time to visit Istanbul guide.

Can we add nights or more tour days?

Yes. The page lists one extra hotel night before or after the tour for $65, or two extra nights for $125. If you want more guided sightseeing, compare the Istanbul 5-day package from $1,285 per person, which adds the Bosphorus, Dolmabahce Palace, Balat and Pierre Loti Hill, or the Istanbul 4-day city tour package from $699 per person. More options are on our Istanbul packages page.

How do we book this package?

Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page and send us your arrival and departure flight details so we can plan the transfers. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We check the hotel for your dates and send the full plan in writing, with the hotel, the tour day and any ticket costs, before you make any payment. Cancellation terms are on our cancellation policy page. Get Turkey Tours is operated by Viracocha Travel Turizm, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.