Istanbul Tour Package: 4 Days / 3 Nights with Hotel & Bosphorus Cruise
Overview
Istanbul Tour Package: 4 Days / 3 Nights with Hotel & Bosphorus Cruise
If this is your first trip to Istanbul, this all-inclusive package covers the essentials and includes your hotel. You sleep in a hotel we have chosen with care and spend your days among the city's long history and busy street life.
All the planning for the four days and three nights is done before you arrive. The package covers your hotel with breakfast each morning, a full-day guided Old City tour, a Bosphorus cruise, lunch on the tour days, entrance tickets and transfers to and from the airport. A professional guide and a personal travel assistant take care of you, with stops for photos at the city's famous spots and a chance to try local food and culture. All you need to do is relax and enjoy Istanbul.
Tour Info
Choose your hotels
This package comes with a mid-range hotel. To stay somewhere else, pick another hotel below and we add only the difference in price. We confirm availability with you.
Select a check-in date and the exact prices for those dates will appear.
Middle Class
Middle Class
Middle Class
Middle Class
Middle Class
Middle Class
Middle Class
Middle Class
Middle ClassThe hotel prices here are estimates. Before your booking is final, our team will get in touch to confirm the price and availability.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival at Istanbul Airport and Hotel Check-In
Our team greets you when you land at Istanbul Airport (IST) and drives you privately to your hotel in the centre of Istanbul. It is a middle-class property picked from our hotel list, and we confirm it with you beforehand. Once you have checked in, the day is free: rest after the flight, sit in a cafe nearby or have a look around the neighbourhood.
- Landing at Istanbul Airport
- Private transfer from the airport to your hotel
- Check-in at the hotel with welcome assistance
- Free time to rest or explore the area
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 – Old City: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar
After breakfast you spend a full guided day, 09:00 to 17:00, in the historic Old City of Istanbul. The tour covers its most famous Byzantine and Ottoman sights: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the ancient Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace and finally the Grand Bazaar. At each one your guide explains the cultural heritage behind it, and there are stops on the way for photos, shopping and local experiences.
- 09:00 - Hotel pick-up, then departure
- 10:00 - Hagia Sophia
- 11:30 - The Blue Mosque and Hippodrome
- 13:00 - Lunch break
- 14:00 - Topkapi Palace
- 16:00 - Free time at the Grand Bazaar
- 17:00 - Return to the hotel, with the evening free
Night in Istanbul.
Day 3 – Bosphorus Cruise, Dolmabahce and Ortakoy
After breakfast, a full day on and around the Bosphorus runs from 09:00 to 17:00, showing you a city that sits on two continents. Along the way you see the Bosphorus Bridge, Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy, the Ottoman mansions on the shore and wide views of the city from the water. You also get time of your own to take photos, sit in local cafes or shop.
- 09:00 - Pick-up at your hotel and departure
- 10:00 - Cruise on the Bosphorus
- 12:00 - Panoramic sightseeing along the Bosphorus
- 13:00 - Break for lunch
- 14:30 - Dolmabahce area with time to explore freely
- 16:00 - Photo stops and shopping
- 17:00 - Back to your hotel; the evening is free
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4 – Departure from Istanbul Airport
Have breakfast and check out, and our team takes you to Istanbul Airport in time for your onward flight. Our services end here.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓3 hotel nights with breakfast at a middle-class hotel chosen by us, booked subject to availability and once you approve it
- ✓Lunch on each guided tour day
- ✓Transfers from and to the airport
- ✓Guided full day in Istanbul's Old City
- ✓Entry tickets for the attractions listed
- ✓Cruise on the Bosphorus
- ✓Comfortable vehicle for transport on tour days
- ✓Local taxes and service charges, all included
- ✕International Flights
- ✕Personal Expenses
- ✕Dinners
- ✕Optional Tours and Activities
- ✕Travel Insurance
- ✕Tips for Guide and Driver
Cancellation Policy
Cancel at no charge until 7 days before your tour and you receive a full refund. If you cancel within the final 7 days before the tour, no refund is given. All times shown are local.
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Four-day Istanbul city package: the key facts
Starting at $699 per person, this private four-day package gives you a full first introduction to Istanbul, with your hotel built in. It includes three nights at a centrally located middle-class hotel chosen from our list, breakfast every day, private transfers to and from the airport, a guided Old City tour lasting a full day, a full day combining a Bosphorus cruise with a city tour, lunch on both touring days, tickets for the listed sights and transport on tour. Dinners and international flights are not covered.
| Summary | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4 days, 3 nights |
| Cost | from $699 per person |
| Accommodation | Central middle-class hotel, 3 nights with breakfast, confirmed once you approve |
| What is covered | Airport transfers, Old City tour, Bosphorus cruise, lunches on tour days, entry tickets, local taxes |
| What is not covered | International flights, dinners, optional tours, travel insurance, tips |
Are four days enough to see Istanbul?
For first-time visitors, four days with two full days of guiding is a solid start. You arrive and settle in on day one, see the Old City on day two, explore the Bosphorus side on day three and leave on day four. A guide shows you the key landmarks, and your evenings stay open for finding restaurants and districts by yourself. The 6- and 8-day packages further down add more free time or extra activities if you want them.
What is in the four-day plan?
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Land at Istanbul Airport, private transfer, check in at the hotel, free time |
| Day 2 | Old City tour for the full day, 09:00 to 17:00: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar |
| Day 3 | Bosphorus cruise and city tour for the full day, 09:00 to 17:00: Dolmabahce Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, Ortakoy, the waterside mansions |
| Day 4 | Breakfast, check out, transfer to Istanbul Airport |
Which of our Istanbul packages suits you?
| Package | What it adds | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| This package | Old City and Bosphorus, 3 nights | $699 per person |
| Six-day Premium Istanbul package | City tour by private car, a dinner cruise, one free day | $1,050 per person |
| Eight-day Ultimate Istanbul package | The Princes' Islands plus extra free time | $1,499 per person |
| Ten-day all-inclusive Istanbul package | A food tour across two continents | $1,750 per person |
Prefer to plan your own days? Look at the 1 to 3 day private guide, from $199 per group for each day.
Which extras fit into the package?
Day one and every evening are free, so they work well for add-ons:
| Extra | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Bosphorus dinner cruise and Turkish night show | $90 |
| Whirling Dervish ceremony | $60 |
| Street food tour in Istanbul | $90 |
| Shopping tour of the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market | $90 per person |
Where will you stay?
In a centrally placed middle-class hotel picked from our list, confirmed according to availability and only after you approve it before the trip. Being central counts in Istanbul: it cuts travel time on tour days and means you can walk to restaurants at night.
Which days are best avoided for the Old City tour?
Topkapi Palace shuts on Tuesdays and the Grand Bazaar on Sundays. Send us your dates and we will make sure your Old City day avoids those closures. Museums and bazaars are also closed on 1 January and over the religious holidays.
When should you plan an Istanbul city break?
The mild weather of April to June and September to November is good for walking and boat trips. Summer is warm and crowded; in winter it is calmer, with shorter lines and fewer people at the big sights.
What should you pack?
Good walking shoes, a headscarf for women and clothing that covers shoulders and knees for mosque visits, a light jacket for the Bosphorus boat, and cash or a card for dinners and shopping.
How do you reserve?
Pick your dates on this page and submit the form, or send us your arrival and departure flights on WhatsApp. Your hotel is confirmed with your approval and the plan reaches you in writing; payment comes only after confirmation. To browse further, see our tours in Istanbul and Turkey packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay in full when I book the package?
No. The package is sold under Book Now, Pay Later conditions: you secure your dates first and pay afterwards. You can cancel free of charge with a full refund until 7 days before you arrive; if you cancel within those last 7 days, there is no refund. Tell us your travel dates and how many people are coming, and we agree the hotel and the timing of the guided days together, and only then confirm anything.
Are entrance tickets included on the guided days?
Yes. The package covers entry to the attractions listed for the two guided days, as well as lunch on both of those days and the Bosphorus cruise. On the Old City day this covers Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace; the Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome have no entrance fee. Anything you choose to visit by yourself in your free time is not covered.
Does the price change for solo travellers or groups?
Prices start from $699 per person and assume at least two people sharing a room. Travelling alone? You can take the same package in a single room, which is priced differently. If you are three or more, a family or a larger group, send us your dates and we will confirm the rooms and give you a price for your group.
Which hotel do I stay in on the 4-day Istanbul package?
Your 3 nights, with breakfast every day, are in a centrally located middle-class hotel in Istanbul, picked from our selection. The hotel is confirmed subject to availability and only once you have approved it, so you know your accommodation before you leave home. If you prefer another hotel category, mention it at booking; the price will change according to the hotel.
Are 4 days enough for a first visit to Istanbul?
Yes, for a first trip it works well. On day 1 you land and get a private transfer. On day 2 a guide shows you the Old City all day, covering Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. Day 3 brings the Bosphorus cruise, taking in Dolmabahce and Ortakoy, and on day 4 you are taken to the airport. Your evenings are free for dinner, a visit to Galata or a rooftop view.
What are the start and finish times of the guided days?
Each guided day runs from 09:00 to 17:00. You are picked up at your hotel, stop for lunch and are brought back to the hotel, which leaves your evenings free. Topkapi Palace does not open on Tuesdays, and Sundays are the closing day for the Grand Bazaar. If your Old City day lands on either, your guide reorders the visits so you still cover the main sights.
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