Istanbul Old City Tour: Small-Group Full Day with Tickets & Lunch
Overview
Istanbul Old City Tour: Small-Group Full Day with Tickets & Lunch
This guided full day takes you to the key sights of the Old City in Istanbul, where Byzantine and Ottoman layers meet. The morning begins at Hagia Sophia and continues to the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome of Constantinople, and then you stop for lunch.
Afternoon at Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar
In the afternoon you visit Topkapi Palace along with the Hagia Irene Museum, and the day closes with free time at the Grand Bazaar. A licensed professional guide explains the history of every stop as you go.
Pickup, Drop-Off and Tickets
Transfers from and back to centrally located hotels are part of the price, and so is every entrance ticket.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar
- Hotel pick-up: we collect you from your hotel if it is in central Istanbul and drive you to the Old City.
- Hagia Sophia: look up at the huge dome, study the ancient mosaics and see how Byzantine and Ottoman architecture meet in one building.
- Blue Mosque: famous for its six minarets and its blue Iznik tiles.
- Hippodrome of Constantinople: home to the German Fountain, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the Column of Constantine.
- Lunch break: a break to eat at a local restaurant inside the Old City.
- Topkapi Palace: once home to the Ottoman sultans, with courtyards, a treasury and the imperial collections.
- Hagia Irene Museum: among the oldest churches in Istanbul, standing within the Topkapi Palace complex.
- Grand Bazaar: time to wander on your own through one of the world's largest and oldest covered markets.
- Return transfer: we drive you back to your hotel, or you can stay in the Old City and spend some free time there.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Tour in a Small Group
- ✓Pickup at Central Hotels
- ✓Drop-Off Back at Central Hotels
- ✓Entry Tickets for the Museums
- ✓Lunch Included
- ✓Licensed Professional Guide
- ✓Itinerary with Flexibility
- ✓Help to Skip the Lines
- ✕Transportation by Private Vehicle (Optional)
- ✕Meals and Drinks
- ✕Personal Expenses
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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Full-day tour of Istanbul's Old City: the essentials
In one day this small-group tour covers all of Istanbul's historic peninsula, with prices from $199 per person. The morning is for Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome. After lunch in the Old City, the afternoon brings Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Irene Museum and free time in the Grand Bazaar. The price includes museum entry tickets, lunch, a licensed professional guide and pick-up from Galataport or central hotels.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| How long | Around 8 hours |
| Cost | From $199 per person |
| Format | Guided tour in a small group |
| Collection point | Galataport or hotels in central Istanbul |
| What you get | Lunch, museum entry tickets, licensed guide, help to skip the line, drop-off at your hotel |
| What you pay extra | Drinks, personal spending, a private vehicle (optional) |
Is one day enough for Istanbul's Old City?
It is, as long as the day is well organised, which is the whole point of this tour. The key Sultanahmet sights are a short walk apart, so you spend your time inside them rather than getting between them. The hard part, if you go alone, is the sequence. Lines at Hagia Sophia get longer as the morning goes on, Topkapi Palace is big and shuts in the early evening, and the Grand Bazaar works best at the end, when you will not have to carry shopping around the palace. The tour runs in exactly this order.
What does the price cover?
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Entry tickets for Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Hagia Irene | Drinks at lunch |
| Lunch in a local Old City restaurant | Private vehicle (offered as an option) |
| Licensed professional guide | Personal spending and shopping |
| Pick-up and drop-off at hotels in the centre | Tips |
With tickets already included, there is no need to wait at ticket desks or book online ahead of time.
Which sights do you visit, and in what order?
| Time of day | Stops |
|---|---|
| Morning | Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, with the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpent Column, Column of Constantine and German Fountain |
| Midday | Lunch in a local restaurant |
| Afternoon | Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Irene Museum |
| Late afternoon | Free time in the Grand Bazaar, then drop-off at your hotel or stay on in the Old City |
Is one full day better value than two half days?
Yes. Booked separately, the two half-day tours are $120 and $150, which adds up to $270, and lunch is not included. The full day costs $199 and includes lunch:
| Tour | What it covers | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| This tour | All of the below, plus lunch | $199 |
| Morning tour: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar | Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar | $120 |
| Afternoon tour: Topkapi, Hagia Irene, Grand Bazaar | Grand Bazaar, Hagia Irene, Topkapi Palace | $150 |
| Classic private guided tour | Much the same sites with a guide of your own, tickets extra | $200 |
Choose a half-day tour if you only have a morning or an afternoon free, or if you like a gentler pace with a pause between the two. If you would rather have a guide to yourself than join a small group, look at the private guide for 1 to 3 days.
Which days are best avoided?
Topkapi Palace closes on Tuesdays and the Grand Bazaar on Sundays, which leaves Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday as the best days for this tour. On Fridays, entry to Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque is limited around the midday prayer, so the guide changes the order of visits. Museums and bazaars are also shut on 1 January and over the Ramadan and Sacrifice holidays.
What is the best season?
For a whole day on foot, April to June and September to November work best. Summer is the hottest and most crowded time. Winter has shorter queues and fewer people, but some days are rainy. The tour operates all year round.
What clothes and items should you bring?
Most of the day is spent walking, so good shoes are the top priority. To enter the mosques, women need covered shoulders and knees and a scarf, and men should not wear shorts above the knee. Take water, an umbrella in winter, sunscreen in summer, and cash or a card for the Grand Bazaar.
How can you book?
Pick a date on this page and submit the form, or send us your hotel name on WhatsApp. We confirm your place and pick-up time in writing, and payment is only due after that. You can find more options among our Istanbul tours and Turkey tour packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to pay when the tour takes place?
Yes, payment on the tour day is possible. Booking ahead is still a good idea, as it secures your spot.
Do you pick me up from my hotel?
Yes. The price includes pick-up from hotels in central Istanbul.
When does the tour begin?
We collect you between 12:00 and 12:30; the exact time depends on your hotel's location.
How many hours does the tour take?
Expect around 6 to 8 hours, depending on the traffic and the pace of the day.
Is the cost of entrance tickets included?
Yes. Entrance fees are covered unless we state otherwise.
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