Private 2-Day Istanbul Walking Tour with a Local Insider Guide

Private 2-day Istanbul walking tour with a local guide: the key facts

This is a two-day private walking tour of Istanbul with your own English-speaking guide. Day 1 covers the historic landmarks of Sultanahmet: Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome. Day 2 starts at 09:00 with the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, followed by a cruise on the Bosphorus. The guide arranges fast-track entry where it is available and uses public transport between areas.

It suits first-time visitors and families who want a steady, guided introduction to the old city without a large group, and who are happy to walk. The guide, public transport, hotel pick-up and drop-off and entry fees are listed as included. The price is from $535 per person.

Is the Topkapı Palace ticket included?

The page contradicts itself here, so confirm it in writing before you pay. The inclusions say entry fees are included, and the Day 1 plan says the Topkapı visit has its "admission ticket included". But the exclusions list the Topkapı Palace and Harem entrance fee, and the extras offer a Topkapı ticket for $85. Our reading is that the palace ticket is extra, but ask us to state clearly which tickets your price covers. Topkapı is closed on Tuesdays, so if your Day 1 falls on a Tuesday, ask us to swap the days.

Do we need to pay for Hagia Sophia?

The page lists Hagia Sophia as "admission free", but that is out of date for most visitors. Foreign visitors now need a paid ticket for the upper gallery, where the mosaics are; the ground-floor prayer area is free. Our Hagia Sophia ticket price guide has the current details. Ask us whether the paid visit is part of your plan or whether your guide shows you the free section only, and have that written into your booking.

Does this package include a hotel?

The duration says 2 days and 1 night, but no hotel appears in the inclusions or the day plan. The package covers the guide, transport and pick-ups from your own hotel, so treat it as a two-day guided tour and book your stay separately unless we confirm otherwise in writing. If you are still choosing where to stay, a base in or near the old city keeps walking short; see our Sultanahmet hotels page. If you want a package with a hotel built in, see our Istanbul packages.

How much walking is involved?

A fair amount. Day 1 is about three and a half hours of visits by the times on the page: 1 hour 30 minutes at Topkapı Palace, 1 hour at Hagia Sophia, 30 minutes at the Blue Mosque and 30 minutes at the Hippodrome, plus the walks between them on hills and cobbles. Day 2 has 2 hours in the Grand Bazaar, 1 hour in the Spice Bazaar and a 2-hour cruise, where you can sit. Wear comfortable shoes. If someone in the group walks slowly, tell your guide so the pace is set around them.

What should we wear in the mosques?

Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are working mosques. Cover your shoulders and knees, and women should bring a scarf for their hair. You take your shoes off at the entrance, so slip-on shoes help. The Blue Mosque closes to visitors during prayer times, and your guide plans the order of visits around them. On Friday around midday the mosques are at their busiest for prayers. Our what to wear in Istanbul page has more tips for each season.

How does the Bosphorus cruise on Day 2 work?

After the bazaars, the plan includes a 2-hour cruise between Europe and Asia with views of the city skyline. The cruise ticket is listed as not included, so you pay for it on the day or ask us to add it to your booking. The page does not say which boat or pier is used, so ask for these details if they matter to you. Lunch is also not included; the Spice Bazaar area is a convenient place to eat before the cruise.

Can we change the plan or add an evening show?

Yes. The page says the plan is flexible and can be shaped around you, so tell us if you would rather swap a site, start later or skip the cruise. The extras include a Whirling Dervishes show at Hodjapasha for $30. For comparison, we also offer a private Istanbul guide for one, two or three days from $199 per group and the Istanbul two-day walking tour of the old city and two continents from $440 per person; check each page for what it includes.

How do we book this tour?

Choose your dates and number of guests in the booking form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. Tell us your hotel address, the days you want, and whether you want the Topkapı ticket, the paid Hagia Sophia visit, the cruise ticket or the dervish show added. We confirm the tickets covered, the start times and the order of sites, and send the full plan in writing before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).