Private Guided Historical Tour in Istanbul | 5 hours to 7 hours

72 Reviews | Istanbul
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2
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Private Guided Historical Tour in Istanbul
2 Adults x $156.00
$312.00
Approx Total
$312.00
Pickup included

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Professional licensed guiding
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Lunch
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Basilica Cistern Admission fee
  • Hagia Sophia Admission Fee
  • Gratuity

Overview

I am an Istanbul born and raised professional tour guide since 1997. I provide private customized tours for your needs in my city. I will be delighted to share my knowledge and experience with you in a private tour, special to you through the streets of Istanbul in which you can adjust the pace and see or to do more or less. You can enjoy history, culture, gastronomy and shopping of the city in the best customized way with me.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Galataport Cruise ship Port of Istanbul or central locations of Istanbul Hotels pick up by PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION is possible. In the pick up point I will hold a sign with the travelers' name. ... Read more â–¼

OR

Meeting points

German Fountain, Hippodrome, Sultanahmet area, old city. In the pick up point I will hold a sign with the travelers' name.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

  • Blue Mosque

    We visit the one of the most beautiful Ottoman mosques decorated with 4 centuries old blue Iznik tiles.

    50 minutes

  • Hippodrome

    We visit the surviving monuments of the Hippodrome of Constantinople where the Roman chariots used to race, a stadium of the time which was bigger than any soccer stadium of today. It's capacity was a 100000 people at the time that the city's population was 400000.

    30 minutes

  • Hagia Sophia Moschee

    We visit the visiting part of the one of the oldest and the greatest houses of worship in the world; a church/mosque of the Romans and the Ottomans. 6th century built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian.

    50 minutes

  • N/A

    In a convenient time of the day, we have a lunch break and it will be the time to experience the great Turkish cuisine in either of the two great restaurants; Deraliye or Galeyan.

    1 hour 30 minutes

  • Basilica Cistern

    We visit the 6th century built spectacular water reservoir of the Romans. A real proof of the advanced Roman architecture with its 336 ancient columns which looks like a sunken palace.

    50 minutes

  • Grand Bazaar

    You experience the oriental way of shopping in the oldest and the biggest indoor shopping mall of Europe with an age of nearly 6 centuries, shops of 4000 and entrance/exit gates of 21. The famous bizarre bazaar!

    1 hour 30 minutes

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Not recommended for travelers with wheel chair or serious walking difficulties

Free Cancellation

June 19100% refund
June 20No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.9

72 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    68
  • 4 stars
    3
  • 3 stars
    0
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    1

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 68 reviews with 5 stars

A wonderful tour of both sides of Istanbul

Published on Jan, 2025

Sel was terrific. English was flawless. Knowledgeable, considerate and punctual. We enjoyed his well planed guided tour very much.

Exceptional Travel Guide for Istanbul and Turkey

Published on Jan, 2025

A close friend of mine recommended Sel for our family trip to Istanbul. We had engaged him for a 3-day Private tour of Istanbul. From the moment we embarked on our Istanbul journey with Sel, it became clear that he is not just a guide, but a true connoisseur of Turkish culture, history, and the intricate tapestry that weaves through every corner of Istanbul. The depth of knowledge and passion that Sel brought for each day of the tour is palpable, transforming a simple visit into an immersive and enlightening adventure With nearly three decades of guiding travelers through the wonders of Turkey, Sel has honed an unparalleled expertise. Whether it’s navigating the bustling streets of Istanbul, unveiling the hidden gems of the Grand Bazaar, or recounting the stories of ancient empires at Hagia Sophia, every moment was enriched by a profound understanding of the locale’s history and significance. He had answers to every question that our family had. He crafted the itinerary for us, booked tickets for all major attractions. His food recommendations were great. Before entering the museums or places of interest, we would show us the picture or video of the attractions and tell us about the history of the attractions we should focus on. This helped us not to miss any key attractions and also stay on schedule. Through anecdotes, local interactions, and insider tips, he provided us a deeper appreciation of the contemporary Turkish way of life. From culinary delights to traditional crafts, Sel opened the door to authentic experiences that are often missed by the casual tourist. Had a wonderful time in Istanbul, thanks to Sel

Amazing Full Day in Istanbul with the Perfect Guide

Published on Dec, 2024

Our day with Sel was the highlight of our time in Istanbul; he curated a terrific day of seeing sites, learning about the history and culture of the city and the country, visiting museums, and experiencing the local food and crafts - rug weaving and ceramic making. We were traveling with our twin 16 year-old boys and Sel was great about engaging with them, finding topics of interest to discuss and involving them throughout the conversations of the day. He was incredibly knowledgeable and the level of detail and information was perfect for our family; we appreciated his insights and ability to connect history to today's world so what we were learning and discussing could be appreciated by our teens as relevant to their lives. Sel had a keen sense of when to do what throughout the day; he had created a great outline of a plan for what we were going to see but due to some inclement weather and unexpected long lines at one of our stops, he suggested we pivot and go to lunch and wait to see if the lines cleared up. Sel wisely provided us with three different options for lunch and we picked a kebab place,Galeyan, which was delicious and had a great vibe. His plan worked great and after a great lunch the lines were shorter and we were able to get inside quickly. Because of Sel's navigation throughout the day, we got to see everything on our "must see" list - even if it meant in a slightly different order than originally planned. We liked his "structure with flexibility" approach to the tour and the day and really appreciated everything he shared - and we learned. We would 100% use Sel again if we return to the city and highly recommend him to anyone looking for someone knowledgeable and personable to guide you while you are in Turkey.

Perfect comprehensive day in Istanbul

Published on Dec, 2024

Fantastic tour! Guide was SUPER knowledgeable and able to answer every single question we had! He let us adjust the tour to our needs and on what we wanted to see. The lunch restaurant he suggested for lunch was one of the best meals we had the whole trip. He even helped us book Turkish Baths the following day. This was a great, comprehensive tour of Istanbul. Even my 9 year old daughter had a great time and learned a TON! Highly recommend!

Great full day tour of Istanbul!

Published on Dec, 2024

We had a great full day guided tour with Selcuk! He took us all around the old city to see all the major sights (the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar) and provided a lot of interesting historical and cultural information. He also took us to a fabulous Turkish lunch! He was also really good with our kids- 12 and 8 years old. We all had a fabulous time. We'd highly recommend taking a tour with Selcuk!

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