Turkey · ISTANBUL TOURS
Istanbul rewards an early start and a plan for the queues. Build a first visit out of these 15: the walled city and its three great monuments, the boats up the strait, and the hamams that stay open long after the ticket offices shut.
Cruise Istanbul’s Bosphorus aboard a mega yacht with dinner, Turkish shows, palace views, private tables, and optional hotel pickup.
“simply perfect! Everything is very good! The food is wonderful and lots of food! The shows are great, the scenery is beautiful! Everything is very organized! 100% recommend”
Review of Istanbul’s $8 Bosphorus cruise, with sunset views, landmark sightseeing, audio guide, drinks, meals, tips, and practical advice.
“The boat tour was incredible! The attention was excellent, and the explanation throughout the trip was very clear and informative. Highly recommended!”
Review of Istanbul’s Bosphorus dinner cruise, Turkish music and dance show, dinner, drinks, views, value, and practical booking tips.
“The atmosphere was very good, same was the food. Lovely journey!”
Review of Istanbul’s private 1, 2, or 3-day guided tour, with major sights, local transport, costs, timing, and practical booking advice.
“we had one day walking private tour of Istanbul with tour guide Ozan Ercan. Ozan was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and friendly that he made our tour truly memorable and enjoyable. We highly recommend him to anyone who wishes to learn about this wonderful and magnificent city.”
Save time at Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern with all-day fast-track entry, an 11-language audio guide, and optional Hagia Sophia access.
“So glad we were able to make it to this wonderful experience! Learned Turkish traditions I never knew existed. Great laughs with Petek”
Review of Hagia Sophia’s skip-the-line ticket, mosque visit, audio guide, museum option, costs, queues, access rules, and practical tips.
“Hagia Sophia was as described, very pretty and interesting. My main complaint is I found it quite difficult to find where I had to get my ticket from. No one seemed to know! Also depending where you are approaching the mosque it’s quite a climb.Very steep approach.”
See Istanbul’s Mevlevi Sema ceremony in a restored Ottoman bath, with live Turkish music, whirling dervishes, and a helpful exhibition.
“This experience is amazing. I wont call it a SHOW, the people involved are deeply spiritual & are almost in a trance during the experience. The 5 Dervish spun for over 35 minutes during the course of the different levels & sections of this experience. It takes alot of dedication & existential concentration to be able to do that. After each level of spinning. They just stop in a dime. I would fall over & beauty very sick after spinning this way. Its a double fulkrum spin. Each person spins & is rotating in around a circle with a diameter of around 50 feet. As they are spinning themselves. its…”
Enter Topkapi Palace and its Harem with skip-the-line access, a flexible timed entry, and a smartphone audio guide in Istanbul.
“The guide was great to get you in and explain what he is there to do. Once you’re in you can roam around and take your time as it isn’t a tour guide, just fast track”
See Istanbul’s palaces, mosques, bridges, and Maiden’s Tower on a relaxed two-hour Bosphorus yacht cruise with snacks.
“TUGBA BOZMESE was our guide. She did a wonderful job.”
Tour Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Hippodrome with a guide, reserved Hagia Sophia entry, headsets, and Galataport pickup.
“Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and gave great insights to the history and art. She was excellent.”
Review of Istanbul’s private Turkish bath, scrub, foam massage, sauna, and optional massage near Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar.
“My first Turkish bath experience was absolutely wonderful and far exceeded my expectations. From the moment I arrived, the atmosphere felt calm, warm, and inviting, immediately putting me at ease. As someone experiencing this for the first time, I really appreciated how unhurried everything felt — there was no sense of being rushed at any point. The heat, steam, and ritual of the bath were deeply relaxing, allowing me to completely switch off and enjoy the moment. Each step flowed naturally into the next, giving me time to fully unwind and soak in the experience. The pace was perfect, making it feel like a true escape rather than just an…”
Make a Turkish mosaic lamp in Istanbul with expert guidance, tea, coffee, cookies, and a handmade souvenir for $29.
“Such an amazing workshop! A very memorable experience. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. Nihal was an excellent teacher. A must do experience in Istanbul. It also gave us the opportunity to visit the Asian side as well”
Make a 50ml signature perfume in Istanbul with expert help, 100 scents, tea, and a Bosphorus view during this two-hour workshop.
“Bryan and Serena made the experience so much fun and helped take the guess work out of making my new signature scent. I had a great time. Definitely book it.”
Review of Istanbul’s $19 Bosphorus sunset yacht cruise, with live English guide, snacks, landmark views, and practical tips.
“We had a great time. Smooth tour and full of experience.”
Review of Istanbul’s $8 Bosphorus sunset cruise, with skyline views, audio guide, snacks, drinks, route details, tips, and honest value advice.
“Very fun activity, you get to see the whole city! just bring a jacket if you go during the winter. They give you free blankets too!”
Pick a city, a coastline or a ruin.
