Istanbul: Ertugrul and Osman Ghazi Movie Set Tour with Lunch

The most memorable part of this day is stepping into the wooden tents, castle courtyards, and Kayi camp built for Dirilis Ertugrul and Kurulus Osman. You are not watching a scene being filmed, but you do get close to the sets, costumes, props, and actors who help bring the shows to life. Guides such as Hakan Serim, who played Gunkut Alp, have made the visit especially personal for fans.

I like the guided walk through the sets, where you can ask about filming and the characters behind the stories. I also like the lunch and closing horse show, which give the day more substance than a quick photo stop. The main caution is value: at $118, this is a costly outing, and horse riding, photography, costumes, and some hands-on activities can cost extra.

Key points at a glance

• See the Kayi camp and castle sets: Walk through the built environments used for Ertugrul and Osman, including tents, camp areas, and castle sections.
• Meet drama actors on some departures: Guides and cast members such as Gunkut Alp may lead or appear during the visit, though actor encounters are not guaranteed.
• Expect a full day outside Istanbul: The coach ride takes roughly 40 to 50 minutes each way, and the entire activity lasts about eight hours.
• Lunch is included: You receive a Turkish meal and one soft drink, with sherbet available as a traditional drink.
• The live show is the finale: Horse riders perform a short, dramatic presentation that many visitors consider the high point.
• Bring cash for extras: Costume photographs, horseback riding, archery, and other activities may require payment on site.

What this film-set day really offers

This is part television pilgrimage, part staged historical attraction, and part family day out. The sets were created to represent the world of the Kayi tribe, Ertugrul Ghazi, and his son Osman Ghazi, figures closely tied to the early Ottoman story as presented in Turkish television.

You should set your expectations correctly. This is not a museum of original medieval buildings, and you should not expect to watch a television episode being filmed. One section may be closed when production is under way, and access can vary from day to day. What you see is a working film environment with carefully made replicas, costumes, props, performance areas, and staff who know how the sets are used.

For fans, that distinction hardly ruins the fun. Walking into a tent associated with the Kayi camp, seeing a throne used on screen, or standing in a castle courtyard can be far more satisfying than simply looking at a display behind glass. For visitors who have not watched the shows, the day still offers a lively introduction to Turkish historical drama, though the emotional payoff will be strongest if you know the characters.

Meeting in central Istanbul and riding to the sets

The tour does not include hotel pickup. You choose one of two central meeting points: in front of Bilgins Leather & Fur Cağaloğlu between 9:40 and 9:50 in the morning, or in front of the Ataturk Cultural Center in Taksim between 10:10 and 10:15.

This matters because you need to allow time to reach the meeting point yourself. The Taksim option is useful if you are staying around the central Beyoglu area, while Cağaloğlu is convenient for the Old City. Confirm the exact meeting point and arrive early, since the pickup window is short.

The drive to the set takes about 40 to 50 minutes according to the tour information and timing reported during the day. The coach ride is part of the experience rather than dead time. Music from the two series may play during the journey, and guides such as Hakan have used the ride to explain the shows, characters, and day ahead.

You will want a camera, your passport or ID card, and cash. Cash is especially useful because several optional activities and photographs are paid locally. The ride is a welcome break before several hours of walking, but the eight-hour schedule makes this a substantial day rather than a quick excursion.

Entering the Kayi camp and Ertugrul’s world

The first set areas usually focus on the older Ertugrul material and the Kayi camp. You may see traditional tents, camp structures, weapons, wooden furnishings, and decorative details made to suggest a thirteenth-century Turkic setting.

The best way to appreciate this section is to look beyond the large tents. Film sets work through small details: a saddle, a shield, a cooking area, a carved chest, or a fabric pattern that helps establish a character’s place in the camp. Your guide can explain how the spaces function on screen and answer questions about filming.

Some guides have a special connection to the shows. Hakan Serim, known for playing Gunkut Alp, has led tours, while other guides have included actors or staff closely involved with the production. A guide with that background can explain more than a standard sightseeing escort, especially when you ask about costumes, props, or how scenes are staged.

You normally receive time with the guide and some free time to walk around independently. That balance works well. The guided portion gives you the story and context, while free time lets you take photographs without trying to keep up with the group.

One practical limit: access to every set is not guaranteed. A castle or camp area may be closed because filming is taking place. You should see this as a working studio visit, not a fixed museum route.

Osman Ghazi’s castles, props, and costume photographs

The later sections connect with Kurulus Osman, including castle sets and locations associated with the show. Inegol Castle has drawn particular attention because of its strong visual design and the presence of details such as Aya Nikola’s throne.

These sections are built for television, so they are designed to look impressive from the camera’s point of view. You will see broad courtyards, fortified entrances, banners, wooden structures, and throne areas. The sets can feel surprisingly convincing when you are standing inside them, although you should not mistake them for surviving Ottoman or Seljuk architecture.

Costume photography is one of the most tempting extras. You may be able to dress as characters such as Osman Bey or Bala Hatun and pose in the set with a professional photographer. One reported price for a costume and custom-film package was $50, so ask about the current fee before agreeing.

That extra can be worthwhile for a devoted fan or a family looking for a keepsake. It is less attractive if you are already paying $118 and mainly want to see the sets. You can still take your own camera photographs in the permitted areas, so decide in advance how much the staged portrait matters to you.

The gift shop is another point to handle carefully. It offers themed items and souvenirs, but prices can be high. I would browse first, set a spending limit, and avoid feeling pressured into buying a costume package or merchandise simply because it is offered during the visit.

Lunch, sherbet, and a pause in the schedule

Lunch is served at a local on-site restaurant and includes one soft drink. Traditional Turkish hospitality is part of the appeal, and the meal gives you a needed rest after walking around the camp and castle areas.

Food quality appears to vary with crowd levels. Some meals have been described as very good, while another account found the food nearly cold when the restaurant was busy. That is not unusual at a popular attraction receiving several groups at once. Go in expecting a solid included meal, not a carefully paced restaurant experience.

The tour information also includes a taste of sherbet, a traditional sweetened Turkish drink. Since it may not arrive automatically with the meal, ask for it if it is not offered. You should not be charged separately according to the stated arrangement, but asking clearly avoids confusion.

Lunch is more valuable here than it might sound. The day has a long middle stretch, and without a proper meal the walking, waiting, and afternoon performances would feel tiring. It also gives you a chance to compare impressions with your group before the final activities.

Hands-on activities and paid extras

The set visit can include hands-on activities such as iron forging and archery. The supplied information is not fully consistent about archery: one section presents it as included, while the exclusions and on-site reports indicate that some archery sessions may cost extra. Treat archery as a possible paid add-on and confirm the price before taking part.

Horseback riding is also available for an additional charge. It can be a fun choice if you want a more active experience, particularly for children and fans who want to feel part of the show. It is not needed to enjoy the main tour, and you should not assume it is included in the $118 price.

Professional photography costs extra as well. Costume sessions can make attractive souvenirs, but they can also push the total cost well above the advertised rate. Bring cash and ask what the package includes, how many photographs you receive, and whether the activity is separate from the basic set visit.

Some departures have included other demonstrations, such as glass blowing, but this is not listed as a standard part of the experience. Do not book solely for a particular extra unless the operator confirms it for your date.

The important point is that the base experience already includes return transportation, entry, the guide, lunch with one soft drink, and the live show. The extras are optional, but they are presented in a setting where saying no may feel awkward. Decide your budget before arrival.

The live horse show that closes the day

The final performance is a short live show, often around 15 minutes, featuring skilled horse riders and dramatic action inspired by the series. It takes place with the film sets behind the performers, which gives the presentation much more impact than a show in an ordinary arena.

This is often the strongest part of the afternoon. The horses, costumes, music, riding, and staged action bring together the visual language of the television dramas. You are not simply looking at a static set anymore; you are seeing the kind of spectacle the sets were built to support.

The show also helps justify the length of the day. Some visitors find the waiting between lunch and the late performance too long, especially when there is limited activity or when only part of the set is open. The final presentation can make that patience pay off, but the schedule may feel slow if you prefer a tightly packed sightseeing tour.

Try to think of this as a relaxed production visit rather than a fast checklist. You have time to walk, take photographs, watch performances, eat, and browse. If you want continuous historical sightseeing from morning to evening, this may feel padded. If you enjoy atmosphere and staged action, the slower rhythm is easier to accept.

Is $118 good value?

At $118 per person, this is not a cheap film-location visit. The price includes transportation from central Istanbul, admission, an English-speaking guide, lunch, and the closing performance. It also saves you from arranging transport to a set outside the city, which is useful if you do not speak Turkish or prefer a planned outing.

The value depends heavily on your connection to the programs. For someone who knows Ertugrul and Osman, the chance to walk through the camps, see props, meet production staff, and possibly encounter actors can feel worth the full price. For someone unfamiliar with the shows, the sets may look attractive but somewhat artificial, and the cost becomes harder to defend.

I would compare it with the price of a private transfer plus separate admission, if available, but the tour’s advantage is not only transport. A guide such as Burak, Abdullah, Oscar, or Hakan can connect the buildings to the characters and production. That explanation gives meaning to a tent or throne that might otherwise look like a decorative prop.

Still, budget for extras only if they matter to you. A $50 costume photography package, horse riding, archery, and shopping can turn a moderately expensive day into a very expensive one. The basic tour can be enjoyable without buying anything beyond what is included.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the day first to fans of Dirilis Ertugrul and Kurulus Osman. You will recognize the camps, characters, castles, and props, and an actor-guide can make the visit feel like a personal connection to the shows.

It also suits families, groups of friends, and visitors who enjoy costume drama, horses, staged combat, and interactive attractions. The live show adds energy, while the free time allows people in the same group to choose different levels of participation.

You may enjoy it less if you want authentic archaeological sites or original medieval buildings. This is a television production site, with replicas and controlled set access. It is also not ideal for anyone who dislikes long coach rides, waiting between scheduled activities, or sales-oriented stops.

The attraction is not suitable for wheelchair users, and electric wheelchairs are not allowed. The walking pace and uneven set areas may also be worth considering if mobility is limited, though the supplied information does not give detailed surface or seating guidance.

Should you book the Ertugrul and Osman set tour?

Book it if the series already means something to you. The strongest parts are the set access, the chance of meeting cast members or actor-guides, the generous free time, and the live horse show. The Turkish lunch is useful, if not always perfectly timed, and the coach transfer makes the outing simple.

Skip it if you expect live filming, genuine Ottoman monuments, or a low-cost museum visit. Also skip the paid extras unless you have decided they fit your budget. At $118, this is best understood as a fan experience with a full day of transport, set access, food, and performance, not as a conventional history tour.

For most dedicated fans, I think the base package offers a memorable day. Arrive early at the correct meeting point, bring cash, ask about optional fees, and leave room in your expectations for a working studio where some areas may be closed.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours, including transportation between Istanbul and the film sets.

Where does pickup take place?

You can meet the tour at either Bilgins Leather & Fur Cağaloğlu between 9:40 and 9:50 AM, or the Ataturk Cultural Center in Taksim between 10:10 and 10:15 AM.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must travel to one of the two central Istanbul meeting points.

What language does the guide speak?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant and one soft drink are included. A taste of sherbet is also part of the experience, though you may need to ask for it.

Are horse riding and professional photographs included?

No. Horse riding and professional photography are available for additional fees at the site.

Will I watch scenes being filmed?

No. The tour visits the film sets, but it does not promise that filming will be taking place. Some areas may also be closed when production is under way.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, and electric wheelchairs are not allowed.