Turkiye · CITY TOURS IN ISTANBUL

15 Best City Tours in Istanbul

28 tours  ·  from $8

Prices, running times and the traveller verdict on the 15 best city tours in Istanbul you can book right now. The first one is first for a reason.

Istanbul: Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide - Boarding near Karaköy and choosing your spot
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Istanbul: Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide

1.Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 14,430 reviews · 2 hours · from $8Our pick

Board a Mega Lüfer yacht in Istanbul for a two-hour Bosphorus cruise by day or at sunset. You’ll pass palaces, bridges, fortresses, and waterfront neighborhoods with a mobile audio guide in nine languages. Choose a simple sightseeing ride, snacks, dinner, or unlimited alcoholic drinks. Bring headphones and a charged phone.

“The boat was very nice, nice atmosphere start was very polite and helpful, overall great experience!”

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Istanbul: Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide - Finding the boat at Sea Land Travel Agency
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Istanbul: Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide

2.Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,694 reviews · from $8

See Istanbul from the Bosphorus on a two-hour Sea Land cruise between Europe and Asia. You’ll pass palaces, mosques, bridges, waterfront mansions, and Maiden’s Tower, with unlimited Turkish tea and Nescafé, Wi-Fi, restrooms, and an audio guide in 11 languages. Staff members including Tarik and Daria help guests find the boat.

“It was good but very busy. Great value certainly, but that was balanced by the boat being over sold. I was on this same cruise in January with far fewer passengers and it was a more enjoyable, albeit cooler, experience.”

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Istanbul: Full-Day Highlights Tour with Guide and Lunch - Starting around the Hippodrome
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Istanbul: Full-Day Highlights Tour with Guide and Lunch

3.Full-Day Highlights Tour with Guide and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,662 reviews · 7 hours · from $37

Spend seven hours in Istanbul’s old city with a licensed guide such as Baris, Kemal, Zeyneb, or Fathi. Visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar, with local lunch included. The pace is active, the walking is substantial, and admission fees for Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia are extra.

“It was very well organised and we had a great guide!”

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Istanbul: Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Sunset Option - Finding the TURYOL Port at Eminönü
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Istanbul: Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Sunset Option

4.Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Sunset Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,636 reviews · from $9

Sail from Eminönü TURYOL Port for 90 minutes between Istanbul’s European and Asian shores. You’ll see Galata Tower, palaces, bridges, and waterfront homes from a spacious boat, with a smartphone audio guide in several languages. Choose the 4 PM or 5 PM departure for sunset, and bring a light jacket for the wind.

“Amazing comfort on the boat and experience. One of the activities we enjoyed the most. Strongly recommend this tour.”

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ISTANBUL BEST: Iconic Landmarks Full Day PRIVATE Guided City Tour - Hagia Sophia: Two Empires Under One Dome
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ISTANBUL BEST: Iconic Landmarks Full Day PRIVATE Guided City Tour

5.Istanbul Best: Iconic Landmarks Full Day Private Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,032 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $80Top rated

Take a private 6 to 8 hour walking tour through Istanbul’s Sultanahmet sights with an English-speaking guide such as Zel, Volkan, Mehmet, or Musa. Visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar. Hotel, Airbnb, and Galataport pickup options are available, with entrance fees extra.

“Our private tour of Istanbul with Volkan was absolutely outstanding. He guided us through the city’s most iconic sights — the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar — all while sharing fascinating history and local insights. Volkan knew the best spots for photos, making sure we captured the beauty of each landmark. What made the day truly special was his personal touch: he seemed to know every one of the city’s famous stray cats, and his warmth and hospitality made us feel like we were exploring with a friend. He introduced us to excellent local restaurants where we enjoyed authentic Turkish cuisine, and connected us with…”

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Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide - Galataport, Cihangir, and Dolmabahçe
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Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide

6.Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 473 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $12

Sail from Eminönü for about two hours, passing Ottoman palaces, waterfront mansions, fortresses, bridges, and Maiden’s Tower. You’ll use your charged smartphone and headphones for the 11-language audio guide. Turkish tea and Nescafé are free, while the open deck offers the best photographs.

“No explanation on the places visited. There is audio to place in your phone; however, there is no way of knowing where you are at.”

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Istanbul: City Highlights Tour w/Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque - Hagia Sophia, where empires changed the building
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Istanbul: City Highlights Tour w/Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque

7.City Highlights Tour w/Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 390 reviews · 4 hours · from $41

Spend four hours exploring Istanbul’s historic center with a local guide. Visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome ruins, and Grand Bazaar. Guides speak English, Spanish, Russian, or Japanese. Pickup is included, but Hagia Sophia admission and hotel drop-off are not.

“My time in Istanbul was absolutely incredible, thanks to our amazing guide, Sibel! From start to finish, she made the experience unforgettable with her warmth, knowledge, and endless enthusiasm. Sibel was not only friendly and welcoming but also incredibly knowledgeable about Istanbul’s rich history, culture, and hidden gems. Whether we were exploring the majestic Hagia Sophia, wandering through the vibrant Grand Bazaar, or enjoying a delicious Turkish tea by the Bosphorus, her insights brought every moment to life. What truly stood out was Sibel’s passion for sharing her city she went above and beyond to ensure we had the best experience possible. Her recommendations for local eateries and ...”

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Istanbul: Private City Highlights Guided Tour - Starting in Sultanahmet with a private guide
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Istanbul: Private City Highlights Guided Tour

8.Private City Highlights Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 370 reviews · from $103

Spend seven hours with a private English or Spanish-speaking guide visiting Istanbul’s biggest sights, from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque to Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. Hotel or port pickup is included, transport is optional, and the route can be adjusted to suit your interests. Expect substantial walking and extra entrance fees.

“Excellent. Private tour seeing main sites with guide Ken. He was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed it and we would recommend. Thank you”

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WONDERS of ISTANBUL: PRIVATE Full-Day Guided City Tour - The Hippodrome and the remains of Byzantine public life
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WONDERS of ISTANBUL: PRIVATE Full-Day Guided City Tour

9.Wonders of Istanbul: Private Full-Day Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 295 reviews · 5 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $78

Spend five to seven hours with a private English-speaking guide exploring Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar. Guides such as Volkan, Fettah, Sam, Aytaç, and Sema tailor the pace, suggest local restaurants, and help with photos. Entry fees for three major sights are extra.

“Very informative guide and friendly. Had an enjoyable day learning about the city and the amazing sites. Would definitely recommend. Met us at the port exit area on schedule.”

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Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour - Blue Mosque: the day’s grand opening
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Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour

10.Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 273 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $100

Start at Galataport with an English-speaking guide and cover Istanbul’s core sights in about eight hours. You’ll visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar, with a small group of up to 14. Expect substantial walking, museum fees, and possible shopping stops.

“The tour guide did a good job, but if he had audio and head phones, it would have been much better.”

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Istanbul: Full-Day City Highlights Tour with Lunch - Starting with pickup in central Istanbul
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Istanbul: Full-Day City Highlights Tour with Lunch

11.Full-Day City Highlights Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 254 reviews · 7 hours · from $70

Spend seven hours exploring Istanbul’s old city with an English-speaking guide, visiting Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar. Guides such as Baris, Okan, Ece, and Fatih are praised for clear storytelling and flexibility. Lunch and central hotel pickup are included, but major entry fees are extra.

“Baris was a very knowledgeable guy and shared very interesting details throughout our tour. On top of that, he was kind to answer any questions we had and once he got to know our group's preferences was sure to point out specific things and make history come to life. I also enjoyed the size of the group,having done tours with ~20, 10, and 1 other person this is the ideal size unless you are doing a private tour. It's big enough (~4) that there are people to talk to besides the guide and you can get to know them well especially at lunch. On top of that it is not…”

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Istanbul: Full-Day 2-Sides City Tour with Lunch & Boat Tour - An early start and a citywide route
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Istanbul: Full-Day 2-Sides City Tour with Lunch & Boat Tour

12.Full-Day 2-Sides City Tour with Lunch & Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 250 reviews · 12 hours · from $106

Spend a full day crossing Istanbul by coach and boat with a live guide in English, Russian, Spanish, French, or Arabic. Visit Camlica Hill, Camlica Mosque, Beylerbeyi Palace, Eyup Sultan Mosque, and Pierre Loti Hill, then cruise the Bosporus for two hours. Pickup, lunch, Wi-Fi on the boat, and hotel drop-off are included.

“It was a wonderful tour. There were multiple guides on the tour, and they were constantly with us. Lunch was delicious and the portions were adequate. If you want to explore different parts of Istanbul, you should definitely join this tour.”

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Istanbul Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise - What happens at the pier and on board
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Istanbul Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise

13.Istanbul Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 237 reviews · 1 hour 50 minutes (approx.) · from $16

This shared boat ride leaves from Turyol Eminönü and follows the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia. You’ll pass palaces, mosques, bridges, waterfront mansions, Üsküdar, and more. A self-guided audio link may be included if selected, but there is no live guide. Expect variable crowds, open seating, short passenger stops, and a complimentary bottle of water or juice.

“It was a beautiful experience with much entertainment and our host Ezgi made us feel extra special.. From pickup to drop off perfectly arranged. The personal attention was truly appreciated”

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Istanbul: Private Full-Day Old City Highlights Tour - Topkapi Palace: two hours in the Ottoman court
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Istanbul: Private Full-Day Old City Highlights Tour

14.Private Full-Day Old City Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 234 reviews · 7 hours · from $102

Spend seven hours with a licensed guide exploring Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, and possibly the Basilica Cistern. Your guide walks from a central hotel, adjusts the pace to your interests, and helps buy priority tickets. English, German, French, and Spanish tours are available.

“Our guide, Ceren, was fantastic. She was very knowledgable, had a deep understanding of the history, culture and attractions and was a pleasure to spend the day with. Would highly recommend”

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Istanbul: Bosphorus Strait Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide - Finding the Dentur Avrasya pier at Kabataş
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Istanbul: Bosphorus Strait Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide

15.Bosphorus Strait Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 120 reviews · 2 hours · from $18

Set out from Kabataş on a two-hour Bosphorus cruise past Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy, Rumeli Hisarı, Anadolu Hisarı, and more. You can use the mobile audio guide, or join a live English, German, French, Spanish, or Chinese guide. Guides such as Burak and Can add useful local history and friendly advice.

“We really enjoyed our boat trip and our tour gide (Can) had lots of knowledge and gave us a lot information. He also was really friendly and social, we appreciated this.”

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New in City Tours in Istanbul

★ 4.3Private Bosphorus Strait Sightseeing Yacht CruiseFrom $18347 reviews
★ 4.9Private Old City Tour with Bosphorus CruiseFrom $10229 reviews
★ 4.5Old City Tour and Luxury Sunset Bosphorus CruiseFrom $17721 reviews
★ 4.5Guided City Highlights Day TripFrom $9445 reviews
★ 4.4Full-Day City Tour with Bosphorus Cruise and LunchFrom $7517 reviews
★ 3.4Istanbul City Sightseeing Tour & Turkish Dinner & ShowFrom $21116 reviews
★ 4.4Customizable Sightseeing Private Driving Tour37 reviews

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