Private Istanbul Heritage Tour: Ottoman & Byzantine Highlights
Start Point: Your Istanbul Hotel or Galataport
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Private Istanbul Heritage Tour: Ottoman & Byzantine Highlights
Discover the highlights of Istanbul’s Old City on a private Istanbul heritage tour featuring the city’s most important Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks. Explore the magnificent Topkapi Palace and learn about the fascinating lives of the Ottoman sultans through the insightful commentary of your private guide.
Admire the architectural beauty of Hagia Sophia, where Christian and Islamic heritage come together. Walk through the historic Hippodrome Square, see the elegant blue Iznik tiles of the Blue Mosque, and descend into the atmospheric Basilica Cistern, famous for its marble columns and mysterious reflections. Complete your experience at the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, where you can explore its colorful streets and shop for traditional products.
This personalized private Istanbul tour allows you to discover the city at your own pace while benefiting from local knowledge and insider recommendations. Book your private Istanbul Old City tour and experience the remarkable history, architecture, and culture of this unique city.
Tour Info
- Destinations: Istanbul
- Duration: 6-8 Hours
- Start Point: Your Istanbul Hotel or Galataport
- End Point: Your Istanbul Hotel or Galataport
- Inclusions: Private Tour, Licensed Tour Guide, Skip-the-line Access to Buy Tickets
- Exclusions: Transportation by Private Van (Optional), Airport Transfer (Optional), Museum Tickets & Attraction Fees, Meals & Drinks, Gratuity (Suggested)
- Sight to See: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace Museum, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome Square
Meet your private tour guide in your hotel or cruise port and start Private Istanbul Heritage Tour with highlights of city.
Highlights of Topkapi Palace Museum: More than just an Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans, it was seat of Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for almost 400 years long.
Topkapi Palace is a great monument of Oriental architecture which houses exhibits of art, calligraphy, jewels, plates, costumes, the Ottoman Empire Treasury, and Holy Relics of prophet Muhammad.
Byzantine Hippodrome / Sultanahmet Square: Here is the square where chariot races were held in Roman Empire times, Egyptian Column from Byzantine Empire time. Today German Fountain is cornerstone of square.
Hagia Sophia: Here, ancient cultures of East and West speak to you with a clear voice. Great blend of Christian and Islamic influence with beautiful interior mosaics, impressive and significant history. Built in 6th century by Emperor Justinian, played a very important role in Christian and Islamic World.
After Ottoman Empire’s conquest, the bells, altar and vessels were removed. Many mosaics were plastered over to convert the church into mosque, then museum in 1934. In July 2020 it is converted into a mosque again and one of the best sites in every daily Istanbul tours.
Blue Mosque: Built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I, Blue Mosque is truly a magnificent masterpiece of architecture with amazingly delicate proportions for a building of such massive scale. The blue shade of 27.000 pieces Iznik quart tiles gives mosque a popular name and 6 towering minarets give its unique structure.
Basilica Cistern: It is one of the most impressive underground structures of Byzantine Constantinople, built in the 6th century to supply water to the city. Its forest of marble columns, dim lighting and reflections on the water create a mysterious and unforgettable atmosphere.
Grand Bazaar: It is the largest and oldest covered market of world with over 4,000 shops. It was constructed in 15th century and became the commercial hub of trade between Asia & Europe.
Curiosity will be most charming effect taking you to get lost in streets of bazaar in your Istanbul tour.
After completing your private Istanbul tour here, your private guide will accompany you on the way back to your hotel or port.
This is the end of our service. We sincerely hope to welcome you as our guest again!
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays so will be replaced with Spice Market if your Istanbul tour is on that day.
- Children aged 7 and under are free of charge. Please make sure that you have passport copies of children as we have to verify their ages at museums for free tickets.
- If one of the mosques are not visited, Basilica Cistern will be visited as a replacement.
- On Fridays, Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque entrance will be restricted between 12:30pm - 14:30pm during Friday praying.
This tour includes accommodation and is request based. Please fill out the form below.
Tour date
Room type
Contact
Inclusions
- Private Tour
- Licensed Tour Guide
- Skip-the-line Access to Buy Tickets
Exclusions
- Transportation by Private Van (Optional)
- Airport Transfer (Optional)
- Museum Tickets & Attraction Fees
- Meals & Drinks
- Gratuity (Suggested)
24 Hour - Free cancellation
You are eligible for a full refund if you cancel your booking at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time of the experience.
However, if you cancel within 24 hours of the start time, no refund will be issued, and we will not be able to accept any modification requests during this period.
Please note that all cancellation deadlines are based on local time.