This package bundles three full guided day tours of Istanbul, each starting with a pick-up from your hotel, so you can see the city's essentials without planning the logistics yourself. Accommodation is not part of the package, which makes it a flexible choice for travellers who have already booked a hotel or are staying with friends. The first day concentrates on Sultanahmet, the historic core of Byzantine Constantinople and Ottoman Istanbul. At the Hippodrome, where chariot races were once held, your guide explains the Egyptian obelisk brought by Theodosius, the Serpentine Column and the stone-built Column of Constantine. You then enter the Blue Mosque, built in the early 17th century and named after its blue Iznik tiles, and Hagia Sophia, the 6th-century masterpiece of Justinian that served as the largest church in the world for about a thousand years and is a mosque today. After a lunch break, the afternoon is spent among shops selling spices, baklava, Turkish delight, coffee, olive oil soaps, ceramics and evil eye charms.
On the second day a traditional boat follows the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia, passing wooden waterfront villas, Dolmabahce Palace, the gardens of Yildiz Palace, the marble facade of Ciragan Palace and the lively quarter of Ortakoy. The tour continues to Rumeli Fortress, raised by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 in only four months, and to Beylerbeyi Palace, the Ottoman summer residence on the Asian shore. You cross the Bosphorus Bridge between the continents and enjoy the panorama from Camlica Hill, Istanbul's highest point. Afterwards a shopping tour shows traditional carpet weaving, jewellery and handicraft workshops and a leatherwear show.
The third day is an island escape on the Sea of Marmara. From the boat you see Topkapi Palace, Leander's Tower (the Maiden's Tower) and Uskudar from the water before landing on Buyukada, the largest of the Princes' Islands, with its pine woods, summer houses and beaches. After touring the island and a fish restaurant lunch stop, you return to the city and are dropped back at your hotel. Optional entries to Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern can be added on the first day at the door price.
| Tour type | Shared small group Β· multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 Days 2 Nights |
| Price | From β¬220 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | English-speaking licensed guide |
| Stops | 12 |
| Entrance fees | Not included (paid on site) |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours Β· TΓRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full program, day by day β click a day to see every stop.
Your guide collects you from your hotel at 09:00 for a full day in the historic peninsula. The first stop is the Hippodrome, the former chariot-racing arena, where three monuments still stand: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column cast in bronze, and the Walled Obelisk. Next comes the Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia and decorated inside with thousands of blue Iznik tiles, followed by Hagia Sophia itself, the great Byzantine church of the 6th century that is now a mosque. Around 13:00 there is a lunch break. In the afternoon you browse shops for spices, herbs, baklava, Turkish delight, coffee, dried fruit, ceramics and other souvenirs before the transfer back to your hotel. Entry to Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern can be added at the door price. Please bring a scarf for the mosque visits.
Pick-up is at 08:30 for a traditional boat trip on the Bosphorus, the strait that divides Europe from Asia. From the deck you see Dolmabahce Palace, the parks and pavilions of Yildiz Palace, the long marble frontage of Ciragan Palace and Ortakoy, where a church, a mosque and a synagogue have stood side by side for centuries. Ashore, you visit Rumeli Fortress, built in 1452 to control the strait, and Beylerbeyi Palace, the sultans' summer residence on the Asian side. After crossing the Bosphorus Bridge you stop at Camlica Hill for a sweeping view over the city. The afternoon shopping tour includes a carpet weaving course, jewellery and handicraft centres and a leather fashion show, after which you are taken back to your hotel and the evening is free.
A cruise across the Sea of Marmara takes you to the Princes' Islands, with views of Topkapi Palace, Leander's Tower and Uskudar along the way. You land on Buyukada, once a retreat for Byzantine princes and today a summer resort with sandy beaches, pine woods and elegant old mansions. In summer there is time to enjoy the island's beach atmosphere, with optional water sports at extra cost. After a tour of the island and a lunch stop at a fish restaurant, you sail back to the city and are transferred to your hotel.
Sultanahmet β Bosphorus β Buyukada
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles β the same fleet we use on your tour.
π₯ 54 Seats
π₯ 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
π₯ 55 Seats
π₯ 54 Seats
π₯ 50 Seats
π₯ 50 Seats
π₯ 50 Seats
π₯ 46 Seats
π₯ 37+2 Seats
π₯ 37 Seats
π₯ 35 Seats
π₯ 16+1 Seats
π₯ 16+1 Seats
π₯ 12+1 Seats
π₯ 6+1 Seats
Extra day tours you can add along your route β Sultanahmet, Bosphorus, Buyukada.
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Other private and group tours that visit the same destination.
Fill in your details and we confirm your private departure within 24 hours.
Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized β from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!