Our Istanbul city tour from Bodrum by flight lets you discover the highlights of the old city in a single day without changing hotels. This fully guided day tour flies you from Milas-Bodrum Airport to Istanbul, where an English-speaking guide leads you through the historic peninsula of Sultanahmet before you fly back and sleep in Bodrum again the same night. This daily Istanbul tour is an ideal daily excursion for holidaymakers on the Aegean who do not want to miss Istanbul.
Cruise passengers docking in Bodrum can book the Istanbul Tour as a convenient Bodrum shore excursion during their port call. With a private vehicle and guide, the day is timed to your ship’s arrival and departure, so you can enjoy the sights without worrying about the all-aboard deadline. Tell us how many hours your ship stays in port and we will confirm that the full programme fits comfortably. Just tell us the ship and the day it calls at Bodrum — we take care of the rest.
The Istanbul Tour is also arranged for visitors coming over from Kos, Kalymnos or Leros for the day. Catch the early ferry to Bodrum (from Kos the ferry takes 30 minutes; from Kalymnos the ferry takes about 1 hour; from Leros the ferry takes about 2 hours) and you will be back on the island the same evening. Our team welcomes you at the Bodrum ferry port and makes sure the day ends in time for your return crossing. For longer itineraries we check the ferry timetable first and confirm that the full programme fits your day. Please bring your passport and check the Turkish entry requirements for your nationality before travelling.
Topkapi Palace was the seat of Ottoman rule for roughly four centuries, from the 1400s until the mid-1800s. Its courtyards and halls hold porcelain, silverware, crystal, imperial robes, miniatures and the dazzling jewels of the Treasury, as well as the Holy Mantle and other relics of the Prophet Mohammed. Facing Hagia Sophia, the Sultanahmet Mosque was completed in the early 17th century by the architect Sedefkar Mehmed Agha and earned its nickname from the thousands of blue Iznik tiles covering its interior.
The Hippodrome, once the stage for Byzantine chariot races, still preserves three monuments: the Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column cast in bronze, and the stone Column of Constantine. After lunch, the Spice Bazaar fills the senses with herbs, dried fruit, nuts, olive oil soaps, ceramics and evil-eye charms.
Practical notes: flights are not included and must be booked separately. Topkapi Palace closes on Tuesdays; on those days Hagia Sophia is visited instead. Lunch is at your own expense.
Your full day programme — click to see every stop.
Istanbul Old City Programme by Flight Your guide meets you in your hotel lobby in Bodrum early in the morning and you are driven to Milas-Bodrum Airport, a journey of around 45 minutes, for your flight to Istanbul. After landing at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport, you transfer to the historic Sultanahmet district to begin sightseeing. The first visit is Topkapi Palace, the home of the Ottoman sultans, where you see the Imperial Treasury, collections of porcelain, silver and crystal, royal costumes and the sacred relics. Next comes the Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque, followed by a walk across the ancient Hippodrome to see its three ancient monuments, including the Obelisk of Theodosius. After a lunch break, you continue to the Grand Spice Bazaar for shopping and tasting. At the end of the programme you are taken back to the airport for your flight to Bodrum, where our team drops you at your hotel for the night. On Tuesdays, when Topkapi Palace is closed, Hagia Sophia is visited instead.
Bodrum → Istanbul → Blue Mosque
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
👥 54 Seats
👥 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
👥 55 Seats
👥 54 Seats
👥 50 Seats
👥 50 Seats
👥 50 Seats
👥 46 Seats
👥 37+2 Seats
👥 37 Seats
👥 35 Seats
👥 16+1 Seats
👥 16+1 Seats
👥 12+1 Seats
👥 6+1 Seats
More day tours and excursions in Bodrum — swipe to explore.
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Turn your day trip into a longer journey — these tours also visit this 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 — 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!