Our daily Istanbul day trip from Marmaris lets you see the historic heart of Turkey's largest city without leaving your holiday base for more than a day. You fly from Dalaman to Istanbul in the early morning, explore the Sultanahmet peninsula on foot with a guide and return to Marmaris the same evening.
Arriving in Marmaris on a cruise ship? The Istanbul Day Trip is one of the shore excursions we regularly arrange for cruise guests calling at the port of Marmaris. Because it runs as a private tour, we plan the timing around your ship: your guide and driver meet you at the cruise terminal, and the programme is adjusted to your all-aboard time. Tell us how many hours your ship stays in port and we will confirm that the full programme fits comfortably. Send us your ship name and the date of your call in Marmaris and we will confirm availability.
Istanbul spans Europe and Asia on the banks of the Bosphorus, and its Old City preserves layers of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history. The Hippodrome was the setting for chariot races in Byzantine times, and its monuments include an Egyptian obelisk re-erected by Emperor Theodosius. Sultan Ahmed's mosque was completed in the early 17th century and was the first Ottoman mosque with six minarets. Topkapi Palace served as the residence and seat of government of the Ottoman sultans for centuries after the conquest of the city, and its courtyards now house treasures and holy relics.
This daily excursion is a long day tour with a moderate amount of walking, so comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Please note that Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. Domestic flights between Dalaman and Istanbul are not part of the package and are arranged separately; we are happy to help you plan the timings of this daily tour.
Your full day programme — click to see every stop.
Istanbul Old City Programme In the early morning you are collected from your hotel in Marmaris and driven to Dalaman Airport for your flight to Istanbul. On arrival, your English-speaking guide meets you at the airport and takes you to the Old City, where the tour continues on foot. The first stop is the ancient Hippodrome, once the stage for chariot races, where three monuments still stand: the Egyptian obelisk raised by Theodosius, the twisted bronze Serpentine Column and the stone Column of Constantine. Next comes the Blue Mosque, known for the Iznik tiles that cover its interior and for being the first Ottoman mosque with six minarets; across the square you pause to photograph Hagia Sophia from outside. The visit continues at Topkapi Palace Museum, home of the Ottoman sultans, where the clock collection, the weapons and armour section, the pavilions and the sacred relics are on display and the fourth courtyard opens onto a panoramic view of the city. After a lunch break you wander through the historic bazaar, a maze of lanes lined with goldsmiths, carpet dealers and craft shops selling ceramics, copper and brassware. In the late afternoon you are transferred to Istanbul Airport for your return flight to Dalaman, and from there you are driven back to your hotel in Marmaris.
Marmaris → Istanbul → Marmaris Topkapi Palace → Blue Mosque
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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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!