Eyüp Sultan & Ottoman District Tour

Highlights of the Eyüp Sultan & Ottoman District Tour

Step into the spiritual heart of old Istanbul on this private Eyüp Sultan & Ottoman District Tour, a half-day walk through one of the most revered neighbourhoods of the city on the shores of the Golden Horn. Away from the busier tourist trail, Eyüp offers a gentle, atmospheric glimpse of living Ottoman tradition, from its great mosque to its tombs, dervish lodges and panoramic coffee-house hill.

Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers in Istanbul

Cruise passengers docking in Istanbul can book the Eyüp Sultan & Ottoman District Tour as a convenient Istanbul 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 Istanbul — we take care of the rest.

The tour centres on the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, built over the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (Eyüp el-Ensari), standard-bearer and companion of the Prophet Muhammad, whose resting place makes this one of the holiest sites in Istanbul. You continue to a cluster of beautiful Ottoman monuments: the Mausoleum of Sokullu Mehmet Pasha, the Mosque of Zal Mahmut Pasha — a masterpiece by the great architect Mimar Sinan — the Mausoleum of Sultan Reşat (Mehmed V) and the historic Convent of the Kalenderi dervishes.

The grand finale is Pierre Loti Hill, reached on foot or by cable car, where a famous café looks out over the entire sweep of the Golden Horn. Named after the French writer who loved this view, it is the perfect place to pause over a cup of traditional Ottoman coffee and watch the city and its waterways unfold below, surrounded by one of Istanbul's most evocative historic cemeteries.

Places you will visit

• Eyüp Sultan Mosque and the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari.
• Mausoleum of Sokullu Mehmet Pasha and the Mosque of Zal Mahmut Pasha by Mimar Sinan.
• Mausoleum of Sultan Reşat and the Convent of the Kalenderi sect.
• Pierre Loti Hill — panoramic Golden Horn views and Ottoman coffee.

A living Ottoman quarter

Eyüp has been a place of pilgrimage and daily devotion for more than five centuries, and it remains a working neighbourhood rather than a museum. As you walk its lanes you pass families visiting the shrine, traditional shops and street vendors, giving you a genuine feel for the religious and social life of old Istanbul.

Good to know

This is a relaxed half-day tour of around five hours. As you will enter active places of worship, modest dress is recommended, with shoulders and knees covered and a scarf for ladies to cover the hair inside the mosque.