Tour of Istanbul · tourofistanbul.com

Istanbul Shore Excursion —

Private. Skip-the-Line. Guaranteed.

A full-day private tour from Galataport. Skip every queue. Never miss your ship.

In 26 years, we have not missed a single departure.

4.94 ★

16 site reviews

543

TripAdvisor reviews

€390€290

per group · 26% off

8 hours

full day

At a glance

Duration

8 hours

Group type

Private only

Pickup

Galataport

Vehicle

Private, A/C

Languages

EN · FR · ES · PT

Ship return

Guaranteed

Your day

Ship arrival

Galataport — Meet your guide

Your guide waits at the Galataport arrival hall with a sign bearing your name. You receive their photo and exact meeting point via WhatsApp the evening before.

Morning

Spice Bazaar

Istanbul's oldest market — saffron, Turkish delight, dried figs, hand-painted ceramics. Your guide separates the genuine from the tourist-grade.

Grand Bazaar

4,000 shops across 61 covered streets. Your guide navigates the best spots — jewelry, antique carpets, ceramics — without the overwhelm.

Midday

Blue Mosque

Skip-the-Line

The only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets. 20,000 hand-painted Iznik tiles cover every surface. Your guide handles all entry requirements including dress code.

Hagia Sophia

Skip-the-Line

Built in 537 AD. Byzantine cathedral, Ottoman mosque, active mosque today. Your guide takes you through 1,500 years of layered history — straight past the queues.

Afternoon

Topkapi Palace

Skip-the-Line

Home of the Ottoman sultans for 400 years. Imperial Treasury, Harem, sacred relics, and Bosphorus views that no photograph quite captures.

Basilica Cistern

Skip-the-Line

A 6th-century Roman cistern holding 80,000 tons of water — atmospheric lighting and two mysterious upside-down Medusa heads. One of Istanbul's most extraordinary hidden spaces.

Hippodrome of Constantinople

The Egyptian Obelisk (1,500 BC), the Serpent Column, Constantine's Column — standing exactly where Roman emperors placed them two thousand years ago.

Before departure

Galataport — Return to ship

Drop-off timed precisely around your all-aboard time. We monitor your ship's departure schedule in real time throughout the day.

What's included

Included

Private licensed guide for 8 hoursPrivate air-conditioned vehicle & driverSkip-the-line QR tickets for all sitesGalataport pickup & drop-offComplimentary water in vehicleReal-time ship schedule monitoringFree cancellation up to 24 hours before

Not included

Entrance fees (guide advises exact costs)Meals and drinksTopkapi Harem (optional add-on)Gratuities (optional, never mandatory)

Group pricing

€290 per private group — not per person. The same price whether you are two or eight. The more guests, the better the value.

2 guests€145 per person4 guests€72 per person6 guests€48 per person8 guests€36 per personUp to 15 guestsSame €290 total

From cruise passengers · TripAdvisor

★★★★★

"Volkan put together a fantastic trip for us while we were on a cruise to Istanbul and Ephesus. Everything was perfectly organized, and the transfers and drivers were always punctual and professional."

Jackie G. — New York City, USA · November 2025

★★★★★

"We weren't sure what we were going to think of Istanbul. It ended up being one of our favorite stops because of our tour guide, Murat! He was extremely knowledgeable and was a lot of fun to be around."

Mike & Monica P. — Ontario, Canada · November 2025

★★★★★

"As seasoned travelers who frequently book private excursions, we have never experienced such prompt and clear communication from any tour operator. Regardless of the time, day or night, every email received a detailed response almost instantaneously."

M. Carolroad — Orange County, CA, USA · October 2025

Read all 543 reviews on TripAdvisor →

Good to know

Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays — the Basilica Cistern is a spectacular alternative your guide will arrange.Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays — the Spice Market makes an equally atmospheric substitute.Blue Mosque closes to visitors on Fridays until 14:30. Your guide will brief you in the courtyard or suggest an alternative.Dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered for mosques and Hagia Sophia. Scarves are provided on the day.If your ship arrives late, we adjust your pickup time and contact you via WhatsApp with an updated schedule.This tour operates in all weather. Istanbul's covered bazaars, underground cistern, and palace interiors make wet days equally rewarding.

Reserve your tour

€390

€290

per group · private · full day

All-inclusive of skip-the-line tickets, licensed guide, and private vehicle.

Entrance fees paid separately. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Reserve via WhatsApptourofistanbul.com ↗PDF olarak kaydet26 years operating

TURSAB licensed · No. 2290

543 TripAdvisor reviews

10× Travellers' Choice Award