Things to Do in Istanbul

☆☆☆ PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE BOOKING THE TOUR ☆☆☆

"A rollercoaster journey from mosques to crowded markets, it is a fantastic way to see Istanbul" said one of our clients in the past.
We invite you to discover one of the most amazing cities on earth. This gorgeous city has many interesting stories to be told. Listen it's stories while exploring old town in this walking tour.

Discover the Roman Hippodrome, see the famous Blue Mosque,  Haseki Hürrem Baths and iconic Hagia Sophia from outside and awaken your senses at Egyptian Bazaar. Get suprised by the hidden gems, columns and cisterns.  Learn the culture and customs and see Istanbul from a local's eye.

The route;

- The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
- Hippodrome area
- Obelisk of Theodosius
- Snaked Column
- The Walled Obelisk
- German Fountain
- Blue Mosque
- Haseki Hurrem Baths
- Hagia Sophia
- Basilica Cistern
- Soğukçeşme Street
- Gulhane Park (the garden of Topkapı Palece)
- The street of Historical Restaurants of Hocapasa
- Egyptian Bazaar (Spice Market) - inner visit
- The New Mosque
- Eminönü District with views of Suleymaniye Mosque and Galata Tower.


Are you ready to fall in love with Istanbul?

IMPORTANT NOTES:

RESERVATION IS REQUIRED  because we have a limited space in our tours for a better experience.

Please provide a whatsapp number or a valid e-mail adress that you regularly check.

We designed this tour for solo travelers, couples, small groups and families. Big group reservations(more than 6 people  including kids) are not accepted even in seperate bookings.

No interior visits during the tour except Egyptian Bazaar.

We end up the tour in front of the EGYPTIAN BAZAAR in Eminönü Square.

The tour is only in ENGLISH.

Our tours are conducted by professional and licensed tour guides, and it's totally free to book and join the group. Considering that these tours are our guide's full time job to make a living, we recommend rewarding the guide minimum 10 € \ 10 $  per person for her\his job.

 
Are you curious about the history and  culture of Istanbul?
Or do you want to do different tour other than the all the things you've seen at the Istanbul?

Make yourself ready to be charmed by the multicultural life of Fener- Balat used to share with many nationalities living in an empire called Ottoman Empire. Greeks, Armenians, Jews, Turks and more living side by side in which you will see a mosque then a church and a synagogue next to each other  !

*This tour is a historical walking tour presented by Historian Professional guides Kubra and Yunus

  This  Walking Tour Includes  : 

📌Greek Patriarchate Orthodox 
📌Private Marashli Greek Primary School
📌Colorful Stairs
📌Dimitrie Cantemir House Romanian Prince and Lord of Bogdan 
📌Church of Saint Mary of the Mongols (No entrance)
📌Phanar Greek Orthodox College
📌Aya Yorgi Metakhion Jerusalem
📌Panagia Paramythia Church
📌Sveti Stefan Bulgarian Church
📌Wooden Minaret Mosque
📌Stair Hill Historic Balat Houses-Unesco Culture Heritage
📌Antiques-Çifit Bazaar( Jewish Bazaar)
📌Ahrida Synagogue( No entrance)
 
Information for Our Guest 

🚫 Please be careful about the clothing regulation as it is stated for the entrance of the churches.
They do not let people enter both
 
Women and Men =

🚫No shorts 
🚫No skirts or dresses  above the knee line
🚫No sleeveless tops or dresses 

Please also bring a scarf within you for the entrance of the church as well.

A cruise along the Bosphorus is a must for every trip to Istanbul! We'll sail around the Golden Horn, the oldest quarter in this Turkish city.

Don't just book a tour. Book an adventure.

Start with the must-see sites of the Old City, learn about Istanbul's most important landmarks, and delve deeper into lesser-known sites that are massively underrated in the same tour. 

You will witness the change of environment as you walk from the most touristic part of the city into a more serene and beautiful area where the blue meets the green and poetically ends with an incredible sea view. 

The tour includes:

✅ Must-See sites (check route below for details)

✅ Lesser-known, underrated sites

✅ Bosphorus viewpoint

✅ Insider tips & recommendations

✅ Best photo spots

✅ Small break

✅ Active walking tour, 4 km route

✅ Essential information on all sites

✅ Access to online PDF guides

✅ Additional offers

You will not only access all the essential information about the Old City of Istanbul but will unlock an underrated area of the city with a local that you probably would have missed otherwise.

You will love it.

See availability now

👇👇👇

U should consider;

~ 🔴 PLEASE BRING A HEAD SCARF WİTH U,  ESPECIALLY WOMEN MUST COVER THEIR HEADS AND LEGS DURING THE VISIT TO THE MOSQUE, 

~ 🔴 YOU SHOULD BUY İSTANBUL CARD FOR THİS TRİP AT LEAST 120 TL MUST BE CHARGED IN PER PERSON ( ONE CARD ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE)

🔴  DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND CROWD, THE TOUR MAY END 30 MİNUTES LATER OR EARLY

1- ) Ferry trip to Asianside

2- ) Valide-i Cedid Mosque ( Queen Sultan Mosque)

3 -) Tarihi Üsküdar Çarşısı (Historical Bazaar) 

4 -) Bus to the Beylerbeyi Palace ( Garden visit ticket will be paid by guide)

5 -) Kuzguncuk ( The Historic Jewish Quarter) ENDİNG POİNT ON THE ASİANSİDE

"The tour must have a minimum of 4 participants"

Asian side tours less historical more about local life, showing around and tasting some street foods.

 Are you ready for a professional guide to tell you about little-known stories and local life on the Asian (Anatolian) side?

Dear guests, welcome to Istanbul! First of all, we will meet at the main entrance of the Eminönü - Üsküdar Ferry Pier'' and take a unique ferry ride from the Historic Peninsula to Üsküdar which is known as a Balcony of İstanbul.

There will be information about the Maiden's Tower, which has become the symbol of Üsküdar. We will walk to visit and photograph the Valide-i Cedid Mosque ( Queen Sultan), which is almost a marble paradise, and walk through the Historical Bazaar of Üsküdar
 
We go to Beylerbeyi Palace, the most beautiful palace on the Anatolian side. I'll buy garden tickets for everyone and after a brief information in the garden, we take a photo/toilet break.

then after leaving the palace we will take another bus to the Kuzguncuk, it's an old historic Jewish Quarter with colorful houses then we will visit the Kuzguncuk public orchard and photograph the colorful houses. that will be ending point for the tour. U will be informed about all transportations 🙂 


 Keep in mind 🙂

 Ferry tickets are 25+25 = 50 TL
 Bus tickets are   20 x 3  = 60 TL
 Please be prepared for weather conditions..
 

🏛️ Unlock Istanbul’s Hidden Layers: An Expert-Led Journey 🏛️

A Walking Tour Where Monuments Whisper Stories of Sultans, Emperors and Forgotten Worlds✨

Step into the heart of history with our #1 Rated Istanbul Old City Tour! Explore Sultanahmet Square, where Byzantine, Ottoman, and Roman empires collide, and uncover hidden gems most tours miss. Limited small-group slots – book now to secure your spot!

Places to be visited 🕌:

• Sultanahmet Square (Hippodrome)
• Blue Mosque (inside & outside)
• Hagia Sofia (outside)
• Old Hospital 
• Obelisk of Theodosius
• Obelisk of Constantin
• Palace of Ibrahim Pasha
• Spartans Serpent Column
• The German Fountain
• Madrasa of Sultanahmet
• Tomb of Sultanahmet
• Hurrem Sultan Bath
• Fountain of Ahmad III
• Topkapi Palace
• Sogukcheshme Alley
• Old Sufi Dergah
• Caferaga Madrasa 
• Arceological Museums of Istanbul
• Gulhane Park
• Basillica Cistern (Yerebatan)
• Million Stone
• Ideas for more places, restaurants, cruises and ferry piers.

✨Why Choose This Tour? ✨
✅ Go Beyond the Basics: Most tours show you Blue Mosque – we decode its secrets. Most stroll the Hippodrome – we revive its chariot races and ancient gossip.
✅ Expert Guide: Dr. Sib, a licensed guide and researcher who turns stones into sagas.
✅ Hidden Gems Included: Explore sites most guides skip – Sufi lodges, haunted cisterns, and palace courtyards lost in time.
✅ Small Groups: No loneliness in crowds.
✅ Interactive: Questions and answers.
✅ Human sound: No audio systems

💸 How It Works 💸
Pay What You Feel It’s Worth – No Fixed Fees, Just Fairness & Fun!

✅ Flexible Pricing: You decide the value! Individuals pay €10–50 (or equivalent) at the END of the tour based on your experience. No pressure – just honesty!
✅ Groups Made Easy: Flat rate of 400 TL or €10/$10 per person for groups.
✅ No Hidden Costs: All fees and stories included – just bring curiosity (and cash).
✅ Cash only (no cards/crypto – I'm an old-school storyteller!  💵 ).

🔍 Honesty Matters:
I am part of a small team keeping Istanbul’s history alive! Your fair payment supports local guides and ensures quality.

🌟 Love Istanbul? Pay What You Can – But Remember: Great Stories Deserve Great Tips! 🌟

📍 Itinerary Highlights 📍
🏺 Iconic Monuments

• Marvel at the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia’s majesty.
• Stand beneath the Obelisk of Theodosius and Serpent Column – relics of ancient Constantinople.
• Explore the eerie beauty of the Historical Peninsula and Million Stone, the "zero point" of the Roman world.

🔍 Hidden Gems

• Wander Sogukcesme Alley’s pastel Ottoman houses.
• Discover the Old Sufi Dergah and Caferaga Madrasa – off-the-radar cultural treasures.

🏰 Royal Legacies

• Tour the Sultanahmet square where there are roots and remnants of several mighty empires. 
• Admire panoramic views of the Soghukcheshme alley that led to Archaeological Museums and Gülhane Park from scenic vantage points.
• 
  

👑 Ottoman Opulence:

• Unlock the Hurrem Sultan Hamam – where Roxelana, the scheming sultana, bathed in power.
• Topkapi Palace where Ottomans ruled the world for several centuries

⚔️ Roman Rivalries:

• Stand where emperors raced chariots in the Hippodrome – decode the Serpent Column’s and the Obelisk of Theodosius’ stolen glory.
• See the Million Stone, the ancient “GPS” of the Roman Empire.

🔮 Forgotten Worlds:

• Discover the Old Sufi Dergah, where dervishes once dived into wisdom and divine love.
• Peer into the Madrasa of Caferaga, a school frozen in the 1500s.
• Hear whispers of stones talking to you behind the ages.

📸 Photo Magic:

• Pose by the the German Fountain, and stroll through history in Sultanahmet Mosque.
• Capture the Fountain of Ahmed III, a Rococo masterpiece fit for a sultan’s Instagram.
• Stroll Gülhane Park’s cherry-blossom lanes (spring only!).

👉 Limited Availability: Small groups ensure personalized attention.

👉 No Entrance Fees: No hidden costs – enjoy hassle-free exploration.

🌟 Don’t Just Visit Istanbul – Live Its History! 🌟

🕰️ Travel Through 3,500 Years in Just 2 Hours 🕰️
👉 Book Now and journey through 3,500 years of empires, legends, and architectural wonders!

🎟️ Why Settle for Ordinary? 🎟️
👉 Small Groups Only: No megaphones – face to face conversations.

📆 Flexible Booking
Morning / afternoon slots | Family-friendly | Private tours available on demand.

Dress Code:
Visitors entering indoor areas are required to dress modestly. Women must cover their heads with a scarf as a sign of respect for cultural norms.

Cancellation Policy:
If your plans change and you’re unable to attend, kindly cancel your reservation via the booking page or confirmation email. This allows others to join the tour and ensures everyone has a chance to enjoy the experience.

Scheduling Note:
For reservations made in advance, please note that tour timings may be adjusted slightly due to seasonal variations or prayer schedules.

Custom Experiences:

Interested in a private tour or cruise? Contact me directly to discuss tailored options in Arabic, English or Spanish! I’m happy to answer any questions you may have—feel free to reach out.

🌟 Istanbul Isn’t Just a City – It’s a Palimpsest. Let Dr. Sib Help You Read Between the Lines. 🌟

Recommended tours from other guides:
Three historic mosque visits:
https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/56715-sacred-and-historic-sultanahmet-blue-mosque-little-hagia-sophia-sokullu-mehmet-pasha

More tours for Istambul
https://www.guruwalk.com/istanbul?ref=dspt6o0crhj4771s920t&pro=true

👉 Secure your spot now – legends await!

Have a nice trip 🚀 🛸
Dr Sib 

Step into the enchanting world of Istanbul's old city with our captivating tour, where history whispers through ancient stones, and every corner reveals a tale waiting to be heard. Imagine a journey that goes beyond the ordinary, a mosaic of wonders that unfolds in the heart of Sultanahmet.

🏰 As your guide, I'll lead you through the iconic Hagia Sophia, where centuries of stories are etched into its magnificent walls. Feel the grandeur of Topkapı Palace, where Ottoman sultans once ruled, and then let the aromatic Egyptian Bazaar tease your senses.

🌆 Picture yourself wandering through the cobblestone streets, each step a dance with history. Discover the allure of Sultanahmet, where the past and present embrace,

🌍 Your journey through the ages concludes with a sense of awe, standing before the grandeur of Istanbul's past. As the sun dips below the skyline, you'll carry the stories of Sultanahmet with you, etched in your memory.

🔒 Unveil the magic of Istanbul's old city with us, where every step reveals a new chapter. Book now and let the adventure begin, as we embark on a voyage through time and history, unlocking the secrets of this mesmerizing city.

Note: The tour does not include visits to Topkapı Palace and Hagia Irene after 4 pm since they are closed. Additionally, the Blue Mosque is closed for interior visits after 5:45 pm.  Lastly, please note that the tour also does not include the Egyptian/Spice Bazaar on weekdays since it is closed at 7 pm.

Note II:  As our tours are tip-based, we kindly ask for a minimum tip of $10 per person. Tips in any currency equivalent to $10 (such as approximately 350 Turkish liras) are welcome.

Note III:  For the comfort of all participants, we recommend that infants and toddlers under 4 years old do not join the walking tour. 

• German Fountain
• Hippodrome
• Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)
• Hagia Sophia (outside)
• Topkapı Palace (First Courtyard - non-ticketed parts)
• Hagia Irene
• Gülhane Park
• Egyptian/Spice Bazaar

Book this Free Tour of the Old Town to discover the old part of Istanbul and learn about Roman and Ottoman history, culture and tradition.
What are you going to visit and see during the tour?

• Hippodrome
• The Walled Obelisk
• Obelisk of Theodosius
• Serpent column
• German fountain
• Blue Mosque (outside)
• Haseki Hurrem bathroom (outside)
• Hagia Sophia (outside)
• Topkapi Palace (outside)
• Archaeological Museum (exterior)
• Souk Cesme Street (Old Ottoman Houses)
• Gülhane Park (exterior)
• Eminönü district, the heart of the old part of the city because you can have a view that allows you to see the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, Galata Bridge, Galata Tower, Soleiman Mosque
• Yeni Camii (New Mosque)
• Spice Market. 

 Useful information for the travellers:
You can meet the guide he will be waiting with a yellow umbrella!
 - It is recommended to bring comfortable and casual shoes.
 - Be prepared for any weather conditions and have the right equipment.
- For interior visits of religious buildings ladies can carry a extra scarf and  cover.
 - When the tour ends you will be able to pay the guru whatever you consider fair. Some will pay €10, others $50. It's up to you! (minimum amount suggested is €10 per person around the world.)