Istanbul Old City & Bosphorus Cruise: Small Group Tour with Lunch

See the strait between continents without planning the logistics

A full-day guided tour of Istanbul's Old City and Bosphorus Strait for small groups, with hotel pickup, skip-the-line museum entry, lunch, and a boat cruise. The guide leads you through Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, and Spice Bazaar before boarding for views of palaces, fortresses and waterfront mansions across both European and Asian shores. All entrance fees, transport and a three-course lunch are included. You choose whether to watch a handicraft presentation or explore the bazaar on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Istanbul Old City and Bosphorus Cruise

• Pick up from hotel
• Visit Hagia Sophia Museum
• Visit Blue Mosque
• Visit Hippodrome Square
• Optional handicrafts presentation or explore Grand Bazaar
• Enjoy 3-course lunch
• Visit Egyptian Spice Bazaar
• Drive along Golden Horn shore
• Take Bosphorus Cruise

Stops and time spent at each 7 stops

1. Hagia Sophia Entry included 45m
2. Blue Mosque 30m
3. Hippodrome 15m
4. Grand Bazaar 1h
5. Istanbul 1h 15m
6. Golden Horn passing by
7. Bosphorus Strait Entry included 1h 30m

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located hotels on the European side.
• skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque with a professional licensed guide.
• a three-course lunch at Viaport Marina.
• entry to the Spice Bazaar.
• a Bosphorus cruise with views of palaces, fortresses and waterfront mansions.
• all museum tickets, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and taxes.

Times

Looking for another day or time? ›

• Every day 08:30

Information

Small-group full-day tour of Istanbul's Old City with skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, lunch, and a Bosphorus cruise.

Group Up to 18 1 similar private tour ›

Live guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. See the pickup points

Book up to 12h before

Ages Adult (7 and older) · Child (4 to 6 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Infants must sit on laps

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.68 ★★★★★ Excellent 236 verified traveler reviews 80% rated it 5 stars

5 ★ 189

4 ★ 27

3 ★ 13

2 ★ 6

1 ★ 1

Read all the reviews ›

The experience

Your hotel pickup starts up to an hour before the tour begins, giving you time to meet the group and settle into the air-conditioned vehicle. The day opens at Hagia Sophia, one of the Eight Wonders of the World, where your guide takes you past the ticket queue and into the vast interior of a building that has survived over 1,500 years. From there you move to the Blue Mosque, recognizable by its six minarets and the blue Iznik tiles that cover its walls: on Fridays the mosque closes for prayer, so you'll view it from the courtyard instead. The Hippodrome comes next, the ancient sporting ground that once held 100,000 spectators and still displays the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpent Column from the Byzantine era.

Before lunch, you reach the Grand Bazaar area, where a brief handicraft presentation and lecture happen nearby. You're free to skip it and wander the bazaar on your own instead. It's closed Sundays, so plan accordingly. Then the group reconvenes for a three-course lunch at Viaport Marina. Drinks are on your own tab. After eating, you visit the Spice Bazaar, the second-largest covered market in Istanbul, where stalls sell traditional herbs, spices, dried fruits and Turkish delights. A short drive along the Golden Horn follows, the natural harbor inlet that curves through Old Istanbul.

The Bosphorus cruise is the final leg. You board a boat and travel the strait that divides Europe from Asia, passing 19th-century wooden mansions, the Rumeli Fortress (built in just three months by Mehmet the Conqueror), the Anatolian Fortress, and the ornate Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi palaces. The cruise gives you the geography of the city from the water, how it sits across two continents, and ends with a return to your hotel.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 6 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What do I need to wear when visiting the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia?

Cover your shoulders and knees. A light scarf is sufficient. Scarves are available for purchase at the mosques if you don't have one with you.

Is the Grand Bazaar included in this tour, or do I have to pay extra?

The Grand Bazaar visit is included, though entry to browse is your choice. You can attend an optional handicraft presentation nearby or explore the bazaar independently. The bazaar closes on Sundays.

What happens if I visit on a Friday?

The Blue Mosque closes for prayer on Fridays until the end of the service, so the tour visits it from the courtyard only. All other stops proceed as normal.

Does the price cover everything, or will I have unexpected costs?

All museum tickets, the boat fee, lunch, transport, and taxes are included in the tour rate. Drinks during lunch are your own expense, and tips are optional.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour includes moderate walking through museums, bazaars and around historic sites. It is not recommended for travelers with walking difficulties.

Operated by Popular Travel. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago