Istanbul 3-Day Private Tour: Topkapi, Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus

Three days with a guide who adjusts the route to what you want to see

A 3-day private guided tour of Istanbul with a licensed guide in English, Spanish, French or German, meeting you at your hotel. Day 1 covers the Old City: Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar. Day 2 includes a Bosphorus ferry cruise, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street and the Spice Market. Day 3 takes you to Süleymaniye Mosque, the Fener and Balat districts, Pierre Loti Hill by cable car, and Chora Church. Your guide adjusts stops based on your priorities and museum hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Sultanahmet Square15m
2. German Fountain15m
3. Blue Mosque1h
4. Hagia Sophia1h
5. Basilica Cistern45m
6. Topkapi Palace2h
7. Bosphorus Strait2h
8. Dolmabahce Palace1h
9. Taksim Square1h
10. Istiklal Street45m
11. Galata Tower10m
12. Spice Bazaar45m
13. Flower Passage10m
14. Süleymaniye Mosque1h
15. Pierre Loti Hill30m
16. Kariye Museum1h 30m
17. Golden Horn30m

Day 1: Explore Historic Sultanahmet District

• Visit Sultanahmet Square
• See German Fountain
• Tour Blue Mosque
• Visit Hagia Sophia
• Explore Basilica Cistern
• Tour Topkapi Palace Museum
• Shop at Grand Bazaar

Day 2: Bosphorus and Modern Istanbul

• Take Bosphorus Cruise by public ferry
• Visit Dolmabahce Palace
• Explore Taksim Square
• Walk Istiklal Street
• See Cicek Passage
• View Galata Tower from outside
• Shop at Spice Market

Day 3: Historic Mosques and Neighborhoods

• Visit Suleymaniye Mosque
• Walk Fener and Balat Districts
• Visit Orthodox Patriarch
• See St. Stephen Church
• Ride cable car to Pierre Loti Hill
• Tour Chora Church

The experience

The Basilica Cistern sits underground with a forest of marble columns rising from shallow water. That's where Day 1 takes you after Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque. You walk through Sultanahmet Square, see the German Fountain, then enter Hagia Sophia (note: it's no longer a museum, so you'll pass through security like other visitors, early departures around 8:30 or 9 avoid the longest waits). The Grand Bazaar closes on Sundays and gets replaced with the Spice Market when that happens. Your guide is licensed and meets you at your hotel, so the day starts without you arranging transport to the Old Town.

Day 2 shifts to the modern side of the city. You take a public ferry across the Bosphorus to see both the European and Asian shores, passing Galata Tower, Beylerbeyi Palace, the Rumeli Fortress and old Ottoman villas. Dolmabahce Palace comes next. It's closed Mondays, and when it's open, your guide explains the rooms from outside since live guide service isn't permitted inside. Then you walk Istiklal Street (lined with galleries, shops and cafes), pass through Cicek Passage, and end at the Spice Market near Eminonu Square where the Bosphorus meets the Golden Horn. The second day works easily with public transport.

Day 3 takes you to Süleymaniye Mosque, the largest in Istanbul, where the terrace behind it overlooks the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. You walk the steep, winding backstreets of Fener and Balat: neighborhoods of century-old Ottoman houses in reds, blues and greens, with art galleries and design shops along the water. St. Stephen Church (the Iron Church, built entirely of cast iron in the 19th century) sits on the Golden Horn shore. A cable car carries you up to Pierre Loti Hill for views and Turkish coffee or tea. The tour ends at Chora Church, famous for its well-preserved Byzantine mosaics and frescoes. If any site closes on the day you visit (Topkapi on Tuesdays, Dolmabahce on Mondays), your guide substitutes alternatives like the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum or Archaeological Museum. Tours starting after 11 am may skip one or two sites since museums close by 7 pm. Your guide adjusts based on what matters most to you.

What’s included

• Professional licensed guide in English, Spanish, French or German.
• private tour with pickup from your central hotel.
• access to Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar or Spice Market, Bosphorus ferry, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, Süleymaniye Mosque, Fener and Balat districts, St. Stephen Church, Pierre Loti Hill and Chora Church.

Options for this experience

7 options

Private guided tour, 1 day (English)13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Duration: 7 hours: Hagia Sophia, Highlights of Topkapi Palace Museum, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar. Walking tour in the Old Town: the suggested itinerary does not require transportation. Hotel/port information needed: the guide will meet you at Galataport, or at your hotel or Airbnb if they are centrally located. (No transportation included.) Pickup is included.

Private 1-Day Tour (ESP)Guide in Spanish · 13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Duration: 7 hours. Pickup is included.

Private guided tour, 2 days (English)13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Duration: 7 hours: 2-day tour (7 hours each day). Hotel/port information needed: the guide will meet you at Galataport, or at your hotel or Airbnb if they are centrally located. (No transportation included.) Pickup is included.

See 4 more options

Private tour and van, 1 day (English)13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Duration: 7 hours. A van is assigned for 7 hours, and the tour can be customized. Mercedes Vito/Sprinter 1 Day Private Tour & Van ENG: Because of closures in the Old Town, the van is used for pickup and drop-off and can be used further if the itinerary changes. Pickup is included.

Private guided tour, 3 days (English)13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Duration: 7 hours: 3-day tour (7 hours each day). Hotel/port information needed: the guide will meet you at Galataport, or at your hotel or Airbnb if they are centrally located. (No transportation included.) Pickup is included.

Private tour and van, 2 days (English)13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Mercedes Vito/Sprinter 2 Days Private Tour & Van ENG: A private van is assigned for the whole tour. Pickup is included.

Private tour and van, 3 days (English)13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Mercedes Vito/Sprinter 3 Days Private Tour & Van ENG: A private van is assigned for the whole tour. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (7 to 17 years): free · Child (3 to 6 years): free · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Guided Istanbul Tours

Is this one for you?Book this 3-day tour if you want to move through Istanbul without arranging your own transport between neighborhoods. The guide handles the route and adjusts it to what you prioritize, so you spend your time at the sites instead of planning how to reach them. Choose the van option if you'd rather not navigate public ferries and taxis between stops.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 17 years): free; Child (3 to 6 years): free; Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if I book a tour that starts in the afternoon?

Tours departing after 11 am may need to skip one or two sites because museums close by 7 pm. Your guide will adjust the itinerary based on your priorities, so you see what you came for.

Can I visit Topkapi Palace on a Tuesday?

Topkapi Palace closes on Tuesdays, but your guide will substitute the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, Archaeological Museum or Basilica Cistern instead, keeping the day's flow intact.

Do I need to buy tickets for museums and the Bosphorus ferry separately?

Yes, museum entry tickets, the Bosphorus ferry and the cable car to Pierre Loti Hill are not included in the tour price. Your guide will take you to each site, but you pay admission at the door.

Is the Bosphorus cruise on a private boat or a public ferry?

Day 2 includes a public ferry across the Bosphorus, so you travel with other passengers and see both shores, the bridges and the palaces from the water. Private boat options are available as a separate purchase.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes a professional licensed guide who speaks English, Spanish, French or German, and pickup from your central Istanbul hotel. Transportation between sites on Days 1 and 3 is your responsibility unless you book the van option. Day 2 uses public transport. Lunch and gratuities are not included.

How much walking is involved each day?

Day 1 is designed as a walking tour through the Old City, with transport only needed between your hotel and the Old Town if your hotel is outside it. Day 2 uses public transportation and involves walking neighborhoods and streets. Day 3 includes walking the Fener and Balat backstreets and a cable car ride uphill. All fitness levels are welcome, and strollers are available for infants and small children.