The classics
Istanbul's great monuments
The sights nearly every visitor wants to see — and which we can combine into a single private day with a licensed local guide.
Hagia Sophia
Fifteen centuries under one dome — church, mosque and the greatest building in Istanbul.
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The Blue Mosque
Twenty thousand İznik tiles under a cascade of domes — and six famous minarets.
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Topkapı Palace
Four hundred years of sultans, courtyards, treasury jewels and the imperial Harem.
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Basilica Cistern
An underground forest of 336 columns — and the upside-down Medusa heads.
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The Grand Bazaar
Four thousand shops and sixty streets under one roof — the world's oldest covered market.
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The Spice Bazaar
Pyramids of saffron, sumac and Turkish delight in the fragrant Egyptian Market.
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Bosphorus cruise
Cruise the strait between Europe and Asia, past palaces, fortresses and wooden mansions.
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Süleymaniye Mosque
Sinan's masterpiece on the hill — grander than the Blue Mosque, and far quieter.
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The Hippodrome
The chariot-racing heart of Constantinople, still marked by ancient obelisks.
Read the guide →Beyond the guidebook
Neighbourhoods & hidden Istanbul
The places most visitors never reach — and often the ones our guests remember best.
Galata Tower
A medieval Genoese watchtower with the finest panorama over the old city.
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Dolmabahçe Palace
The sultans' European palace on the Bosphorus — crystal staircase and a four-tonne chandelier.
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Maiden's Tower
The little lighthouse-islet of legend, where the Bosphorus meets the sea.
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Ortaköy
A baroque mosque at the water's edge, framed by the great suspension bridge.
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Balat & Fener
Rainbow houses, cobbled lanes and the most photogenic streets in Istanbul.
Read the guide →Planning your visit
Istanbul tour guides, itineraries & travel tips
Hiring a tour guide
What a licensed Istanbul guide actually does, what it costs, and how to choose one.
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Sultanahmet old city
The historic peninsula explained — what is where, and how to walk it.
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Best things to do
The 20 things actually worth your time — ranked honestly by local guides.
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One day in Istanbul
The best possible single day in Istanbul, hour by hour, from people who do it weekly.
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Two days in Istanbul
Old city on day one, the Bosphorus and palaces on day two.
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Three days in Istanbul
Add the neighbourhoods, the mosaics and the Asian side.
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Best time to visit
Month by month — weather, crowds, prices and what is actually on.
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Istanbul travel tips
Money, transport, safety, etiquette and the mistakes first-timers make.
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Istanbul food guide
What to eat, where locals actually eat, and how to order it.
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Shopping in Istanbul
What is genuinely worth buying — carpets, ceramics, gold, spices — and what to avoid.
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Istanbul with kids
Which sights children actually enjoy, and how to pace a family day.
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Cruise shore excursion
A private day ashore from Galataport, timed so you never miss your ship.
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Layover tours
Turn a long connection at Istanbul Airport into a real half-day in the city.
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Airport transfers
Getting from IST or Sabiha Gökçen into the city, without the taxi scams.
Read the guide →See them with a private local guide
You do not have to choose from a menu. Tell us which of these places you would like to see and we will build one private, tailor-made day around them — licensed local guide and private car always included.
Plan my private Istanbul tour