Hagia Sophia
Finished in 537 and a mosque again since 2020. Visitors from abroad enter through a ticketed entrance to the upper gallery.
Istanbul Travel Guide 2026
The sights worth your time, where to stay, what to eat, and how to plan it all.
Istanbul spreads across both banks of the Bosphorus, in Europe and Asia. Most first visits start in the Old City, where Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace stand a few minutes’ walk apart and the Grand Bazaar is close by. Add a cruise on the Bosphorus, then spend an evening in Beyoğlu or cross the water to Kadıköy. Plan the mosque visits around the five daily prayers, when sightseers wait outside.
The Sights Worth Your Time
The Blue Mosque
Six minarets and thousands of blue Iznik tiles. On Fridays visitors are let in from 2:30 pm.
Topkapı Palace
The sultans’ palace since the 15th century, with the treasury and the Harem. Closed on Tuesdays.
Basilica Cistern
A 6th-century reservoir of columns under the Old City, with two Medusa heads at the far end.
Galata Tower
The Genoese tower of 1348, with a view over the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus.
Dolmabahçe Palace
The 19th-century palace on the Bosphorus where the court moved from Topkapı. Closed on Mondays.
Süleymaniye Mosque
Süleyman the Magnificent’s 16th-century complex on the third hill, above the Golden Horn.
The Bosphorus
The strait between Europe and Asia, best seen from the water on a cruise or a public ferry.
Where to Stay and Wander
The Old City
Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace, with its Harem, stand a few minutes’ walk apart, with the Grand Bazaar close by.
Hagia SophiaTopkapı PalaceBasilica CisternGrand BazaarSultanahmet
The easiest base for a first visit.
Balat, Fener and the Golden Horn
Colourful houses, old churches and synagogues climb the hills above the Golden Horn, once home to Greek and Jewish communities.
A half day on foot, best in the morning light.
Galata, Karaköy and Beyoğlu
Below Galata Tower, Karaköy has the harbour cafes and galleries; uphill, İstiklal Avenue runs to Taksim Square.
Galata TowerKaraköyİstiklal AvenueBeyoğlu
The liveliest base for evenings out.
The Bosphorus Shore
Palaces, wooden mansions and waterside villages line the strait between Europe and Asia.
Dolmabahçe PalaceOrtaköyBebekBosphorus cruises
Quiet hotels by the water, a taxi or ferry from the sights.
Kadıköy, Moda and Üsküdar
A short ferry ride from the Old City, Kadıköy has the market streets and Moda the seafront walk. Of the 828 people who wrote to plan a private day with us between May 2023 and July 2026, 69 asked to cross here.
KadıköyModaÜsküdarKuzguncukThe Asian side
Daily Istanbul, with fewer tourists.
Beyond the City
The car-free Princes’ Islands are a ferry ride away. Further afield, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale make days out by air.
What to Eat
Istanbul eats on the street, at the market and around a long table. Plan a meal or two around it, not just between the sights.
- Street foodSimit, kebab and gözleme, eaten standing up.
- The Kadıköy marketFish, olives, cheese and pickles on the Asian side.
- A meyhane eveningMeze and rakı, shared slowly.
- Fish by the waterSeafood with a view of the Bosphorus.
The City’s Story in Four Dates
6500 BC
Neolithic settlers live on the shore at Yenikapı, about 8,500 years ago.
Five facts about Istanbul667 BC
By tradition, Megarian Greeks found Byzantion on the peninsula.
Hellenistic Istanbul330
Constantinople becomes the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.
Constantinople1453
The Ottomans take the city and rule from it until 1922.
The OttomansPlan Your Istanbul Trip, Topic by Topic
Safety and Peace of Mind
- Is Türkiye Safe to Visit in 2026?Where the real risks sit, which regions to skip and how Istanbul compares.
- Istanbul Earthquake RiskThe fault under the Sea of Marmara, what 1999 taught the city and the districts most at risk.
- Is Türkiye Safe for LGBTQ+ Visitors?A frank read on queer life in Istanbul, İzmir and Cappadocia.
Tickets and Costs
- 2026 Entrance FeesWhat the main palaces, museums and Hagia Sophia charge in 2026.
- The Istanbul Museum PassWhich sites it covers, what it leaves out and when it pays for itself.
Ways to See the City
- Istanbul on Your OwnThe apps and online tools for planning the city without a guide.
- Istanbul Short BreaksA few days, step by step: arriving, where to stay, what to see, moving on.
- Istanbul With a StrollerPram-friendly districts, the ones to avoid, transport tips and gear rental.
What Surprises Visitors
- Annoying Things About IstanbulCrowded transport, bazaar haggling, alcohol prices and patchy wifi, so none of it catches you out.
- Unspoken Facts About TürkiyeThe uncomfortable truths about the country, told without sugar-coating.
- 5 Mindblowing Facts About IstanbulCaves, Neolithic finds and the empires that kept reshaping the city.
Choosing a Guide
- One Day in Istanbul With a GuideThe Old City first and the water last, planned around your weekday.
- How Booking a Private Guide WorksA named, licensed guide before you pay, and every cost on its own line.
- Is a Private Tour Worth It?When a private day earns its cost and when a group tour suits you better.
Beyond Istanbul
- Ferries to the Greek IslandsThe short crossings from the Aegean coast to Kos, Chios, Samos, Lesvos and Rhodes, with visas and seasons.
Why See Istanbul With a Private Guide
A private day is planned around your dates, your party and your pace, and the tickets, timing and closing days are ours to sort.
Planned Around You
There is no fixed itinerary. Tell us who is coming and what you care about, and we build the route around it.
A Licensed Guide, Named Before You Pay
You get the name of the licensed guide we would send and a written quote, every cost on its own line, before you pay.
Closing Days Planned Around
Topkapı closes on Tuesdays, Dolmabahçe on Mondays and the Grand Bazaar on Sundays. We check your dates before we plan.
Your Pace, All Day
Stay longer where you like it, skip what you do not, and ask your guide anything along the way.
No Headsets, No Crowd
At Topkapı and Dolmabahçe, guided groups of more than eight must wear headsets. On a private day you hear your guide directly.
A Guide in Your Language
Every guide’s languages are on their profile in our guide directory, so you can ask for yours.
Tours Built Around One Subject
Beyond the famous first day, these private tours follow one thread through the city.
Christian IstanbulHagia Sophia, Chora’s mosaics, the Patriarchate and Balat, in one day.
Judeo-Christian HeritageSynagogues, churches and old neighbourhoods on both sides of the Bosphorus.Islamic HeritageMosques, tombs and sacred sites over a full private day.
Hellenistic IstanbulByzantion’s Greek origins, starting at the old acropolis.
Empires of IstanbulThree days through the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman city.
The City After DarkSunset on the water, Galata Tower and the lit Old Town.Every Private Tour We Run
From a morning in the Old City to fifteen days across Türkiye, each one private and planned around your dates.
One-Day Tours
Half dayIstanbul Heritage Morning
Half dayOttoman Relics AfternoonHalf dayThe Asian SideHalf dayBeyoğlu
Half dayThe Golden HornFull dayOne Day in IstanbulFull dayByzantine and Ottoman Relics
Full dayThe Seven HillsFull dayIslamic Heritage
Full dayThe Princes' Islands
Full dayThe Golden Horn, All DayFull dayBeyoğlu, All Day
Full dayEuropean Delights
Old CityHagia Sophia and the Blue MosqueOld CityTopkapı Palace
Old CityThe Grand Bazaar
Old CityThe Other SultanahmetOld CityHistoric HighlightsHistoryChristian SitesHistoryRoman IstanbulHistoryByzantion Before RomeHistoryLate-Medieval ConstantinopleHistoryThe City Walls
HistorySinan's Footsteps
HistorySuleiman's IstanbulHistoryArmenian Heritage
HistoryRussian IstanbulHistoryAbrahamic FaithsIdeasGeopolitics of TürkiyeIdeasIn Search of Lost Languages
NeighbourhoodsThe Asian Side, All DayNeighbourhoodsStreet Art on the Asian SideNeighbourhoodsKaraköy on FootNeighbourhoodsSix Faces of IstanbulNeighbourhoodsBohemian RhapsodyNeighbourhoodsOff the Beaten Path
NeighbourhoodsThe Cat TourFoodA Food DayEveningIstanbul After Dark
EveningRooftop CocktailsEveningThe Other NightOn the waterA Private Bosphorus Cruise
In the airIstanbul From the AirMatch dayA Football MatchLayoverBetween FlightsShore dayFrom the Cruise PortArrival dayThe Long Way From the AirportDay tripOttoman BursaDay tripEphesus in a DayDay tripBiblical Ephesus
Day tripPamukkale From IstanbulMulti-Day Tours
2 daysGallipoli and Troy2 daysCappadocia From Istanbul2 daysTaraklı and the Ottoman Towns2 daysThe Eye-Opening Two Days2 daysTwo Sides of Istanbul3 daysThe Ideal Three Days3 daysThe Enlightening Three Days3 daysEmpires of Istanbul3 daysAn Unhurried Istanbul3 daysTherapy and Ancient Wisdom
4 daysThe Soulful Four Days4 daysThe Immersive Four Days4 daysEchoes of Eastern Rome
4 daysPamukkale, Ephesus and Cappadocia5 daysThe Deep Five Days5 daysFive Days in Istanbul5 daysIstanbul and Ankara, Dawn of Empires
5 daysThe Three Ottoman Capitals6 daysAn Istanbul Cultural Journey6 daysIstanbul, Pamukkale and Ephesus6 daysNicaea, Troy and Pergamon
6 daysTürkiye's Essentials
7 daysTürkiye's Most Essential Sights7 daysGallipoli to Cappadocia7 daysIn the Footsteps of St Paul7 daysIstanbul, Nicaea, Troy and Pergamon8 daysIstanbul to Cappadocia via Konya8 daysWestern Türkiye From Istanbul8 daysIstanbul to the Aegean8 daysThe Crescendo of Türkiye9 daysThe Classics9 daysAn Enchanting Odyssey10 daysThe Grand Ten Days10 daysBest of Türkiye10 daysTürkiye's Enchanting Gems11 daysBest of Türkiye, Longer11 daysThe Türkiye Odyssey11 daysThe Ultimate Eleven Days11 daysWestern Türkiye12 daysThe Grand Twelve Days12 daysIstanbul to the Mediterranean12 daysTürkiye's Historical Depth
13 daysThe Essence of Türkiye15 daysThe TrailblazerIstanbul in a Wheelchair, With a Pram or at a Slower Pace
We plan routes, timing, entrances, surfaces and rest stops around the person who sets the pace, then adapt as the day goes. Wheelchair-assisted tours can include the wheelchair itself and a private van.
How a Private Day With Us Works
1
Send Your Dates
Who is coming, what you hope to see, and anyone who sets the pace.
2
Get a Route
We reply within a day with a route and the licensed guide we would send.
3
Change Anything
There is no deposit until you are happy with the plan.
4
Meet Your Guide
Your guide meets you where you are staying, and the day is yours.
Before You Go
The questions guests ask us most before a first visit. If yours is not here, ask us.
What should you wear to visit Istanbul’s mosques?
Clothing suited to a mosque: shoulders and knees covered, and a scarf over the hair for women. Türkiye’s Presidency of Religious Affairs asks for it, and mosques keep scarves and skirts at the door for anyone who needs them. Shoes come off inside.
When are the main sights closed?
Topkapı Palace closes on Tuesdays and Dolmabahçe Palace on Mondays. The Grand Bazaar closes on Sundays and religious holidays. The Blue Mosque lets visitors in from 2:30 pm on Fridays and closes for the daily prayers.
How do you visit Hagia Sophia?
Since January 2024, visitors from abroad enter Hagia Sophia through a ticketed visitor entrance and see it from the upper gallery. This year’s ticket prices are on our 2026 entrance fees page.
Is a private tour worth it in Istanbul?
It is when time, pace or the people in your party matter more than the cost. When cost decides, a group tour or a day on your own is the better buy. Here is when each one wins.
How do you get from Istanbul Airport to the city?
There are four ways: the M11 metro, the Havaist buses, a metered taxi, or a private transfer with a named driver waiting at arrivals. Which one suits you depends on your luggage, the hour you land and where you are staying. Our airport guide compares all four.
Can a private tour of Istanbul work with a wheelchair?
Yes. We plan the route, timing, entrances and rest stops around the person who sets the pace, and travel in vans with room for the wheelchair. Read how our wheelchair-assisted tours work.
How do you check a tour company in Istanbul?
Check two licences. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s agency register shows whether an agency’s licence is valid: The Other Tour’s is 7651. TUREB’s database shows a guide’s licence by name.
Tell Us Who Is Coming
Your dates, who is coming and what you hope to see. We reply within a day with a route and the name of the licensed guide we would send.
Licensed guides, TÜRSAB member #7651Guiding Istanbul since 2011145 Google reviews rated 5.0560 TripAdvisor reviews rated 4.8