Topkapi Palace & Harem, Basilica Cistern, The Grand Bazaar Tour - Istanbul

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Tour Information

Key Details

  • Mobile Voucher Accepted
  • Hotel pickup Available
  • Duration: 6 Hrs
  • Language:
    English
  • Departure Time :
    09:00 AM
  • Cancellation Policy :
    This activity is non-refundable Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Overview

The tour will take you to the roots of historic Istanbul with a visit to Byzantine and Ottoman cultural heritage monuments, including a visit to the Harem section in the Topkapi Palace.

Know More about this tour


The tour commences at the Topkapi Palace, which served as the home and governmental seat of the Ottomans for almost four centuries. It was the center of the powerful Ottoman Empire, governed by a monarch who resided in the palace's Harem section alongside a large family and numerous servants.
You're going to love visiting the Basilica Cistern! It's one of the largest and most fascinating ancient cisterns that lies beneath the vibrant city of Istanbul.
We understand that your tour experience is important to you, and we're happy to inform you that it concludes with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, which is truly a sight to behold. As the world's largest covered bazaar, it boasts 52 streets and over 4000 shops, making it a one-of-a-kind destination that you won't want to miss.

Itinerary:


The tour commences at the Topkapi Palace, which served as the home and governmental seat of the Ottomans for almost four centuries. It was the center of the powerful Ottoman Empire, governed by a monarch who resided in the palace's Harem section alongside a large family and numerous servants.
You're going to love visiting the Basilica Cistern! It's one of the largest and most fascinating ancient cisterns that lies beneath the vibrant city of Istanbul.
We understand that your tour experience is important to you, and we're happy to inform you that it concludes with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, which is truly a sight to behold. As the world's largest covered bazaar, it boasts 52 streets and over 4000 shops, making it a one-of-a-kind destination that you won't want to miss.

Inclusions

  • Private tour
  • Professional guide
  • Entrance fees to the museums.

Exclusions

  • Gratuities
  • Lunch
  • Private transportation

Additional Info

Infants are required to sit on an adults lap

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

This tour does NOT include a visit to the Hagia Sophia and The Blue Mosque or any mosque.

At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time

This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Traveler Reviews

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  • 11-Aug-2023

    I cherished the personalized time spent with Darya. Not only did she create a comfortable environment for my 10-year-old daughter to freely ask questions, but she also had an in-depth knowledge of the bazaar, guiding us to all the hidden gems, unique shops, and must-see places! Beyond her remarkable expertise, I genuinely feel like I've made a new friend in Turkey due to the wonderful connection we shared and inside jokes lol. Our day together was nothing short of amazing!! And I wholeheartedly encourage others to partake in this experience... My heartfelt gratitude goes out to her for making it so memorable….

  • 23-May-2023

    Spent 2 exciting days in Istambul guided by Furkan. He introduced us to the marvelous food, showed us the hidden shops and all the interesting places while telling stories about the history and culture of the citiy. Best guide!

  • 09-May-2023

    My partner and I used Private Istanbul Walking Tours for both a food tour as well as a tour of Topkapi, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar. And both were truly amazing. Istanbul is amazing and there is so much to see, but having a private tour guide just elevates the experience to another level. Furkan was our guide for both tours. He was extremely knowledgeable, as he has been doing this professionally for over 15 years. He is able to talk about history, culture, art of Turkey, you name it! Furkan was very social, easy to talk and just an extremely nice person. We loved spending time with him. Finally, the tours were customised to our timeline as well as our dietary requirements (achieving a food tour in Turkey without garlic and onion is quite a feat!) Would recommend Private Istanbul Walking Tours without any hesitation, and we wouldn't look for anyone else if we're to visit Istanbul again.

  • 18-Nov-2022

    My guide Derya first took me to Suleymaniye Mosque and told me the history of it. She offered to take my picture…she takes great pictures. I loved this tour coz it really is off the beaten path. She took me to where locals hang out while telling me the history of every place we went to. I had sensory overload but it was great!

  • 12-Nov-2022

    We had a really great experience with Derya. She makes you feel like you're touring the city with a good friend, and made herself available to us throughout our stay. It was quite comforting knowing we had a local contact. For our tour, we visited all the iconic spots and even had a well-rounded sampling of local cuisine (thank you for introducing us to menemen!) Since our tour was on a national holiday, the Grand Bazaar was closed. Derya kindly returned for a second day to guide us through. Her knowledge of Turkish history, culture and politics made for a really informative experience and we so enjoyed talking with Derya as we walked. She also provided us with invaluable help on restaurants, hamams, and even purchasing a rug! We hope to visit this beautiful country again and will surely contact Derya!

  • 25-Jan-2021

    Seeing the hidden aspects of Istanbul . . . in fact, my husband and I loved it so much in 2016, we returned in 2020. Whereas during the pandemic, we were unable to go to Derya's favorite tea house and enjoy a bit of apple-spiced hookhah, on this trip we focused more on small eateries, getting "lost" (not really) on small alleys and streets, local farmers market, and stopping frequently to enjoy another cai or a beautiful architectural feature or to make a purchase of spices, rugs, art. We even got to Tango in the cistern and a day trip to Gazientep. Our guides were professional, efficient, flexible, sensitive to our desires, always on time if not early, and just plain fun. It felt like we were traveling with friends. We had solo time inter-mixed with guided time. When transportation was needed, it was in a top rate van. We loved the local forms of transport: ferry, funicular, trolley.

  • 09-Jan-2020

    It is my second trip to Istanbul in a year - it is my new favourite city. And both times I had the perfect guide at my side - Derya! Deeply knowledgeable and passionate about her city she is right there for the history, the big sites as well as the small, everything food, on or off the beaten path. For three days we had the best time. Having worked at the Grand Bazaar, she knows it like the back of her hand (and most of the people in it!!) - Derya is your indispensable guide to seeing the most interesting shops, shopping for the genuine article and negotiating the best deal. Even if you aren't planning to buy a carpet, let her take you to the shop in a former caravanserai managed by the same family for three generations. And if you have never been to a hamam ladies, let Derya arrange this sensational experience for you at a hamam dating back to the 15th century - you will not, I promise you, regret it!

  • 15-Sep-2019

    I had the chance of visiting the city again. I did not hesitate to contact Derya and again got an amazing treatment. Although our tour was very short she gave us tips so that we could use our time as best as we could.

  • 19-Feb-2018

    Istanbul it's not a city, but a country on two continents! History, culture, arts, architecture, gastronomy, all come into such diversity so it's important to reach it with professional support. We were lucky to meet Furkan, who is so well prepared not only to explain in details the rich hystory if the places we visited, but also to give valuable tips about local habits, transportation, food, shopping, basically everything you need to feel excellent in such a great city! Thank you Furkan for your wonderful support!

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