Quick Details
Private Tour
The total cost is finalized once the itinerary is fully customized to reflect your chosen experiences and logistics.
€ 185
Istanbul: Private Half Day Guided Tour for Cruise Passengers
Discover Istanbul on a private half-day experience created especially for cruise passengers. Meet your private guide at Galataport and travel together to the historic heart of the city by tram. Your guide will accompany you throughout the experience and return with you to Galataport at the end of the tour.
Make the most of your limited time ashore with a flexible itinerary designed around your interests and ship schedule. Rather than following a fixed route, choose the landmarks you would most like to see and create your own Istanbul experience with your private guide. As this is a half-day tour, the itinerary will focus on the sites you select rather than attempting to visit every major attraction.
Choose to visit the magnificent Blue Mosque and admire its elegant Ottoman architecture and beautiful Iznik tiles. Explore the Hippodrome, the ancient center of Constantinople, and discover the stories behind its historic monuments.
If the Basilica Cistern is on your list, step underground to see its impressive Byzantine columns and famous Medusa heads. You can also choose Hagia Sophia and learn about its extraordinary history spanning the Byzantine and Ottoman eras.
Prefer Ottoman history ? Spend your time exploring Topkapi Palace, the former residence of the Ottoman sultans. Or, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar and browse its countless shops offering traditional Turkish crafts and souvenirs.
Your guide will help you select the best combination of sights based on your interests and available time, while sharing local knowledge and bringing Istanbul’s history to life along the way.
Entrance tickets are not included in the tour price. Skip-the-line tickets can be purchased directly from your guide during the tour, allowing you to save time and avoid waiting in ticket lines.
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- Galataport – Cruise Port Pickup
- Blue Mosque
- Hippodrome of Constantinople
- Basilica Cistern
- Hagia Sophia
- Lunch Break
- Topkapi Palace
- Grand Bazaar
- Galataport – Cruise Port Return
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- Enjoy a private Istanbul experience designed especially for cruise passengers.
- Start and finish at Galataport for an easy return to your cruise ship.
- Shape the half-day itinerary around your interests and time ashore.
- Discover Istanbul’s must-see landmarks with your own private expert guide.
- Purchase attraction tickets directly from your guide and avoid ticket lines.
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- Private tour with a professional guide
- Pick-up and drop-off at Galataport
- Tour adapted to your ship schedule
- Experience shaped around your interests
- Tram transportation between Galataport and the Old Town
- Attraction tickets available for purchase from your guide
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- Lunch (can be purchased on the spot)
- Private vehicle transportation (can be arranged upon request)
- Entrance tickets are not included in the tour price
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- The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility.
- This tour is not suitable for strollers.
- Please note that women should be required to wear a headscarf when entering the mosque.
- Please note that both men and women should wear clothing that covers their shoulders and knees. Shorts, sleeveless tops, and other revealing attire are not permitted inside.
- You are not allowed to bring signs, symbols, banners, flags, documents, drawings, or any materials representing political, ideological, or religious beliefs inside the Hagia Sophia.
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- Expect long lines to enter the Hagia Sophia, especially during local holidays.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. Topkapi is closed on Tuesdays.
- Clients must arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start of the tour. This is due to the timed entry of the tickets.
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
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Once your ship docks at Galata port, make your way outside the terminal. Walk to the Galata Port Clock Tower Square. Your guide will be holding a sign that says “Walks In Europe” next to the clock tower.