6-day private Istanbul city tour – in the footsteps of Byzantion, Rome and the Ottoman Empire

Six days turn sights into a city: palaces, mosques, bazaars, islands and Bosphorus – with time for coffee, detours and spontaneous discoveries. The price covers all six days; book the vehicle for as many days as you like.

Highlights

• Six days of Byzantium, Rome and the Ottoman Empire in one journey
• From Hagia Sophia via Chora to the Princes' Islands
• Vehicle for all or single days
• No queuing, tickets at the guides' counter
• Your own state-licensed guide, no strangers
• No sales stops, no commissions, no detours

Full description

To understand Istanbul you need more than a day. In six days we follow the history of three empires through palaces, churches, mosques and bazaars – and get to know the city as a living place, not a checklist.

Each day has a theme; we adapt the order to opening hours, weather and your wishes. Between visits there is time for coffee, markets and the view of the water.

What we see

We adapt order and selection to weekday, opening hours, weather and your wishes.

• Day 1 – Sultanahmet
  Hagia Sophia, Cistern, Hippodrome, İbrahim Pasha Palace (Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art).
• Day 2 – Sultans and Sinan
  Topkapı Palace, Blue Mosque, Little Hagia Sophia, Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Mosque.
• Day 3 – Islands and Asia
  Princes' Islands, Çamlıca Hill, Üsküdar, Maiden's Tower.
• Day 4 – Bazaars and life
  Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye, İstiklal Avenue, Galata quarter.
• Day 5 – Byzantium off the track
  Blachernae, Chora, Eyüp, Valens Aqueduct, Fener and Balat.
• Day 6 – Museum and Bosphorus
  Archaeological Museum, boat trip (optional), Ortaköy, Yıldız Park.

Included

• 7 hours private, state-licensed guide in your language (Mehmet Humayunoğlu or an experienced colleague from his team)
• Planning, coordination and time management of the day
• Headsets for groups of 16 or more
• 6 days of approx. 7 hours with your private guide
• Meeting point of your choice: hotel lobby, Galataport or Sultanahmet

Not included

• Entrance fees and donations
• Lunch and drinks
• Vehicle and transfers, optional
• Ferry and boat tickets unless booked as an extra
• Personal expenses, tips

Meeting point

Choose your meeting point in the form: your hotel lobby, the Galataport cruise terminal or Sultanahmet at the fountain between Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Please arrive five minutes early; if you are late I wait up to 20 minutes.

You will recognise me by the sign “MeinReiseleiter.de” and the visibly worn guide licence. We confirm meeting point and time with your booking.

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Important information

German, English, Turkish, French, Italian, Spanish – 25 more languages on request.

• Comfortable shoes – Lots of cobblestones in the old town, uphill and downhill.
• Dress code in mosques – Shoulders and knees covered, ladies with headscarf. Scarves are available at the entrance.
• Fridays – We visit mosques only after the noon prayer and adjust the order.