Istanbul offers group tours and private tours with some of the best guides in the city. Byzantine churches, Ottoman heritage, Bosphorus cruises and other special tours are available. The Istanbul Guide provides further information about the city with local insight.
Full-day city tours often include visits to some of the best Turkish restaurants, covering Ottoman cuisine, kebabs, fish and other specialities. Istanbul offers many museums, ancient churches, palaces, mosques, bazaars and the Bosphorus.
Day tours outside Istanbul are also available, including Ephesus, Cappadocia and Gallipoli, either by plane or by bus. These can be found through tour operators that specialise in Turkey.
Tours can be joined from hotels, the Karakoy cruise port and Istanbul airports. For tours starting at airports, private tours or a transfer from the airport to the city centre may be necessary.
Below are the types of tours commonly available in Istanbul. Group tours can be joined individually, and private versions are also available with a licensed guide and a driver, or with a licensed guide only. For boat cruises, boats can be chartered depending on the size of the group.
This site is an informational source and does not handle tour bookings or reservations. Tour operators and licensed guides in Istanbul can be found through local tourism offices and reputable travel platforms. Some links on this site are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It is advisable to compare options, read recent reviews, and confirm the itinerary and pricing before booking.