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Istanbul Essentials For First Timers

5.0

Istanbul Essentials For First Timers

5.0
Next available dates
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Bestseller

For Private Service

Duration: 7 hours
Free cancellation
Manual confirmation
Private

From
USD 240.19

For KrisFlyer members only

For Shared (Group) Service

Duration: 7 hours
Free cancellation
Manual confirmation
As Shared (Group) Service

From
USD 160.13

For KrisFlyer members only

Highlights

If you are going to visit Istanbul for the first time, this cultural and culinary walking tour in Istanbul will provide you a detailed information of what I can call "Essentials of Istanbul Experience". We will visit some of the most famous landmarks of Istanbul, understand their historical, architectural and social importance. We will also try some local foods, including (everyone's favourite) Turkish desserts. I will be explaining my guests some of the less-known and little-noticed details for each site.
The experience can be tailored with the consensus of all participants.

Itinerary

  • Gulhane Park

    20 minsAdmission Ticket Free
    Once part of Topkapi Palace, this relaxing and beautiful public park is more than a recreational area. This area played a very crucuial role in the history of Istanbul, but also of Turkish Republic. In April, it is full of tulips. In May, roses replace tulips. Every seasons, it looks amazing in its own way.
  • Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III

    10 minsAdmission Ticket Free
    The first-of-its-kind, Sultan Ahmed Fountain in front of Topkapi Palace is an elegant monument in itself. Surrounded by Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia, this Fountain rarely gets the attention that it deserves. We will examine its Tulip Period ornaments with a special attention and understand its impact to the city.
  • Basilica Cistern

    1 hoursAdmission Ticket Not Included
    Yerebatan (Basilica) Cistern is a 6th-century Roman water structure and the largest of its kind in Istanbul. With endless rows of columns, its has a unique appearance. It is considered as a top sight in Istanbul. There may be a 30-minute waiting time on busy days.
  • Blue Mosque

    1 hoursAdmission Ticket Free
    This 17th-century masterpiece of Ottoman architecture is one of the top sights in Istanbul. Its interior provides one of the most glamorous examples of Ottoman mosques. It is decorated with thousands of tiles and extensive penwork. Starting from its outer courtyard to the inner corners, this mosque provides several elegant examples of the Turkish artistic taste of the 17th century.
  • Sultanahmet Square

    1 hoursAdmission Ticket Free
    Sultanahmet Square is the ancient Roman Hippodrome and contains some of Istanbul's oldest and most important sights. The Egyptian Obelisk, Serpent Column, Masonary Obelisk and German Fountain are among those sights. Each of them has its own fascinating stories and not-easy-to-notice aspects, which I will happily share during our visit.
  • Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

    1 hoursAdmission Ticket Not Included
    The Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul is one of the masterpieces of world architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 6th-century building contains artistic items and architectural features from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations. It is a must-see in Istanbul, but for that reason, there are long queues which may result with 1-2 hours of waiting time. (If my guests prefer to see the building only from outside in order not to wait in a long queue, an alternative destination can be added)
  • Grand Bazaar

    1 hoursAdmission Ticket Free
    As a key city of the Silk Road and the Spice Road, Istanbul boasts the presence of some of the best medieval bazaars in the world. The Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar are still some of most lively commercial buildings in Istanbul. Depending on the personal preference of my guests, we can visit one or both of them. Grand Bazaar is closed on sunday.
  • Beyazit Mosque

    1 hoursAdmission Ticket Free
    Although Blue Mosque is the most visited Ottoman mosque in Istanbul because of its location at the heart of Old City, several other mosques are worth visiting because of their historical significance and architectural aspects. Beyazit Mosque in particular contains very interesting features that are unique in Istanbul. We will take a look at its colorful decoration dated 1505.

What's included

INCLUDED

Professional Licenced Tourist Guidance Service

NOT INCLUDED

Entry Tickets To Museums
Lunch
Public transportation

Customer reviews

5.0

22 verified reviews
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Additional information

Must Know
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Good To Know
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Important Note: The guide will only provide “tourist guidance service” in accordance with the legal guidelines in Türkiye.

Location

Provider

Unsal Koslu

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Currency
  • SGDSingapore Dollar
  • AUDAustralian Dollar
  • EUREuro
  • GBPPound Sterling
  • INRIndian Rupees
  • IDRIndonesian Rupiah
  • JPYJapanese Yen
  • HKDHong Kong Dollar
  • MYRMalaysian Ringgit
  • TWDNew Taiwan Dollar
  • THBThai Baht
  • PHPPhilippine Peso
  • USDU.S Dollar
  • NZDNew Zealand Dollar
  • VNDVietnamese Dong
  • KRWKorean Won
  • AEDEmirati Dirham
  • CNYChinese Yuan
  • CADCanadian Dollar
  • CHFSwiss Franc
Language
  • 한국어
  • 日本語
  • English
  • Bahasa Indonesia
  • Tiếng Việt
  • ไทย
  • 简体中文