5 Istanbul Shore Excursions You Can Do Before All-Aboard

1.Skip-the-Line Istanbul: Private Tour from Cruise Ship & Hotel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 536 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $280Our pick

Spend about six hours with a private English-speaking guide, private driver, and air-conditioned Mercedes van. Meet at Galataport or your hotel, then walk Istanbul’s Old City sights, with prearranged Hagia Sophia entry, a visit to the Basilica Cistern, and time in the Grand Bazaar.

“We had a great day with our guide. We saw the highlights of Istanbul and even had an authentic lunch which really immersed us into the culture and experience of the day. We enjoyed the shops and every part of our day!”

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2.Private & Mini Group 7-8 Hours Guided Istanbul Tour / Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 278 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $99Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide at Galataport or your hotel for a 7 to 8-hour private Istanbul tour. Visit the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and Grand Bazaar in an air-conditioned vehicle, with skip-the-line tickets arranged by your guide.

“The best thing was getting ahead of the long lines with a small party private group. We skipped all the tourist lines, very much appreciated.”

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3.Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 273 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $100

Start at Galataport with an English-speaking guide and cover Istanbul’s top sights in about eight hours. You’ll visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern, and more. Expect substantial walking, museum fees, and possible shopping stops.

“It was great! The only issue was that this tour contrary to its name Shore Excursion, was not meant for those in a cruise line just spending the day in Istanbul. We had to leave the tour on our own and get back to the ship in order to be onboard by the time the ship sailed away. It is the perfect tour for those staying in town for a couple of days. It manages to go to a lot of the main attractions in only one day.”

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4.Istanbul Shore Excursion : Best Seller Private Istanbul Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 258 reviews · 7 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $100

Spend about seven hours with a private English-speaking guide exploring Istanbul’s Old City from Galataport or a central hotel. Visit Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar, with flexible pacing and help buying timed-entry tickets.

“Had an awesome tour, saw lots and learnt lots, very busy but Eva(sorry don’t have correct spelling) was very good at directing us around the old city and spice market Would recommend her”

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5.Istanbul Port: City Sights Tour for Cruise Ship Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 70 reviews · 7 hours · from $115

Meet your English- or Spanish-speaking guide at Galata Port for a seven-hour tour of Istanbul’s old city. You’ll see the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar, with helpful guides such as Eda, Sila, Naz, and Onur often adapting the day to your pace.

“Our guide, Onur, was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Couldn’t ask for a better guide. The meetup place/time and transportation wasn’t what was advertised, but it turned out ok.”

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