Türkiye · ISTANBUL TOURS

The 15 Best Istanbul Tours & Tickets

447 tours  ·  from $7

Istanbul rewards an early alarm and a plan for the queues. Build a first visit out of these 15: the Sultanahmet monuments and their timed tickets, the boats that cross to Asia and back, and the bath houses that fill the hot middle of the day.

Istanbul: Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table - Getting to the Mega Lüfer pier in Kabataş
Bosphorus Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Cruises, Dinner Experiences, Istanbul Tours, Private, Show, Tour Reviews

Istanbul: Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table

1.Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 44,561 reviews · from $34Our pick

Spend three hours aboard the Mega Lüfer yacht, crossing between Istanbul’s European and Asian shores over a three-course Turkish meal. Expect folk dance, flamenco, belly dance, live music, and views of Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, and the Bosphorus bridges. Hotel pickup, VIP seating, and drink packages vary.

“the atmosphere was amazing, great workers and food was fantastic. they picked us up from infront of our hotel and dropped us off as well, 100% would recommend”

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Istanbul: Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide - Boarding at Karaköy and settling in
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Istanbul: Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide

2.Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 14,430 reviews · 2 hours · from $8Best value

Board a Mega Lüfer yacht in Karaköy for a two-hour Bosphorus cruise past palaces, bridges, fortresses, and Maiden’s Tower. Choose daytime or sunset, then add snacks, dinner, or alcoholic drinks. Bring headphones and a charged phone for the audio guide.

“Very welcoming staff, great job. The whole trip was interesting and full of sightseeing opportunities.”

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Istanbul: Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show - Boarding, pickup, and the first practical decision
Bosphorus Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Cruises, Dinner Experiences, Evening Experiences, Istanbul Tours, Show, Tour Reviews

Istanbul: Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show

3.Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 10,127 reviews · from $34

Spend three hours sailing between Istanbul’s European and Asian shores with dinner, unlimited soft drinks, Turkish coffee and tea, and a 1.5-hour cultural show. You’ll pass illuminated palaces, mosques, bridges, and Maiden’s Tower. Hotel pickup is optional, and attentive servers such as Elvis, Mert, and Ibrahim may help make the evening run smoothly.

“Great evening cruise along the historic Bosphorus! 3-course meal is amazing and our server Tufan did really well. The Turkish show was fantastic!”

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Best of Istanbul 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour - Day three: Suleymaniye, Balat, and the Golden Horn
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Best of Istanbul 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour

4.Best of Istanbul 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8,922 reviews · 7 to 21 hours (approx.) · from $100Top rated

Build your Istanbul visit around a private licensed guide, with one day for Sultanahmet or two to three days for the Bosphorus, palaces, Balat, Chora, and more. Guides such as Burak, Merve, and Kemal tailor the pace, use public transport, and explain the city’s Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern sides.

“we had one day walking private tour of Istanbul with tour guide Ozan Ercan. Ozan was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and friendly that he made our tour truly memorable and enjoyable. We highly recommend him to anyone who wishes to learn about this wonderful and magnificent city.”

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Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Fast-Track Entry and Audio Guide - Arriving with the all-day ticket
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Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Fast-Track Entry and Audio Guide

5.Basilica Cistern Fast-Track Entry and Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 7,521 reviews · 1 day · from $44

Visit Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern with an all-day fast-track ticket from Cosmic Tickets & Audios. Descend beneath the old city, follow the columns and reflections to the Medusa heads, and use a smartphone audio guide in multiple languages. Download everything before entering, since internet access underground is limited.

“A peace, other worldly experience beneath the busy streets of Istanbul. Arrived right as the doors opened and breezed past the already forming ticket line – getting a chance to experience the cistern largely by ourselves. It’s only a 20 to 30 minute experience so a bit costly but definitely one of the highlights of our time in Istanbul.”

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Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket & Museum Option - Inside the mosque, from the nave to the upper gallery
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Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket & Museum Option

6.Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket & Museum Option

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 4,958 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $33

Visit Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque with a skip-the-ticket-line pass, audio commentary in 23 languages, and optional History and Experience Museum entry. You’ll see the dome, mosaics, Islamic calligraphy, and upper-gallery views. A charged phone and careful attention to the pickup instructions are essential.

“Hagia Sophia was as described, very pretty and interesting. My main complaint is I found it quite difficult to find where I had to get my ticket from. No one seemed to know! Also depending where you are approaching the mosque it’s quite a climb.Very steep approach.”

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Istanbul Hodjapasha Whirling Dervishes Show & Exhibition - Inside the compact Hodjapasha venue
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Istanbul: Hodjapasha Whirling Dervishes Show & Exhibition

7.Hodjapasha Whirling Dervishes Show & Exhibition

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 4,790 reviews · 1 hour · from $32

Spend one hour at Istanbul’s 550-year-old HodjaPasha Culture Center watching the Mevlevi Sema ceremony. A classical Turkish music program leads into the seven-part ritual, with whirling dervishes, a sheikh, chants, prayer, and a small exhibition explaining Sufi traditions. Bottled water is included.

“Having booked early we were able to secure excellent seats to view this transfixing event. Part cultural part dance part religious we were awe struck by the movements and music. An absolute must do when in Istanbul.”

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Istanbul: Topkapi Palace & Harem Museum Ticket & Audio Guide - Meeting the host near the main gate
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Istanbul: Topkapi Palace & Harem Museum Ticket & Audio Guide

8.Topkapi Palace & Harem Museum Ticket & Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 3,977 reviews · from $61

Meet an English-speaking host near Topkapi’s main gate, enter the palace and Harem together, then explore independently with a smartphone audio guide. Choose from ten entry times, stay as long as you like, and see royal jewelry, sacred relics, tiled rooms, gardens, and Bosphorus views.

“The guide was really nice and I enjoyed my time at the amazing palace of Topkapi”

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Istanbul: Sunset or Day Small-Group Yacht Cruise with Snacks - Choosing daytime or sunset
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Istanbul: Sunset or Day Small-Group Yacht Cruise with Snacks

9.Sunset or Day Small-Group Yacht Cruise with Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3,774 reviews · 2 hours · from $31

Cruise the Bosphorus in a 16-person yacht group, passing Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy, Beylerbeyi Palace, and Maiden’s Tower. Choose daytime or sunset, enjoy fruit, nuts, mini pizza, tea, and coffee, and use the audio guide with your headphones. Guides such as Tugba Bozmese also help with photos and comfort.

“From start to finish communication was great meeting the boat then the tour in itself was incredible, felt very looked after. Was one of the highlights of our trip. Thank you”

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Istanbul: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Guided Tour w/ Tickets - Starting at Galataport or Sultanahmet Square
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Istanbul: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Guided Tour w/ Tickets

10.Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Guided Tour w/ Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,600 reviews · 2.5 - 3 hours · from $39

Spend 2.5 to 3 hours with a licensed English or German-speaking guide at the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Hagia Sophia. Guides such as Kaan, Emre, Murat, and Umut are praised for clear stories and friendly help. Cruise guests can meet at Galataport and ride the tram to Sultanahmet.

“Emre Tan was an amazing guide. I would say in fact he was the best we have had. He was extremely knowledgeable, courteous and kept track of everyone. I am looking forward to another tour with him! The company was also very well organised.”

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Istanbul: Private Turkish Bath, Massage, and Spa in Old City - Sauna and Steam: Start Slowly in the Heat
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Istanbul: Private Turkish Bath, Massage, and Spa in Old City

11.Private Turkish Bath, Massage, and Spa in Old City

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,225 reviews · 50 - 125 minutes · from $53

Visit the spa floor beneath Beethoven Senfoni Hotel for a private Turkish bath in Istanbul’s Old City. Your session can include sauna, steam, scrub, foam massage, face mask, and a 30, 50, or 75-minute massage. Female therapists provide the treatments, and the hamam is experienced naked.

“It was a fabulous experience!! If I lived in Istanbul I would have a Turkish bath at least once a week!!”

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Istanbul:Original Turkish Mosaic Lamp Workshop w/ Snacks - Meeting near Sirkeci, then possibly crossing to the Asian side
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Istanbul:Original Turkish Mosaic Lamp Workshop w/ Snacks

12.Original Turkish Mosaic Lamp Workshop w/ Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3,077 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $29

Spend 2.5 hours decorating a glass globe with more than 45 colors of mosaic stones and beads. Instructors such as Nihal, Mehmet, Aicha, and Ayse guide you through the craft, with Turkish tea, coffee, cookies, drying time, and a protective bag with a US adapter included.

“Amazing experience! Would recommend to anyone visiting Istanbul we are so glad we did this!!”

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Istanbul: Perfume Making Workshop with Bosphorus View - Is $28 good value?
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Istanbul: Perfume Making Workshop with Bosphorus View

13.Perfume Making Workshop with Bosphorus View

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,985 reviews · 2 hours · from $28

At Istanbul Experiences Workshops, English and Turkish-speaking guides such as Tuana, Elif, Beren, and Irmak help you build a personal fragrance from more than 50 scent options. You will test notes, blend your formula, and leave with a 50ml bottle in a special package, with Bosphorus views and tea included.

“Really nice workshop, 5star. Tuana was very helpful and we had a great time”

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Istanbul: Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on Yacht with Live Guide - Starting at Kabataş and settling into the yacht
Bosphorus Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, Guided, Istanbul Tours, Sailing, Tour Reviews

Istanbul: Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on Yacht with Live Guide

14.Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on Yacht with Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,845 reviews · 2h 15m · from $19

Spend 135 minutes on a decorated yacht with an English-speaking guide such as Aleyna or Betül, cruising from Kabataş past palaces, mosques, fortresses, and wooden waterfront homes. Enjoy canapés, fresh fruit, mint lemonade, tea, and coffee while sunset gathers around Maiden’s Tower.

“A very enjoyable activity and so good value for money! Very lovely and attentive tour guides, highly recommended. Nur and Erdem were lovely.”

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Istanbul: Bosphorus Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Snack - Starting at Kabataş beside Dolmabahçe Palace
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Istanbul: Bosphorus Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Snack

15.Bosphorus Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Snack

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,716 reviews · 2 hours · from $8

Sail for two hours from Kabataş between Europe and Asia, passing Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, and Maiden’s Tower. You get an audio guide in six languages, plus soft drinks and snacks if selected. The warm indoor cabin and outdoor deck help in cool weather.

“The Bosphorus sunset cruise was one of the highlights of trip to Istanbul. Everything was well-organized — boarding was quick, the boat was clean and comfortable, and the views of the city during golden hour were absolutely stunning. I especially want to mention Chef River, who created a warm and welcoming atmosphere on board. Overall, this cruise is a perfect way to see Istanbul from a different perspective, relax on the water, and take beautiful photos. Highly recommended!”

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New in Istanbul Tours

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