Istanbul Private Old Town and Shopping Tour in Grand Bazaar

5.0 (4 reviews) 4–6 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

4 reviews

5.0

Istanbul Private Old Town and Shopping Tour in Grand Bazaar — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Istanbul Private Old Town and Shopping Tour in Grand Bazaar, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Do you want to have a Private Tour for the History and Legends of Istanbul and have the chance to have a Personal Shopper in the Grand Bazaar?

Instead of being only a guide to tell stories I am looking forward to add personal interactions to the tour and curate routes for your needs in the Grand Bazaar (only if you want to shop)

In this tour everything is adjustable, we can add or remove the stops as you like.

We will learn the unknown details hidden behind the walls:

Why only one Angel’s face is open but three other Angel’s faces are covered in Hagia Sophia?
Who was Istanbul’s secret Viking visitor and what did he leave as a note to us?
What is behind the walls of the Hippodrome?
Which door was made of Noah’s Ark?
Why there are more than 30.000 dead bodies under the main square of the city?
Which minaret was made of jewelry?

All these questions and even more will be answered and covered with great storytelling.

Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Historical Tours Shopping Tours Walking Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Low

At a glance

Duration: 4–6 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–10
Guide: English, Turkish
Operated by: Private Istanbul Curated Walking and Shopping Tours

Ages: Infants (0–3 years) · Children (4–11 years) · Youth (12–17 years) · Adults (18–64 years) · Seniors (65–80 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Tea and coffee: Coffee and Tea and Water during the tour will be on me.

Itinerary

Gulhane Park

20 min

This amazing park with full of roses and tulips was once the backyard of Ottomans, here we can take lovely pictures and breathe the atmosphere of a royal family garden.
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

20 min Admission not included

Hagia Sophia is the most remarkable historical site of the city. There are too many legends to talk about here, I will tell you the brief story of the temple and then go into details, one by one.

The entrance of the place is 25 Euros and is not included in the price of the tour. If you want to go, you have to let me know beforehand so I can get the tickets in advance to avoid the lines. Then you will pay me the ticket prices in cash when we meet.
Sultanahmet Square

30 min

This square was the main square of two big Empires, Roman Empire and Ottoman Empire and it still has the significant importance. I will tell you the whole story of it starting from Constantine the Great to nowadays. We will go on a terrace for taking pictures and talking generally about the whole history of the area.
Blue Mosque

20 min

We will go into the Blue Mosque to envy the amazing tiles of the place and talk about the history of it.
Hippodrome

20 min

We will be standing on the site of historical hipodrome and I will show you the remaining of the hipodome. Plus, there are going to be some interesting stories that I will be telling about whatever has happened on the area.
Basilica Cistern

20 min Admission not included

See the amazing underground water storage a.k.a Basilica Cistern, where you will feel like being in an underground palace. This place hides lots of beauties and sculptures with hidden stories behind that you will unveil with us!

The tickets for this venue is 35 Euros, so please let me know beforehand so that we can purchase together as its not included in the price
Column of Constantine

10 min

The Avenue of Constantine the Great, we will learn why there is a column and what happened to the statue on it.
Grand Bazaar

15 min

4.000 store marketplace. Almost 600 years old history. One of the most remarkable places in Istanbul.

Here, you have a choice. If you were already planning to come to Grand Bazaar for shopping anyways, as I am an expert guide on the bazaar (You can see I have another tour just focusing on Shopping in Grand Bazaar), I will help you with your shopping and once your shopping is done we will end the tour here. In my expertise, the shortest shopping takes 2 hours.

If you are not interested in shopping, then we will go on with the other places that are after here.

However, in case you want to do shopping, you have to let me know beforehand so I can curate a personalized route for you in the bazaar. Of course, I will recommend you amazing stores with great quality and help you bargain.

(Most of the guides do not bargain, just leave you at random stores and wait outside, I act more like a personal shopper.)
Beyazit Square

10 min

In case you decide to not do shopping and go on with the other places to see, we will see one of the main squares of the Roman Empire and where Istanbul University is located now. We will be talking about the history around here and we will see so many cats on the venue.
Suleymaniye Mosque

30 min

The Balcony of Istanbul. One of the most important and best viewed Imperial Mosques of Istanbul. We will finish our tour while resting with the beautiful view here. Again, we will only come here if you want to not do shopping in the bazaar.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

We will meet at the entrance of Gülhane Park, there are different entrances of the park, we will be meeting at the entrance that faces the tram line, where there is also a stop called as Gülhane.

End point

We are ending at Süleymaniye Mosque, a.k.a the balcony of Istanbul.

Using your ticket

You dont need to print it out

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.
The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.