3 Day Istanbul Historical and Cultural Tour - Old City and Island

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Istanbul Old City Historical & Cultural Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Maximize your Istanbul trip with this all-inclusive 3-day package! We combine history, culture, and relaxation into a perfect itinerary, handling all logistics so you can enjoy the city stress-free.

Highlights:

Day 1: Old City & Bosphorus Night: Visit UNESCO sites like Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace. Unlike other tours, we provide a transfer back to your hotel for a refreshment break after the day tour. In the evening, we pick you up again for a magical Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with dinner & live shows.

Day 2: Two Continents: Cross the Bosphorus Bridge to the Asian side. Explore the opulent Beylerbeyi Palace and enjoy panoramic views from Camlica Hill.

Day 3: Princes' Islands Escape: Take a scenic boat trip to Büyükada. Explore the island with an electric vehicle tour, enjoy a seafood lunch, and relax away from the city noise.

Includes: Professional Guide, AC Transport, Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off, Lunches, Dinner Cruise, and Entrance Fees.

Multi-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Multi-day Cruises Water Tours

At a glance

Duration: 3 days
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 100 people
People per booking: 1–30
Guide: English
Operated by: Turkey Tourism Center

Ages: Infants (0–3 years) · Children (4–7 years) · Adults (8–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Hotel Pick-up / Drop Off
Included: Lunch
Included: Dinner
Included: Professional Tour Guide

Not included

Not included: Hagia Sophia Mosque Ticket
Not included: Topkapı Palace Ticket
Not included: Prince Islands Tour - Electric Vehicle or Bicycle

Itinerary

Day 1 · Old City History Tour & Bosphorus Dinner Cruise

Hippodrome

one hour

It is the place where the sports activities of Constantinople, which is called Eastern Rome, are held. There are works such as the German Fountain, the Egyptian Obelisk, and the Serpentine Column.
Blue Mosque

one hour Admission included

Blue Mosque, as known as the Sultanahmet Mosque, this breath-taking building is one of the most majestic Ottoman mosques in all of Turkey. Also, it was built with unique 6 minarets.
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

one hour Admission not included

Haghia Sophia was built as a church in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian then in 1453 renovated into a mosque by Ottoman Emperor Fatih Sultan Mehmet. It was converted into a museum in 1935 and It was converted in 2020 renovated into a mosque and welcoming both local and foreign visitors. It has great spiritual value.
TopkapI Palace

2 hours Admission not included

Topkapi Palace, which hosted the Ottoman dynasty for many years, was used as the education, administration and art center of the state. Your tour guide will give you detailed information about the imperial treasury, holy Islamic relics, palace kitchens, weapons. (closed on Tuesday)
Hagia Irene Museum

30 min Admission not included

It is one of the oldest Byzantine churches in Istanbul, was the 2nd largest church of the Eastern Roman Empire after Hagia Sophia. (Closed on Tuesday)
Grand Bazaar

2 h 30 min

Grand Bazaar, is the biggest market and the most attractive shopping center of Istanbul which has lots of shopping oppurtunities with carpets, leather, jewellery, turkish delight, gold, antique tiles etc.. (Closed on Sunday and Official Holidays)
Eminonu Square

2 hours

Return to Hotel and Rest Break - After the historical tour concludes, we will transfer you back to your hotel. You will have approximately 2 hours of free time to relax, shower, and prepare for the evening. Our transfer team will pick you up again from the hotel lobby for the Bosphorus Dinner Boat Tour in the evening.
Bosphorus Strait

3 hours Admission included

The tour will be start at 20:30hrs and will be served with your selection of food and drinks.

The boat will sail along the European and Asia shores passing by all the historical buildings. You will be free to join the higher terrace part of the boat taking pictures, mesmerising and getting dazzled by the sparkle of the city at night.

The tour will end 23:30 hrs and around midnight you will be returned back to your hotels by our services
Dolmabahce Palace

Passing by

Watch this magnificent work under the sparkling lights of the night on the open terrace of the boat.
Stop 10

Passing by

Watch this magnificent work under the sparkling lights of the night on the open terrace of the boat.
Rumeli Fortress

Passing by

Watch this magnificent work under the sparkling lights of the night on the open terrace of the boat.
Bosphorus Bridge

Passing by

Take unforgettable pictures with your loved ones under the Bosphorus Bridge.
Kucuksu Pavilion

Passing by

Watch this magnificent work under the sparkling lights of the night on the open terrace of the boat.
Beylerbeyi Palace

Passing by

Watch this magnificent work under the sparkling lights of the night on the open terrace of the boat.

Day 2 · Two Continents Tour: Crossing from Europe to Asia & Beylerbeyi Palace

Camlica Hill

one hour

Our tour will start with pickup from your hotels by air-conditioned vehicle. Then we will go to our first stop, Çamlıca Hill. A magnificent view of Istanbul awaits you here. The whole Bosphorus and Istanbul will be under your feet.
CamlIca Mosque

one hour

Visit to Çamlıca Mosque. The largest mosque in Turkiye was opened in 2019 by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Due to its location, it can be seen from every point in Istanbul.
Beylerbeyi Palace

one hour Admission included

Visit Beylerbeyi Palace. lord of the lords an imperial Ottoman summer residence built between 1861-1865 by Sultan Abdulhamid 2.
Bosphorus Bridge

Passing by

Known officially as the 15 July Martyrs Bridge it was the first suspension bridge linked Europe & Asia opened in 1973.
Anadolu Hisari Fort

Passing by

we will see across of the Rumeli castle, Anatolian castle, passing by the Anatolian fortress, we will learn its history
Rumeli Fortress

Passing by

We'll take beautiful photos in front of the Rumeli fortress
Pierre Loti

1 h 30 min

Visit to Pierre Loti Cafe.

the area named after the French novelist Pierre Loti it has spectacular views over the Golden Horn.
Eyup Sultan Mosque

2 hours

The Eyüp mosque is one of the most holy and important mosques in all of Turkey. Located on the site of Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari Tomb & other Sahabe.
Pierre Loti

one hour Admission included

We will go all way down from Pierre Loti by the cable car.

In case of crowding cable car can be canceled and we will go down by car.
Bosphorus Bridge

2 hours Admission included

Finally, we will continue our tour with a sunset boat trip.

Accompanied by the magnificent view of the Bosphorus. In this way, you will see all the historical sites along the Bosphorus coast.

Day 3 · Princes' Islands Tour: Cruise & Leisure Day

Stop 1

2 hours Admission included

Our chauffeurs will pick you up from your hotel with our air-conditioned vehicles and meet you with your group and tour guide at Kabatas pier.

From here, hop on your boat and sail for Büyükada, the largest and most popular Prince Island.
TopkapI Palace

Passing by

It is a place of great importance in our history. It is the palace where all the Ottoman sultans lived. While passing by these historical places, our tour guide will give you information about the history.
KIz Kulesi

Passing by

Maiden's Tower

B.C. It has a history stretching back centuries. Over the centuries, it has served different states for different purposes. It also hosts interesting stories in the colloquial language. We recommend you to visit this place as well.
Haydarpasa Terminal

Passing by

You can see the historical Haydarpaşa Train Station, which is the subject of the series.
Heybeliada

1 h 30 min

Heybeliada is the second-largest among the islands but the greenest. With our guide, we have free time over there. Later, we continue our tour and head to Büyükada.
Buyukada

3 hours

After arriving on the largest and most popular island, you will start exploring the island with your tour guide. You will see old churches, beaches, small town life up close.

Take a break at a restaurant for lunch and enjoy tasty seafood before your spend the remainder of your day on your own. After lunch, grab your swimsuit and head to the beach to swim or catch some rays. ( summer months). You can also shop. You can buy organic fruits or souvenirs for your loved ones. Guests who wish can also participate in the activities there.
Istanbul

1 h 30 min

Finally, upon your return to Istanbul, there will be a stop for shopping. After shopping, we will drop you back at your respective hotels.

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

If your hotel is outside the designated area, you must come to the meeting point. We will pick you up from the Sultanahmet Tram stop. This location is valid for the first day. For tours on subsequent days, we will inform you the evening before.

End point

If your hotel is outside the designated area, you must come to the meeting point. We will pick you up from the Sultanahmet Tram stop. This location is valid for the first day. For tours on subsequent days, we will inform you the evening before.

Pickup points

Harbour Suites Old City
Atlantis Royal Hotel
Vardar Palace Hotel
Gulseda Otel Apart
Imagine Istanbul - Sultanahmet
Hotel Inter Istanbul
Union Hotel Port
Xenia Hotel Istanbul
AHC Ayasofya Hotel - Special Class
Meddusa Hotel
Gulhane Corner Hotel
Chambers of the Boheme

and 2,153 more pickup points

We pick up guests staying at hotels in the Fatih and Beyoğlu districts by vehicle. Depending on the distance, we inform our guests in advance and then pick them up from their hotels. We inform them of the pick-up time one day in advance.