Istanbul Highlights from Cruise Pier with Skip-the-Ticket-Line
- 4–7 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 2 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Make the most of your time in Istanbul with this exceptional private tour of the city’s historic Old Town, designed exclusively for cruise guests. Choose between a half-day or full-day experience to suit your schedule and interests. Explore Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks—including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern—with skip-the-line access, so you can spend more time discovering and less time waiting. For those opting for a full-day tour, you have the option to enhance your experience by adding a visit to the Topkapi Palace or enjoying a scenic Bosphorus boat tour. Your knowledgeable guide will meet you directly at the cruise port and accompany you throughout the tour, sharing fascinating insights and stories that bring Istanbul’s rich history to life. Midway through, enjoy a refreshing break with a complimentary Turkish tea or coffee at a local café. At the end of your day, your guide will escort you back to the cruise pier.
Inclusions
What's included
- Skipping the ticket lines ( Not including entry tickets )
- We will take tram from port to old city ( fastest way to reach old city )
- Private walking tour with an official tour guide
- Borek or Simit with tea or Turkish coffee
What's not
- Food and drinks are not mentioned in the inclusion part
- Gratuities
- if you have full day with Topkapi Palace, entry fee is 2750 TL pp
- Basilica Cistern
- Hagia Sophia Mosque
Itinerary
A masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, the Hagia Sophia served as a cathedral, then a mosque, and now a mosque again. Admire its grand dome, golden mosaics, and layers of religious history that span over 1,500 years.
We're going to explore the Basilica Cistern, an ancient water storage system designed to withstand long sieges. With its vast size and 336 columns, it's often referred to as the 'Underground Palace.' It's not only a remarkable historical site but also offers a unique and fascinating experience beneath the streets of Istanbul." Please note that the entry fee is 900 TL per person, and we will purchase the tickets for you to skip the line. Kindly have the amount ready in cash. ( officials share that it will be 1300 TL pp but date is not confirmed yet ).
Famed for its six minarets and stunning blue İznik tiles, the Blue Mosque is an active place of worship and a symbol of Ottoman grandeur. Don’t miss its serene courtyard and majestic interior.
The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire.
At a point during the tour, your guide will choose a stop where you can enjoy a complimentary Turkish coffee or tea.
Visit one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world - Istanbul's Grand Bazaar
Please note: The palace is included in the full-day tour option. If you choose the half-day tour, you will visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome, and the Grand Bazaar.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 5101
- 44
- 35
- 21
- 12
Ratings come from 113 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Pickup is included for everyone.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Real Istanbul Tours
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- At the Blue Mosque, no one has the right to skip the lines.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and our guide can show another bazaar instead.
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays and Half day tour is available on Tuesdays or will be replaced with Bosphorus Tour for full day tours
How it compares in Istanbul
- Its from-price is 10% below the median of the 530 city tours we list in Istanbul.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 50 of 530.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Istanbul
Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus, with Byzantine and Ottoman monuments, busy bazaars and ferries crossing between continents.
The historic peninsula holds the greatest landmarks. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome face each other in Sultanahmet, the Basilica Cistern lies beneath the streets, and Topkapı Palace spreads across the hill above the Golden Horn. A short walk away, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar have traded for centuries, and Süleymaniye Mosque, built by the great Ottoman architect Sinan, crowns one of the city's seven hills.
Top-ranked sights in Istanbul: Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayi), Bosphorus, Bosphorus Bridge (Bogazici Koprusu).
Special offers in Istanbul
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
