Istanbul's Cats: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. You'll wander through the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, Istanbul's aromatic 17th-century market, as your guide points out mounds of saffron, sumac, and Turkish delight lining its L-shaped hall. Entry is free and open to the public.

   Passes by

2. You'll step into the courtyard of the New Mosque (Yeni Cami) to hear the dramatic story of its construction — begun in 1597, abandoned for over 50 years, and finally completed in 1665. Entry to the mosque courtyard is free, though modest dress is required.

   Passes by

3. You'll stroll down Soğuk Çeşme Sokak, a cobblestone lane of colorful reconstructed Ottoman houses tucked between Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace walls. This scenic street is free to walk and one of Istanbul's most photographed corners.

   Passes by

4. You'll pass through the Imperial Gate into Topkapi Palace's free First Courtyard, hearing about the sultans who ruled from here for nearly 400 years. Please note that entry to the palace's inner courtyards, Harem, and Treasury requires a separate paid ticket and is not included in this tour.

   Passes by

5. You'll walk through Gülhane Park, once the sultans' private rose garden and now Istanbul's oldest public park. Entry is free.

   Passes by

6. You'll pass by the entrance to the Basilica Cistern as your guide describes this 6th-century underground reservoir, its 336 columns, and the mysterious Medusa head bases inside. This tour does not enter the cistern, and a separate ticket is required to visit.

   Passes by

7. You'll stand in front of Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, hearing how this former Byzantine cathedral became a mosque, then a museum, then a mosque again. Entry to the ground floor is free, but a separate ticket is required to access the upper galleries and Byzantine mosaics.

   Passes by

8. You'll wander through the Arasta Bazaar, a quieter 17th-century market built to fund the Blue Mosque, browsing carpets, İznik ceramics, and textiles along its single covered street. Entry is free.

   Passes by

9. You'll walk through Sultanahmet Square, the site of the ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople, passing its three surviving monuments: the Walled Obelisk, the Serpent Column, and the Obelisk of Theodosius. This public square is free to explore.

   Passes by

10. You'll pass by the Blue Mosque's courtyard and şadırvan fountain as your guide describes its cascading domes, six minarets, and 20,000 hand-painted İznik tiles inside. Entry to the mosque is free, though modest dress and security screening are required to enter the prayer hall.

    Passes by

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Know before you go

How it compares in Istanbul

• Its from-price is 90% below the median of the 3649 experiences we list in Istanbul.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• 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).

See all 3649 experiences in Istanbul