Private City Kickstart Tour: İstanbul
- 1h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Private tour
Highlights
* Two Iconic Valleys in One Day This experience combines Gomeda Valley and Red Valley (Rose Valley) in a single, seamless hike — a rare opportunity to explore both the hidden and the iconic sides of Cappadocia on foot.
Inclusions
What's included
- Personalized City Orientation with a Local Expert
What's not
- Personal expenses & Tips
- Lunch
- Tip for Tour Guide (obligation)
Itinerary
our Istanbul Kickstart begins in the heart of Sultanahmet. This is not a traditional guided sightseeing tour — it is a practical introduction designed to help you feel confident exploring Istanbul on your own. While walking through the historic center, your local expert will help you understand how Istanbul is organized, which attractions are worth prioritizing, the best times to visit them, how to avoid common tourist traps, and how to plan the rest of your stay according to your interests and budget. You’ll also learn practical essentials such as using the Istanbulkart, taking trams, ferries and public transportation, getting around safely, choosing restaurants, understanding local prices, and finding authentic local experiences. From Sultanahmet, we’ll make our way toward Eminönü, either on foot or by tram, giving you the chance to learn how Istanbul’s transportation system works in real life.
Continue from Sultanahmet toward Sirkeci and Eminönü, one of Istanbul’s most important transportation and local life hubs. During this part of your Kickstart, you’ll learn how to use the tram, Marmaray and ferry system, how to reach the Asian side, where to catch a Bosphorus cruise, and how to easily connect to popular areas such as Karaköy, Galata and Kadıköy. Your local expert will also share practical tips on Istanbulkart, taxis, typical prices, restaurants, street food, shopping, markets and how to avoid common tourist traps. Before finishing, we’ll help you organize the rest of your Istanbul stay based on your interests, available time and budget, so you leave knowing not only what to see, but how to explore Istanbul confidently on your own.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 52
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 2 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
- Meeting point
- Please look for the guide who is carrying “TurkeyTourBox” flag.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Wise Compass
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Istanbul
- Its from-price is 40% below the median of the 530 city tours we list in Istanbul.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 316 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.
