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4-Day Istanbul Group TourOld City, Grand Bazaar & Bosphorus

istanbul (3 nights)

From €289 pp

€578 for 2 travellers

Hotel & guided days included

Reserve with a 40% deposit by card: €231.20 for 2

Cancellation charges from 25% · Free date change up to 21 days before · Full schedule

  • 4 days · 3 nights

  • Hotels & breakfast3 nights · istanbul

  • Shared groupEnglish-speaking guide

Next available: Wed 4 Nov · WhatsApp reply in ~1 h

Overview

Spend 4 days in Istanbul on a group tour with Old City sightseeing and a Bosphorus cruise. Airport transfers and three hotel nights are included; Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace tickets are separate.

Highlights

  • Walk through the Hippodrome and see the Blue Mosque
  • Visit Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace
  • Browse the Grand Bazaar with the group
  • Cruise the Bosphorus between European and Asian shores
  • Visit the jewelry workshop; no obligation to buy

Itinerary

4 days · istanbul (3 nights)

  1. Day 1Istanbul Airport Pickup and First EveningFirst evening at leisure
    This four-day Istanbul break starts when you land at Istanbul Airport (IST) on your own international flight. Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall and takes you to your hotel, where you stay for all three nights. The rest of the day has no fixed plan. You could find a tea garden, watch the ferries crossing the Golden Horn, or simply rest before tomorrow's Old City tour with the group. Dinner is not included.

    1. Welcome at IST arrivals

      Your driver holds a TurkeyVia sign at the arrivals exit, after passport control and baggage claim.

    2. Ride into the city

      Time here: about 1 hour

      Expect around an hour from the airport to the old city, more at peak times on weekdays.

      Tip: Landing at Sabiha Gökçen or outside the planned time? Private airport transfers can be booked through our airport transfers page.

    3. Central 3★ hotel in Istanbul

      Three nights in a double room with breakfast included.

    4. First evening at leisure

      Keep it light tonight: tomorrow is a full day of walking in the old city.

    Air-conditioned vehicle with driver

    Overnight: Istanbul — central 3★ hotel

  2. Day 2Istanbul Old City Group Tour and Grand BazaarHippodrome · Blue Mosque · Hagia Sophia upper gallery (ticket not included)
    Your licensed guide leads the shared group through the heart of old Istanbul, where Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman layers sit side by side. You see the Hippodrome and the Blue Mosque, visit Hagia Sophia and, after an included lunch, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar, where a jewelry workshop visit is part of the day. The exact order follows opening hours and prayer times. Tickets for Hagia Sophia's upper gallery and for Topkapı Palace with the Harem are not included and are bought at the entrances.

    1. Hippodrome

      Besides the better-known Egyptian obelisk, look for the Walled Obelisk and the German Fountain, a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II.

    2. Blue Mosque

      Six minarets and cascading domes outside, blue İznik tiles and stained-glass windows inside. Entry is free outside prayer times.

      Tip: Women need a headscarf, and everyone needs clothing that covers knees and shoulders.

    3. Hagia Sophia upper gallery (ticket not included)

      From the gallery you look down into the vast domed interior and see mosaic portraits of Byzantine emperors and empresses. Foreign visitors buy a separate ticket for this route.

    4. Lunch included

      Lunch at a local restaurant with the group; tell us about dietary needs when booking.

    5. Topkapı Palace (ticket not included)

      Walk through the palace courtyards and pavilions on the point where the Bosphorus meets the Golden Horn, including the Harem.

      Tip: Closed on Tuesdays.

    6. Grand Bazaar

      Wander the vaulted lanes of one of the world's oldest covered markets, with carpets, lamps, leather and gold under one roof.

      Tip: Closed on Sundays.

    7. Jewelry workshop (about 30–45 min)

      During the Grand Bazaar visit the group stops at a jewelry workshop to see its designs; no obligation to buy, and the guide may shorten the stop if time is tight.

    Air-conditioned vehicle shared with the group; much of the day on foot

    Meals: Breakfast, lunchOvernight: Istanbul — central 3★ hotel

  3. Day 3Group Bosphorus Cruise and a Free AfternoonBosphorus cruise with your guide · Dolmabahçe and Çırağan palaces · Bebek and Arnavutköy
    Istanbul is easiest to understand from the water, and today you see it that way on a Bosphorus cruise with your guide and the group. The boat ticket is included. As you move up the strait, the European shore shows palaces, mosques and former fishing villages, while the Asian shore faces them across the current. Which landmarks you pass depends on the boat's route. Lunch is not included, and after the cruise the rest of the day is free for your own plans.

    1. Group transfer to the boat

      The group travels together with sightseeing transport to the departure pier.

    2. Bosphorus cruise with your guide

      A seat on a public boat is included; your licensed guide rides along to explain the sights on each shore.

      Tip: The open deck can be windy even in summer, so bring a light layer.

    3. Dolmabahçe and Çırağan palaces

      Two 19th-century Ottoman palaces on the European shore, one now a museum and the other a hotel.

    4. Bebek and Arnavutköy

      Former villages with rows of wooden waterfront houses, known as yalı, and cafés along the shore.

    5. Beylerbeyi Palace and the Maiden's Tower

      On the Asian shore, look for the white Beylerbeyi summer palace below the first bridge and, off Üsküdar, the small tower on its islet.

    6. Rest of the day at leisure

      Popular independent choices include a public ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side or an evening around the Galata Tower.

    Seat on a public Bosphorus boat; group transport to the pier

    Meals: BreakfastOvernight: Istanbul — central 3★ hotel

  4. Day 4Check-out and Transfer to Istanbul AirportFinal hours in the city
    Your last day in Istanbul is unhurried. Breakfast is included, and until your driver arrives there is time for one more walk, perhaps to somewhere the tour did not cover, such as the Spice Bazaar and the tiled Rüstem Pasha Mosque beside it. The driver collects you at the hotel at a time matched to your flight and takes you to Istanbul Airport for your journey home. If you want to stay longer in Turkey, TurkeyVia can suggest a tour to add on.

    1. Breakfast at the hotel

      Included on your final morning.

    2. Final hours in the city

      Check out by the hotel's deadline and use the remaining time close by, keeping an eye on the pickup time.

    3. Transfer to Istanbul Airport (IST)

      Time here: about 1 hour

      Your driver collects you from the hotel for the ride to the airport.

      Tip: For international flights, allow roughly three hours at the airport.

    Air-conditioned vehicle with driver

    Meals: Breakfast

Download the day-by-day PDF

Flights and hotel

Hotel

  • 3 nights in Istanbul: central 3★ hotel, double room with breakfast

Pickup and route

Pickup
Istanbul Airport pickup included. Your driver will meet you at arrivals.

What's included

Included

  • Licensed English-speaking guide
  • Air-conditioned sightseeing transport and return Istanbul airport–hotel transfers
  • Lunch on day 2 in Istanbul
  • 3 nights in Istanbul: central 3★ hotel, double room with breakfast
  • Bosphorus cruise ticket

Not included

  • Tips (optional)
  • Personal purchases
  • Drinks with meals
  • Dinner
  • Lunch on days 1, 3 and 4
  • Entrance tickets: Hagia Sophia (upper gallery), Topkapı Palace incl. Harem

Optional extras

  • Hotel nights (3 nights)

Good to know

Workshop stops: a carpet weaving centre, a leather workshop and a jewellery workshop. Part of the programme, no obligation to buy.

Before you go

  • Wear comfortable walking shoes: most sites have uneven ground, stone paths and steps.
  • Bring a hat, sunscreen and water in the warm months; there is little shade at the ancient sites.
  • Vegetarian, vegan or other dietary needs at lunch: tell us when you book and we let the restaurant know.
  • Mobility needs or travelling with small children? Tell us before you book, and we tell you honestly which parts of the day suit you.
  • We send your final programme, hotel names and pickup times before departure, and you can reach us on WhatsApp during the trip.

Payment and cancellation

Today
€231.20 deposit by card (3-D Secure), for 2 travellers.
On arrival
€317.90 in cash, in euros, with the 5% cash saving on the total already taken off.
  • 91 days or more: The 25% administrative fee is charged. 61–90 days: 55% of the total is charged (30% + the 25% administrative fee). 31–60 days: 65% of the total is charged (40% + the 25% administrative fee). 16–30 days: 95% of the total is charged (70% + the 25% administrative fee). 15 days or less or no-show: 100% of the total is charged. Charges are percentages of the total booking value and include the 25% administrative fee retained on every cancellation; non-refundable flight, hotel or entrance tickets already bought are added, up to 100% of the total. Your deposit is applied to the charge: if the charge is higher than your deposit, you pay us the difference; anything we hold above the charge is refunded within 14 days.
  • If a hotel in your package is booked on a non-refundable rate, we tell you before you pay and that night's cost is retained on cancellation.
  • Request cancellation in writing, by email or WhatsApp; the cancellation date is the day we receive your message. Refunds go back the way you paid, within 14 days: card payments to the same card. Shore excursions are paid on the day, so nothing is collected in advance.
  • If unavoidable extraordinary circumstances at the destination make the trip impossible, you receive a full refund, less any mandatory taxes and genuinely non-refundable third-party payments, itemised for you.
  • Date changes are free when requested at least 72 hours before a day tour, 24 hours before a shore excursion, or 21 days before a package or a day trip by plane, subject to availability. For these, a date change 14–20 days before departure costs €50 per booking; under 14 days it depends on availability, and any airline or hotel change fees are charged at cost. Name changes (passing your booking to someone else at least 7 days before departure) are free except for any airline name-change fee, charged at cost.
  • If TurkeyVia cancels, including because the minimum group size is not met, you can choose a full refund or an alternative.

If we can’t book your flights or hotel for your dates, that counts as our cancellation: a full refund to your card within 14 days, or another date if you prefer.

Full cancellation policy

Your contract is with İlke Seyahat Turizm Ticaret Gıda Orman Ürünleri Gemi Acenteliği İthalat İhracat Sanayi Limited Şirketi, Turgut Ozal Bulvari 67/1, Kusadasi, Aydin 09400, Turkey — the company behind TurkeyVia. Terms

Frequently asked questions

Where does my driver meet me for the Taste of Istanbul tour?

Your driver waits in the arrivals hall at Istanbul Airport (IST) with a TurkeyVia sign, after passport control and baggage claim. Return airport transfers are included. If you land at Sabiha Gökçen or outside the planned time, a private transfer can be booked through our /airport-transfers page.

Do I need my own tickets for Hagia Sophia and Topkapı on the Taste of Istanbul tour?

Yes. Hagia Sophia's upper gallery, the separate route for foreign visitors, and Topkapı Palace with the Harem are not included, so you buy those tickets at the entrances. The Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar are free to enter, and the Bosphorus boat ticket is included.

What is the jewelry workshop stop on the Old City day?

During the Grand Bazaar visit, the group spends about 30–45 minutes at a jewelry workshop to see its designs. There is no obligation to buy, and the guide may shorten the stop if the day runs late. It is the only workshop stop on this tour.

Which weekdays affect the Old City visits on the 4-day Istanbul tour?

Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays, the Grand Bazaar on Sundays, and mosques close to visitors for each prayer, with a longer closure around Friday midday. Your guide arranges the order of visits around these hours.

Is the Taste of Istanbul tour suitable for children and slower walkers?

Children are welcome, but the Old City day involves several hours on foot over cobbles, slopes and some steps, with standing time inside the monuments. Guests who walk slowly can manage with breaks; tell us about any mobility needs when booking so we can advise you.

What can I do in my free time on the Taste of Istanbul tour?

Day 1 evening, the afternoon after the cruise and your last morning are free. Popular independent ideas include the Spice Bazaar, the Süleymaniye Mosque, a public ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side, or a walk across the Galata Bridge.

  • Your guided days are run by our own local team
  • On WhatsApp within about 1 hour, 09:00–18:00 Turkey time
  • Download the day-by-day PDF
  • Sold by İlke Seyahat Turizm Ticaret Gıda Orman Ürünleri Gemi Acenteliği İthalat İhracat Sanayi Limited Şirketi

Next available: Wed 4 Nov · WhatsApp reply in ~1 h

Planning guide

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