# 4-Day Istanbul Group Tour — Old City, Grand Bazaar & Bosphorus
Canonical: https://turkeyvia.com/tours/taste-of-istanbul-4-day-tour
Updated: 2026-10-24

## Key facts
- Price: From €289 per person (based on 2 travellers)
- Tour type: Shared group tour
- Duration: 4 Days
- Included: Hotel & guided days included.
- Pickup / meeting point: Istanbul Airport pickup included. Your driver will meet you at arrivals.
- Payment: Reserve online with a 40% deposit by card, the balance in cash on arrival.
- Cancellation: Cancellation charges from 25% · see the schedule

## 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. Day 1 is arrival in Istanbul. Day 2 is the shared Old City tour, including the Grand Bazaar. On day 3, take the guided Bosphorus cruise, then enjoy free time. Day 4 has breakfast, free time and a transfer to Istanbul Airport; you stay in the same Istanbul hotel for all three nights. Hagia Sophia’s upper gallery and Topkapı Palace with the Harem are not included; you buy those tickets at the entrances. The Old City day involves several hours walking over cobbles, slopes and some steps. The workshop stop is on day 2 during the Grand Bazaar visit: a jewellery workshop for about 30–45 minutes, with no obligation to buy.

## 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
### Istanbul Airport Pickup and First Evening

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. Stops: First evening at leisure.

### Istanbul Old City Group Tour and Grand Bazaar

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. Stops: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia upper gallery (ticket not included), Topkapı Palace (ticket not included), Grand Bazaar, Jewelry workshop (about 30–45 min).

### Group Bosphorus Cruise and a Free Afternoon

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. Stops: Bosphorus cruise with your guide, Dolmabahçe and Çırağan palaces, Bebek and Arnavutköy, Beylerbeyi Palace and the Maiden's Tower, Rest of the day at leisure.

### Check-out and Transfer to Istanbul Airport

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. Stops: Final hours in the city.

## 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

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

## FAQ
### 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.

## Book
Book on the tour page: https://turkeyvia.com/tours/taste-of-istanbul-4-day-tour. Questions: WhatsApp +90 507 357 58 94