Istanbul Private Tour Designed for Layover Flight with Airport Transfer, Ferry, Bath and Sights
by My Local Guide Istanbul
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$350Overview
This private Istanbul layover tour is designed for travelers with a flight stop and includes round-trip private transfer from the airport with a licensed English-speaking guide. The tour lasts between three and eight hours, depending on the chosen duration. It begins with a visit to major sights such as the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, where visitors can enter for an additional fee and see a historic building that has served as a church, mosque, and museum. Next is the Basilica Cistern, an ancient water reservoir with 336 columns and notable Medusa head sculptures. The tour continues to the Blue Mosque, the largest mosque in Istanbul, open to visitors outside prayer times. Then the Hippodrome area is visited, where chariot races took place during Byzantine times and several monuments remain. A 20 to 30-minute ferry ride across the Bosphorus Strait follows, connecting the European and Asian sides of Istanbul and providing views of the city from the water. After the ferry, the tour includes a two-hour visit to Cemberlitas Hamam, a historic Turkish bath where guests receive a scrub and foam massage; towels and toiletries are provided. The itinerary also includes time at the Grand Bazaar, a large covered market with about 4,000 shops selling carpets, jewelry, antiques, and textiles, where guests can practice bargaining. The Spice Bazaar (Misir Carsisi) is another stop, offering spices, Turkish delights, nuts, herbal teas, and dried fruits. Finally, the tour visits Kadikoy Carsisi, a local market on the Asian side with greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers, and restaurants serving daily shopping needs. Entrance fees to sights are not included and can be paid on site if visitors choose to enter. Food, drinks, gratuities, and visa expenses are also not included. The dress code is smart casual.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
For morning arrivals, visitors may enter Hagia Sophia by paying a 60 TL (approximately 10 USD) admission fee. This landmark is among Istanbul's most visited sites, originally built as a church in the 6th century AD, converted to a mosque in 1453, and later made a museum in 1935. It is notable for combining Christian and Islamic architectural elements in one building.
60 min
Basilica Cistern
This 6th-century water reservoir was built to store drinking water for Istanbul. It holds about 100,000 tons of water and contains 336 columns each 8 meters tall. The cistern is known for the Medusa heads located in a far corner at the end of the structure.
30 min
Blue Mosque
Constructed in 1609 by Ottoman Sultan Ahmet, the Blue Mosque is the largest mosque in Istanbul and remains active for prayers five times daily. Visitors can enter after prayer times conclude.
30 min
Hippodrome
The site where chariot races took place from the 4th to the 15th century. The original structures were dismantled by the Ottomans, who reused materials for mosques and palaces. Some monuments remain, including four life-size horse statues housed in St Mark's Basilica and one serpent column head held by the British Museum.
30 min
Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise
Local ferries transport passengers between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul in about 20-30 minutes. This ferry ride provides views of the city from the water.
30 min
Cemberlitas HamamI
A traditional Turkish bath where visitors receive a scrub and foam massage. Towels, shampoo, and soap are provided. Guests can relax in the historic building's lobby covered with towels while drinking apple tea.
120 min
Misir Carsisi
Known as the Spice Bazaar, built in 1664 as part of the New Mosque complex commissioned by Turhan Sultan. The market offers spices, Turkish delights, nuts, herbal teas, and dried fruits.
30 min
KadIkoy CarsIsI
A local market away from typical tourist areas, serving daily shopping needs with greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers, and restaurants.
30 min
Grand Bazaar Jewelers
Constructed in 1461 by the Ottomans, this bazaar contains 4000 indoor shops. It primarily offers carpets, antiques, jewelry, leather products, and textiles in an upscale environment.
60 min
Misir Carsisi
A return visit to the historic Spice Bazaar for tasting spices, Turkish delights, herbal teas, nuts, and dried fruits sourced from Turkey and worldwide.
30 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Istanbul Private Tour Designed for Layover Flight with Airport Transfer, Ferry, Bath and Sights
by My Local Guide Istanbul
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$350Overview
This private Istanbul layover tour is designed for travelers with a flight stop and includes round-trip private transfer from the airport with a licensed English-speaking guide. The tour lasts between three and eight hours, depending on the chosen duration. It begins with a visit to major sights such as the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, where visitors can enter for an additional fee and see a historic building that has served as a church, mosque, and museum. Next is the Basilica Cistern, an ancient water reservoir with 336 columns and notable Medusa head sculptures. The tour continues to the Blue Mosque, the largest mosque in Istanbul, open to visitors outside prayer times. Then the Hippodrome area is visited, where chariot races took place during Byzantine times and several monuments remain. A 20 to 30-minute ferry ride across the Bosphorus Strait follows, connecting the European and Asian sides of Istanbul and providing views of the city from the water. After the ferry, the tour includes a two-hour visit to Cemberlitas Hamam, a historic Turkish bath where guests receive a scrub and foam massage; towels and toiletries are provided. The itinerary also includes time at the Grand Bazaar, a large covered market with about 4,000 shops selling carpets, jewelry, antiques, and textiles, where guests can practice bargaining. The Spice Bazaar (Misir Carsisi) is another stop, offering spices, Turkish delights, nuts, herbal teas, and dried fruits. Finally, the tour visits Kadikoy Carsisi, a local market on the Asian side with greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers, and restaurants serving daily shopping needs. Entrance fees to sights are not included and can be paid on site if visitors choose to enter. Food, drinks, gratuities, and visa expenses are also not included. The dress code is smart casual.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
For morning arrivals, visitors may enter Hagia Sophia by paying a 60 TL (approximately 10 USD) admission fee. This landmark is among Istanbul's most visited sites, originally built as a church in the 6th century AD, converted to a mosque in 1453, and later made a museum in 1935. It is notable for combining Christian and Islamic architectural elements in one building.
60 min
Basilica Cistern
This 6th-century water reservoir was built to store drinking water for Istanbul. It holds about 100,000 tons of water and contains 336 columns each 8 meters tall. The cistern is known for the Medusa heads located in a far corner at the end of the structure.
30 min
Blue Mosque
Constructed in 1609 by Ottoman Sultan Ahmet, the Blue Mosque is the largest mosque in Istanbul and remains active for prayers five times daily. Visitors can enter after prayer times conclude.
30 min
Hippodrome
The site where chariot races took place from the 4th to the 15th century. The original structures were dismantled by the Ottomans, who reused materials for mosques and palaces. Some monuments remain, including four life-size horse statues housed in St Mark's Basilica and one serpent column head held by the British Museum.
30 min
Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise
Local ferries transport passengers between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul in about 20-30 minutes. This ferry ride provides views of the city from the water.
30 min
Cemberlitas HamamI
A traditional Turkish bath where visitors receive a scrub and foam massage. Towels, shampoo, and soap are provided. Guests can relax in the historic building's lobby covered with towels while drinking apple tea.
120 min
Misir Carsisi
Known as the Spice Bazaar, built in 1664 as part of the New Mosque complex commissioned by Turhan Sultan. The market offers spices, Turkish delights, nuts, herbal teas, and dried fruits.
30 min
KadIkoy CarsIsI
A local market away from typical tourist areas, serving daily shopping needs with greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers, and restaurants.
30 min
Grand Bazaar Jewelers
Constructed in 1461 by the Ottomans, this bazaar contains 4000 indoor shops. It primarily offers carpets, antiques, jewelry, leather products, and textiles in an upscale environment.
60 min
Misir Carsisi
A return visit to the historic Spice Bazaar for tasting spices, Turkish delights, herbal teas, nuts, and dried fruits sourced from Turkey and worldwide.
30 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.