Istanbul Small-Group Walking Tour of City and Secret Streets with Guide
by Tematique Tours
Choose from 2 available options
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.€152Overview
This small-group walking tour of Istanbul lasts about three hours and includes a professional English-speaking guide. The tour begins at Sultanahmet Square and covers well-known landmarks along with lesser-known streets around the city center. Participants walk through historic neighborhoods while the guide shares stories from Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Stops include the Basilica Cistern, a large Byzantine-era underground reservoir built in 532 under Emperor Justinian. The group also visits Sogukcesme Sokak, a narrow street lined with old houses leaning against the Topkapı Palace walls, and the Caferaga Medresesi, a historic school now dedicated to Turkish classical arts and crafts. Key highlights include the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, originally a church from 532 AD, later a mosque after 1453, known for its large dome and mosaics; and Topkapı Palace, the former residence of Ottoman sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. The tour also passes the Sultanahmet District, once the center of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Other notable stops are the Walled Obelisk, German Fountain, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Serpent Column, Sultanahmet Square, Tahtakale shopping district, and the Spice Bazaar (Misir Carsisi). Each stop typically includes about ten minutes of exploration or explanation. Participants should be prepared for a moderate amount of walking. The tour does not include hotel pickup or drop-off, and gratuities are suggested but not required. The guide leads all navigation and commentary throughout the route.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Basilica Cistern
This large Roman cistern was built in 532 under Emperor Justinian and demonstrates advanced Roman engineering. It is the largest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul and has been featured in several films. The cool, cavernous space offers relief on hot days.
10 min
Sogukcesme Sokak
A small street lined with historic houses that lean against the walls of Topkapı Palace, showing traditional Ottoman architecture.
10 min
Caferaga Medresesi
Formerly a medrese (Islamic school), this building is now a center for Turkish classical arts. It hosts workshops and sales of traditional crafts such as calligraphy, ceramics, and jewelry.
10 min
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Originally built as a church in 532 AD, converted to a mosque after 1453, and now a museum since 1935. It is a major Byzantine monument with a large dome and surviving mosaics, part of Istanbul’s UNESCO World Heritage site.
10 min
TopkapI Palace
The imperial residence of Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. About 24 sultans ruled from this palace for nearly 400 years during the Ottoman Empire's 600-year reign. It was home to sultans, courtiers, concubines, and eunuchs who lived and worked here.
10 min
Sultanahmet District
Known as the "Old City" center, this district was the core of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires and contains many historic sites.
10 min
Walled Obelisk
A Roman monument shaped like an obelisk located at the southern end of Constantinople’s ancient chariot-racing track. It stands beside the Obelisk of Theodosius and the Serpentine Column.
10 min
German Fountain
Constructed in 1898 as a gift from German Emperor Wilhelm II, this fountain is one of Istanbul’s notable monuments from the late 19th century.
10 min
Hippodrome
The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social center of Constantinople. Today it is a square with a few fragments of the original structure surviving. Monuments decorating the Hippodrome include the 3500-year-old Egyptian Obelisk and the Serpentine Column.
10 min
Blue Mosque
Also called the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, it is known for the blue tiles decorating its interior walls. It stands next to the Hippodrome in Istanbul’s old city center.
10 min
Serpent Column
An ancient bronze column originally from Delphi, relocated to Constantinople in 324 by Constantine the Great. It stands at the Hippodrome, also called Atmeydanı in the Ottoman period.
10 min
Sultanahmet Square
A public square offering views of both Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, suitable for resting and taking photos.
10 min
Tahtakale District
A busy sub-district of Eminönü known for its extensive shopping opportunities, offering a wide variety of goods at reasonable prices.
10 min
Misir Carsisi
The Spice Bazaar dates back to 1660 and is famous for colorful spices, Turkish delight, caviar, dried herbs, honey, nuts, and dried fruits, attracting tourists and locals alike.
10 min
Meeting point
In front (outside) of FOODIE-IST CAFE AND BRASSERIE. It is approximately 2 minutes walking distance from (T1) Sultanahmet tram stop. Your guide will wear a tour guide badge and will be easy to spot.
End point
Our tour concludes after visiting Spice Market in Eminönü and leaving you free to continue your Istanbul sightseeing
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Istanbul Small-Group Walking Tour of City and Secret Streets with Guide
by Tematique Tours
Choose from 2 available options
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.€152Overview
This small-group walking tour of Istanbul lasts about three hours and includes a professional English-speaking guide. The tour begins at Sultanahmet Square and covers well-known landmarks along with lesser-known streets around the city center. Participants walk through historic neighborhoods while the guide shares stories from Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Stops include the Basilica Cistern, a large Byzantine-era underground reservoir built in 532 under Emperor Justinian. The group also visits Sogukcesme Sokak, a narrow street lined with old houses leaning against the Topkapı Palace walls, and the Caferaga Medresesi, a historic school now dedicated to Turkish classical arts and crafts. Key highlights include the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, originally a church from 532 AD, later a mosque after 1453, known for its large dome and mosaics; and Topkapı Palace, the former residence of Ottoman sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. The tour also passes the Sultanahmet District, once the center of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Other notable stops are the Walled Obelisk, German Fountain, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Serpent Column, Sultanahmet Square, Tahtakale shopping district, and the Spice Bazaar (Misir Carsisi). Each stop typically includes about ten minutes of exploration or explanation. Participants should be prepared for a moderate amount of walking. The tour does not include hotel pickup or drop-off, and gratuities are suggested but not required. The guide leads all navigation and commentary throughout the route.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Basilica Cistern
This large Roman cistern was built in 532 under Emperor Justinian and demonstrates advanced Roman engineering. It is the largest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul and has been featured in several films. The cool, cavernous space offers relief on hot days.
10 min
Sogukcesme Sokak
A small street lined with historic houses that lean against the walls of Topkapı Palace, showing traditional Ottoman architecture.
10 min
Caferaga Medresesi
Formerly a medrese (Islamic school), this building is now a center for Turkish classical arts. It hosts workshops and sales of traditional crafts such as calligraphy, ceramics, and jewelry.
10 min
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Originally built as a church in 532 AD, converted to a mosque after 1453, and now a museum since 1935. It is a major Byzantine monument with a large dome and surviving mosaics, part of Istanbul’s UNESCO World Heritage site.
10 min
TopkapI Palace
The imperial residence of Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. About 24 sultans ruled from this palace for nearly 400 years during the Ottoman Empire's 600-year reign. It was home to sultans, courtiers, concubines, and eunuchs who lived and worked here.
10 min
Sultanahmet District
Known as the "Old City" center, this district was the core of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires and contains many historic sites.
10 min
Walled Obelisk
A Roman monument shaped like an obelisk located at the southern end of Constantinople’s ancient chariot-racing track. It stands beside the Obelisk of Theodosius and the Serpentine Column.
10 min
German Fountain
Constructed in 1898 as a gift from German Emperor Wilhelm II, this fountain is one of Istanbul’s notable monuments from the late 19th century.
10 min
Hippodrome
The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social center of Constantinople. Today it is a square with a few fragments of the original structure surviving. Monuments decorating the Hippodrome include the 3500-year-old Egyptian Obelisk and the Serpentine Column.
10 min
Blue Mosque
Also called the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, it is known for the blue tiles decorating its interior walls. It stands next to the Hippodrome in Istanbul’s old city center.
10 min
Serpent Column
An ancient bronze column originally from Delphi, relocated to Constantinople in 324 by Constantine the Great. It stands at the Hippodrome, also called Atmeydanı in the Ottoman period.
10 min
Sultanahmet Square
A public square offering views of both Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, suitable for resting and taking photos.
10 min
Tahtakale District
A busy sub-district of Eminönü known for its extensive shopping opportunities, offering a wide variety of goods at reasonable prices.
10 min
Misir Carsisi
The Spice Bazaar dates back to 1660 and is famous for colorful spices, Turkish delight, caviar, dried herbs, honey, nuts, and dried fruits, attracting tourists and locals alike.
10 min
Meeting point
In front (outside) of FOODIE-IST CAFE AND BRASSERIE. It is approximately 2 minutes walking distance from (T1) Sultanahmet tram stop. Your guide will wear a tour guide badge and will be easy to spot.
End point
Our tour concludes after visiting Spice Market in Eminönü and leaving you free to continue your Istanbul sightseeing
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.