Tour Overview
Discover Istanbul on a private 4-day city break combining its historic landmarks, Ottoman palaces and waterfront scenery. Spend three nights in your preferred hotel category and explore with a licensed local guide over two full days. Visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar, then discover Dolmabahce Palace, the Spice Bazaar and Karakoy. An included Bosphorus sightseeing cruise offers a different perspective on the city, with views of both its European and Asian shores. Private airport transfers and a dedicated touring vehicle keep your stay comfortable. The Bosphorus cruise operates on a shared boat, with a private yacht upgrade available on request. Your hotel category, travel dates and sightseeing pace can all be tailored to your preferences.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrival in Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul! Meet your driver at the airport and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to settle in, relax or take a first walk through the neighbourhood. Your hotel will be selected according to your preferred category and location. Early check-in can be requested, subject to availability and an additional charge. Overnight in Istanbul.
Historic Istanbul & the Old City
After breakfast, meet your private guide for a full day exploring Istanbul’s historic heart. Discover the Hippodrome, once the centre of Byzantine public life, and visit the Blue Mosque, celebrated for its elegant domes and tiled interior. Continue to Hagia Sophia’s visitor areas to explore the history of this remarkable monument. Visit Topkapi Palace, the former residence of the Ottoman sultans, with its courtyards, collections and views across the Bosphorus. Enjoy a break for lunch at a local restaurant before browsing the lanes of the Grand Bazaar. Return to your hotel after the tour. Lunch is at your own expense. Overnight in Istanbul.
Ottoman Elegance & the Bosphorus
Following breakfast, set out with your private guide to discover Istanbul’s waterfront and local neighbourhoods. Visit Dolmabahce Palace, whose grand interiors and Bosphorus setting reveal a different chapter of Ottoman history. Continue to the Spice Bazaar, where colourful stalls display spices, Turkish delight, teas and other local specialities. Enjoy a sightseeing cruise along the Bosphorus, passing waterfront mansions, palaces and mosques between the European and Asian shores. The cruise operates on a shared boat; a private yacht upgrade is available on request at an additional cost. Explore Karakoy’s lively streets, with time for lunch or a coffee break, before returning to your hotel. Lunch and refreshments are at your own expense. Overnight in Istanbul.
Departure from Istanbul
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and, depending on your flight time, some free time for a final neighbourhood walk or last-minute shopping. At the arranged time, meet your driver for a private transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Additional nights in Istanbul or an extension to another destination in Turkey can be arranged on request.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- 3 nights of hotel accommodation in your selected category
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- Private arrival and departure airport transfers
- Private air-conditioned vehicle during the two full-day tours
- English-speaking licensed guide during the two full-day tours
- Entrance fees to Hagia Sophia visitor areas, Topkapi Palace and Dolmabahce Palace as specified in the confirmed itinerary
- Shared Bosphorus sightseeing cruise
- Applicable taxes for included services
Not Included
- International flights
- Lunches and dinners
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Optional activities and private yacht upgrade
- Additional palace sections and visits not specified in the confirmed itinerary
- Early check-in, late check-out and additional hotel nights
Journey Gallery
