Istanbul Small-Group City and Secret Streets Tour with Guide

From $75 3 hours Tematique Tours Istanbul, Türkiye Meet on location Free until 1 day before

Why we love it?

The Istanbul Small-Group City and Secret Streets Tour offers a unique three-hour exploration of the city's hidden gems, guided by an English-speaking professional. Participants will visit iconic sites such as the Basilica Cistern, a marvel of Byzantine architecture, and discover the historic Caferaga Medresesi, an important center for traditional arts. The tour also includes a stroll down Sogukcesme Sokak, a picturesque street that showcases the charm of Istanbul's lesser-known neighborhoods. This experience is ideal for travelers seeking an intimate and informative perspective on Istanbul, away from the typical tourist paths.

Inclusions

  • English Speaking Professional Guide
  • Small-group or private tour (depending on option chosen)

Exclusions

  • Gratuities (Recommended)
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Itinerary

Basilica Cistern *

This spacious Roman built cistern shows off impressive Roman engineering was commissioned by Emperor Justinian and built in 532. The largest surviving Byzantine cistern in İstanbul has been backdrop for many movies over time. Its cavernous depths make a great retreat on hot summer days.

Caferaga Medresesi

The Caferağa Medresseh is a former medrese and now recognised as an important centre of Turkish classical arts where traditional Turkish handicrafts such as calligraphy, ceramics, jewelry and so forth are taught, made and sold.

Sogukcesme Sokak

This is a small street with beautiful historic houses which are leaning against the wall of Topkapi Palace.

Hagia Sophia Mosque *

Began its life as a church in 532 AD, converted into a mosque after the Turkish conquest of Constantinople in 1453 and now a museum since 1935. By general consensus, it is the most important Byzantine structure and one of the world’s great monuments built under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage site in Istanbul and famous for its lofty interior, stunning surviving mosaics and the massive dome...

Topkapi Palace *

Imperial residence of Ottoman sultans is the subject of more colorful stories than most of the world's museums put together. Libidinous sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful concubines and scheming eunuchs lived and worked here between the 15th and 19th centuries when it was the court of the Ottoman empire. About 24 sultans ruled from the Topkapı Palace for nearly four centuries during the Ottoman Empire's 600-year reign

Sultanahmet Square

"Sultan Ahmet Center", the heart of the "Old City" from where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled. This beautiful square and a great place to make a stop, relax and take photos of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque *

Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque by many tourists because of its bluish interior decoration( blue tiles surrounding the walls of interior design), is the most important mosque of Istanbul standing next to the Byzantine Hippodrome in the old city center..

Hippodrome

Go to the former Hippodrome of Byzantine chariot races, see the ruins and hear the stories behind the scene

German Fountain

Constructed as a present from German Emperor Wilhelm II in 1898, it represents one of the most beautiful monuments in Istanbul.

Serpentine Column

Also known as the Serpentine Column, Plataean Tripod or Delphi Tripod, is an ancient bronze column at the Hippodrome of Constantinople (known as Atmeydanı "Horse Square" in the Ottoman period). It is part of an ancient Greek sacrificial tripod, originally in Delphi and relocated to Constantinople by Constantine the Great in 324.

Walled Obelisk

The Walled Obelisk or Masonry Obelisk (Turkish: Örme Dikilitaş) is a Roman monument in the form of an obelisk. It is situated at the southern end of the ancient chariot-racing track of Constantinople's central barrier, beside the Obelisk of Theodosius and the Serpentine Column.

Tahtakale District

"Shop till you drop" in Tahtakale, a sub-district of Istanbul's Eminönü, where you can find anything and everything you are looking for, all for resonable prices.

Misir Carsisi (Spice Market)

No visit to Istanbul is complete without stopping by the atmospheric Spice Bazaar with roots dating back to 1660, this is one Istanbul's most famous bazaars. Vividly coloured spices are displayed alongside jewel-like lokum (Turkish delight) at this Ottoman-era marketplace, providing eye candy for the thousands of tourists and locals who make their way here every day. Stalls also sell caviar, dried herbs, honey, nuts and dried fruits.

*️⃣↘️

* Seen from outside

Please Note

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • There is a moderate amount of walking involved
  • This tour aims to give you an overview of the city, its attractions, museums, local arts and traditions etc. Museums are seen from outside.
  • ⚠️ Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the activity starts as finding a taxi and traffic congestion are always a problem. The tour starts on time as it is a shared tour with other participants.

Know Before You Go

  • Public transportation nearby
  • Infants must sit on laps

Cancellation Policy

Fully refundable until 1 day before start

Non-refundable after 1 day before start

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