4-Day Private Istanbul Tour with Guide, Van & Optional Hotel
This private 4-day Istanbul tour gives you three full guided days: the old city, the Bosphorus and Beyoğlu, and the historic neighborhoods of the Golden Horn, with your own licensed guide and a private van from your hotel. Book it with 3 nights in a 4-star hotel and breakfast (4 days / 3 nights), or as the 3 guided days only. Museum entrance fees are paid on the day.
5.0 on Tripadvisor · 145 reviews of our private tours
Your route
Tap a stop or open a day in the itinerary to see where you are.
- Private vehicle
- Domestic flight
- 1Overnight stop
- Day visit
Why travelers choose this itinerary
Three days is the right amount of time for Istanbul. The first covers the great monuments of Sultanahmet, the second the Bosphorus and the 19th-century city across the Golden Horn, and the third the quieter neighborhoods where Byzantine, Greek, Bulgarian and Ottoman Istanbul still sit side by side.
Your guide meets you at your hotel every morning and a private van handles the distances, so you never queue for taxis or work out tram routes. If you book the hotel option, everything is arranged in one place: three nights in a 4-star hotel, breakfast and three guided days.
Highlights
- Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome
- Topkapı Palace and Hagia Irene
- The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar
- A public ferry ride on the Bosphorus and Dolmabahçe Palace
- İstiklal Avenue, the Flower Passage and Galata Tower
- The Byzantine mosaics of Chora and the colorful streets of Fener and Balat
- The Greek Patriarchate and the iron Bulgarian Church of St. Stephen
- The cable car up Pierre Loti Hill for views over the Golden Horn
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1Sultanahmet: Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and the Grand Bazaar
Your guide meets you at your hotel for a full day in the old city. Start at the German Fountain on the Hippodrome, where the Obelisk of Theodosius still stands, then step inside Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Spend about two hours in Topkapı Palace, seat of the Ottoman sultans, and visit Hagia Irene, one of the oldest churches in the city. End in the covered streets of the Grand Bazaar.
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Day 2The Bosphorus, Dolmabahçe and Beyoğlu
Board a public ferry for a cruise along the Bosphorus, between the shores of Europe and Asia. Visit Dolmabahçe Palace, the 19th-century residence of the last sultans, then walk from Taksim Square down İstiklal Avenue and through the Flower Passage. See Galata Tower from its square and shop for spices and Turkish delight at the Spice Bazaar. End with the view from Pierre Loti Hill over the Golden Horn.
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Day 3Fener, Balat, Chora and Süleymaniye
Walk the backstreets of Fener and Balat, with their colorful wooden houses and old churches. Visit the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and the Bulgarian Church of St. Stephen, built from cast-iron panels. See the Byzantine mosaics of Chora, stop at the Rahmi M. Koç Museum of industry and transport, and finish at the Süleymaniye Mosque, the masterpiece of the architect Sinan, with views across the city.
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Day 4Departure (hotel option)
If you booked the hotel option, check out after breakfast. Your stay ends here, so you can continue to your next stop in Turkey or to the airport. We can arrange a private airport transfer or extra nights in Istanbul.
What's included
- Professional licensed private guide for 3 full days
- Private van with driver, with pickup and drop-off at your hotel each day
- Hotel option: 3 nights in a 4-star hotel in central Istanbul with daily breakfast
Not included
- Museum and site entrance fees (Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Hagia Irene, Dolmabahçe Palace, Chora, Rahmi M. Koç Museum and others)
- Lunches, dinners and drinks
- Airport transfers
- Tips and personal expenses
Optional extras
- Hotel option: upgrade to a 5-star hotel for all 3 nights
- Private Bosphorus boat instead of the public ferry
- Private airport transfers
- Extra hotel nights in Istanbul
Hotels (or similar)
- Hotel option: 4-star hotel in central Istanbul
Price per person (USD)
The price depends on how many people travel together, because your guide and vehicle are private. Children 0 to 1 travel free; children 2 to 6 pay the child price and count toward group size.
Tour only
| Travelers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $620 | $310 | $210 | $165 | $125 | $105 |
| Child 2–6 | – | $235 | $160 | $125 | $95 | $80 |
Prices valid as of October 15, 2026. Bookings close 10 days before the start date: book today and the earliest start date is October 25, 2026.
| Travelers | Adult | Child 2–6 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $620 | – |
| 2 | $310 | $235 |
| 3 | $210 | $160 |
| 4 | $165 | $125 |
| 5 | $125 | $95 |
| 6+ | $105 | $80 |
Tour + 3 nights 4-star hotel
| Travelers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $1,125 | $565 | $465 | $415 | $380 | $360 |
| Child 2–6 | – | $235 | $160 | $125 | $95 | $80 |
| Travelers | Adult | Child 2–6 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,125 | – |
| 2 | $565 | $235 |
| 3 | $465 | $160 |
| 4 | $415 | $125 |
| 5 | $380 | $95 |
| 6+ | $360 | $80 |
- Upgrade to 5-star hotels: +$170 per adult for the whole tour.
- Guide in English is included. Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese or Japanese: +$225 for the whole group, shared between the travelers (Chinese and Japanese on request).
Good to know
- Entrance fees are paid on the day. Your guide handles the tickets; ask us for a current total before you travel, as fees change often.
- The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and Topkapı Palace on Tuesdays; your guide adjusts the order of visits.
- Galata Tower is seen from outside, as guides cannot skip the entry queue.
- Mosques require modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, and a headscarf for women.
- Bookings close 10 days before the start date. Reserve with a 30% deposit; cancellation is free up to 30 days before travel.
Your guide
Your guide will be one of our licensed team: classmates from Adnan Menderes University with 14 to 15 years of guiding each, plus trusted licensed colleagues in every region.
KübraEnglish, Spanish
Selçuk YılmazEnglish
Can AteşEnglish, French
Bahar ÖzdemirEnglish, Spanish, Arabic
Ege ErtaşEnglish
Osman DemirEnglish
From past trips on this route
Guests on this route
Photos our guests shared after their private tours.
What travelers say
Rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor from 145 reviews of our private tours. Excerpts quoted as written.
“Our minivan was very comfortable, the drivers were punctual and very helpful”
ElenaDit · August 2026 · Tripadvisor
“He was always on the phone when we have question.”
탁동 홍 · September 2026 · Tripadvisor
FAQ
Can I book this tour without a hotel?
Yes. Choose the tour-only option if you already have a hotel in Istanbul, for example at the start or end of a longer trip. Your guide and van pick you up from your hotel each morning and bring you back at the end of the day.
What does the hotel option include?
Three nights in a 4-star hotel in central Istanbul with daily breakfast, on top of the three guided days. You check in on Day 1 and check out on Day 4. Children 2 to 6 share their parents' room at no extra hotel cost.
Are entrance fees included?
No. Museum and site tickets are paid on the day, which keeps the tour price lower and means you only pay for the places you choose to enter. Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace are the largest costs; we send a current estimate before you travel.
Is this tour private?
Yes. Only your party travels, with a guide and van reserved for you. The price per person falls quickly as your party grows, because the guide and vehicle are shared across everyone in your group.
Can I combine this with other tours?
Yes. Most travelers book it before or after one of our Cappadocia or western Turkey itineraries. Tell us your dates and we will line up the hotel nights and transfers.
How much does this tour cost per person?
Tour only: $310 per person for two travelers, $105 for six or more, $620 for a solo traveler. Tour + 3 nights 4-star hotel: $565 per person for two travelers, $360 for six or more, $1,125 for a solo traveler. Prices are in US dollars for 2026.
What do children pay, and can we upgrade to 5-star hotels?
Children up to 1 year old travel free. Children aged 2 to 6 pay $235 to $80 depending on group size and count toward the group size. On the hotel option, upgrading to a 5-star hotel costs $170 per adult.
How do payment and cancellation work?
You reserve with a 30% deposit by card in US dollars, processed securely by Stripe; for two travelers on the tour-only option that is about $190. The balance is charged automatically 30 days before travel. Cancel up to 30 days before your start date and you get a full refund, including the deposit.