3-Day Private Guided Tour of Istanbul
The 3 day private Istanbul tour is the most complete way to experience everything this extraordinary city has to offer. Over three full days with your own dedicated guide, you’ll journey through ancient Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire, and modern Istanbul — from the iconic monuments of Sultanahmet to the vibrant streets of Taksim and the waterfront charm of Karaköy.
Unlike rushed highlights tours, this 3 day private Istanbul tour gives you the time to truly absorb each site. As a result, you can linger in the Grand Bazaar, sail the length of the Bosphorus Strait, marvel at the opulence of Dolmabahçe Palace, and walk the full stretch of İstiklal Street. Furthermore, every moment is private and every detail arranged exclusively for your group.
In short, whether you are visiting Istanbul for the first time or want to go beyond the classics, this is the ultimate introduction to one of the world’s greatest cities. Moreover, with three days at your disposal, you’ll finally have enough time to experience Istanbul the way it deserves — slowly, deeply, and without compromise.
Looking for a shorter experience? Check out our Istanbul Classical Tour, our 2 Day Private Istanbul Tour, or browse all of our Istanbul private tours.
About this activity
- Free cancellationCancel up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund minus the payment processing fee (up to 5%)
- Duration5–6 hours per day (3 days total)
- Live tour guideEnglish
- Pickup includedIf your hotel is centrally located, your guide meets you at your hotel
Tour Program
What You’ll See Each Day
DAY 1 — The Heart of the Byzantine & Ottoman Empire
- Hippodrome of Constantinople: The ancient center of chariot races and imperial ceremonies, home to the Obelisk of Theodosius and other historic monuments.
- Blue Mosque (Closed until 14:30 on Fridays): Known for its six minarets and stunning interior of over 20,000 hand-painted blue Iznik tiles, it remains an active place of worship.
- Grand Bazaar (Closed on Sundays): One of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, with 61 streets and over 4,000 shops.
- Hagia Sophia (optional — additional entrance fee): A 1,500-year-old masterpiece of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture — once a cathedral, later a mosque, today a living monument open to all visitors.
- Topkapı Palace & Harem (optional — additional entrance fee, closed Tuesdays): The legendary residence of Ottoman sultans for 400 years, with treasury rooms, sacred relics, and the mysterious Harem.
DAY 2 — Hidden Gems, Bazaars & the Bosphorus
- Süleymaniye Complex: An architectural masterpiece by Mimar Sinan — home to the grand Süleymaniye Mosque and the tombs of Sultan Suleyman and Hürrem Sultan, with sweeping views over the Golden Horn.
- Spice Bazaar: A vibrant market of aromas and colors, ideal for spices, teas, Turkish sweets, and local products.
- Bosphorus Boat Tour: A scenic 1.5-hour public ferry ride between Europe and Asia, with views of Ottoman palaces, historic waterfront mansions, and Istanbul’s iconic skyline.
- Basilica Cistern (optional — additional entrance fee): A hauntingly beautiful underground Byzantine reservoir, famous for its Medusa heads, atmospheric lighting, and forest of marble columns.
DAY 3 — Modern Istanbul: Dolmabahçe, Taksim & Galata
- Dolmabahçe Palace (optional — additional entrance fee, closed Mondays): A breathtaking 19th-century palace blending European Baroque with Ottoman grandeur — the last residence of the sultans.
- Taksim & İstiklal Street: The vibrant heart of modern Istanbul — 1.4 km of shops, cafés, historic architecture, and the famous Tünel funicular.
- Galata Tower (from outside): One of Istanbul’s most iconic medieval landmarks, with sweeping panoramic views over the Golden Horn and Bosphorus.
- Karaköy: A charming waterfront district where Ottoman heritage meets hip cafés, street art, and boutique shops — the perfect end to your Istanbul journey.
What’s included
- Professional licensed tour guide
- Private tour (all 3 days)
- Hotel pickup (if centrally located in Taksim, Galata, Karaköy or Sultanahmet)
- Lunch
- Public transportation fees (tram, metro)
- Bosphorus public ferry ticket (approx. 7 USD per person)
- Optional admission fees (all with skip-the-line access):
- Hagia Sophia — 30 USD per person
- Topkapı Palace & Harem — 62 USD per person
- Basilica Cistern — 45 USD per person
- Şerefiye Cistern (alternative) — 20 USD per person
- Dolmabahçe Palace — 45 USD per person
- Tips for your guide — not mandatory, but recommended if you are happy with the tour
Good to know
- Walking level: moderate. 5–6 hours a day on foot and by tram, metro and ferry, with breaks along the way — wear comfortable shoes. If your hotel isn't in Taksim, Galata, Karaköy or Sultanahmet, you'll reach the meeting point by tram or metro.
- Closing days: some sights close on certain days (the Grand Bazaar on Sundays, Topkapı Palace on Tuesdays, the Blue Mosque until 14:30 on Fridays) — your guide arranges the days around them.
- Mosque dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered, and women also cover their hair — bring your own scarf if you can (covers are available at the entrance, some mosques charge 2–3 USD). Shoes come off inside mosques.
- Prayer times: mosques close to visitors for a short time during each prayer, and for longer at Friday noon prayer — your guide plans the route around them.
- Entrance tickets: optional entrances are paid at the site, with skip-the-line access. Children aged 6 and under don't need a ticket.
- Photos: welcome everywhere on the tour; inside mosques please be discreet and don't photograph people praying.
Prices
| Group size | Price for the group |
|---|---|
| 1–8 people | $720 |
Private tour: the price is for your group only, no strangers join. Your exact total is shown in the booking form before you pay.
Groups of more than 8 people: please contact us
Guest reviews
Guides our guests mention on this tour: Kaan, Zeynel, Öykü, Talha
- Tracy WMay 2025
e just spent 3 days touring Istanbul with Zeynel at reminder tours. He was absolutely amazing. He provided us with door to door service every day. And his translations and navigating the public transportation were invaluable. We were able to skip the cues at Haiga Sophia and the Basilica Cistern and got to tour the grand bazaar like a local. He also made sure we weren’t taken advantage of during price negotiations on goods. He shared his vast knowledge of Istanbul’s history during the tours. We highly recommend Zeynel at Reminder tours if you are coming to Istanbul. Our tours: 2 day city tour, 2 continent food tour, and Ebru painting experience.
- Daniel WMay 2025
We did a 3-day Istanbul tour. Kaan, our tour guide is the most friendly and knowledgeable guide I’ve come across. He’s an expert photographer too and took some amazing pictures for us. I can’t recommend Reminder Tours highly enough!
- Ramón RMay 2025
My wife and I visited Istanbul and hired the services of Reminder Tour, the best decision and every penny was worth it. We took 3 days private tour in Istanbul with the Talha guide who is quite professional, speaks excellent Spanish and was like exploring the city with a friend. Hiring their services was quite simple, communication with the agency was excellent and they were always aware of us at all times. For those looking for reliable agencies for private tours in Istanbul, I recommend Reminder Tour.
Show all 6 reviews
- ginacambs17January 2025
My family of 4 (adults) just got back from a week in Istanbul and I can’t say enough about how great Reminder Tour was for our trip. Furkan was communicative before we even left and then throughout the trip. They arranged all of our transportation to and from the airport and it was seamless. They even provide video of where to go in the airport after you land (helpful because it is a HUGE airport). We did 4 days of tours with them, one day which included a day trip to Ephesus. Everything ran seamlessly! I also cannot say enough great things about our guide Oyku. She was with us for our 3 days of tours in Istanbul and she was so knowledgeable about everything and so pleasant and fun to be around. She also took us on a really great food tour, a highlight of the trip. She also helped us with good places to eat and shop. Gokhan was our tour guide in Ephesus and he was also wonderful and gave a great historical tour. I was worried flying there and back in the same day was going to be too much but it ended up being very relaxing all because our tour guide was great and Reminder Tour set up all the moving parts, including transport, so well. I should also note Gokhan is an independent contractor for tours and said Reminder was his favorite to work with–they have a good reputation and they always pay their guides on time. I like to hear that about a company! Overall we had a great experience with Reminder and would certainly use them again when we go back to Turkey.
- Sightsee64385862916January 2025
Kaan was very punctual and very knowledgeable of all the sites he took us to see. He also took us to local and authentic places to shop and eat. We really had a pleasant experience.
- Sunil NJanuary 2025
Our tour guide, Hazal did an exceptional job at showing us around Istanbul in a way that kept us engaged and comfortable! We had a lot of fun exploring and learning about the city and its history/culture. Hazal made it so easy to navigate the city with her and answered all of our questions! We will definitely be recommending Reminder Tour, Hazal and Istanbul to our friends!
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