4-Day Private Istanbul Tour
The 4 day private Istanbul tour is the most complete Istanbul experience we offer. Over four full days with your own dedicated guide, you will journey through every layer of this extraordinary city — from the ancient Byzantine Empire and the grandeur of the Ottoman sultans, to the vibrant streets of modern Istanbul and the authentic local life of the Asian side.
Unlike shorter tours, this 4 day private Istanbul tour means no rushing, no skipping, and no compromises. As a result, you will have time to truly absorb each neighborhood, linger in the markets, sail the Bosphorus Strait, cross to the Asian shore, and discover the hidden corners that most visitors never find. Furthermore, every day is private and every detail arranged exclusively for your group.
In short, this tour is ideal for travelers who want to know Istanbul deeply — not just see it. Moreover, all four days can be customized to match your interests and pace.
Looking for a shorter experience? Check out our Istanbul Classical Tour, our 3 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 (4 days total)
- Live tour guideEnglish
- Pickup includedIf your hotel is centrally located, your guide meets you at your hotel
Tour Program
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 — perfect 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.
DAY 4 — The Asian Side: Kuzguncuk, Beylerbeyi & Üsküdar
- Kuzguncuk: One of Istanbul’s most charming and photogenic neighborhoods — colorful wooden houses, cozy cafés, and authentic local community life rarely seen by tourists.
- Beylerbeyi Palace (closed Mondays — replaced with Yıldız Palace on Mondays): A stunning 19th-century Ottoman summer palace right on the Bosphorus shore, known for its elegant marble interiors and royal gardens.
- Üsküdar Center: A historic and lively district on the Asian shore — imperial mosques, seaside promenades, and the vibrant everyday life of Asian Istanbul.
Note: Any day can be substituted with other tour options. If you have preferences or special interests, please let us know when booking.
What’s included
- Professional licensed tour guide (English or Spanish)
- Private tour (all 4 days)
- Hotel pickup (if staying in Taksim, Galata, Karaköy, or Sultanahmet)
- Lunch
- Public transportation fees (tram, metro, ferry)
- 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 | $960 |
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: Bery, Kaan, Öykü
- Joan CMay 2025
We used reminder tours for all four days in Istanbul. Our tour guide, Cem was great. He was very knowledgeable about Istanbul’s history. When we booked our trip, we didn’t realize it was Ramadan. Cem adjusted our tours so we would avoid the traffic and long lines as much as he could. He accommodated to our pace as we had a person in our group with health issues and made sure we took dessert and coffee breaks. He made sure we got things we wanted to buy, eat and see. Overall, a great trip, would definitely book again to see different areas of Turkey.
- Jordan S.November 2024
It was our first time in Istanbul and we had more than a week to spare. We wanted a tour featuring Istanbul’s popular sites and cuisine. We got to know about Reminder tour because of Bery’s YT channel (very helpful especially for first timers). We found the tour to be enjoyable because we liked being able to take public transport and walk around the city in the cold weather. Only my wife and I were in our group. We had ample time to snap photos. Tour did not feel rushed and paced just right for us. We booked the tour thru their website and received a response within the day via WhatsApp. Communication with them is fast and easy. Our guides were Oyku, Kaan and Elif. All of them were very professional and were able to show us popular parts of Istanbul and well as share spots where locals dine. Their food recommendations are very good and relatively inexpensive. Overall a very positive experience and would book with them again next time we visit Turkey.
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