6 hours
Duration
Istanbul, Turkey
Location
Always
Dates
6+
Age

During this tour, you’ll have the opportunity to discover the largest of many hundred ancient cisterns located underneath the city, visit one of Istanbul’s finest mosques constructed by Sultan Suleiman, explore bustling bazaars that have been at the heart of commerce for centuries, and take a 1.5-hour public tour of the Bosphorus.

Benefits Free cancellation (up to 48 hours)
Skip the ticket line
Private tours (exclusively for you or your group)
Tour guide in English or Spanish
Ages 6 and younger do not require a ticket.

About this experience

Where you will visit? Basilica Cistern: A mysterious underground water reservoir built by the Byzantines, famous for its Medusa heads and atmospheric lighting.
Süleymaniye Complex: An architectural marvel by Mimar Sinan that includes the grand Süleymaniye Mosque, and the tombs of Sultan Suleyman and Hürrem Sultan, offering rich history and stunning views.
Spice Bazaar: A vibrant marketplace filled with colorful spices, Turkish delights, teas, and local delicacies – a feast for the senses.
Bosphorus Tour: A scenic boat ride between two continents, showcasing palaces, mansions, and the unique skyline of Istanbul along the strait.
What’s included? Entrance Fee (Basilica Cistern – Skip-the-Line Access)
Ticket for public bosphorus tour
Public transportation fee
Professional tour guide
What’s NOT included? Lunch
What to bring? Comfortable shoes
Women: It is advisable to bring your own headscarf when visiting mosques. While some mosques provide covers for free, others may charge 2–3 USD for each.
Men: Please avoid wearing shorts above the knee when visiting mosques. While some mosques provide covers for free, others may charge 2–3 USD for each.
Meeting Point The tour guide can pick you up from your hotel if you are staying in the Taksim, Galata, Karaköy or Sultanahmet area. If you are staying in a different neighborhood, which is far from the tour location, we will provide a meeting location for the tour.
Duration 6 hours
Highlights Visit the biggest early Roman cistern in the city.
Explore Ottoman imperial mosque commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent and designed by the greatest architect of Ottoman Empire Mimar Sinan.
Visit one of the oldest shopping mall in the world and learn how to bargain.
Follow the scent of the spices through the Spice Bazaar.
Enjoy 1,5 hour ferry tour along the Bosphorus.
Price per person 1 person, 210 USD
2 person, 135 USD per person
3 person, 130 USD per person
4 person, 120 USD per person
5 person, 110 USD per person
6 person, 105 USD per person
7 person, 100 USD per person
8 person, 95 USD per person
If you have more than 8 people in your group, please contact us for pricing.
You can reserve the tours by paying a 100 USD deposit fee. The remaining tour fees are payable in cash.

Tour Map

Additional information

Person1 pax, 2 pax, 3 pax, 4 pax, 5 pax, 6 pax, 7 pax, 8 pax

Tour Reviews

5.00 based on 6 reviews
14 May 2022

A great, informative and fun tour. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. I would definitely book a tour with Reminder again.

17 October 2022

We enjoyed the tour so much with my family. We don’t like tours with a lot of people so we really enjoyed this private tour and accompany of our guide.

26 December 2023

It was a beautiful tour with different content. We bought a 4-day tour from Reminder. We had the chance to visit all of Istanbul. I recommend it to everyone.

29 February 2024

Istanbul is an amazing town and I was lucky to have the company of Kaan to show me around. He knows Istanbul in and out, speaks perfect English and doesn’t smoke, always on-time, good conversationalist and plain good company and a gentleman. Best of all he is passionate about Istanbul, its culture, history, food, drinks, and fascinating stories. He and his wife share this passion on their youtube and Instagram which unfortunately I am not allowed to show here but search for istanbul tips in youtube and you will see hopefully.

If you have no idea what you want to see, he will make sure you visit all the must-sees and if you have watched their tips before your trip, make sure you prioritise your wish list and he will customize a plan with you. When time permits, he even did a few ad-hoc points of interest in the vicinity we were in which were not pre-planned.

Briefly, I did the Hagia Sophia myself in the morning so I can take my time for photos and videos. Then I revisited at night with Kaan when I realised I had missed so many important things I cannot even count !And without him, I would have never tasted these delicious drinks – Salep nor Ayran.

25 May 2025

Zeynel was amazing. Knew his way around the city so we did not have to wait and was very friendly and knowledgeable of the area. We had spent 7 hours with him and it was the best way to get a feel for the city and everything it had to offer to tourists. If you have the chance to book with him, I highly recommend, you will not be let down.

25 May 2025

Zeynel was absolutely amazing. He guided me on the “Magnificent Tour” of Istanbul and it was truly an unforgettable experience. Zeynel’s passion for the history and culture of Turkey exuded from the very beginning of our tour and he quickly became more than just a tour guide, but a friend. Being I was away from my family on this trip, I enjoyed getting to know him and meet a Turkish friend while here.

I can think of nothing he could have improved. He was friendly, knowledgeable, considerate of my schedule, and took me to all the local spots for some good food.

I would highly recommend Reminder Tours and requesting Zeynel for your tour.

Leave a Review

Rating