Istanbul · MARKETS
This is the shortlist worth sending a friend: 15 market tours that repay the time, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one detail to check before you pay.
Follow Istanbul Grand Bazaar’s hidden routes from rooftop viewpoints to secret passages, with artisan stops, tea, and a local guide.
“Great overview of the grand bazaar with many hidden treasures. The guide was kind and very informative. Booking this tour made the grand bazaar seem less crazy.”
A 4-hour Istanbul Old City walk to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar, with pickup and skip-the-line access.
“We had an absolutely fabulous tour experience! We pretty much had half a day available to see some sites in Istanbul before boarding our cruise at 2 p.m. The tour was a small group of about 12 people, which was great. Our guide was super knowledgeable and very accommodating to everyone's needs. We loved the added stop at the cistern and the Turkish rug presentation. We cannot wait to visit Istanbul again in the future!”
Spice Bazaar scents and a Bosphorus cruise with views of Dolmabahçe, Rumeli Hisarı, and Beylerbeyi, plus a short Eminönü stroll.
“This was a great tour, and a wonderful experience. Bulit, my guide walked me through the streets, introducing me to typical Turkish fare. The whole experience was delectable. A must do if you like to try and experience new and different cuisines.”
Skip the ticket line for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar on a 5-hour Istanbul walking tour.
“Very informative, out tour guide was great! Well worth it!”
See Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar in 4 hours with skip-the-line entry and guided time at each stop.
“Hello, we took the 1/2 day tour today in Istanbul, Turkey (Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, etc.) and just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the tour! Our tour guide was excellent. We will definitely book another tour with your company. Thank you agaIn”
5.5-hour Istanbul Bazaar Quarter food tour for small groups, with two meals, snacks, and hot drink, plus craftspeople stories.
“Ughur was an excellent guide and we visited amazing “back street” eateries! Great intro to Turkish cuisine.”
Small group Old City tour with Basilica Cistern skip-the-line access, Blue Mosque views, Hippodrome stops, and Grand Bazaar bites plus carpet talk.
“Our guide was fantastic! Mohammed is very knowledgeable and made sure we had a great experience during our tour. Loved it!”
Morning Istanbul half-day tour covering the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar, with hotel pickup and an included ticket.
“Excellent walking tour of Istanbul.... Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia , Hippodrone & Grand Bazaar. Our guide Alize led us through these incredible sites sharing her immense knowledge of Turkish history. She was helpful, & the tour was well organized . She showed us where the best spots for photos were , even taking pictures for us with our family members. The weather was extremely hot & she adjusted quickly to our needs. One of the best tours we have experienced. Definitely recommend this tour & Alize as an excellent guide!!”
Private guided Istanbul tour linking Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace and Harem, Vezirhan carpets, and the Grand Bazaar.
“As our tour guide, Murat made this the best day of our multi-week trip. Murat was incredibly knowledgeable, interesting, and engaging. The places we visited were truly the highlights of Istanbul. Could not recommend this any more!”
Private 3.5-hour Grand Bazaar shopping with a personal shopper, English help, Turkish tea and coffee, and smart bargaining guidance.
“Gokay was very personable a great guide! Catered the tour and shopping to my interest and told about the city and its history along the way. Assisted to negotiate prices, which was fun with the shop owners! Would call on Gokay again!”
Private 5-6h Istanbul walk with advance tickets for Hagia Sophia and Topkapi, a Blue Mosque stop, and Grand Bazaar shopping help.
“Our tour today with Furkan was wonderful! He made the city and its history come alive. He was flexible and took us to the Rustem Pasha and Zeyrek mosques, off the beaten path. But the highlight was a great tour of the Topkapi Palace. Thank you, Furkan, for a truly memorable experience!”
Half-day Istanbul tour with Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar, plus expert context on four empires and smart pacing.
“Yes it was interesting ,the history of the Hagia sofia mosque and basilica cistern Had a great history.but the carpet shop visit was unusual in istanbul there was a salesman describing how a carpet was made and a attempting to sell us a carpet should it be on the tour NO.the guide was helpful”
Create a Turkish mosaic lamp in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, with hands-on instruction, unlimited tea and coffee, and store discounts.
“Fantastic and one of a kind experience with a charismatic host. We did it last minute due to having a few hours to spare in the area and do not regret it one bit.”
Istanbul Karakoy food tour with 10 tastings, spice and coffee lessons, and locals-only restaurants. Tea, kebab, fish, desserts included.
“Nusret was a great guide. Took me to great places and we had a blast. I would recommend this to anyone visiting Istanbul.”
Small-group Istanbul walk: Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar. Cistern ticket may be included.
“Very informative and interesting history. Our small group tour turned out to be a private tour and our guide was a Turkish historian and really knew his stuff. The Blue Mosque was easy to get in and around and the history of the hippodrome was interesting. Basilca Cistern was really cool!!”
What this city is genuinely good at, list by list.
