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Istanbul Combo: Old City & Bosphorus Cruise
Explore the Timeless Wonders of Istanbul
This is a full-day private tour combining Istanbul’s Old City monuments
with an afternoon Bosphorus cruise. It covers Hagia Sophia, the
Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar
on foot, then continues by boat past Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy and the
Maiden’s Tower. The tour runs eight hours, starts at 09:00 with hotel
pickup, and costs €175 per person with a licensed English-speaking guide.
The Old City and the Bosphorus are usually sold as two separate tours on
two separate days. They do not need to be. The peninsula covers 600
metres of walking, which leaves the whole afternoon free, and the
Bosphorus is at its best between 14:00 and 16:00 when the light comes
from the west and the waterfront palaces are lit head-on. Combining them
removes a second hotel pickup, a second guide briefing and a second
round of ticket queues.
The tour suits travellers with two or more days in Istanbul who want
both the history and the water in one booking, and cruise passengers
whose ship stays overnight. It ends at Eminönü pier, five minutes’ walk
from the Galata Bridge and the Sultanahmet tram stop.
Per Person
175€
Tour Highlights
- Cover Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar on foot in one morning
- Cruise the Bosphorus past Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy and the Maiden's Tower
- See both the European and Asian shores in a single afternoon
- Hear the Byzantine-to-Ottoman sequence from a licensed historian-guide
- Private vehicle for hotel pickup and pier transfers
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
ITINERARY
What You'll Experience
Built in 537 under Justinian and converted to a mosque in 1453, Hagia Sophia held the record as the world's largest cathedral for almost a thousand years. The dome, the Byzantine mosaics and the Islamic calligraphy share one roof — a single building that records the city's entire history.
The chariot-racing track that served as the city's social centre for a thousand years. The Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the Walled Obelisk still stand where the crowds once sat.
Completed in 1617 and still an active mosque — the only one in Istanbul with six minarets. More than 20,000 hand-painted İznik tiles line the interior; your guide handles the dress code and times the visit around prayer hours.
An underground reservoir built in 532 to supply the Great Palace, held up by 336 marble columns. The two Medusa heads at the far end sit sideways and upside down — nobody knows why, and your guide will give you the competing theories.
Lunch at a local restaurant, then free time in one of the world's oldest covered markets: 61 streets and roughly 4,000 shops under one roof, trading since 1461.
Board at Eminönü and sail north past Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy, the Bosphorus Bridge, the Maiden's Tower and the Rumeli Fortress. The boat crosses to the Asian shore and returns along the opposite bank.
Hotel drop-off: 17:00
Tour Overview
The Old City and the Bosphorus answer two different questions. The peninsula tells you what happened here — six empires' worth of buildings inside a single square kilometre. The strait tells you why it happened: the only water route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and the reason every power in the region wanted this city.
Most operators split them across two days. This route keeps both, because the peninsula is compact enough to finish before lunch and the afternoon light on the Bosphorus is the best of the day.
The tour suits travellers with two or more days in Istanbul, families with teenagers, and cruise passengers whose ship stays overnight. Cruise passengers whose ship departs the same evening should book the half-day Old City tour instead.
Good to Know
- Walking distance in the morning is approximately 2.5 km, mostly flat, with one indoor rest stop
- Museum tickets are purchased on your behalf; entrance fees are around €48 per person and are paid separately on the day
- Hagia Sophia closes to visitors between 12:00 and 14:30 on Fridays
- The Blue Mosque admits visitors after 14:30 on Fridays; the route is reordered on that day
- The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays — the time is replaced with the Arasta Bazaar
- Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque require shoulders and knees covered; headscarves are provided free at both
- Cruise departure depends on weather; in rare cases of strong wind the Bosphorus leg is replaced with a Golden Horn cruise
- Comfortable shoes are recommended; the Grand Bazaar paving is uneven
What's Included
- Licensed English-speaking guide for the full eight hours
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for hotel pickup and pier transfers
- Hotel pickup from Sultanahmet, Taksim, Beşiktaş, Şişli, Karaköy and Beyoğlu
- Two-hour Bosphorus cruise ticket
- Lunch at a local restaurant, vegetarian options available
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
What's Not Included
- Museum entrance fees (approximately €48 per person, paid on the day)
- Drinks with lunch
- Private yacht upgrade (available on request)
- Gratuities for your guide and driver
- Personal shopping at the Grand Bazaar
When To Travel
April to June and September to October are the best months for this route: comfortable temperatures between 16°C and 25°C, calm water on the Bosphorus and long daylight for the afternoon cruise. July and August are hot in the Old City (32–34°C) but the sea breeze makes the afternoon leg pleasant. November to March is quieter and cooler at 6–12°C; the cruise still runs, though the wind on deck is cold and the upper deck may close. Avoid the first week of Ramadan and the Kurban Bayramı holiday, when several sites close for part of the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you pick up from my hotel?
Yes. Pickup is included from hotels in Sultanahmet, Taksim, Beşiktaş, Şişli, Karaköy and Beyoğlu, starting between 08:30 and 08:50. If your hotel is outside these districts, we set a central meeting point two minutes' walk from Hagia Sophia.
Is the Bosphorus cruise private or shared?
The boat is private for your group. It departs from Eminönü at 14:00 and runs for two hours, covering the European shore north to the Rumeli Fortress, a crossing to the Asian side, and the return along the opposite bank.
Are museum tickets included in the price?
No. The price covers the guide, the private vehicle, hotel pickup, the cruise ticket and lunch. Entrance fees are approximately 48 EUR per person (Hagia Sophia 25 EUR, Basilica Cistern 23 EUR) and are paid separately on the day.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The Old City section runs in all weather. If strong wind closes the Bosphorus to small craft, the cruise is replaced with a Golden Horn cruise, which is sheltered, at no extra cost.
Can I do only the cruise?
Yes. The cruise can be booked on its own as a two-hour private yacht charter. Email [email protected] and we will send the separate price.
What happens on Fridays?
Hagia Sophia closes to visitors between 12:00 and 14:30, and the Blue Mosque admits visitors after 14:30. On Fridays the guide reorders the morning so the Old City is finished before midday.