Istanbul Walks’ guides can be booked for a group or for a private company. We can arrange private guides to suit the special needs and interests of your group.
Enjoy the freedom of individual touring. Go at whatever time suits you
best to the places that interest you most at a pace that you choose. Choose an itinerary from the classic sights or create your
own itinerary with the assistance of your guide.
Istanbul Classic Sights
Saint
Sophia: the church of "Divine Wisdom". This masterpiece of
Byzantine architecture built by Justinian in 6th century as the cathedral of
Constantinople was the center of the religious life of the Byzantine Empire.
Blue Mosque: facing Saint Sophia, is one of the principal adornments on the skyline
of the city, famous with its blue Iznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets, built in the name of
Sultan Ahmet.
Hippodrome: was the scene of chariot races and the center of civil activities of
Constantinople. During the visit you'll be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt, Serpentine Column
from Delphi.
Topkapi Palace: the great palace of the Ottoman Sultans between the 15th
to the 19th centuries. Today, it
contains, as a museum, superb and unrivaled collections of porcelains, armor, jewels, illuminated
manuscripts, calligraphy, and many objects of art formerly belonging to the
Sultans. And visit the Harem, a veritable labyrinth of passages,
courtyards, gardens and rooms. It includes not only the women's quarters, but
also the quarters of the Black Eunuchs, rooms and schoolhouses for the young
princes, the Sultan's private apartments, and the apartments called the Cage
where the Sultan's brothers lived in more or less honorable confinement.
Basilica Cistern: an enormous underground Byzantine Cistern. 336
Corinthian columns support fine brick vaulting.
Covered Bazaar: a labyrinth of
streets and passages that houses more than 4.000 shops.
Closed:
Saint
Sophia on Mondays
Topkapi
Palace on Tuesdays
Covered Bazaar on Sundays
Bosphorus
A
stay in Istanbul is not complete without a traditional and unforgettable
excursion by boat along the Bosphorus. Along its shores is a delightfully
surprising mixture of past and present, grand splendor and simple beauty.
Cruise
along the Bosphorus, an unforgettable excursion between two continents, Europe and Asia. The cruise
takes you along the last palaces of Ottomans, the Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi, as well as 19th
and 20th century, beautiful wooden kiosks, mansions and modern villas, which form the elegant
section of the city.
