Istanbul Tours, Activities & Things to Do

Istanbul tours and activities include Bosphorus cruises and Old City walking tours to guided museum visits, food tours and hands-on workshops. Choose an experience around your interests, where you are staying and the total time you have available.

Which Istanbul tour should you choose?

• Bosphorus views: Compare daytime, sunset and dinner cruises by departure pier, route, boat type and inclusions. Seeing a palace from the water does not mean admission or a stop ashore is included. Check meals, drinks, live commentary and hotel transfers separately.

• History and landmarks: Compare guided tours around Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern by the sites visited, guide language and admission tickets. A guided service does not automatically include every entrance fee.

• Neighbourhoods and local life: For Fener–Balat, Beyoğlu or city tours covering both sides of Istanbul, check walking distances, hills, steps, public transport use and where the tour ends.

• Food and creative experiences: Choose food and drink experiences by the tastings, meal coverage and dietary requirements. Confirm allergies or special diets before booking. For mosaic lamp and other workshops, check the session length, materials and what you can take home.

• A day away: For day trips to the Princes’ Islands or beyond Istanbul, consider travel time, free time at the destination and the return point together. Treat Bursa or Sapanca as separate excursions rather than short stops between central Istanbul attractions.

Plan around where you are staying

Getting to the same meeting point from Sultanahmet, Taksim–Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Kadıköy or Üsküdar can involve very different journeys. Check the departure pier for cruises and the start and finish addresses for walking tours. An experience listed in Istanbul does not necessarily offer pickup from every hotel on both sides of the city.

When comparing airport transfers, distinguish Istanbul Airport (IST) from Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). Confirm the airport, hotel address, passenger and luggage capacity, and meeting instructions. Allow time for traffic, reaching the pier and check-in. If you have a flight the same day, avoid relying on a fixed journey time.

How to compare Istanbul tour prices

• Date and participants: Compare the total for the same date, group size and children’s ages. The displayed starting price may differ from the price of your selected date and option.

• Admission and guiding: An entry ticket, audio guide, live guided tour and multi-attraction package provide different services. Read which admission fees are included and whether any payments are required on arrival.

• Total duration: Distinguish time at one attraction from a package covering multiple stops and transport. Check the start and estimated finish times against your other bookings.

• Inclusions: Check hotel transfers, boat or public transport journeys, meals, drinks and workshop materials. A lower price may cover fewer services.

• Participation and cancellation: Check the guide language, age restrictions, walking requirements and accessibility. If free cancellation is offered, read the deadline and exceptions; policies vary by product and option.

Choose an experience for your travel dates

Weather, sea conditions and operating schedules matter for cruises and Princes’ Islands trips. For museums and palaces, check current closure days; for mosque visits, check prayer-time access and dress requirements. “Skip-the-line” should not be read as a guarantee that security checks or every form of waiting will be removed.

Open an experience on this page and select your date, participants and any transfer option to check the price and availability before booking. Planning your own route? See our guide to 25 things to do in Istanbul for visit times, neighbourhood advice and practical one- and three-day itineraries.