ISTANBUL · THE OLD CITY
The pick of Istanbul.
The 15 most popular grand bazaar tours in Istanbul. A short list of the ones worth planning a day around, with prices, run times and who to book with.
Rooftop views and secret passages in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, with artisan stops, tea, and 600-year trade stories.
Most Popular“This tour is very eye opening into the world of the Grand Bazaar.”
See Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Istanbul’s Old City highlights on a small guided walking tour with skip-the-line ticket help and pickup.
“Early morning is the best time to tour in order to avoid the heat and the crowds. Late fall is comfortable weather. There is a lot of standing and walking on uneven surfaces. Be prepared to enjoy the beauty and history of this ancient city! Our guide Baris was very knowledgeable and taught us so…”
Hotel pickup, Spice Bazaar shopping, and a Bosphorus cruise past palaces on both continents in about 3 hours.
“Great tour, the Bosphorus cruise is a must if you go to Istanbul, it gives you a different perspective of the city and is very relaxing, the group was small and we had a boat only for us!”
A smart 5-hour Istanbul walk that links Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar with skip-line access and an excellent guide.
“Oz was informative and friendly. He was able to keep group interested (with kids) and on task to see everything needed. Even got few extras sights and we had an amazing kabob lunch at his favorite local place.”
Air-conditioned Istanbul tour with pickup, skip-the-line Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar in 4 hours for $25.
“Informative, friendly and the cut a long story short as our guide would say. It was a wonderful experience”
A 5.5-hour small-group Istanbul Bazaar Quarter food tour with two meals, snacks, and a stop focused on Grand Bazaar craftsmen.
“Kadir was a fantastic guide. I had such a wonderful day discovering hidden gems around the old city. Not only were the food stops fantastic but the opportunity to interact with local craftsmen and learn more about Istanbul and its people was priceless I highly recommend this tour to anyone who truly wants an insight…”
Half-day Istanbul tour featuring the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar, with pickup and Hagia Sophia entry.
“Burak was a great guide. Very knowledgeable and well spoken. He would provide info then allow us to explore. Highly recommend him and would try and get him again as a guide.”
A half-day Istanbul tour linking four empires through Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar, with optional carpet stops.
“Our guide Uly was a delight! She was extremely knowledgable and had a great sense of humor.The pick up was well timed.”
Make your own Turkish mosaic lamp in the Grand Bazaar. Hands-on workshop, tea and coffee included, with a take-home fee at the spot.
“It was a good family experience to do and to discover Turkish culture with this workshop. The lamps made are supplied without the bulb and remain expensive enough for what it is. 15€ the small and 25 the average in addition to the price of the workshop.Auto-translated”
Small-group Istanbul highlights tour covering Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome sights, and Grand Bazaar, with local context and smart pacing.
“Awesome experience from a very knowledgeable tour guide. Iskandar had a lot of information for every site and the time frames associated. Looking forward to returning and doing the tour again. Front of the line at Cistern made the price well worth it, as the line was a mile long.”
See Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar in a 3-hour small-group morning with skip-the-line tickets and hotel pickup.
“Excellent guide who gave much information that we would have missed out on if we had gone alone. Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are so overwhelmingly beautiful and inspiring. Warning: dress code is very strict..my dress was below knee”
Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman highlights in one guided day: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar.
“Great way to learn about significant landmarks. Also being able to skip admission lines makes a big difference!”
A guided 4-hour shopping loop through Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Bazaar, with smart haggling tips and an Iznik ceramics stop.
“DO NOT TAKE THIS TOUR! My tour guide provided almost no information about the history of the bazaar, and took me to an offsite store where I was expected to spend over $500 on a counterfeit designer handbag while my guide sat down and was served coffee - I assume she got a kick-back by…”
Bosphorus cruise with Golden Horn views and a guided Spice Bazaar visit in Istanbul, with hotel pickup and a 1.5-hour boat ride.
“La guida è stata molto competente gentile e disponibile. Bella la crociera …”
Half-day Bosphorus cruise plus the Egyptian Spice Bazaar. See the bridge, Rumeli Hisari, Ottoman waterfront mansions, and shop smarter with a guide.
From the strait to the old city to the day trips beyond, and every way to see them.
