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ISTANBUL
7-Day Istanbul Tour Package – Grand Istanbul Discovery
From $749 per person
- Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
- Stay: Istanbul 6N · 4★ hotel in Taksim
- Meals: Daily breakfast + 4 lunches + dinner cruise
- Group: Small group or private
- Guide: Guide: English, Turkish
- Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 7 days
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Tour Overview
7-Day Istanbul Tour: Old City, Two Continents, Princes’ Islands & Bursa
This 7-day Istanbul tour (6 nights) starts with a private transfer from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) to a 4★ hotel (or similar) in Taksim, where you stay all six nights. Four days are guided full-day tours; the others are for arrival, a free day and departure.
The Old City day covers Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Covered Bazaar. The Two Continents day links the Golden Horn and Spice Bazaar with a Bosphorus cruise, Beylerbeyi Palace and Çamlıca Hill. Day 4 goes to Büyükada by ferry and electric car, and Day 5 to Bursa for the Green Tomb and Ulu Cami. The free day on Day 6 ends with a Bosphorus dinner cruise.
First-time visitors, couples and families can choose Shared (small group) or Private (vehicle + guide). Both include six nights with breakfast, airport transfers, four guided days with an English-speaking guide, lunches on touring days and the dinner cruise; museum and palace entrances are payable on-site. Plan ahead with the 7-day Istanbul itinerary, the museum pass and entrance fees guide and our Istanbul tour packages.
Highlights
- Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace
- Bosphorus cruise and Beylerbeyi Palace
- Çamlıca Hill panorama over two continents
- Princes’ Islands by ferry and electric car
- Bursa day trip to the first Ottoman capital
- Bosphorus dinner cruise on the free day
Quick facts
- Recommended time to visit: April–May and September–November for mild weather and smaller crowds.
- Free-day ideas such as Galata Tower or the Basilica Cistern are optional and booked on your own.
- Museum and palace entrance fees are paid on-site in both options.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
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Day 1Arrival in Istanbul & Taksim
An English-speaking representative meets you at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) and takes you by private transfer to your 4★ hotel (or similar) in Taksim, about an hour from IST and a little longer from SAW, depending on traffic. Check in and rest. Today is free, so choose your own pace: Taksim Square and İstiklal Street, the long pedestrian avenue with shops, cafés and the red nostalgic tram, are only steps from the hotel and make a relaxed first walk.
Overnight: Istanbul — 4★ hotel (or similar) in TaksimTransport: Private airport transfer ~1 h (IST) or ~1 h 15 min (SAW)Tour: None today (Shared (small group) or Private (vehicle + guide) from Day 2); airport transfer private on both optionsEntrances: none -
Day 2Old City: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı & Grand Bazaar
Your guide starts in Sultanahmet Square, where Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque face each other across the gardens. Hagia Sophia is the sixth-century Byzantine church that later became a mosque, and the Blue Mosque is known for its six minarets and blue İznik tiles. You then walk along the Hippodrome, the old Roman chariot arena. Lunch is included. In the afternoon you visit Topkapı Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans, and the Hagia Irene Museum, an early Byzantine church, and finish in the Grand Covered Bazaar.
Meals: Breakfast, LunchOvernight: Istanbul — 4★ hotel (or similar) in TaksimTransport: Tour vehicle and walking, short city transfers (~15 min each)Tour: Shared (small group) or Private (vehicle + guide)Entrances: payable on-site (Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Hagia Irene) -
Day 3Two Continents: Golden Horn, Bosphorus Cruise & Çamlıca Hill
The morning begins on foot along the Golden Horn, past a stretch of the Byzantine city walls, to the Spice Bazaar. A Bosphorus cruise of about 1.5 hours follows, passing Rumeli Fortress, a 15th-century fortress on the strait, and lunch is included. You continue by road to Beylerbeyi Palace, an Ottoman palace on the Asian shore, and cross the Bosphorus Bridge between the continents. The day ends on Çamlıca Hill, where a panoramic terrace overlooks the city and the strait.
Meals: Breakfast, LunchOvernight: Istanbul — 4★ hotel (or similar) in TaksimTransport: Bosphorus cruise ~1.5 h (included); tour vehicle ~1 h in totalTour: Shared (small group) or Private (vehicle + guide)Entrances: payable on-site (Beylerbeyi Palace) -
Day 4Princes’ Islands: Büyükada by Ferry & Electric Car
After breakfast you take the ferry from the city to Büyükada, the largest of the Princes’ Islands, a crossing of about an hour with the Marmara skyline behind you. There are no cars on the island, so the sightseeing is done by electric car, along pine-shaded roads and past wooden Belle Époque mansions. Lunch by the sea is included. The rest of the day is free for the harbour shops and a walk by the water before the ferry brings you back to Istanbul and your hotel in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, LunchOvernight: Istanbul — 4★ hotel (or similar) in TaksimTransport: Ferry ~1 h each way (included); electric car on the islandTour: Shared (small group) or Private (vehicle + guide)Entrances: none (ferry and electric-car tour included) -
Day 5Bursa, the First Ottoman Capital
This full day goes to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, with a drive of roughly 2.5 hours each way. In the city you see the Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami), a large early Ottoman mosque with twenty domes, then the Green Mosque and the Green Tomb, known for their turquoise tilework. Lunch is included on the way. The tour ends in the historic silk market, where silk goods have been sold for centuries. You return to Istanbul in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, LunchOvernight: Istanbul — 4★ hotel (or similar) in TaksimTransport: Tour vehicle ~2.5 h each wayTour: Shared (small group) or Private (vehicle + guide)Entrances: payable on-site (Bursa mosques and tomb) -
Day 6Free Day & Bosphorus Dinner Cruise
Today is yours to plan. Easy ideas on your own, none of them included, start with Taksim Square and İstiklal Street, then Galata Tower and Galata Bridge with their views of the Golden Horn, the Basilica (Yerebatan) Cistern, or a second visit to the Grand Covered Bazaar. In the evening the Bosphorus dinner cruise, included in the package, takes you along the lit shores of the strait with a dinner on board. Breakfast is included and the hotel stays the same.
Meals: Breakfast, DinnerOvernight: Istanbul — 4★ hotel (or similar) in TaksimTransport: Free day: walking or public transport on your own; Bosphorus dinner cruise (included)Tour: Shared (small group) or Private (vehicle + guide)Entrances: none (any entrances on your free day are paid on-site) -
Day 7Departure
Breakfast is served at your hotel, and the time until your departure is free. If your flight allows, take a last walk through Taksim, have one more Turkish coffee on İstiklal Street, or pick up gifts, then pack calmly. The private transfer to the airport is timed to your flight and the airport you leave from, so you reach the terminal in good time. Allow time for check-out before the transfer. Our services end at the airport.
Meals: BreakfastOvernight: —Transport: Private airport transfer ~1 h (IST) or ~1 h 15 min (SAW)Tour: None today; airport transfer private on both optionsEntrances: none
Places Along the Route
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Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia was built in 537 as the cathedral of Constantinople and has served as a church and a mosque. Its central dome, supported by half-domes, was an engineering marvel when it was completed.
Blue Mosque
Across the gardens from Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque rises in six minarets and a stack of domes. Its interior glows with more than twenty thousand hand-painted tiles in blue and green.
Topkapı Palace
Topkapı Palace lies on the tip of the old city, where Ottoman sultans governed and lived for centuries. The imperial treasury, the council chamber and the shaded courtyards are among the most visited rooms.
Grand Bazaar
Opened in the fifteenth century, the Grand Covered Bazaar is a city within the city, with a network of arched streets selling carpets, ceramics, lamps and gold. It is a lively place to close the Old City day.
Spice Bazaar
At the Golden Horn end of the old city, the Spice Bazaar stands a short walk from the Galata Bridge. Spices, nuts, teas and Turkish delight fill its L-shaped vaulted hall, a classic place for a first Turkish taste.
Rumeli Fortress
Sultan Mehmed II had Rumeli Fortress built in 1452 on the narrowest point of the Bosphorus, just before the conquest of Constantinople. Its three tall towers and crenellated walls are seen from the water.
Beylerbeyi Palace
Beylerbeyi Palace, on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, was built in the 1860s as a summer residence for Ottoman sultans and a guesthouse for visiting royalty. Inside are carpets, crystal chandeliers and a marble pool room.
Çamlıca Hill
From the terrace of Çamlıca Hill, one of the highest viewpoints in Istanbul, you take in the Bosphorus, the old city’s domes and the sprawling modern skyline in one sweep, especially lovely near sunset.
Büyükada
The largest of the Princes’ Islands, Büyükada has no ordinary cars; people get around by bicycle or electric vehicle. Pine-shaded roads pass wooden Belle Époque mansions and a calm harbour.
Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque)
Bursa’s Ulu Cami, finished in 1399, is a large early Ottoman mosque whose twenty domes rest on twelve piers. Calligraphy panels and a central fountain under a skylight give the prayer hall a distinctive character.
İstiklal Street
A pedestrian avenue of nearly one and a half kilometres in Beyoğlu, lined with shops, cafés and nineteenth-century façades. The red nostalgic tram runs along it, and it is a relaxed first walk from the hotel.
Green Mosque
The Green Mosque, built in the early fifteenth century, is known for its turquoise İznik tilework and carved wooden details. Together with the nearby Green Tomb, it is among the finest examples of early Ottoman art.
Why Choose This Istanbul Holiday Package?
Six nights in one Taksim hotel, four guided full days, a free day and a Bosphorus dinner cruise: a week of Old City, two continents, Princes’ Islands and Bursa without changing hotel.
- Six nights, one central hotel — Six nights in the same 4★ hotel (or similar) in Taksim, breakfast included, with private transfers from IST or SAW on arrival and departure.
- Old City and Bosphorus — Day 2 covers Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar; Day 3 adds a Bosphorus cruise of about 1.5 hours, Beylerbeyi Palace and Çamlıca Hill. Lunch is included.
- Two day trips out of the city — Day 4 goes to Büyükada by ferry and electric car, Day 5 to Bursa for the Green Tomb and Ulu Cami, about 2.5 hours each way. Lunch is included on both days.
- A free day and a dinner cruise — Day 6 is yours to plan and ends with the included Bosphorus dinner cruise. Museum and palace entrances are payable on-site.
- Licensed guide, Shared or Private — Four touring days run with a licensed English-speaking guide in a small group, or Private with your own vehicle. Children aged 0–2 travel free and ages 3–7 get 30% off.
- Licensed local agency — TÜRSAB A-group licence #18154, Istanbul-based, rated 5.0 on Google (15 reviews), free cancellation up to 7 days before the start date.
Your Hotels on This Tour
These are the hotels we use on this tour, so you know where you’ll stay and can explore them before you book. Your final hotel is confirmed with your booking; if a listed hotel is unavailable on your dates, we reserve another hotel of the same category (or similar). Standard hotels are included in the tour price; Comfort and Premium hotels are available as upgrades.
- Comfort
Ring Stone Bosphorus Hotel
Taksim / Pera, Beyoğlu (Istiklal Avenue) · Istanbul
- On Istiklal Avenue
- Next to the historic tram line
- Boutique hotel in Pera
Breakfast included
Upgrade · price on request
- Comfort
Midtown Hotel Istanbul
Taksim (Lamartin Cad.), Beyoğlu · Istanbul
- Walk to Taksim Square
- On-site restaurant & lounge cafe
- Meeting rooms
- 24-hour front desk
Breakfast included
Upgrade · price on request
- Comfort
Aloft by Marriott Istanbul Karakoy
Karaköy / Beyoğlu (Bankalar Caddesi) · Istanbul
- Loft-style rooms
- W XYZ bar
- Fitness studio
- Near Galata Tower & Galataport
Breakfast included
Upgrade · price on request
- Premium
Sura Hagia Sophia Hotel
Sultanahmet, Fatih · Istanbul
- Pool with Hagia Sophia view
- Spa & Turkish bath
- Terrace restaurant facing Hagia Sophia
- Rooms with Hagia Sophia view
Breakfast included
Upgrade · price on request
- Premium★★★★★
Rixos Pera Istanbul
Pera / Tepebaşı, Beyoğlu · Istanbul
- Anjana Spa & Turkish bath
- Vetiver Rooftop
- Walk to Taksim & Galata Tower
- On Meşrutiyet Avenue
Breakfast included
Upgrade · price on request
- Premium
Pera Palace Hotel
Tepebaşı / Pera, Beyoğlu · Istanbul
- Historic 1895 landmark hotel
- Spa
- Kubbeli Salon afternoon tea
- Atatürk Museum Room
Breakfast included
Upgrade · price on request
- Premium★★★★★
The Galata Istanbul Hotel - MGallery
Karaköy / Beyoğlu (Bankalar Caddesi) · Istanbul
- MGallery Roof Bar
- Historic Çeşme Hamam (1720s)
- Spa
- Restored historic han building
Breakfast included
Upgrade · price on request
- Standard
Ramada by Wyndham Istanbul Pera
Beyoğlu (Pera) · Istanbul
- Indoor & outdoor pools
- Spa with Turkish bath
- 24/7 restaurant
- Airport shuttle
Breakfast included
- Standard
Wyndham Istanbul Old City
Sultanahmet / Old City · Istanbul
- Heated indoor & outdoor pools
- Spa with Turkish bath
- In the heart of Sultanahmet
- Children's pool & play area
Breakfast included
- Standard
The Barbarossa Hotel
Kumkapı / Fatih (historic peninsula, near Sultanahmet) · Istanbul
Breakfast included
- Comfort
Daru Sultan Hotels Galata
Şişhane / Tünel-Galata, Beyoğlu · Istanbul
- Golden Horn view rooms
- Galata Tower view rooms
- 10-min walk to Galata Tower
- Galata & Asmalımescit cafés nearby
Breakfast included
Upgrade · price on request
When to Visit Istanbul
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable times to visit Istanbul: mild weather, fewer crowds at Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace, and comfortable conditions for the Bosphorus cruise and walking tours. Summer (June–August) is hot and busy at the major sights, though it's peak season for the Princes' Islands, where sea breezes make the heat easier to enjoy. Winter (December–March) is quieter and better value, with shorter lines at museums and palaces — and it pairs naturally with the Bursa day trip, when nearby Uludağ's ski season adds an extra reason to head south. Whichever season you choose, four guided touring days and a free day keep the itinerary flexible around the weather.
Tour Price & Booking
What’s Included
What’s Not Included
Optional Upgrades
Add these to your request — we confirm availability and the final total before you pay.
Private tour upgrade
Switch from the shared small group to your own vehicle and guide, with a flexible start time and a slower pace.
Own vehicle + guide
Istanbul street food tour
Taste Istanbul on foot: street food stops through Karaköy and Beyoğlu, with a local guide who knows the neighbourhood.
3.5 Hours View tour →
5★ hotel upgrade
Ask for 5★ hotels instead of the standard 4★ hotels. We check availability and confirm the extra cost before you pay.
Subject to availabilityHave something else in mind? Ask us on WhatsApp
Good to Know
Closing Days
Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays and the Grand Bazaar on Sundays. We check your arrival date against these days when we confirm your booking.
Hagia Sophia and Prayer Times
Hagia Sophia is a working mosque, so visits are paused at prayer times and limited around Friday midday; your guide adjusts the order of Day 2.
Bursa Day
Day 5 is a long day, with about 2.5 hours of driving each way. The Ulu Cami and the Green Mosque are active mosques, so shoulders and knees stay covered.
Pick-up Times
Your exact pick-up time is confirmed with you the day before each tour.
Hotel Check-in & Check-out
Standard hotel check-in is from 14:00 and check-out is until 12:00. Early check-in or late check-out depends on availability; ask us and we will request it.
Dietary Requirements
Halal and vegetarian options are available. Please tell us about any dietary needs when you book.
What to Wear
Please dress modestly when visiting mosques and religious sites: shoulders and knees covered, and a scarf for women. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended on every tour.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, cancel up to 7 days before the start date.
- If you cancel less than 7 days before, the amount paid is non-refundable.
- Changes made less than 7 days before the start date cannot be accepted.
- If the tour is cancelled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Payment
Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). A 30% deposit secures your booking after we confirm availability; the balance is due 15 days before the start date.
What guests say about TourQuaz
"Super und zuverlässige Organisation unseres Fimenausflugs. Zuverlässige Abholungen zu vereinbarten Zeiten und hilfreiche Tips beim Programm vor Ort.
Vielen Dank an das ganze Team. Jeder Zeit wieder!"
"Everything was very good specially the staff there
Special thanks to Mr. Emre for amazing efforts and support during all visit in istany"
"معاملة راقية تجربة تستحق الإشادة شكرا على حسن التعامل"
Frequently Asked Questions
Five to seven days is a good range. Seven days cover the Old City, the Bosphorus, the Princes’ Islands and a day trip to Bursa without rushing, with a free day on Day 6.
Prices start from $749 per person. The package covers 6 nights in a 4★ hotel (or similar) with daily breakfast, private airport transfers, 4 full-day guided tours, lunch on every touring day and the Bosphorus dinner cruise on Day 6.
No. Entrance fees for Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace and Hagia Irene (Day 2), Beylerbeyi Palace (Day 3) and the Bursa mosques and tomb (Day 5) are paid on-site, in both the Shared and the Private option.
Shared (Small Group) is a small-group tour at $809 per person for two travellers and $749 for six. Private (Vehicle + Guide) gives you your own vehicle and guide at $1,979 per person for two travellers and $1,059 for six. Hotel, lunches and the dinner cruise are the same.
You stay six nights in a Standard hotel in Istanbul (or similar) with breakfast every morning, in both options. The hotels we use are listed in Your Hotels on This Tour, and the final hotel is confirmed with your booking.
We provide private transfers from either Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), depending on which one you fly into. The ride takes about an hour from IST and a little longer from SAW.
Yes, both are included as full-day excursions: Day 4 is the Princes’ Islands by ferry and electric car, and Day 5 is Bursa, the first Ottoman capital, with lunch on both days.
Yes, extra nights, private upgrades and a Cappadocia extension are available on request. For a coastal combination, see our Istanbul & Antalya Tour, or browse all multi-city Turkey tour packages.
Yes. Children aged 0–2 travel free; children aged 3–7 get a 30% discount when sharing the room with adults. The Private option lets you set the pace of the long Bursa day to suit your children.
Free cancellation: cancel up to 7 days before the start date for a full refund. Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). A 30% deposit secures your booking after we confirm availability; the balance is due 15 days before the start date.
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