The 3 Private Palace Tours in Turkey We Would Buy a Ticket For

1.Private Guided Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace with Skip Line

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 214 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $45Our pick

Meet your private English-speaking guide at the Basilica Cistern, then walk to Topkapi Palace for about three hours of Byzantine and Ottoman history. Guides such as Murat, Erdem, Huseyin, and Marathon are praised for clear explanations and personal attention. Admission fees are extra, and the tour ends in Topkapi’s fourth courtyard.

“A must see. This is the oldest cisterns in the world. Is impeccably condition's. It’s just beautiful”

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2.Private 5-6h: Topkapi + Hagia Sophia + Blue Mosque + Grand Bazaar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 67 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $300

Spend a private half-day with an English-speaking guide through Istanbul’s Old City. Visit Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, and Grand Bazaar on foot, with Topkapi and Hagia Sophia tickets included. Guides such as Furkan and Can can tailor the pace and add local food or mosque stops when time allows.

“I wish I could give more that 5 stars!!! Furkan is amazing. We had a blast with him. He is so knowledgable and passionate about the history of Istanbul. He spent time understanding what we were interested and tailored our time to that. And, he’s a GREAT photographer!!! We’ll definitely book with him on our next visit to Istanbul.”

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3.Private: Topkapi Palace, St. Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Hipodromme

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $99

Spend about eight hours with a private guide and driver visiting the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar. Guides such as Leyla, Selen, Emel, and Ezgi have been praised for adjusting the pace and route to each group. Entrance fees are extra, and Hagia Sophia now requires phone-based audio guidance.

“Our private guide is very knowledgeable. He did his best to accomodate our needs, very flexible, and skip the lines. Highly revommended”

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