Istanbul Full Day City Tour with Bosphorus Cruise
Istanbul Ful Day City Tour
Explore Istanbul’s Old City, Balat, Galata & enjoy a Bosphorus Cruise with lunch on this full-day guided tour with hotel pick-up from central areas.
Tour Overview
Discover the best of Istanbul’s old and modern charm in one day on our Istanbul Full Day City Tour with Bosphorus Cruise. This guided experience combines a cultural walking tour through vibrant historical districts like Balat and Galata with a scenic Bosphorus lunch cruise between Europe and Asia. From Yedikule Fortress to colorful houses, churches, dervish lodges, and palaces on the shoreline, this tour captures the true soul of the city.
- Hotel pickup from central locations: Sultanahmet, Taksim, Sirkeci, Galata, Karaköy
- English-speaking professional guide throughout the tour
- Explore hidden gems like Balat & Galata with rich cultural layers
- Enjoy a Bosphorus Cruise with a delicious onboard lunch
- Admire historical landmarks from land and sea
Tour Itinerary
08:00 – 08:30 am ─ Hotel pickup from central areas by air-conditioned vehicle.
Meet your expert local guide and other participants.
- Yedikule Fortress (The Fortress of Seven Towers): Begin the day by exploring this impressive Byzantine-Ottoman structure. Once a treasury and prison, it now offers stunning sea views and deep historic ambiance.
- Balat District: Wander through cobbled streets filled with pastel houses, historic synagogues, churches, and an unmatched multicultural legacy. Perfect for photography and cultural immersion.
- St. Anthony of Padua Church: Visit Istanbul’s largest Catholic church, located on Istiklal Street. Its striking neo-Gothic architecture tells a story of Istanbul’s diverse spiritual past.
- Galata Tower (from outside): View and photograph the famous medieval tower. Optional entrance after the tour. (Ticket not included.)
- Galata Mevlevi Lodge (from outside): Learn about Istanbul’s first Mevlevi dervish lodge and the significance of the Whirling Dervishes. (Entrance ticket not included.)
Lunch on Bosphorus Cruise:
Around midday, transfer to the pier and board the boat.
- Bosphorus Cruise: Sail between two continents. While enjoying a freshly prepared lunch, see iconic landmarks along the Bosphorus:
- Dolmabahçe Palace
- Ortaköy Mosque
- Rumeli Fortress
- Beylerbeyi Palace
- Maiden’s Tower
17:00 (approx.) ─ End of the tour. You will be dropped off at your hotel or a central location.
What's Included
Included
- Pick-up and Drop-off from central hotels
- English Speaking Licenced Tour guide
- Entrance Fees to the mentioned sights
- All necessary land transportation by A/C Touristical Buses
- Local Taxes
Not Included
- Personal Expenses
- Entrance fees for Galata Tower and Mevlevi Lodge
- Any meal or drinks
- Any extra fees for transportation if your hotel is not central
Important Remarks
Please read the following important information carefully before booking. These remarks contain essential details about your tour experience.
- Hotel pickup is included only from central areas (Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Karaköy, Galata, Taksim).
- Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.
- Galata Tower and Mevlevi Lodge are seen from outside; entrance is optional and not included.
- The Bosphorus lunch cruise may be operated with a shared group.
More Details
Your journey through Istanbul begins as you’re picked up from your hotel and driven through the ancient city walls. The first whispers of history greet you at Yedikule Fortress, where legends of sultans, prisoners, and golden treasures echo among the towers.
Soon after, you enter Balat, where color spills from every corner — pastel homes, hidden synagogues, and aged churches tell of centuries of coexistence. Every street feels like a page from a living storybook.
Next, the tour brings you to Galata. You step into the quiet awe of St. Anthony Church, then gaze up at the majestic Galata Tower. Your guide paints a vivid picture of Istanbul’s spiritual traditions with a stop near the Mevlevi Lodge.
As midday approaches, you board the boat and gently glide between two worlds — Europe and Asia — while enjoying lunch. From the Maiden’s Tower to Dolmabahçe Palace, Istanbul reveals its beauty from the water, and you feel its timeless pulse.
Good Morning Tuna, We wanted to let you know that our tour to Turkey went smoothly and we were both very impressed with the tour company toursce.com tours. Their organizations were fantastical and both times we spoke to their representatives in the areas they were so helpful. Turkey was very interesting and organized and safe for tourists. We recommend everyone to go without falling into doubt, it is very safe. We hope that the situation in Cavid19 settles down and we can look at going there in 2021. Regards.
I want to thank everyone who put time and effort into my trip. It was a quality excursion where I met some great people and a great land. I plan to visit again in the future and will highly recommend your company to anyone thinking about visiting Istanbul. You should really visit Dolmabahce Palace if you come to Istanbul.
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