Istanbul Layover Tour: Private City Highlights & Bosphorus Ferry
Eight hours or more between flights is enough to see Istanbul properly. Send us your two flight numbers and we build the day around them.
4.9 from 1,172+ reviews Private tour Eight hours upwards, set by your two flights
Duration
Eight hours upwards, set by your two flights
Start time
Any hour, including overnight arrivals
Group size
Your group only, up to 20 people
Languages
English
Transport
Private vehicle with a driver, plus walking
Walking
As much or as little walking as you want. Tell us if anyone in the party has limited mobility and we will keep the route flat and short.
Tour highlights
What you will see and do
Met just outside Gate 13, at the board reading SW 39
A route built around your two flight times, not a fixed departure
A licensed English speaking guide who meets you in the city centre
Back at the airport with a margin agreed before you book
A Turkish bath arranged for you, paid at the bath itself, if the layover is long enough
Runs at any hour, including overnight connections
This tour is right for you if
You have eight hours or more between flights
You would rather see the city than an airport lounge
You want the timing handled by somebody who does it every week
Not for you if the gap is under eight hours: the drive in and out eats the day, and we will tell you so
About this tour
Istanbul airport sits about an hour from the old city in normal traffic, which is why a long connection is worth using rather than sitting out. We collect you from arrivals, drive in, walk the parts of the city that fit the hours you have, and put you back at departures with a margin agreed before you book. The tour is private. The vehicle brings you in from the airport and takes you back out to it; in the city the day is on foot and by tram. Your guide meets you in the centre. The route is built around your two flight times rather than a fixed departure.
The plan
How the day runs
Arrivals
A representative meets you just outside Gate 13, at the board reading SW 39, and walks you to your driver. Your guide meets you later, in the city centre.
Into the city
Around an hour from Istanbul Airport, with the Bosphorus on the way.
The old city
Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque from the outside, the Hippodrome and the streets between them.
Lunch or tea
A proper stop, not a snack at a counter, chosen for the time you have.
A Turkish bath, if you would like one
A hammam suits a long layover better than another queue does. Tell us when you book and we will arrange it and fit it around your two flight times. The bath itself charges 80 to 150 euro depending on the package, which you pick when you get there and pay by card at the bath. Towels and everything else are provided, so bring nothing.
More, if there is time
The Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, or a ferry across to Asia and back.
Back to the airport
Timed against your departure with the margin we agreed.
The order can change with the weather, the traffic and how busy a site is on the day. Your guide will tell you.
What is included
Included
A representative meeting you outside Gate 13, at the SW 39 board
The vehicle in from the airport and back out to it
A licensed English speaking guide for the walking tour in the city
A return timed so you are at the airport at least two hours before departure
Not included
Entrance tickets to museums and palaces
Food and drink
Turkish visa, if your passport needs one
The Turkish bath, if you choose one. The bath charges 80 to 150 euro depending on the package and you pay it there by card
Good to know
The Turkish bath (hammam) fee is not included in the tour price and is paid directly at the bath house by credit or debit card. Packages range from approximately 80 to 150 euro per person, depending on the level of service you choose. There is no need to book a package in advance. You can view the available options and select your preferred treatment when you arrive. You do not need to bring towels, shampoo or other bathing essentials, as everything you need is provided by the bath house.
What it costs
Price by group size
The figure covers everyone travelling together. Find your number in the table and that is the price.
Price by number of people
Group size
Total for the group
1 person
€210
2 people
€220
3 people
€225
4 people
€240
5 people
€260
6 people
€275
7 people
€295
8 people
€310
9 people
€330
10 people
€345
11 people
€364
12 people
€380
13 people
€400
14 people
€415
15 people
€430
16 people
€530
17 people
€570
18 people
€600
19 people
€620
20 people
€650
Up to 20 people on this tour. Children 5 to 11 come free. From 12 they pay the adult price.
Where we meet
Meeting point
A clean sheet with the board to look for and the steps, one page per airport. Choose Save as PDF in the dialog to keep it on your phone.
My Local Guide Istanbul
Istanbul Layover Tour: Private City Highlights & Bosphorus Ferry
If anything goes wrong, message or call +90 534 200 55 65. mylocalguideistanbul.com
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Look for the board that readsSW 39
Airport rules do not let meet and greet staff wait inside the terminal, so we meet you just outside it.
Clear passport control and customs, then walk out of the terminal.
Leave through Gate 13.
Once you are outside, look to your left. You will see a row of Meet and Greet representatives holding boards.
Find the board that reads SW 39, give your name to the person holding it, and they will walk you to your driver.
If nobody is at the board when you get there, give it a few minutes. They may be walking another guest to their car. If nobody comes, message us on WhatsApp, or ask any of the other representatives to point out the SW 39 representative.
A short walk through to the board. The same directions are written out beside it.
Transportation during the tour
The vehicle is used only for airport pick up and drop off.
Once you arrive in the city centre, the tour is on foot and by tram. Most of Istanbul's major attractions are within walking distance of one another, which makes walking the best way to see the city. A vehicle in the centre is usually slower, because of the traffic.
We take breaks whenever they are needed.
If you have luggage
The vehicle that brings you into the city may not be the same one that returns you to the airport.
If you have luggage you would rather not carry during the tour, store it at the airport before you leave the terminal.
The Left Luggage service is inside the airport, before Exit Gate 13.
Before you travel
What happens on the day
Flight monitoring
We watch your flight using the details on your booking, so a delay or an early landing is already known to us. Pick-up is set for about an hour after you land, which is normally enough for immigration and baggage. If you get through sooner, we are ready for you.
If you need longer
If you think you will need more than an hour to reach the meeting point, send us a WhatsApp message on +90 534 200 55 65. If you would rather be collected at a different time altogether, tell us in advance and we will arrange it.
Getting to your car
Once you have met the representative your vehicle usually arrives within twenty to thirty minutes. The drivers wait in the airport car park until they are told you have landed.
The drive
About an hour to the historic centre, depending on traffic.
Your driver and your guide
The driver who collects you is not your guide and may not speak English. Your English speaking guide meets you in the city centre, and that is where the walking tour begins.
Getting back to your flight
We plan the day so the tour finishes about three hours before departure, which puts you at the airport at least two hours ahead. If you would rather go back earlier, say so in advance. For a long overnight layover the tour runs to a maximum of eight hours, both airport transfers included.
Before you book
What happens next, and what if plans change
Worth two minutes before you book, so nothing on the day is a surprise.
After you book
A confirmation straight awayThe booking system emails it the moment you pay. It has the date, the meeting point and a map link.
A message from SalihA day or two before, to check the number of people, anything you cannot eat and where you are staying.
On the dayYour guide is at the meeting point ten minutes early. If you are running late, message the number on your confirmation and we wait.
Changing or cancelling
Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time and you are refunded in full. Inside 24 hours we cannot refund. Tell us as early as you can and we will move your date rather than lose you.
If the weather turns
Tours run in rain and in heat. If conditions make a tour unsafe we cancel it ourselves and refund you in full, or move you to another date, whichever you prefer.
Eight hours between flights is the minimum we can run. Under that the drive in and out takes most of it, and we will say so rather than sell you a rushed tour.
What if my flight is late?
We track the arrival. The tour starts when you land and we shorten the route rather than the margin at the other end.
Can I do this if I am staying airside?
Only if you clear immigration. Most nationalities enter Turkey visa free or on an e-visa bought online in a few minutes, but it is your passport, so please check it.
What happens to our bags?
They stay in the vehicle with the driver, so you walk the city with your hands free.
Which airport do you cover?
Istanbul Airport only. The layover tour is not offered from Sabiha Gökçen.
Can children come?
Yes. Children aged 5 to 11 come free, and from 12 they pay the adult price.
Wonderful dayWe had the best day in Istanbul, all thanks to our wonderful guide Beyhan. We were able to see a lot in just a few hours and cannot wait to come back! Beyhan was able to work with our requests to see certain sites and skip others and she even took us to a restaurant for lunch! The only thing to note is that the driver on the way back to the airport drove a bit too fast, so that can be improved upon. But the tour itself was phenomenal and I would highly recommend it if you have a layover in Istanbul.
Wonderful day in IstanbulThis was my second experience with this company. Beyhan was such a lovely tour guide. Sweet, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I had a great time at Hagia Sophia, both Bazaars, loved the Bosphorus ferry ride and experiencing the city on both sides. Very happy with pick up and drop off at the airport. Highly recommend.
After purchasing, the tour operator contacted me right away via Whatsapp. The pickup at the airport was quick and efficient. I was dropped off and met by my guide at the city center for the walking tour. Omar was excellent, with a wealth of knowledge of history of Istanbul. Overall a great experience and definitely recommend.
