| Offer | Duration | "From" price (to be checked) | Included (per the listing) | Who it suits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8-hour private day with skip-the-line | 8 h | about $135 per person; group price seen around $180 to $200 (October 2026) | Private guide, skip-the-line, transfers per the listing; site tickets paid on site in our notes | Families and groups who want a free pace | See |
| Private day with lunch | about 8 h | about €120 per person (October 2026) | Private guide, lunch and entrance fees stated as included, hotel pickup; drinks and tips extra | Those who want an all-in price | See |
| Small group: Topkapı, Hagia Sophia and Cistern | about 4 h | about $111 | Guide, skip-the-line tickets, audio headsets; 4.9 from 1,464 reviews | Tight budget, half a day | See |
Prices seen in October 2026, varying by date, group size and currency; the figures in our notes do not always agree from one page to another: check the listing for your date.
Private or small group: what changes
- Pace: in a private tour you choose the order of the sites, the breaks and the time spent at each. In a small group the route is fixed and lasts about 4 hours.
- Price: a private tour is priced per person or per group depending on the listing; it pays off from 3 or 4 travellers. Alone, the small group costs less.
- Programme: the private day adds the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and lunch; the small group focuses on three sites.
- Language: the small-group guides speak English and German in our notes; for a French-speaking guide, write to the organiser before booking.
Entrance fees: what to check
- Hagia Sophia: €25 for foreign visitors (upper gallery), the rate in force since 15 January 2024 according to our page. The Museum Pass is not valid there.
- Topkapı: the combined palace, harem and Hagia Irene ticket is given as 2,750 Turkish lira in October 2026 on our page; sources disagree on the euro equivalent, so to be checked. The palace is closed on Tuesdays: a full-day tour cannot fall on that day.
- Blue Mosque: free entry, closed to visitors during prayers; see the dress code in Istanbul mosques.
- Grand Bazaar: closed on Sundays and on holidays (to be checked); avoid those days for a private day. See also Grand Bazaar or Spice Bazaar.
- Basilica Cistern: fee to be checked on its page.
- On Fridays, Hagia Sophia pauses from 12:00 to 14:00 for the main prayer: ask the guide to order the sites accordingly.
8-hour private day with skip-the-line
The listing sells an 8-hour private tour of the Old City, with skip-the-line access. Prices seen vary by page, from $135 per person to a group price of about $180 to $200 for a small party. On a similar offer, site tickets are paid on site: confirm this for the listing before comparing it with the lunch offer. See the listing.
Private day with lunch
About €120 per person in our notes, for about 8 hours with hotel pickup. The listing states the private guide, lunch and entrance fees as included, but not drinks or tips. A reseller note says Hagia Sophia entry may be excluded from a similar package: read the "included" line for your date. See the listing.
Small group, the simplest half-day
It leaves from Sultanahmet: the Cistern (about 30 min), Hagia Sophia (about 1 h), then Topkapı (about 2 h) with a licensed guide and skip-the-line tickets. About $111 with tickets, 4.9 from 1,464 reviews. Add the Grand Bazaar and the Blue Mosque yourself in the afternoon: see Istanbul in one day. See the listing.
Which offer to choose
- Family or group of 3 to 6, free pace: the 8-hour private day.
- Pay once, lunch included: the private day with lunch.
- Solo or couple, limited budget: the small group.
- Prefer a cheaper neighbourhood guide: the guided tours and free tours.
- To compare Topkapı and Hagia Sophia alone: see Topkapı and Hagia Sophia with a guide.
Preparing your day
Bring comfortable shoes, a scarf for the mosques and water. Avoid Tuesday (Topkapı closed) and Sunday (Grand Bazaar closed). Keep the evening free for a Bosphorus cruise or a dinner show.
