The Exotic Istanbul Tour

Visit the Basilica (Underground) Cistern, Suleymaniye Mosque, walk the Bazaar Quarters the Spice Market, Fener and Balat Neighborhoods

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$54/from
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Private Tour Skip the line 7 Hours

Discover Exotic Istanbul with Chora Church

Discover the streets of exotic Istanbul on our Chora Church tour. Stroll from the old Ottoman city centre past the Imperial mosques. Visit the university district. Dive into the colour and chaos of the bazaar neighbourhood. Feast like an Ottoman. Get lost in the suburbs of Fener and Balat. Discover Chora church, centre of the Eastern Orthodox world.

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WHAT TO EXPECT?

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Tour Itinerary & Highlights

We have designed this tour show you other Top sights of Istanbul as well as to show off-the-beaten path locations and historical areas of Istanbul as listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Underground Cistern
The Chora Church tour starts in Sultanhamet. You’ll go deep underground to the Basilica Cistern before heading up Divan Yolu. a visit to the mystical Basilica Cistern (Underground Cistern). The Basilica Cistern is a massive water reservoir constructed by the Byantines in the 6th century. The structure is a living example of Roman engineering. And yes, it was Basilica Cistern, in the James Bond movie “From Russian With Love”.
Walk Along "Divan Yolu (Imperial Road)
Next you will walk along the “Divan Yolu (Imperial Road)” to Suleymaniye Mosque. We pass through Cemberlitas, Beyazid square and the mosque of the same name, and Istanbul University. Along the way, you will see the Constantine’s column, tomb of Sultan Mahmud II, Beyazit Square (Forum Tauri), Istanbul University from the 15th century.
Suleymaniye Mosque
Our path takes us to the stately Suleymaniye mosque, built between 1550 and 1557 AD. The 10the Sultan; Suleyman (the Magnificent known as Kanuni -“Lawmaker, lawgiver” in Turkish) ordered its construction and it’s an impressive legacy.
Chora Church (Kariye Museum)
The Chora Church (The Church of St. Savoir in Countryside) is located close to the Thedosian Walls, an area which was considered as “countryside” during the Byzantine era. The Chora Church Museum hosts fascinating insight in to Byzantine Mosaic art at its climax.
Discover Fener & Balat Neighborhoods
On the Chora Church tour we wind our way through the narrow streets of Fener and Balat. Our guide will take you to St George’s Cathedral. As the Patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox Church it contains some of the most significant relics the church owns. Local Turkish born Greeks, known as Rum, still worship here.

Private Tour Prices and Additional Info

Dynamic pricing is the reduction of the price per person when the number of people in your party increases. The more people in your group – the less you pay per person.

1 adult $240

2 adults $264 >> $132 per person

3 adults $288 >> $96 per person

4 adults $396 >> $99* per person

5 adults $420 >> $84 per person

6 adults $444 >> $74 per person

7 adults $469 >> $67 per person

8 adults $496 >> $62 per person

9 adults $513 >> $57 per person

10 adults $540 >> $54 per person

* For groups more than 3 people we use private van. For groups with 3 or less participants we use commercial taxis to give better price.

** For larger groups please contact us.

To book this tour please choose your desired day from the calendar below and continue with the booking steps. Our booking system will take you to the secure payment gateway provided by PayU.

There is a set deposit amount of $75 for any group size. Your booking will be confirmed after the deposit payment. The balance is to be paid 15 days before the start of the tour(s).

You may cancel your tour reservation up to 72 hours before the planned start of the tour. No cancellation charge is incurred within the allowed deadline. Please read our cancellation policy: “Booking Terms“.

This tour is organized within the legal scope of the Turkish Law concerning Travel Agencies And The Association Of Travel Agencies (TURSAB) numbered 1618, and Vocational Tour Guides Law numbered 6326.

Book This Experience Now

Please use the calendar below to book this Istanbul experience

The Exotic Istanbul Tour

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What do our guests say about us?

Read our Tripadvisor reviews

  • star rating  If you want a very kind and knowledgeable guide Osman Ozmen was fantastic, an excellent tour guide. He took us through the streets of Istanbul to see the Hagia Sophia,... read more

    TravelWithMAGEK
    9 August 2021

  • star rating  If you want a very kind and knowledgeable guide Osman Ozmen was fantastic, an excellent tour guide. He took us through the streets of Istanbul to see the Hagia Sophia,... read more

    TravelWithMAGEK
    1 August 2021

  • star rating  Had a wonderful time seeing Istanbul as a first time visitor with guide Osman Ozmen. He was knowledgeable, personable, and spoke English well! We were able to customize the itinerary... read more

    662AshleyS662
    6 May 2021

  • star rating  Had a wonderful time seeing Istanbul as a first time visitor with guide Osman Ozmen. He was knowledgeable, personable, and spoke English well! We were able to customize the itinerary... read more

    Ashley S
    1 May 2021

  • star rating  Had a wonderful time seeing Istanbul as a first time visitor with guide Osman Ozmen. He was knowledgeable, personable, and spoke English well! We were able to customize the itinerary... read more

    Ashley S
    1 April 2021
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