istanbul free tour bus

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Free tours in Istanbul

• Tours in Istanbul

Istanbul – continents converge in grandeur, culture & history

The Turkish city of Istanbul is a buzzing and exciting modern metropolis which marries contemporary attitude with the strikingly beautiful legacies of fascinating history and the cultures of its ancient empires.

Once the centre of the Byzantian and Ottoman Empires, locals here breath ancient history in their daily lives and the best way to get to grips with life lived here, the remarkable history & heritage and really get under the skin of Istanbul is with a brilliant free walking tour recommended by FreeTour.com. Join a lovely authentic local guide to discover the many treasures here, such as the Roman Hippodrome, Sulemaniye Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, Galata Bridge & tower, Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, old Ottoman-era houses of Soguk Cesme & so much more while getting great local hints, tips & recommendations on everything Istanbul - from haggling in bazaars, local Turkish baths and tea gardens to shopping, dining, and where to party in vibrant Taksim Square. A free tour in Istanbul will be one of the most insightful experiences you have in such an intriguing & lively city.

Istanbul has something different – besides the magnificent mosques, mosaics & frescoes there’s a special essence here made up of warmth and charming personality, colour and ancient mysticism with an ever-present joyful soul and spirit. It’s a marvellous city and one that makes for a truly valuable visit.

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Tour schedules & details

• T01 08:00-11:30 Sightseeing Tour
• T02 08:30-15:00 Half day tour
• T03 08:30-18:00 Full day tour
• T04 12:00-18:00 Turkish History Tv Series Tour
• T05 16:00-21:30 Evening tour
• T06 18:30-23:00 Bosphorus tour (operating between 01 May-31 October)
• T07 18:30-23:00 Shopping tour (operating between 1 November-30 April)

Departure from İstanbul Airport

Dolmabahçe Palace

Turkish Breakfast

Taksim Square

Aqueduct of Valens

YeniKapı Harbour

Eminonu District

Photo break on the Galata Bridge to capture views of the Historical Peninsula

Golden Horn

Balat with ancient houses

Fener Greek Orthodox College

Bulgarian St. Stephen Church

Arrival at İstanbul Airport

Blue Mosque

Hippodrome: German Fountain

Egyptian Obelisk

Serpentine Column

Walled Obelisk

Ayasofya Mosque (Outside Visit)

Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam

Pierre Loti Hill& Coffe house

Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Byzantine City walls

Ayvansaray Sahaba Tombs

Church of St Mary (Panagia-Blachemae)

Bulgarian St Stephen Church (Outside Visit)

Ahrida Synagogue

Fener Greek Orthodox College (Outside Visit)

Patriarchate of İstanbul

Ortaköy Square

The Statue of Liberty

Consulate General of France

Aya Triada church

Saint Antonine Church

Galata Mevlevihane

Galata Tower ( Outside Visit)

Golden Horn and Bosphorus Cruise

Dolmabahçe Palace ( Outside visit )

Topkapı Palace

Grand Bazaar

Spice Bazaar

Caferaga Medrese

Visiting Historical castle and palace sets

Forging activity

Archery activities

Traditional glass art workshop

Show Time (Journey of Turkish People in the History)

Column of Constantine

Nuruosmaniye Mosque

Tomb of Mahmud the 2nd

Dinner in the courtyard of the Dolmabahçe Palace

Bosphorus Cruise

Dinner in the courtyard of Dolmabahçe Palace

Shopping at Galataport

As TourIstanbul, we reserve the right to change itineraries listed above in case of unexpected weather conditions, heavy traffic, major events in the city, etc.

About Touristanbul

If you have a connecting international flight in İstanbul, and a layover between six and 24 hours, you can take advantage of our complimentary Touristanbul service to discover İstanbul.

You can select one of the eight tours offered by Touristanbul according to the time frame best suited to your flight arrival and departure schedule. During the tours, you can visit İstanbul’s most notable historical sites and enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine. In the city that never sleeps, Touristanbul offers an unforgettable experience.

After landing at İstanbul Airport, you will be picked up by a vehicle and driven back to the airport at the end of the tour.

Although the tour times are carefully arranged and planned, if a guest is unable to make their flight in cases that are our responsibility, we will ensure that the passenger reaches their destination smoothly via the next flight.

How to book Touristanbul

If you are on an international flight that connects through İstanbul with a layover between six and 24 hours, you can enjoy the Touristanbul. After your Turkish Airlines connecting international flight lands in İstanbul, you can sign up for Touristanbul at the Hotel Desk in the International Arrivals Terminal of İstanbul Airport or from our Touristanbul Desk Office in the Transfer desk area.

Passengers can take advantage of free tour using their ticket number only ıf issued by Turkish Airlines ticket number starting 235. Touristanbul is available for Turkish Airlines’ flights including codeshare flights.

Before visiting Türkiye, you can obtain an e-visa at www.evisa.gov.tr/ website. Please check your country’s requirements to see if it is necessary to obtain a visa to enter Türkiye.

If you are eligible for an e-visa you may obtain it from the Turkish Airlines Sales / Ticket Desks before or on the day of your departure.

Where can i find the Touristanbul desk?

Discover i̇stanbul.

Enjoy your meal

See you soon.

Flying Turkish Airlines and Have a Long Layover in Istanbul? Take a Free City Tour

Last year, I booked a longer layover in Istanbul en route to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from Madrid to experience a free city tour, as I had never been to Turkey and thought it would provide a great introduction. Of course, when I was booking all this, I wasn't expecting an attempted military coup , but I ended up going through with my travel plans regardless. In the end, I was really happy I went, and the tour was a fun and insightful experience.

Turkish Airlines and touristanbul make it easy for transit passengers to take advantage of the free city tour. The official details are as follows:

• The tours are for passengers flying Turkish Airlines internationally with layovers of at least six hours.
• To take the tour, you must present your boarding pass at the touristanbul desk in the international arrivals hall before it starts.
• No reservations are needed, but you can email touristanbul or visit its website if you have questions ahead of time.
• Some tours include free meals, like breakfast and lunch, depending on the length of the tour.
• Itineraries vary depending on the length of your layover, so check to see which one works for you.

Since my layover was about 14 to 15 hours long, it gave me just enough time to do the 9:00am to 3:00pm tour. I'd originally hoped to do the one that lasted until 6:00pm, but was advised not to, as the lines at security and passport control were quite long and could have made me miss my connecting flight to Kuala Lumpur. I landed at 5:00am, having taken a red-eye from Madrid, and promptly headed through passport control, which was a breeze since I'd completed my Turkish e-Visa online a few days before.

I headed to the touristanbul hotel desk at 6:00am and the agent took my boarding pass, registered me and told me to meet at the Starbucks next door at 9:00am.

After putting away my carry-on bag in left luggage ($7 per day), and indulging myself with a nap and a coffee, I headed over to Starbucks at about 8:45am. By 9:00am, we were on the bus. The guide handed back our boarding passes along with a free gift, a circular piece of fabric that could double as a scarf, headband or hat.

We also received a card showing instructions for the many ways it could be worn, which was a nice touch.

The tour was clearly popular, with 42 people from all over the world on our new and comfortable bus.

All tours are conducted in English, by the way, and our guide explained what was included:

• Complimentary Turkish-inspired breakfast
• A visit to the Blue Mosque
• A stroll through the city center to see monuments such as the Hagia Sofia, the Hippodrome, the Serpentine Column and Obelisk of Theodosius
• A visit to the Topkapi Palace
• Free lunch, a fixed menu of traditional Ottoman cuisine
• Transport back to the airport
• Those staying on for the tour until 6:00pm could also visit the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar.

The bus left promptly at 9:02am, driving along the coastal road that connects the airport to the city center, and by 10:00am we were at our seaside breakfast spot. The tables and plates had already been set up to include cheese, meats, olives, bread, jam, honey and a boiled egg. Tea was available but not coffee, so if you need a java to get you through the day, have one before setting off on the tour.

We only had about 20 minutes or so to enjoy breakfast, however, as the tour moved fast. From the breakfast spot, we walked a short way through the city streets toward our first tourist attraction, the Blue Mosque.

If you aren't properly dressed, the mosque will provide headscarves and items to cover legs and shoulders. I had a long dress, but you need to be nearly totally covered — my dress had slits along the calves, so I had to borrow a skirt to cover up fully.

You must then take off your shoes and place them in a plastic bag to carry around with you. As you might imagine, it took a bit of time for 42 tourists to go through the whole process, so we had only 15 minutes to walk around before moving on to the next location.

Covered in blue tiles with high, arched ceilings, the inside of the mosque was stunning. The people inside ranged from tourists taking photos to those who were praying. The outside of the mosque is just as lovely, with its signature minarets and stone courtyards.

With a brief stop to buy some corn on the cob, I then was able to take in what is apparently one of the oldest monuments in Istanbul, the Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius and another important site, the Serpentine Column.

From there, we took a brisk walk to photograph the outside of the Hagia Sofia, which started off as a Greek Orthodox church, was turned into a Catholic church by the Crusaders, became an Ottoman mosque and is now a secular museum. In all, this was a beautiful representation of Turkish history.

I loved the overall vibe of Istanbul. I felt very comfortable and safe among the locals and the city center was picturesque and special.

Admission to Topkapi Palace is normally about $15 per person, but was included as part of the city tour. The palace itself was more like a small village, with floral gardens and several buildings and rooms each dedicated to specific artifacts like porcelain or ancient kitchenware.

We had about 50 minutes of free time to walk around, which wasn't nearly enough, but it still was amazing to see the beautiful buildings and charming gardens.

I stayed at the back of the group so I'd have enough time to enjoy the panoramic views of Istanbul and the famous Bosphorus Bridge, which connects Europe with Asia.

From there, I explored the Sultan's old rooms, which were beautifully preserved, the weapons room, with plenty of old swords and armor, and the Islamic Holy Relics room, which showcases important artifacts like what's reputed to be the staff Moses used to part the Red Sea. This room has been the site of people reciting the Quran since the 17 th century.

When the 50 minutes were up, we regrouped and headed down the palace stairs to eat lunch at a beautiful spot overlooking the water.

A typical Turkish lunch was served as a preset menu, including salad, juice, water, meat pastries, chicken and lamb shawarma, rice, vegetables and a sweet custard. There was also a vegetarian option available. The food wasn't incredible, but was still pretty good, generously spiced with the fact that it was totally free and came with awesome sea views.

After eating, it was time to head back to the bus and return to the airport. Those on the 6:00pm tour continued. We even managed to get to the airport on time despite the rush-hour traffic.

Though I am not typically a fan of big group tours, I love that Turkish Airlines offers this. It's a really nice way to take advantage of a long layover and get a brief peek at such a beautiful city. I loved how they arranged everything for you and included meals, too.

The tours are provided to pique interest in Istanbul and motivate visitors to return to the city later, and it totally worked. I can't wait to go back someday and see more of this incredible city.

Of course, if you are worried about the state of the country in today's troubling times, use your best judgment and check in with the US State Department for travel warnings and recommendations .

Keep in mind that if you have a longer layover and there are no earlier flights available, you can choose instead to get the free hotel offered by Turkish Airlines . But if you do that, you can't do the tour as well, so you'll have to pick which one you want most.

Have you ever taken the free Turkish Airlines city tour of Istanbul? Tell us about your experience, below.

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Istanbul Free Tour

• 9.20 / 10 10,995 reviews | 101,789 travellers The guide explains very well, he speaks Spanish and the information he gave us is complete and useful. The tour was enjoyable and well organized. I recommend this visit to have a general vision and information of the points of interest in the city. 10 Maria Isabel
• X (Twitter)

Admire the exterior architecture of opulent mosques and discover the amazing history of Istanbul with this guided tour.

Description

We'll begin this free guided tour of Istanbul at 10:30 am at the centrally located Sultanahmet Square . Just a short walk from the square, we'll find the famous  Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia Basilica, two of Istanbul's most iconic temples.

On a stop in front of their emblematic facades, you'll be able to appreciate all the intricate (and surprising) architectural details that usually go unnoticed.

Continuing on, we'll head in the direction of Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern or "submerged palace," the latter of which houses a great secret that has even been mentioned in one of Dan Brown's novels.

Next, we'll explore the square where the Roman Hippodrome of Constantinople used to be located. In the past, this great public space was where the popular chariot races were held, "the Formula 1 of Antiquity". You'll learn all about these competitions and why they achieved success similar to that of today's formula racing.

In the final stretch of this free guided tour, we'll visit the German Fountain , the Obelisk of Thutmose III and the Hagia Irene . Then, around 1 pm, this free tour of Istanbul will end, in front of the Little Hagia Sophia . 

Important information

This free tour doesn't admit groups of more than 6 people, even if they book the activity separately. If you are a larger group, you can book our book a private tour of Istanbul. ​

More Information

2 hours 30 minutes.

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English.

English speaking guide

Not included

When to book.

You can book up until 12 hours before the activity as long as there are still places. Book now to guarantee your spot.

Type of voucher

Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible. This must be indicated in the reservation. An accompanying person is required.

Sustainability

All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code .

Our providers commit to:

• Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
• Uphold fair employment standards.
• Foster the growth of local communities.
• Preserve the integrity of local culture.
• Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
• Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
• Operate with honesty and transparency.
• Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.

This particular activity contributes as follows:

• No printing of documentation required.
• Promotes local employment.
• Has a gender equality policy.
• Has a carbon footprint offset policy.

Mustafa Afsin Tuluce Viaurbis Show more

Corporate name: SALTICA LTD

Frequently asked questions

Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?

A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities .

Q - How to book?

A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.

If you have any other questions please contact us.

Free cancellation

Meeting point, where does the activity end.

Sultan Ahmet Park

Little Hagia Sophia

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