Istanbul is a fantastic place to base yourself if you’re looking to explore some of Turkey’s top sights such as Hagia Sophia, the Bosphorus River and the Grand Bazaar.
If you’ve got a few days planned in Istanbul, you might also want to take a day trip to see the surrounding areas; thankfully, we’ve compiled a list of the top 20 best day tours from Istanbul to give you some inspiration!
These tours are based on their incredible itineraries, customer ratings and their affordability.
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Travel back in time and learn more about Istanbul’s fascinating history on this day tour from the city to the Byzantine Relics. You’ll see Relics that were around during the Roman Empire, as well as even before Ottoman times and you’ll also stop off at numerous other sightseeing-worthy spots such as the Grand Bazaar and the Blue Mosque.
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This epic day tour from Istanbul takes you on a journey to explore the ancient city of Edirne, which was founded all the way back in 125AD by the Roman Emperor, Hadrian! This is a great tour to embark on if you’re a huge history buff as you’ll learn all about the Ottoman Empire, discover ancient relics and landmarks such as the Selimiye Mosque, the Beyazit Külliyesi Medical Mosque, plus so much more!
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If you really want to make the most out of your time in Turkey and you don’t want to limit yourself to just seeing Istanbul, then this tour is a great choice for you. From Istanbul, you’ll travel to Pamukkale via plane where you’ll enjoy a visit to the Hierapolis, the Necropolis and the Pamukkale travertines. This tour also allows you to enjoy lunch and a visit to the Cleopatra Swimming Pool; it’s an excellent way to discover more of the country and learn more about its incredible culture!
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Make the most of your time in Istanbul and include a day trip to Ephesus as part of your holiday itinerary. On this small group tour, you’ll have the chance to explore the former heart of Western Anatolia, where you’ll discover sites that many ancient Romans and Christians discovered thousands of years ago. You will also see the Temple of Artemis, as well as numerous other fountains, baths and temples. This tour includes airfare to and from Istanbul so you can rest assured that it’ll be a stress and worry-free excursion!
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Visit the island of Büyükada, AKA the biggest Princes’ Island, and make your way across the Sea of Marmara to the island from Istanbul. Once you arrive, you will enjoy learning more about the history on Büyükada Island, as well as spending time relaxing on its many beautiful beaches.
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Visit the island of Büyükada, AKA the biggest Princes’ Island, and make your way across the Sea of Marmara to the island from Istanbul. Once you arrive, you will enjoy learning more about the history on Büyükada Island, as well as spending time relaxing on its many beautiful beaches.
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This 14-hour tour is an action-packed day to some top sights in the countryside from Istanbul. You’ll get the chance to enjoy a leisurely stroll around the Sapanca Lake, tuck into a scrumptious traditional Turkish picnic and make your way to the top of a famous ski resort for panoramic views of the landscape below. This tour is sure to be a day that you’ll never forget, so make sure you pack your camera and plenty of spare batteries!
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Enjoy an action-packed day away from the bustling city of Istanbul as you traverse to numerous spiritual, religious and historic sites on an epic day trip. Pay your respects at the House of Virgin Mary, explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ephesus ancient ruins and make your way around the Celsus Library and the Grand Theatre.
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Embark on a full day trip to Bursa from Istanbul and cross the Sea of Marmara. On your tour you’ll have the pleasure of tasting locally sourced and homegrown food, purchase something from the many community markets and enjoy a tour around the 14th century Seljuk-style mosque. Your tour also includes an incredible Turkish-style BBQ lunch at the top of Mount Olympus where you’ll enjoy unparalleled views of the alpine landscape below.
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Make the most of your time in Turkey and enjoy this incredible 2-day tour from Istanbul to Cappadocia, known as the “city of balloons”. With everything taken care of for you, you can enjoy visiting Cappadocia’s top sights such as various temples, villages, caves, churches and the famous wind-sculpted rock. This tour also comes with the option to add a sunrise hot air balloon ride as part of your excursion; it’s a great opportunity to get out of the busy life in Istanbul and explore more of the beautiful countryside surroundings.
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Enjoy a full day tour of Old Town as you visit top historic sites from the Ottoman and Byzantine eras. You’ll pay a visit to the famous Hagia Sophia Museum, the Topkapi Palace, plus numerous other museums and ancient ruins throughout the day!
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Embark on a history-fuelled tour from Istanbul to the WW1 battlefields of Gallipoli and learn more about the remarkable feats that occurred during the war. See the ANZAC Commemorative Site, Brighton Beach and the ANZAC Cove. While this tour isn’t necessarily the most happy and fun-filled, it is an incredibly important tour to go on while in Istanbul to learn more about Turkey’s involvement in World War One.
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Tour the most famous and historic battle sites from World War 1 on this day tour from Istanbul to Troy and Gallipoli. Walk in the footsteps of the brave soldiers along the beaches of Dardanelles, and visit numerous trenches, cemeteries and battlefields. You will also get to explore famous sites from the Trojan War such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site archaeological dig where Achaean and Spartan warriors laid siege.
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Enjoy a half-day, guided tour of the Dolmabahce Palace from Istanbul and learn about its importance within history. The small group tour makes it a much more enjoyable and intimate experience so you’ll get the chance to ask your tour guide any questions you might have.
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This epic full day tour takes you around some of the best sights in and around Istanbul. You’ll cross over the Bosphorus Strait and Golden Horn where you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the city and its many temples, bridges and palaces as you cruise along. You will also make your way to the top of Camlica Hill where you’ll visit the beautiful RüstemPasha Mosque.
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Take a tour around Istanbul’s Old City and visit the top sights such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome. Your tour also includes a visit to the famous GrandBazaar and the stunning Topkapi Palace. This tour is an absolute must-do while in Istanbul as it gives you the chance to see as many incredible sights as possible within one day.
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This truly unique tour is a remarkable half-day trip to enjoy while in Istanbul as it gives you the opportunity to experience two continents in just one day! You will visit the Beylerbeyi Palace on the European side of the city and then you’ll wander to the top of Camlica Hill to take in the gorgeous views of the Asian side.
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Cruise across the beautiful Bosphorus River and take a cable car ride up to the very top of Pierre Loti Hill on this fantastic half-day tour from Istanbul. During your tour, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to learn from your tour guide about the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires, as well as stopping off at Chora Church and the walls of Constantinople.
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Take part in a small luxury group tour of Imperial Istanbul and see the top sights in and around the city. Pay a visit to the world-famous Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace and the Chora Church and then make your way to the beloved Turkish Matbah restaurant where you’ll tuck into a scrumptious 4-course traditional meal.
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This jam-packed day tour has an incredible itinerary for you to enjoy from Istanbul. First up, you’ll visit places such as the Eyüp District, the PierreLoti Hill and the Eyüp Sultan Mosque.
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Fully immerse yourself in Istanbul’s enigmatic culture on this tour across the BosphorusRiver, complete with a 4-course Turkish dinner and a traditional belly-dancing show. This tour also includes a visit to the Egyptian Spice Market where you can pick up some local delicacies to take home with you as souvenirs.
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Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour
Taste of Two Continents Food Tour
Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on Luxury Yacht
VIP Istanbul Combo Ticket: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Baslica Cistern
Big Bus Istanbul Hop-On Hop-Off
Bosphorus Strait and Black Sea Half-Day Cruise from Istanbul
Whirling Dervish Ceremony in Istanbul
Istanbul Private Food Tour: the 10 Tastings