Istanbul Attractions

A very educational guide for a full tour (palace + harem). 1.5 hours guided, followed by 1 hour of wandering around on our own; it was perfect.

We visited the Basilica Cistern on September 26, 2026. It was wonderful to have the flexibility to choose our visiting time after 9:00 AM. The waiting queue was extremely long, but we managed to exchange our online reservation for paper entrance tickets through a guide standing nearby. While it was a little tricky to spot the guide at first, it was totally worth it—we got to skip the massive line and head right inside. The Basilica Cistern is truly a must-visit when you are in Istanbul!

The evening before the agreed date, I had to send an email because the tickets hadn't arrived yet. In the end, it was sorted out. We were at the Hagia Sophia at 9:00 AM. There were still very few visitors at that hour. Unfortunately, the ongoing renovation work somewhat obstructed a good view of the building. At the Basilica Cistern, we easily found the man with the little flag to get inside. It was incredibly crowded here. As for the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet), there was no queue. We went in very smoothly. We didn't need an audio guide because we had done the necessary research beforehand.

It was nice that the tour began at the Hippodrome, by the Egyptian obelisk, allowing us to be gradually introduced to the story of what it was like—the relationship between the common people and His Majesty. Topkapi Palace is magnificent; a full tour can take over six hours. The guide, Hal, was interesting and full of stories.

I took the Topkapi tour with Ali, he is really friendly and speaks English well. We visited Hagia Irene, the palace, and the Harem with him. I highly recommend it.

The Bosphorus night cruise was an outstanding experience and without a doubt one of the best activities we did in Istanbul. The views of the illuminated skyline, historic palaces, waterfront mansions, and the Bosphorus bridges were absolutely breathtaking. The staff was attentive and professional, the entertainment was lively and engaging, and the entire evening was well organized from start to finish. The dinner was enjoyable, and the atmosphere on board made the experience truly special. I strongly recommend this cruise to anyone visiting Istanbul—it is a must-do experience that offers unforgettable views, great entertainment, and excellent value for money.

Magnificent, beyond expectations! A must-do in Istanbul. Excellent dinner, wonderful local shows. Incomparable view and setting, a truly wonderful experience!

After the purchase, I received an email with detailed instructions in Spanish about where they were waiting for us at a specific point. They helped us with the QR code to download the entire history of the tower. The 360-degree views of the entire city are beautiful. I had read that it was not necessary to visit, but for me, it was 100% worth it. It was a great farewell to Istanbul.