Free, tip what you liked · ★ 9.4/10 (443 reviews) · on Civitatis
Quick answer
Yes. There are 2 free walking tours in Istanbul listed here, bookable for free on Civitatis. The most reviewed is Istanbul Free Tour: it meets at Sultanahmet Square, lasts about 2h30 and is guided in English, rated 9.4/10 from 443 reviews.
Start times vary by date and are confirmed when you book.
Istanbul was the capital of the Byzantine Empire for more than a thousand years and of the Ottoman Empire for almost five hundred, and the historic peninsula shows both. In Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque face each other across a garden, the Topkapı Palace sits behind them and the outline of the Roman Hippodrome is still visible in the square. Up the hill, the Süleymaniye Mosque looks down over the bazaars and the Golden Horn.
The two free tours split the old city in the same way. The Istanbul Free Tour starts in Sultanahmet Square and covers the exteriors of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, the Topkapı area, the Hippodrome and the German Fountain. The Alternative Istanbul Free Tour starts near the Grand Bazaar and is about daily life: the Süleymaniye Mosque, Beyazıt Square, the old book market and the university.
Plan your visit to Istanbul
What to see in Istanbul
In Sultanahmet, set aside a morning for Topkapı Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans, and an hour for the Basilica Cistern, the Byzantine water reservoir under the square. Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are best visited early, before the queues. Türkiye's official tourism portal, Go Türkiye, lists sites and practical information.
Walk from the Grand Bazaar down to the Spice Bazaar by the Galata Bridge, then cross to Karaköy and climb to the Galata Tower. A public ferry from Eminönü or Karaköy to Kadıköy puts you on the Asian side in about twenty minutes.
Getting around and when to go
The T1 tram links Sultanahmet with the Grand Bazaar area and Karaköy; ferries and the metro cover the rest. April to June and September to November are the most comfortable months; summer is hot and crowded, winter cool and wet. See the month-by-month guide for details.
Good to know before you go
Mosques are working places of worship. Dress to cover shoulders and knees, women should bring a headscarf, and expect visits to pause during prayer times, especially at Friday midday prayers.
Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque have changed their visiting rules several times in recent years, including fees and separate entrances for foreign visitors. Check the current arrangements before you go.
Buy an Istanbulkart, the rechargeable transport card, for trams, metro and the public ferries. A Bosphorus crossing by ferry costs a fraction of a boat tour.
The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and the Topkapı Palace on Tuesdays. Plan your free tour around those days.
Yes, two on Civitatis. The Istanbul Free Tour covers Sultanahmet: the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia from outside, the Topkapı area, the Hippodrome and the German Fountain. The Alternative Istanbul Free Tour covers the Süleymaniye Mosque, Beyazıt Square and the book market.
Where does the Istanbul free tour start?
The main English tour meets in Sultanahmet Square, by the circular fountain between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The alternative tour meets in front of the Çorlulu Ali Pasha Madrasa near the Grand Bazaar. The exact point and how to recognise the guide are confirmed in your booking.
Does the free tour go inside Hagia Sophia or the Blue Mosque?
No. The Sultanahmet tour explains both buildings from outside. You can visit on your own afterwards, following the current rules and hours for visitors.
What changes if I take the alternative tour on a Friday?
On Fridays the alternative tour skips the Süleymaniye Mosque because of midday prayers and visits the Nuruosmaniye Mosque instead.
How much should I tip on a free tour in Istanbul?
There is no fixed amount. At the end you give the guide what you think the tour was worth, in cash. Turkish lira prices change quickly, so ask the guide which currency they prefer.
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