Istanbul is a large and multifaceted city, which is difficult to figure out on your own. If you want to make friends with the city and understand it better, take a guided tour. I chose 10 best, in my opinion, excursions in Russian, which will help you see Istanbul from different angles and learn its history, culture and traditions.
Discount on excursions
When traveling, we buy excursions on the Sputnik and Tripster websites - there is a huge selection and real reviews from tourists, so it's easy to choose a good guide and an interesting program. And on the Tripster, you will also get a 500 ₽ discount on your first excursion by registering using this link.
See classic places
This group tour in Istanbul in Russian is very popular with tourists, because it allows you to see the most iconic sights at once and get an overall impression. If you want a closer acquaintance with the city, it is worth taking another excursion. In general, it is good for those who are in Istanbul for the first time and for a short time.
The tour lasts 6 hours. Please note that you will mainly be walking, this is not a Bus tour format! The travel route is laid along the European and Asian parts of Istanbul. You will see Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace, stroll through the squares, streets and feel all the charm of the eastern city. An excellent bonus, which is included in the price, is a boat trip, during which you will see Rumeli Hisary's fortress, Dolmabahce Palace, the Maiden Tower and the bridge from the ship.
Price... The trip costs € 70 per person. Specify price >>
Reviews of tourists. Many people are satisfied with the sightseeing bus-walking-sea excursion in Istanbul, but it has its drawbacks. Some tourists write that sometimes the headphones sat down, and it took time to fix them.
Nikolay: "The impression remained in my memory one of the brightest and most excellent. Everything was organized at the highest level, lunch and the ship separately should be noted excellently, I did not even imagine that for 72 euros you can get such a wonderful experience! I express my gratitude to the organizers!"
Learn the secrets of Istanbul
This excursion in Russian is very popular with tourists, because the guide gives a lively and interesting introduction to the milestones in the history of Istanbul - and even more. On the excursion, you will see not only top places such as Hagia Sophia, Basilica cisterns and the Blue Mosque, but also look into the hookah garden, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar and see colorful carpets in the museum.
The walking tour is designed for 4 hours, so you won't go inside Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, just look outside. Its advantage is that it is held in a mini-group of up to 10 people and is very inexpensive. Suitable for those who are for the first time in Istanbul and want to get a comprehensive view of the city and its history.
Price... In 2021, a tour of Istanbul costs only € 18-20 per person. Specify price >>
Reviews of tourists. Surprisingly, this excursion has almost no negative reviews - everyone is happy with the guides, the content of the stories and the organization.
Marina: "The time spent in Maya's company flew by imperceptibly and very pleasant! The guide does not overload with unnecessary information," reads "the emotional mood of the group in time, feels when it is time to drink tea. But tea drinking is a continuation of the excursion. And a joint lunch is also a very valuable opportunity to plunge into the ordinary life of an average Turk. Very lively, literate speech! Maya's excursion will be remembered for a long time, like herself and her pretty Turkish husband !! Thank you !! "
Follow unknown routes
If you have been from Istanbul more than once or twice and have looked at everything that is usually included in guidebooks, I advise you to get to know its non-tourist face. In my opinion, this is the most interesting thing in getting to know the city! When we travel, we usually explore such places ourselves, but with a guide it turns out to be more interesting.
On this soulful tour of Istanbul, guide Maria will take you along routes unknown to most tourists and show you art galleries, bazaars, artisan workshops, antique shops, hammams and homemade bakeries. Along the way, you can purchase inexpensive antiques, antiques, ceramics or paintings.
The tour is a walking tour and is 3.5 hours long, so please wear comfortable shoes.
Price for a tour - € 88 for 1-2 people. Specify price >>
Svetlana: "The excursion helped to understand this great city, see, feel its rhythm and real everyday life. We walked untouched paths by tourists in different areas that have their own face and way of life."
See the inside of Istanbul
Most of all, in ancient cities, I do not like the licked tourist quarters, but the old, dilapidated, authentic areas. It is curious that over time they become bohemian - artists, writers and artisans move there. This original excursion in Russian will just introduce you to such picturesque outskirts of Istanbul. You will walk through the old districts of Balat and Fener, where the ruins of Byzantine buildings and ancient temples have been preserved. See street vendors, fundamentalist Muslims, cozy cafes, hand-made and vintage shops. The walk lasts 3 hours.
Price... The tour costs € 119 for 1-3 participants. Specify price >>
Reviews of tourists. This excursion has the highest rating and all the tourists are delighted. Take it, you won’t go wrong!
Sergey: "An excellent excursion! We ourselves would either not have reached these places, or, having reached, we would not have been able to see even half of everything interesting there. At the same time, Galina not only tells a memorized speech about a particular place, but knows a lot about Turkey and shares these knowledge ".
Swim on a motor ship
Walking on a motor ship on a hot day is damn pleasant - the breeze is refreshing, and you can drink hot tea on the deck and admire the views. It's a sin not to swim! Take a guided tour of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus to see the Beylerbeyi Palace, Suleiman Mosque, Rumeli Hisar Fortress and Maiden Tower from the water and listen to curious stories. The duration of the walk is 3 hours.
Price... The tour costs € 25 per person. Specify price >>
Natalia: "Excursion for 10 out of 10. Comfortable, informative, very hospitable and professional. Information is given easily and interestingly, on board will take care of your comfort, tea, water, fruit. At ease and at the same time everything is on business. One of the best excursions on which visited ".
Sail on a yacht
Take a romantic Bosphorus yacht cruise and see the city from the water. On a luxury yacht, you can organize a party or dinner, or you can simply ride and admire the panoramas of the European and Asian parts of Istanbul.
Price... A small yacht excursion for up to 5 people costs € 170. Specify price >>
Yuri: "Everything is perfectly organized. The online connection is stable. The yacht is clean, beautiful, comfortable."
Taste Istanbul Street Food
I believe that only after having tried a lot of national dishes, it is safe to say that you have joined the local culture. Street food in Istanbul is so varied and delicious that it is impossible not to taste it! During the tour, which is designed for 3.5 hours, you will discover the gastronomic masterpieces of Turkey. Savor a wet burger, fish kebab, stuffed mussels, the most delicious doner shawarma and other Istanbul delicacies! Find out where to eat deliciously and inexpensively in Istanbul.
Price... The tour costs € 125 for 1-4 people. Specify price >>
Natalia: "What you need to come to this excursion hungry is definitely! A lot of interesting things about the ordinary life of Istanbulites, Christina showed the places where the locals eat. very tasty establishments ".
Explore the Princes' Islands
It seems to me that the Princes' Islands is a good idea to diversify your vacation in Istanbul and at the same time take a cheap ferry ride. We swam there for one day to admire the villas, walk among the pine trees, breathe in the clean sea air and see a spectacular abandoned orphanage. We advise you too! Learn about the best beaches in Istanbul.
You can safely go to the islands on your own - you just need to buy ferry tickets at the ticket office or on the Sputnik8 website.
Price... The tour costs € 125 for 1-3 people. Specify price >>
Reviews of tourists. There are many excursions to the Princes' Islands, but tourists choose this one - from the guide who lives there.
Tamara: "Thanks to Lydia. Very interesting and knowledgeable guide. She is sociable, in love with these places herself and conveyed this love to us. We did not regret for a minute that we went, despite the hot weather."
Relax in the thermal waters
If you are tired of walking around the city, especially in the heat, I advise you to go to the Yalova resort - there you will definitely relax as you should! The thermal resort is located in a picturesque mountain gorge on the opposite shore of the Sea of Marmara. In ancient times, the Ottoman sultans appreciated the merits of the Yalova hot springs and founded baths here.
A one-way ferry ride takes 2 hours. The tour takes a full day from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Take a dip in the outdoor pools, soak up the hammam and admire rare plants at the local arboretum.
Price... In 2021, an excursion from Istanbul to Yalova costs € 40. The price includes lunch, use of the pools, saunas, transfer and the services of a Russian-speaking guide. Specify price >>
Reviews of tourists. Basically, everyone is happy, because it greatly diversifies the rest. But there are also disadvantages - a rather long journey steals hours that tourists would like to spend in the thermal baths.
: "Excellent went to the baths: steamed in a hammam heated by a hydrogen sulfide source, swam in the pool, then there was a walk and a great lunch! The only negative - a very long journey and there was not enough time in the baths, at least another 1-1.5 hours from above Otherwise, everything is fine. "
Travel to romantic Cappadocia
It is not so easy to get to Cappadocia from Istanbul on your own, so many tourists prefer to see this wonderful place as part of an excursion. I understand them perfectly - during a short trip I don’t want to bother, it’s much easier to buy an all-inclusive tour. This excursion is just like this: you will leave for 2 days and you do not need to plan anything, because tickets, hotel, transfer, excursions, 2 lunches and 1 breakfast are already included in the price.
Price. € 345 per person. Specify price >>
Maria: "I highly recommend this excursion to everyone who wants to see Goreme and does not have time. I would also like to appreciate Tatiana's work, 100% professionalism."
Istanbul is a crowded city with heavy traffic. Keep in mind that the bus can get stuck in traffic while traveling, so take a supply of drinking water and a light snack on the road.
Most excursions in Russian in Istanbul are conducted not daily, but 2-3 times a week. To choose a convenient day, check the schedule on the organizer's website or find out the schedule at the travel agency.
Group excursions with a standard program are cheaper. If you want to get an extraordinary experience of Istanbul and walk around non-touristy areas with an experienced guide, take a guided tour.
Sometimes the groups are united, and the excursion is conducted not for 12-15 declared participants, but for 30 tourists. In high season, the group size can be up to 45 people. In large crowds, not everything is heard well, so try to stay close to the guide or choose those excursions that use headphones.
Don't waste your money on excursions to Miniaturk Park, Istanbul Aquarium, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Vialand Theme Park and TurquaZoo. Public transport is well developed in Istanbul - you can easily get to all entertainment centers yourself.
Many of Istanbul's streets are paved with cobblestones, and ups and downs are possible during walking. Come on a tour wearing worn-out athletic shoes and comfortable clothing.
