4 Days Istanbul City Break
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Tour Overview
Stay three nights in Istanbul with airport transfers. Take a Bosphorus lunch cruise and visit the Asian side. Spend a full day in the Old City, including Topkapi Palace and Harem.
See two sides of Istanbul from one hotel over four days. Your arrival transfer is included, and day 1 has no guided program. Use the remaining time to settle in or explore independently.
Day 2 combines the Asian side with the Bosphorus and Golden Horn. Visit Camlica Hill, Grand Camlica Mosque and Beylerbeyi Palace. The route also includes a cable car ride, Eyup Sultan and lunch on the Bosphorus cruise.
On day 3, take the full Old City tour. Visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, then explore Topkapi Palace and its Harem. Lunch, entrance fees and the hotel return are included. The Grand Bazaar is also on the route, with an alternative shopping stop on Sundays.
Stay at the same hotel for all three nights. On day 4, your airport transfer is arranged around your own departure flight. Flights to and from Istanbul are separate.
Explore more stays and sightseeing combinations in our Istanbul tours.
Two full touring days from one Istanbul hotel
- Cross to the Asian sidePalace visits and lunch on the Bosphorus.
- Include Topkapi and HaremPart of the full Old City guided day.
- Start and finish at the airportBoth transfers follow your own flights.
Day by day
Tour Itinerary
Every day is set out in full below: the times, the transfers and every place you visit.
Day 1Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel Meet your airport driver and begin a three-night stay, with free time after arrival.
Airport welcome in IstanbulYour driver meets you at arrivals for the included hotel transfer.
Transfer to your Istanbul hotelCheck in for three nights at the hotel class you chose.
Free time after arrivalThere are no guided visits today. Rest after the journey or make your own plans.
First hotel night in IstanbulBreakfast is included before tomorrow’s full-day tour.
Day 2Tour the Asian side, Bosphorus and Golden Horn Visit the viewpoints, palace and mosques, with a cable car ride and lunch cruise.
Hotel pickup after breakfast for the Two Continents tourJoin the guided full-day route with sightseeing transport, palace entrance, a cable car ride and lunch on the boat included.
Camlica HillLook across Istanbul from this hill on the Asian side. The viewpoint helps show the city’s layout around the Bosphorus.
Grand Camlica MosqueVisit the mosque complex on Camlica Hill. Its courtyards and large prayer hall show a modern use of traditional mosque design.
Beylerbeyi PalaceExplore the Ottoman palace beside the Bosphorus. Its rooms and gardens were used as a summer residence and to receive guests.
Bosphorus CruiseSee Istanbul’s shores from the strait between Europe and Asia. The boat passes views of waterfront buildings, palaces and bridges.
Lunch during the Bosphorus cruiseLunch is served on the boat and included with the tour. Drinks are paid separately.
Cable Car RideTake the cable car above the Eyup area. The short ride provides another view of the Golden Horn.
Eyup Sultan MosqueVisit the mosque in one of Istanbul’s historic pilgrimage districts. Dress modestly and respect the prayer space.
Abu Ayyub Al AnsariVisit the tomb associated with Abu Ayyub Al Ansari, known locally as Eyup Sultan. The guide explains his place in the district’s history.
City WallsSee sections of the old fortifications along the route. They mark the limits of the city in earlier centuries.
Golden HornView the inlet that separates parts of Istanbul’s European side. Its shores have long been linked with the city’s harbour and working districts.
Return to your Istanbul hotelThe tour ends with hotel drop-off. Spend the evening as you wish.
Second night at the same Istanbul hotelBreakfast is included before the Old City tour.
Day 3Explore the Old City, Topkapi Palace and Harem Take a full guided day through Istanbul’s historic centre, with lunch included. On Fridays, visit Topkapi Palace in the morning and the mosques in the afternoon after Friday prayers.
Hotel pickup after breakfast for the Old City tourVisit the listed monuments and palace with your guide. Lunch, entrance fees and hotel return are included.
Hagia SophiaSee the great domed building at the centre of Istanbul’s history. Your guide explains its Byzantine origins and later Ottoman role.
Blue MosqueVisit the mosque facing Hagia Sophia across Sultanahmet Square. Its tiled interior and six minarets are among its best-known features.
Hippodrome and ObelisksWalk across the former chariot-racing ground. Surviving columns and obelisks recall the public life of Byzantine Constantinople.
Lunch on the full-day Old City tourAn included restaurant lunch is part of the guided route. Drinks are extra.
Shopping OpportunityBrowse local goods during a shopping stop on the route. Any purchases are separate from the tour price.
Topkapi Palace and HaremVisit the palace that housed the Ottoman court. The included Harem visit adds the rooms used by the royal household to the palace route.
Grand BazaarExplore the covered market known for its many shops and lanes. On Sundays, an alternative shopping stop replaces the closed Grand Bazaar.
Return to your hotel after the full-day visitsEnjoy your final evening in Istanbul independently.
Third hotel night in IstanbulYour airport transfer on day 4 follows your departure flight.
Day 4Check out and transfer to the airport for your departure Use any time before your transfer independently; pickup follows your own flight.
Free time before departureEnjoy breakfast and any remaining time in Istanbul. For a very early flight, checkout and the airport transfer take place before breakfast.
Hotel checkout and airport transferYour included transfer is timed around your departure flight. Flights are booked separately.
Package scope
What's Included
No hidden package costs. Three hotel nights, airport transfers and two full guided days with lunches are included; flights are separate.
Included
Covered by the displayed package price
- Meeting at your arrival airport in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel
- Hotel to airport transfer on day 4
- 3 nights at the selected Istanbul hotel class
- Breakfast on days 2 and 3, plus day 4 unless you leave before breakfast
- Full-day Two Continents tour with Beylerbeyi Palace entrance, cable car and Bosphorus lunch cruise
- Full-day Old City tour with Topkapi Palace and Harem entrance
- Licensed guides, listed entrance fees, tour transport and hotel pickup and return on both guided days
- Lunch on days 2 and 3
- Local taxes and service charges
Not included
Budget separately or add during booking
- Flights to and from Istanbul
- Meals on day 1 and lunch on day 4
- Breakfast before a very early airport departure on day 4
- Dinners and drinks with lunch
- Independent activities, transport and personal purchases
Stay options
Hotel Classes
Stay three nights at one Istanbul hotel, with breakfast on days 2 and 3 and on day 4 when your departure time allows.
Smart value
Standard Class
- En-suite rooms with air conditioning
- Breakfast included every morning
- Properties we book week after week
From, per person€406
Prices by room occupancy
- 1 person in a single room€588
- 2 people sharing a room€406
- 3 people sharing a room€385
Per person. Prices vary by departure date. These are this week’s lowest.
Most selected
Middle Class
- Larger rooms and better bathrooms
- More on-site facilities and service
- Consistently higher guest ratings
Upgrade, per person+ €98
Prices by room occupancy
- 1 person in a single room€705
- 2 people sharing a room€504
- 3 people sharing a room€489
Per person. Prices vary by departure date. These are this week’s lowest.
Premium pick
High Class
- The best-rated property on each stop
- The most space and the best views
- Attentive service from arrival to check-out
Upgrade, per person+ €332
Prices by room occupancy
- 1 person in a single room€1,095
- 2 people sharing a room€738
- 3 people sharing a room€619
Per person. Prices vary by departure date. These are this week’s lowest.
Swipe to compare the classes
Route & duration options
Compare Turkey Tour Packages
Keep full sightseeing days between arrival and departure, shorten the stay, or add the Princes’ Islands.
| Comparison | 3 Days Istanbul City Break PackageThree days with an Old City morning before departure | 3 Days Istanbul with Bosphorus, Princes Islands and Old CityThree full sightseeing days including the islands | You are viewing4 Days Istanbul City BreakTwo full city tours with a separate departure day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel nights | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| First day | Airport transfer and time at leisure | Full Old City tour; arrive beforehand | Airport transfer and time at leisure |
| Old City coverage | Half day; no Topkapi Palace | Full day with Topkapi Palace and Harem | Full day with Topkapi Palace and Harem |
| Bosphorus and Asian side | Two Continents tour | Two Continents tour | Two Continents tour |
| Final day | Old City morning, then airport transfer | Princes’ Islands, hotel return and airport transfer | Airport transfer; no scheduled tour |
| From price | €270 | €348 | €406 |
| View Tour & Prices: 3 Days Istanbul City Break Package | View Tour & Prices: 3 Days Istanbul with Bosphorus, Princes Islands and Old City |
Swipe to compare the packages
Want Cappadocia alongside your Istanbul stay?5 Days Istanbul and Cappadocia Tour Package includes Two Continents, the Red and Yellow Tours, domestic flights and a final Istanbul hotel night over five days.
Want to use Istanbul as the start of a longer trip?Build a Turkey holiday starting in Istanbul to connect the city stay with the regions you want to visit.
Practical details
Before You Book
Start days, the palace visit and planning your own flights.
- Which arrival days fit these two guided tours?
Choose a Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday start for the group itinerary. The Two Continents tour is on day 2 and the full Old City tour is on day 3. With a Friday start, the Old City day falls on Sunday and an alternative shopping stop replaces the Grand Bazaar.
- Does the Topkapi visit include the Harem?
Yes. Topkapi Palace and Harem entrance are included in the day 3 Old City tour, along with the other listed entrance fees, lunch and hotel pickup and return.
- What is included in the Bosphorus day?
Day 2 includes the Asian-side visits, Beylerbeyi Palace, a cable car ride, the Eyup area and the Bosphorus cruise. Lunch is served on the boat. Drinks are extra, and the tour returns you to your hotel.
- Are flights included in this Istanbul break?
Flights are separate. The package includes an arrival meeting and hotel transfer, three hotel nights, two guided days and your departure airport transfer.
- Can I spend the final morning sightseeing?
There is no scheduled tour on day 4. You can use any time before your airport transfer independently. Your pickup follows your departure flight; an early flight may require checkout before breakfast.
- Which languages and tour types is this tour available in?
- EnglishGroupPrivate
- SpanishPrivate
- ItalianPrivate
Pick the combination that suits you when you check availability.
- Can I cancel this tour, and how much do I get back?
Yes. How much comes back depends on how early you let us know: we count the days from your written cancellation to your first booked service.
- 61 to 90 days70% back
- 31 to 60 days60% back
- 16 to 30 days30% back
- 0 to 15 days, or no showNo refund
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