Backstreets of Istanbul

New To The Site! Istanbul, Turkey

or call us

Chat now

9 hours (approx.)

Hotel pickup offered

Mobile ticket

Instant confirmation

Overview

The tour starts in Balat, exploring the Golden Horn side of the historical peninsula. Balat was – and still is – a unique neighborhood, where the Muslims, Orthodox Christians, and Jews have been living together as friends and neighbors, since the days of the Ottoman Empire.

You can see clothes, boasting a rainbow of colors, hanged to dry between balconies of opposite houses; and the inhabitants of Balat are in no way less colorful than what they wear.

İstanbul is simultaneously a historical and a modern city that offers the best for every taste. You start your second day of the tour drinking your morning coffee, at a restaurant with the breath-taking view of Bosphorus, in the trendy "high society" neighborhood of "Bebek". You will be sitting in Europe, looking at Asia: a very unique experience.

What's Included

Transportation from/to your address via proper, comfortable vehicle
Professional tour guide experience in various languages

Drinks and all personal expenses
Lunch
Museum of Innocence - 30 TRY/per person

See 3 more

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point

Pickup details

Please be informed kindly that you are required to contact your agency, Travelium, at least 24 hours in advance in order to confirm excursion. If you have book this activity less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled time, please contact us immediately after booking to confirm your excursion.Please bear in mind, you will be asked to present your printed voucher and photo ID when you meet with your guide.

What To Expect

Balat

The tour starts in Balat, exploring the Golden Horn side of the historical peninsula. Balat was – and still is – a unique neighborhood where the Muslims, Orthodox Christians, and Jews have been living together as friends and neighbors since the days of the Ottoman Empire. Its identity is mainly unchanged, with old-style, narrow, colorful houses, each 3 to 4 stories, shops on the first floor, along the narrow streets. There are even some "ghost houses" waiting to be discovered. You can see clothes boasting a rainbow of colors, hung to dry between balconies of opposite houses, and the inhabitants of Balat are in no way less colorful than what they wear.

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Museum of Innocence

If you can find the hidden street, you walk down long stairs called the “French passage,” full of colors and some statues. There, you will find Nobel Laureate Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk’s contemporary museum named after his novel “The Museum of Innocence.” Admission fee: 30 TRY/per person

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Bebek Park

İstanbul is simultaneously a historical and modern city that offers the best for every taste. You start your second day of the tour by drinking your morning coffee, at a restaurant with a breathtaking view of Bosphorus, in the trendy "high society" neighborhood of "Bebek." You will sit in Europe, looking at Asia: a unique experience. Then you walk along the Bosphorus, hop on a taxi, and reach to discover the chic streets of sophisticated Nisantasi, which is constantly buzzing with shoppers hanging around elegant cafés and classy boutiques—another trendy and modern part of Istanbul. We will find many upscale clothes and jewelry, home textile shops, and restaurants there. This place is the heart of contemporary life in İstanbul, where many celebrities congregate.

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Grand Bazaar

Istanbul has always been a major trade center of the world; since the city is the main junction point where sea and land routes intersect. Stepping into the Grand Bazaar feels like a journey in time, which takes you back to the golden age of the Ottoman Empire with all artisans, work, and shop owners hassling to sell the best of their products. Not only inexpensive touristic souvenirs but also upscale well-known family stores of jewelry, leather, antiques, art, replicas, ceramics, towels, home textiles, and more than you can imagine. Grand Bazaar, the oldest and most extensive "shopping mall" in the world, has 22 gates and 4000 shops. It first opened in 1461!

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Show 2 more stops

Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Backstreets of Istanbul?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (+03). Read more Apr 2025