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A historic mosque with multiple domes and minarets, surrounded by a reflective water surface and a few trees. 1
A gazebo with a green dome and white walls, surrounded by trees and a mosque with a tall minaret in the background. 2
A street with colorful buildings, a cat, and a person walking. 3
A red tram on a city street, a street vendor cart, and pedestrians. 4
A historic building with a large clock tower, a river, and two boats. 5
By Veni Vidi Gez

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
Free cancellation available
Price is €4 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 4h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation

Overview

  • Discover Istanbul through 29 immersive audio-story locations, from famous landmarks to hidden corners.

    After booking, you’ll receive a private access link with English audio stories, written content, map links, and suggested routes. No app or scheduled meeting is required—open it on your phone and begin.

    Explore Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, Balat, Galata, the Bosphorus, the Asian side, and more. Discover historical details, local legends, memorable characters, and stories that bring Istanbul’s past to life.

    The 29 locations form a flexible collection, not a route you must complete in one day. Start nearby, follow a suggested journey, choose the places that interest you, or spread the experience across several days.

    Pause whenever you like and keep lifetime access after booking. Explore independently with a local storyteller in your pocket.

    This is a self-guided mobile experience. No physical guide will meet you, and attraction tickets are not included.

Activity location

  • Topkapi Palace
    • Cankurtaran Mahallesi, Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square
    • 34122, Istanbul, Turkiye

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Bab-ı Hümayun
    • Topkapı Sarayı
    • 34122, Cankurtaran, İstanbul, Türkiye

Check availability

Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: Hidden Stories & Secret Places

  • Activity duration is 4 hours4h
    4h
  • English
Language options: English
Price details
€4.30 x 1 Adult€4.30
Total
Price is €4.30
Until Thu, 10 Sept

What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Immersive audio stories and written content
  • Inclusions
    29-stop self-guided audio experience in English
  • Inclusions
    Mobile web guide - no app required
  • Inclusions
    Lifetime access to the complete experience
  • Inclusions
    Interactive map links and suggested route
  • Exclusions
    Optional admission tickets to attractions
  • Exclusions
    Food, drinks, and personel expenses

Know before you book

    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transport options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.
    • This activity is provided by a private individual (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law will not apply to your booking.

Activity itinerary

Topkapi Palace

  • 30m
  • Admission ticket not included
Travellers explore the outer courtyards and surrounding historic areas of Topkapı Palace, learning about the heart of the Ottoman Empire and the secrets that once shaped imperial power.

Hagia Sophia Mosque

  • 20m
  • Admission ticket not included
Travellers stand before the timeless beauty of Hagia Sophia, discovering how this monument bridged empires, faiths, and centuries of human history.

Basilica Cistern

  • 20m
  • Admission ticket not included
Travellers descend beneath the city to explore the mysterious Basilica Cistern, where ancient columns, shifting light, and the legendary Medusa heads reveal another world beneath Istanbul.

Sultanahmet Square

  • 10m
Travellers walk across the ancient Hippodrome, where chariots once raced and empires gathered, uncovering the political and ceremonial heart of Byzantine Constantinople.

Kapali Carsi

  • 20m
Travellers wander through the legendary Grand Bazaar, exploring hidden courtyards, ancient trade routes, and the living traditions of one of the world’s oldest marketplaces.

Suleymaniye Mosque

  • 10m
Travellers stand before the majestic Süleymaniye Mosque, discovering the vision of Mimar Sinan and the spiritual heart of Ottoman Istanbul.

Galata Tower

  • 10m
  • Admission ticket not included
Travellers reach the iconic Galata Tower, where panoramic views and medieval stone reveal Istanbul’s layered past and endless horizon.

Balat

  • 10m
Travellers wander through the historic area of Balat, discovering colourful houses, forgotten churches, synagogues, and the everyday life woven into Istanbul’s past.

Fener & Balat

  • 10m
Travellers explore the historic Fener district, standing before the famous red Greek Orthodox School and discovering the deep roots of Istanbul’s multicultural heritage.

Chora Museum

  • 10m
  • Admission ticket not included
Travellers step inside Chora Church, where breathtaking mosaics and frescoes reveal sacred stories, hidden symbols, and the spiritual imagination of Byzantium.

Pierre Loti Tepesi

  • 10m
Travellers pause at Pierre Loti Hill, taking in sweeping views of the Golden Horn while reflecting on love, longing, and the quiet poetry of Istanbul.

KIz Kulesi

  • 10m
Travellers observe the legendary Maiden’s Tower from the shore, uncovering the myths of love, fate, and empires that have surrounded this solitary lighthouse for centuries.

Beylerbeyi Palace

  • 30m
  • Admission ticket not included
Travellers explore the elegant seaside palace of the Ottoman sultans, discovering stories of diplomacy, exile, and the private world of empire along the Bosphorus.

Rumeli Fortress

  • 10m
  • Admission ticket not included
Travellers walk along the mighty walls of Rumeli Fortress, learning how this strategic stronghold changed the fate of Constantinople and the course of history.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Topkapi Palace
    • Cankurtaran Mahallesi, Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square
    • 34122, Istanbul, Turkiye

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Bab-ı Hümayun
    • Topkapı Sarayı
    • 34122, Cankurtaran, İstanbul, Türkiye

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