Best of Istanbul in 7 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Guide was great. Getting into Hagia Sophia without waiting in line was brilliant. The Turkish Bath was totally worth it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Turkish bath and the tour of the rug making facility - so fun I almost considered buying a rug!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Despite being 5 months post surgery on my knee and injured ankle, I was able to walk all over Istanbul, albeit slower. The guide kept us on route, on time and informed about everything we were seeing. A whole semester of information in 7 days, absolutely awesome. I was most impressed with how organized the whole operation flowed. Communication was continuous, Mean acted not only as guide, but problem solver, consoling mentor and over all our new friend.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The historical impact of the Turkish culture was what affected me the most. I had a spaghetti bowl of misinformation and confusing messages from childhood, but our guide had an educated understanding of the time, place and importance of each site we visited. She explained things so well that we did not feel lectured to, but more that we were given an account of the real events from ancient times. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Istanbul is a beautiful, historic and awe-inspiring city, with fantastic architecture, world class sites, and welcoming people. We enjoyed meeting our fellow tour members and our guide, Mine Karahan, was quite good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! But for me, the Call to Prayer, particularly one evening when we were sitting on an outdoor terrace between the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, where the Muezzin called back and forth in turn, was so evocative and meaningful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

the tour was terrific all around, guide, location, group members

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the last night dinner: everyone and me ! were enjoying the last moments in istanbul "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Istanbul was an historical, cultural, and educational experience that challenged my perceptions of myself and the United States place in the world.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many "WOW" experiences to recount. The Hagia Sophia/Blue Mosque, hearing call to prayer,the food, the grand market/spice market, Bosphorus cruise. What a city!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very enjoyable. Great guide, great combination of things to see and do, friendly group

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hagia Sophia interior"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first Rick Steve's tour and it exceeded expectations. Great guide, wonderful group and plenty (maybe too much) free time in the schedule to explore other experiences in our area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Somewhat torn. The Turkish bath and the Cistern were both over the top. While neither was part of the itinerary, our guide was great in setting up access to both during our free time. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Istanbul was a busy city but Vulkan did a good job of arranging our itinerary to avoid crowds as much as possible.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Turkish bath!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour hit the spots I most wanted to see, and the guide was friendly, helpful, and informative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I doubt I will soon forget the Basilica Cistern, the changing views of the Sultanahmet mosque at various times, and the archaeological museum's collection of sarcophagi from the Sidon necropolis. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, great city, great group, great guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The City of Istanbul is very surprising with unexpected experiences at every turn. Listening to the amazing "dual" call to prayer between the Blue Mosque and the Haggia Sophia ... Also the sea of humanity in and around the Galata bridge area - "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour leader, Volkan, was great - very knowledgeable and personable. The group was a very kind and friendly group, too. This made the tour of the very interesting city a wonderful experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting on the rooftop of the hotel celebrating the birthday of one of tour group. We were sharing food, drinks and favorite moments of the day. While we were at the party, another person from the group stated that they had been on previous Rick Steve tours and all groups became close with similar moments."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

We enjoyed the tour but felt seven days was too long in one place - Istanbul.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting on a roof top terrace listening to the evening call to prayer."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The destination itself is wonderful. The guide was good about getting us into popular sites before they became too crowded. We happened to be there at a significant time- the election- and I appreciated the open discussion of the issues and candidates.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Hagia Sophia any time. Blue Mosque at night the first time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The history and mystery of Istanbul has long fascinated me, and going w/Rick Steves Tour made visiting the big sites with guided commentary invaluable. Hotel location was 3 blocks from both Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque. Blue Mosque opened 2 weeks prior, and is easy to visit. Very much appreciated our guides, help in scheduling "extras": Basilica Cisterns, Hurrem Sultan Hamam, and she also helped me with personal special jewelry project.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hurrem Sultan Hamam turkish bath a wonderful decadent treat! Imperial Clothing exhibit at Topkapi Palace, and of course Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace. My favorite mosques were Suleyman the Magnificent and Rustem Pasa for their Iznik tilework."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was everything advertised. Our guide was helpful in so many ways. She went above and beyond our expectations when she helped arrange our anniversary dinner at a local restaurant. It was a very special evening for my wife and me. I had wanted to return to the middle east after living in Iran many years ago. This trip helped revive my many happy memories from my childhood. We'll hold our memories for this trip for the rest of our lives.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing between Higia Sophia and the Blue Mosque as the call to prayer was made. Something you simply cannot feel until you are there and will remember forever."

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

This was unlike any Rick Steves tour I have taken. It was unorganized and confusing. The itinerary was not followed, even loosely. There did not appear to be many resources allotted to it. We were walked endlessly through sketchy neighborhoods while our guide was using her phone for direction. The death-defying trip to Balat to see yet another mosque and church where we were walked as a group along a super busy highway to visit a seedy town and cafe was the pits. Again, not knowing the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I wish I could say there was one."

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Elvan is a great person and quite the academic and historian. She helped me get to a police station after I was pick pocketed on the tram ( lost my cards and cash...my whole wallet). However, Elvan was a lecturer and had us stand and listen rather than set us loose to SEE on our own for a set time. Many of us could not bear to stand for so long or walk so far so fast that some sat out activities. Elvan led us so fast on the Asian side, for example, that there was no time to buy a fruit !

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting back to my room to rest. Underground caverns were like something I had never seen before and so beautiful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had many questions regarding Istanbul and the Rick Steves experience. Both far exceeded our expectations. Our Tour Guide Yaren was truly amazing. What an ambassador for Both Turkey and Rick Steves tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Yaren and her energy and knowledge. Every day was an adventure and she was so caring. We can't wait to come back and do the best of Turkey. Hopefully we will reunite with Yaren. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was very comprehensive.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Learned so much from our knowledgeable and friendly guide. Lots of fun activities, great food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boat ride across the Bosphorus Strait to Asia, Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have wanted to go to Turkiye for over 40 yrs. I knew RS tours would be a good way to make this dream real. Yaren was a great guide. Our hotel and staff were great. The other tour members were easy to get to know. Over all weather was good, food was great, we were there at end of Ramadan, a new experience. I would have loved to see Chora Church and more of Aya Soyafa, but you can't have it all

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being inside Aya Sofoya"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed meeting our fellow travelers and our wonderful guide. Everyone was welcoming and pleasant. Our hotel was well located and overall excellent. However they did not respond to several emails regarding airport transfer. We made do and it turned out fine in the end. The tour organization was excellent. The sites we saw were all worth it. Breaks and meals were well planned.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pick but the rustam pasha mosque was special. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour with loads of cultural and historical touch points.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was amazed by the significance of Istanbul’s role in world history. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I loved our guide Mert, did not like our hotel in Istanbul, liked all meals except for our first dinner and wished Rick Steves had better headsets. It was very hard to hear and I felt like if I was not near our guide I missed a lot of what he was saying.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque for the first time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Saw many wonderful sights, learned a lot of the history of Istanbul, and ate great food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Entering the Hagia Sofia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, great group. Mert, our guide, was very knowledgeable and personable. Thoroughly enjoyed this trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taking in the sights of how old Istanbul blends with modern Istanbul. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed seeing the parts of Istanbul I missed on earlier trips. Would have enjoyed a little slower pace.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Grand Bazaar’s spice market. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I didn’t know what to expect from Istanbul and I loved it all. Very comprehensive view of the city and its history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When Mert said Turkeyie wants to show the world Islam and democracy can coexist together."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my 4th Rick Steves tour. Each tour has been excellent. This time I brought 3 friends who enjoyed the tour so much, they want to sign up for another. Our guide (Mert) is now one of my top 3 (aside from Federico and Barbara)! I got to visit all the places I wanted to see in Istanbul. I like the amount of tours vs. free time. The hotel was nice and in a great location to walk to other attractions we wanted to see. The number of people on the tour was also just right. We had a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a number of "wow" moments. I loved hearing the call to prayer. The two big mosques calling back and forth just gave me chills. A beautiful tradition. I was fascinated with watching the ships coming through the Bosphorus. I could have sat there and watched that all day. I am glad our hotel had a view of the strait. I teach art, so seeing the thousands of hand painted tiles in the Topkapi Palace was also a memorable experience that I could bring back to share with my students. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I've been wanting to see the Hagia Sophia and the original pendentives for decades. Also how it's great dome rests on a circle of light bc of the little arch windows. Our guide Mert was very good and frank. I like it when he says something like Americans and Turkish are very much alike -- they love their flag and their holy book. On the down side, our hotel location was poor. I quickly tired of walking through the gauntlet of overly-aggressive men pushing their meals and goods at me. Awful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maybe because I work at a port, i don't know, but I really enjoyed the numerous ships passing through the Bosphorus -- both directions, empty and full, grain and oil or something else.."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour of this type and it exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I cannot identify a single moment that impressed me more than others. In general, was just overwhelmed by learning about the history and cultures of the region."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As I had hoped, this tour gave me a really comprehensive introduction to Istanbul and its people. Mert was a tremendous guide to his city and a terrific travel partner. He was full of information, insights and humor. He never failed to go the extra mile to make sure everyone had the best experience possible. His deep knowledge about the different religions that surrounded us in Istanbul was invaluable. At the same time, the insights he provided into his own experiences were fascinating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market were each very exotic experiences but really, every day was full of surprises. Our cruise on the Bosporus Strait was amazing and then visiting the Asian side of Istanbul as well as the New District were both particularly enjoyable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything went as expected! Our tour guide, Mine, was nothing short of outstanding! Each day was full of site seeing activities and Mine had great knowledge of everything we saw.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the Hagia Sophia was at the top of the list. It's enormous size and age are unmatched. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Istanbul is an incredible city with so much history and culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Strolling between the blue mosque and Hagia Sophia at night listening to the duelling call to prayer"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An amazingly warm and welcoming country. Mine, our guide gave me great insight into the people. Being able to spend a day on each period of Istanbuls history was a very effective way to break the long history into manageable pieces

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting atop the Blue House terrace for dinner when the Imams at Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque started the final call to prayers for the day. The alternated rather than calling over each other so the effect was one of escalating calls in competition. Being directly between the two was the best place to be. (And the turkish bah was pretty amazing too)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first but not our last trip with your organization. We loved everything about it. Location of hotel was perfect, each day was full of activity, free time was good too, fellow travelers were respectful about time and our Guide: Mina was the best!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"People travel to Istanbul, from around the world, for Hair plugs and Cosmetic surgery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The hotel selected was in a terrific location for touring the sites and locations most first-time visitors "must see". The tour was arranged thoughtfully with themes for each day that allowed for a coherent story and context for seeing the many historical locations and different eras of the city. The restaurants were thoughtfully chosen and the menus were diverse. Mine K., our guide, was experienced, and funny and accessible. She gave us enough information to comfortably tour on our own later.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were dining on a rooftop terrace restaurant during the final call to prayer on our second night. The restaurant was located between Hagia Sofia and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque). The Muezzin at each mosque alternates their verses so as to not call over each other. Beautiful. The overriding "wow" factor is how kind and generous are the people of Istanbul. They love their city - naturally. They seem to want every one to feel welcome. Such a beautiful people. Such a beautiful culture."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fast-paced but saw so much. Our guide was open and had an exquisite take on contemporary Turkiye based on a sound knowledge and love of his country’s history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sensory experience of inhaling the wonderful & foreign combination of smells in the Spice Market!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful tour with awesome people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Turkish Bath"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent guide, he shared stories that added to the experience at each stop, Each day provided a nice balance between group tours and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cruise on the Bosphorus and the scenic views along the shore and the constant amount of ship traffic gave a sense of the majesty of Istanbul."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A very good tour with a good crowd which allowed for good discussions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was no single “wow” moment. There were a steady set of experiences that created a cumulative posigive experience of the city. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide, Mert, was great. Knowledgeable, organized, punctual, helpful. He did everything!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views everywhere, across the Bosphorus, mosques, the people, neighbohoods."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Mert, our guide, was great. Very knowledgeable and funny. I like that he adjusted the itinerary based on potential crowds from cruise ships and other events, although that meant the first 2 jet-lagged days ended up being the hottest and most relentless. Good balance of scheduled touring and free time. The hotel was mediocre, good location but the breakfast was weird. 90% of our tour group got some sort of virus (not COVID), which put a major damper on the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first evening when we spontaneously popped into the Hagia Sofia right before closing because the line was so short. They were clearing out visitors, but Mert managed to talk them into giving us a few minutes for a quick visit. It was amazing being there without anyone else except staff."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was comprehensive and our guide Mert did an excellent job of showing us special sights and adjusting our schedule to avoid cruise crowds. Istanbul is a fascinating and beautiful city and the tour enhanced my appreciation of its rich culture, cuisine and history!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hagia Sofia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I did not know what to expect from Istanbul but was blown away by the beauty, history and character of the city. Every day was a feast to the eyes and ears as I took in my surroundings. Our tour guide, Taylan, did an excellent job of acclimating us to the city so we were comfortable exploring on our own during the free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments on this tour! My first "wow" moment was visiting a small mosque on our orientation night and being blown away by the beautiful tile work and craftsmanship of the building. It was like being in an interactive art display!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great experience. We saw so many amazing things, learned so much and had a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The vistas of the city. You really need to see the breath of it to understand what a city of 18 million is like."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

IWe saw so much in such a short time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Drinking pickle juice in Karakoy. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my first tour and I didn't know what to expect, though I have heard good things about Rick Steves tours generally. But I was amazed at how well-organized our days were, and how incredibly knowledgeable our guide, Yaren, was. The pace was just right-there was lots to do without making it a pure endurance contest. The accomodations and meals provided were also outstanding. A great introduction to Istanbul!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many to really select a single one, but if I HAD to pick I would say the archeological museum on the last day. As a general "impression" though, the thing I remember about the Turkish people, was how kind and friendly they are. This is exemplified by how they treat the numerous street animals-cats and dogs. Istanbul residents were uniformly patient with them, owned by everyone and apparently full citizens. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and explained things in a clear and interesting manner. They did not sound like a text book but more like they had actually been there. Yaren was fun to be around, always considerate of everyone’s concerns and questions, incredibly knowledgeable, with a great personality.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking up to the Hagia Sophia as well as the tiles uncovered when preparing to build a parking garage,"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Yaren was an excellent guide. Her background in archeology and her familiarity with Istanbul provided insight we would not have had otherwise. We went to locations we would have skipped over had we been on our own, such as the cistern and the mosaic museum. I have never been so relaxed on vacation. This was one of those once-in-a-lifetime tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick one—but the mosaic museum and archeology museum along with the context that Yaren provided, were definitely two highlights."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Istanbul is a fascinating city and our guides Yaren (an “Istanbul-ite”) and Togay were phenomenal. They were so knowledgeable about the city and its history and archaeology and their love for their city and country shone through. As a solo traveler, I felt very welcome and comfortable as part of the group. The pace was great - it was strenuous at times, but that was very clear in the tour information so did not come as a surprise. We saw and experienced so much in just a week!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of my favorite parts of the tour was visiting the carpet co-op. Learning about the whole weaving process was fascinating, and the quality of their product is amazing. The time and labor that goes into each piece is huge! I think about a third of the people/couples on our tour, including me, purchased rugs."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed this tour of Istanbul, and learning about the history of the city, as well as the country. The tour was very well led by our guide Yaren, as well as assistant guide Togay:) They were both very easy to talk to and led the group with ease.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of Istanbul was very interesting. I enjoyed the boat ride on the Bosphorus Strait and seeing both the Asian and European continents:)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So much fun! Very positive guides and I learned so much about the history and culture. Also, loved the food tastings!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Turkish bath."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great time!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Turkish Bath experience was pretty awesome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour experience was incredible! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and her depth of experience and knowledge that she shared added a deeper value to our tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Hagia Sophia was as incredibly beautiful in person as pictures made it look! Being in Istanbul and experiencing the culture of the city around me is hard to describe. It was fantastic and such a life-changing experience to learn how truly important this city is to the history of our world, including our contemporary world."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my second visit to Istanbul. The first was with the Best of Turkey in 13 Days tour. That tour stayed in Istanbul for two nights and while we packed in a lot of sightseeing, I knew that I wanted to come back. Our tour guide Yaren (who also guided my Best of Turkey tour) is a fantastic guide. Informed, kind, full of energy, and passionate about her hometown of Istanbul. Her personal stories and knowledge of neighborhoods made the tour really special. The asst guide Togay was great also.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the archeological museum and visiting some of the neighborhoods away from the tourist crowds."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was so well planed out and we were shown each day what we would be doing the next day so we could plan what to wear and what to do with our free time. Our guide, Yeran, was amazing and had the best personality. The food was great and so was the hotel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The intense beauty of the Rustem Pasa Mosque. The tile work was mind blowing. The size and grandeur of Hagia Sophia has to be seen to be believed. What power the city must have presented in it's heyday to a traveler on the Silk Road. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Just a lovely tour. Our guides were amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Haya Sophia!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Normally a solo traveler, I am so glad I took this first Rick Steves tour to experience the Turkish culture. Whereas before the tour, perhaps I saw differences. The tour has helped me to see the similarities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite tour moment was a quiet one in the ladies' section of the Hagia Sophia where a group of ladies in conservative dress were taking a selfie. After offering to take their photo, one of the ladies asked me to join them, putting their arms around me as part of their friendship circle. With our photos capturing the moment, she came to me, kissed me on both cheeks and said "now we are friends." Yes, we are."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour exceeded my expectations: - Well organized with backup plans in case of the unexpected - Rich cultural offerings - Endless learning opportunities - Emphasis on healthy, physically active itineraries - Sight-seeing was front-loaded in the beginning of the week--exhausting! - Variety of food and drink we were able to try - Hotel was better than my low expectations - Fantastic guide who was knowledgeable, forthright, engaging, and considerate - Bottled water was readily available

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Turkish people we met were warm and wonderful! My Turkish rug was HAND-DELIVERED to my home in California by a friendly member of the Vezirhan team!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Your tours attract really delightful co-travelers. They are intelligent, curious, cooperative, and compassionate. No matter how good the guide, that is an important component to an enjoyable trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the city at night was amazing. We meandered along the Galataport seaside boardwalk basking in the twinkling lights and the energy of the people with pop-up musicians. Our guide was particularly good at explaining some of the current political issues, as well as discussing some of the religious aspects of the city."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Truly wonderful. From the city of Istanbul itself to the tour guide (Mert) to my fellow travelers. So many delightful people, I hated for together to end.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the cruise on the Bosphorus (no more walking and such beautiful buildings along the way. A close second, our visit to the Balat neighborhood. Loved the colorful houses and interesting shops."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Full filled my expectations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The rooftop views !"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first Rick Steves' Tour and we hope to do more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Hagia Sophia and realizing it was completed 537 AD."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Istanbul tour was an amazing experience start to finish. It is an ambitious itinerary, due to the complexity of navigating this large and crowded city. Our tour guide was skilled and very organized. However, the group size of 27 is too large to manage logistics of staying together, hearing the guide, navigating busy streets and trams, etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several - Seeing the mosques and historic sites, our cruise on the Bosporus, viewing the artifacts in the Archeological Museum, "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Yaren, our tour guide was outstanding and highly informative, and she did a great job of guiding a large group through the congested, narrow streets of Istanbul. My main criticism: the quality of the hotel in which we stayed. Although the location was good, the room was tiny, and most of the friendly staff didn't understand English. Overall, the tour was a good mix of guided tours and free time and was good value for the money.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two: The cruise of the Bosphorus and trip to the spice market..."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"visiting the Haman"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A focused tour of this amazing city, it’s history and culture, through the eyes of our marvelous guide Yaren.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Hagia Sophia, it’s age, volume, colors and atmosphere, under the watchful eyes of the “guard cat.”"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great tour, great people and everyone should take Rick seriously when he says lots of miles over uneven ground. Train for the tour unless you're already doing 4-8 miles a day up and down hills. Pack light, no one on our tour had a skirt. Great hotel with awesome food at the roof restaurant but reserve before you go because it's a popular local spot and always sold out. The "must see" sites are incredible but I was overwhelmed with the friendliness and kindness of the people I met. Buy a rug.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour guide Yaren! The breadth and depth of her knowledge was extraordinary. She was also the 24/7 mother hen to us chicks and even a month after the tour she answered my text about a shop we went to. I loved the Archeological Museum and when Yaren told us the weeping women sculpted on a sarcophagus were likely paid mourners. She was always in 3 places at once and anticipating every possible challenge. I hear the other guides for this tour are just as good. Good job Rick Steves!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I loved our guide and learning about Istanbul and seeing so many places, neighborhoods, museums, and places of worship.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The carpet store we visited where we were shown how silk threads are produced. I was happy to see something I had always wondered about. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish, this was an outstanding tour. We arrived a day early and found the hotel personnel very helpful in getting us oriented. Using the guide book we made the most of our first day. Once we met with the group, the activities we shared were amazing. It was a nice balance of history, culture, architecture, and becoming independent travelers in this amazing city. Yaren, our guide, was an absolute treasure. Her love of her country and her wealth of knowledge was so enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pick a favorite. Listening to Yaren in the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace made so much history come alive. The afternoon at the Hammam was heavenly. The cruise on the Bosphorus to "the opposite" was relaxing and enjoyable. And the trek to Fener and Balat gave us a different perspective of Istanbul. The entire week was a "wow" for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was impressed with the tour guide, Yarin (?/spelling) in Turkey. She was accommodating, knowledgeable, and offered tips beyond what was expected. I like the group and was pleased with the staff at the hotel. They went above and beyond to solve a problem we had with finding a cell phone of my tour mate who lost it in the car on the way to the hotel from the airport.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the Turkish Bath. However the visit to the rug (bought a rug/hope it gets here) and the ride on the Bosporus & Asia was amazing. Hard to pick because the uniqueness of the history and the museums was great as well."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour and I enjoyed it very much. Our tour guide, Yaren, was outstanding. She was so knowledgeable about Istanbul - current day events/politics as well Istanbul's rich history. I learned so much more from the tour than I would have if I had traveled on my own. Our hotel location was convenient and the restaurants we visited on tour were all excellent. I have dietary restrictions and Yaren made sure that I was always well taken care of.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many WOW moments on tour, especially when visiting the beautiful mosques, palaces and other historical sights. But one unexpected WOW moment for me was visiting the Turkish carpet shop and seeing first-hand how the silk is collected, spun, dyed and ultimately hand-woven into a one-of-a-kind carpet. That was a real treat and something I will always remember."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was very invigorating, Enjoyed the Hammam very much. So intriguing to see how the silk rugs are made very entertaining presentation. The food was very good, most of the people were soooo friendly and nice

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The silk carpet tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was so knowledgeable and helpful. I think we covered as much as possible in our seven days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The people volunteered helpful info when we needed it (out on our own). The overall complexity of history "

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

The hotel room was too small for 2 people. My friend ended up in a Turkish hospital for the bulk if the tour so I was able to do fine by myself. It was next to impossible t communicate with the hotel staff due to a language barrier. Only the manager spoke enough English to carry on a conversation and be understood. Your literature vastly understated the amount of walking involved in this tour. I logged 8-12 miles every day. Our guide was wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Grand Bizarre and the Spice Market."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very organized. Our tour guide, Mine Karahan, was amazingly knowledgeable and organized. I felt safe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the ancient town of Balat, Turkey was fascinating. Historical, challengingly hilly, rife with photographable sights. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Vey much as expected.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour and I would happily do another one. Our tour guide, Mine was great - personable, full of information and good humor and so helpful if tour members wanted to do things outside of the official tour. It was my first time in Istanbul, but I don't think I missed much. Being given the museum & transportation passes was an unexpected delight. Having Mine with us at the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market made it fun and stress free. Highly recommend this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting a Turkish Bath. I've never experienced anything like it and it was amazing. Thanks to Mine for arranging it."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really loved how much of Istanbul we were able to experience. Our guide, Mine, was exceptional and added so much value to the experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Turkish Bath and the Hagia Sophia"