Istanbul city tour with the bazaar at a glance
A city tour is the easiest way to see the old city in one day if you have no time to plan. One well-described example is a one-day tour with a small private tour operator. It is a private, English-language walk of 6 to 7 hours, and the Grand Bazaar is one of its stops. You meet at your hotel. Guide and the listed monument tickets are included, while lunch and transport are not.
The provider quotes the price for a group. For 2 people it is €210 per person before tax, €420 net in total, plus 20 percent VAT, which makes €504 in total. Do not add the VAT again to that total. The minimum is 2 guests, a single traveller gets an individual quote, and children up to and including 6 years are free.
Our picks: Istanbul city tours with the bazaar
Our take: the full day with lunch is the simplest way to see the main sights and end in the bazaar. Choose the small group for a calmer pace, and the private day if you want pickup and drop-off at your hotel.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Old City to Grand Bazaar day with hotel transfers
- Hotel pickup and return
- Transport
- Guide
A private group with transport from and back to your hotel. Entries are extra.
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Small-group Old City tour with the bazaar
- Licensed English-speaking guide
- Tea or coffee in a historic café
- Group of up to 10
Four hours in a group of up to ten, with a coffee stop. Hagia Sophia and Cistern tickets are paid separately.
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Old City highlights in one day with lunch
- Licensed guide
- Lunch
- Ticket queue service
Seven hours with a guide and lunch, ending at the Grand Bazaar. Topkapı and Hagia Sophia tickets are paid on top.
Check availability →Istanbul city tours with the Grand Bazaar
Full-day and half-day walks through the old city, many of them ending in the bazaar, with live prices and availability.
One-day tour or bazaar-only walk
Two private products from the same provider, 2026 prices for 2 guests.
| Tour | Length | Focus | Per person before tax | Total for 2 with 20 percent VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-day city tour | 6 to 7 hours | Old-city monuments and the Grand Bazaar | €210 | €504 |
| Bazaar-only shopping walk | 6 to 7 hours | Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Cevahir Bedesten and Zincirli Han | €180 | €432 |
Both tours meet at the hotel, are private, in English and cost extra for lunch and transport. For most first-time visitors, the one-day tour is the better choice because it adds the monuments to the bazaar. If shopping is the main reason for the trip, the bazaar-only walk gives more time in the markets. All shorter bazaar walks are on the Grand Bazaar tours page.
Sundays and holidays
The bazaar has a rest day.
The Grand Bazaar is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed on Sundays and on religious holidays. A tour that is bookable on a Sunday does not mean you will see the inside of the bazaar that day. If you pick a Sunday or a holiday, ask the provider how the programme changes and get that in writing.
The opening hours page lists the religious holidays for 2026 and 2027. Plan the tour for a day when the bazaar is open.
What the monuments cost and where to read about them
Tickets and times for the big sights sit on the partner guides.
Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and the Cistern
The big sights of the old city, with tickets and hours, are covered on Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and the Cistern. Do not read the tour price as an admission price. The tour lists which monument tickets it includes.
Blue Mosque and Hippodrome
For visiting hours and dress rules, see the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome.
Lunch and transport
Both are extra. Plan lunch at a place of your choice, and decide how you get back to your hotel after the walk. For tram and metro, read getting there.
Plan the rest of your trip
More pages for the same days in Istanbul.
Istanbul city tours: frequently asked questions
How long is a full-day Istanbul city tour?
The private one-day example takes 6 to 7 hours and includes the Grand Bazaar.
How much does it cost?
For 2 people, €210 per person before tax, €420 net in total and €504 with 20 percent VAT, in 2026. A single traveller gets an individual quote.
Is lunch included?
No. Lunch and transport are not included. The hotel meeting point, the guide and the listed monument tickets are.
Do children pay?
Children up to and including 6 years are free on this tour. Entry prices at individual monuments can differ from the tour price, so ask when you book.
Can I do the tour on a Sunday?
The tour can be booked, but the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and religious holidays. Ask the provider for a changed route before you confirm.
Is the site official?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the Grand Bazaar administration, the tradespeople's association, the municipality or any tour provider.