This half-day tour combines three of Istanbul’s most interesting experiences: the Rustem Pasha Mosque, the Spice Market, and a Bosphorus cruise. After visiting the mosque with your guide, you will walk through the Spice Market before boarding a regular sightseeing boat for the cruise.
The vehicle and guiding service are private for your party, while the boat is shared with other passengers. Your guide will stay with you during the cruise and explain the main landmarks along the Bosphorus, including Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, and Rumeli Fortress. A private yacht can also be arranged on request.
Travellers arriving in Istanbul by cruise ship may also be interested in our Istanbul Timeless Treasures Tour for Cruise Passengers, which covers the city’s major historic highlights in a programme planned around port timings. You can also browse our full range of Istanbul tours for other private and guided experiences.
Half-Day Bosphorus Cruise and Spice Market Tour
- Your private tour begins with pick-up from your centrally located Istanbul hotel. You will travel in a private vehicle with a professional guide who will stay with you throughout the program.
- The first stop is the Rüstem Pasha Mosque, a 16th-century Ottoman mosque designed by Mimar Sinan. Although smaller than many of Istanbul’s imperial mosques, it is especially well known for the colorful Iznik tiles covering its interior walls. As the mosque is an active place of worship, the visit will be arranged outside prayer times.
- From here, you will continue to the Spice Market, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar. Your guide will take you through this historic market and explain its role in Istanbul’s commercial life. The shops sell spices, teas, Turkish delight, dried fruits, nuts and a wide range of local products. You will have time to look around, but there is no obligation to purchase anything.
- After the market visit, you will walk to the nearby pier and board a regular sightseeing boat for an approximately 90-minute Bosphorus cruise. The boat is shared with other passengers, while your guide and land transportation remain private for your party.
- Your guide will accompany you on board and explain the main landmarks along the route. From the water, you can see sites such as Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Rumeli Fortress, the Bosphorus bridges and the waterfront neighbourhoods on both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.
- At the end of the cruise, your private driver will meet you near the pier and take you back to your hotel.
- For travellers who prefer the entire experience to be private, a private Bosphorus yacht can also be arranged on request at an additional cost.