Free Tour in Istanbul

4.99 out of 5
(254 customer reviews)

 0,00

Get your Free Tour in Istanbul and enjoy the best sightseeing tour in the city of two continents. Discover the history of the old city and appreciate great sights along with world-famous historical landmarks with entertaining and professional local tour guides.

Book Now

What is the concept of Free Tour in Istanbul?

The Free Tour concept has been around for some time, but it is a fairly new method of exploring cities than the conventional tour model, with a far longer history. Most younger travelers today would probably be aware of free tours, as they have become extremely common and still present in major destinations especially in recent years.

How do I find the group photo from my tour?

You can find your photos of your walking tours from our social media accounts. Additional info: Our Istanbul walking tour is free of charge. We offer expert tour guides for our guests who wish to see the city on foot. In this way, they will explore the history of Istanbul and leave their footprints while feeling home thanks to our hospitality and care. Do not hesitate to leave your reviews regarding free Istanbul free tours.

Do you offer private Istanbul tours?

Yes. We offer private tours in English and Spanish languages. Please contact us for further information and details.

Are your tours wheelchair-accessible?

Our free tour in İstanbul is wheelchair accessible. Bear in mind: We are always ready to arrange private tours geared towards the travelers’ needs and wishes!

Are your tours suitable for children?

Our free walking tour of Istanbul are designed to be suitable for people of all ages and anyone.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Our tours in Istanbul run every day in all weather conditions, sun or rain. Please come prepared!

What is the price of this tour?

The tour is free. It does not cost anything. You are free to participate. At the end of the tour, you are free to tip your guide depending on your enjoyment of the service and budget.

Do you take any breaks on your free walking tours?

All of our Istanbul walking tours include a break during which you can rest and you will have the chance to use the washrooms and get a couple of drinks.

How long does the tour last?

Our free tour is approximately 2,5 hours.

Do I have to pre-book?

No. There is no need to pre-book for our free walking tours in Istanbul. Just come to the meeting point before the tour is due to begin. Yet, you are welcome to pre-book this Istanbul tour on our website. Recommendations; let us know in advance if you are coming with a big group (10+ people). If you are interested in personal tours and/or boat tours in the city, advance booking is required.

How will I recognize the guide?

When you arrive at the meeting point, please look for our tour guides carrying a red umbrella.

The Best Free Tour in Istanbul

Discover the best free tours in Istanbul and explore the city in a unique and affordable way. Don’t miss it!
Free Tour in Istanbul is a free walking tour of Istanbul’s old city center with a local expert tour guide every day at 10:00 am, 10:30 am, 14:00 pm. This tour will give you a walk through the history as well as a look into the contemporary life in Istanbul.

  • Date/Hour
    Every day at 10:00am, 10:30am and 14:00 pm
  • Language
    English
  • Duration
    2.5 hours approx. (not rushed but leisurely paced)
  • Price
    Free (you decide the price)
  • Meeting point
    SULTANAHMET PARKI (next to the decorative pool)
  • Itinerary
    Sultanahmet Square, Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Haseki Hurrem Bath, The Egyptian Obelisk, The Constantine Column, The Serpentine Column, German Fountain,Soğuk Çeşme Street, Caferağa Madrasa, Arasta Bazaar, The Little Hagia Sophia Mosque, activities restaurants things to eat and much more …
  • End point
    PASION TURCA
  • Wheelchair friendly tour

Free Walking Tour in Istanbul

Free tour in Istanbul starts every day at 10:00 am, 10:30 am  and 14:00 pm next to the decorative pool which is between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque at the Sultanahmet Square. Just look for our expert tour guides with red t-shirt and/or umbrella for free tours in the city! You can just show up at the meeting point if you prefer not to book ahead of time for free tours in Istanbul. Please come 15 minutes early if you have no reservation.

Free Walking Tour Istanbul starts from SULTANAHMET PARKI (next to the decorative pool) and ends in front of the  PASION TURCA, overlooking the shores of the sea of Marmara.

During this tour, you will have the opportunity to explore the highlights and monuments of world city Istanbul and learn about the rich history and cultural heritage of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods from our tour guide.

You will marvel at the impressive monumental structures of Istanbul such as Hagia Sophia,  the Blue Mosque,  the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column,  the Constantine Column and  the German Fountain. Later, you will walk through the outer gardens of  the Topkapi Palace and marvel at this gorgeous palace as a symbol of the strength that the Ottoman Empire once had in the city.

While strolling through  Soğuk Çeşme Street with our local guide, you will also see and learn about the typical houses and locals and the old town architecture during the Ottoman era. At the end of this street, you will arrive at  Caferağa Madrasah, an art school where traditional Turkish crafts such as calligraphy, paper marbling, ceramics and tiles, and glass products are produced and sold. You will walk along the Hippodrome and enter the courtyards of  the Blue Mosque.

Enjoying lots of amazing stories and personal anecdotes told by your expert tour guide about the city, you will visit the  Arasta Bazaar, a famous market place that used to provide the Blue Mosque with large income during the Ottoman Empire. Finally, the last stop of this fun experience will be the  Little Hagia Sophia Mosque.

SIGHTS YOU WILL SEE IN FREE WALKING TOUR IN ISTANBUL 

  • Sultanahmet Square
  • Hagia Sophia
  • The Blue Mosque
  • Hippodrome
  • Haseki Hurrem Bath
  • The Egyptian Obelisk
  • The Constantine Column
  • The Serpentine Column
  • German Fountain
  • Soğuk Çeşme Street
  • Tours things to do activities and much more …

Attention: Everything listed here will be seen from outside without entering the museums.

Best Free Tour in İstanbul

Where does the free tour in Istanbul start and end?

The tour starts from the Sultanahmet Square, next to the decorative pool. It ends in front of the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque.

How will I recognize the guide?

When you arrive at the meeting point, please look for our tour guides carrying a red umbrella.

Do I have to pre-book?

No. There is no need to pre-book for our free walking tours in Istanbul. Just come to the meeting point before the tour is due to begin. Yet, you are welcome to pre-book this Istanbul tour on our website. Recommendations; let us know in advance if you are coming with a big group (10+ people). If you are interested in personal tours and/or boat tours in the city, advance booking is required.

How long does the tour last?

Our free tour is approximately 2,5 hours.

Do you take any breaks on your free walking tours?

All of our Istanbul walking tours include a break during which you can rest and you will have the chance to use the washrooms and get a couple of drinks.

What is the price of this tour?

The tour is free. It does not cost anything. You are free to participate. At the end of the tour, you are free to tip your guide depending on your enjoyment of the service and budget.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Our tours in Istanbul run every day in all weather conditions, sun or rain. Please come prepared!

Are your tours suitable for children?

Our free walking tour of Istanbul are designed to be suitable for people of all ages and anyone.

Are your tours wheelchair-accessible?

Our free tour in İstanbul is wheelchair accessible. Bear in mind: We are always ready to arrange private tours geared towards the travelers’ needs and wishes!

Do you offer private Istanbul tours?

Yes. We offer private tours in English and Spanish languages. Please contact us for further information and details.

How do I find the group photo from my tour?

You can find your photos of your walking tours from our social media accounts. Additional info: Our Istanbul walking tour is free of charge. We offer expert tour guides for our guests who wish to see the city on foot. In this way, they will explore the history of Istanbul and leave their footprints while feeling home thanks to our hospitality and care. Do not hesitate to leave your reviews regarding free Istanbul free tours.

What is the concept of Free Tour in Istanbul?

The Free Tour concept has been around for some time, but it is a fairly new method of exploring cities than the conventional tour model, with a far longer history. Most younger travelers today would probably be aware of free tours, as they have become extremely common and still present in major destinations especially in recent years.


Misconceptions about Free Tours

“Free” is an obvious appeal to budget-conscious travelers, but it is also a term that may trigger an alarm; especially in connection with anything that is typically very costly and constitutes a significant component of a specific industry, such as guided tours. Yet free does not mean that free tours are worthless. On the contrary, it is a philosophy that really does offer something enjoyable, worthwhile and satisfying for all kinds of travelers comparing to conventional paid tours. How does it work? One of the concerns regarding free tours is “How can tours be free?” ”. The tours are ‘free,’ as there is no fixed price, no defined charge to pay for the tour, irrespective of the tour experience itself. You are free to ‘tip’ your guide after the tour depending on your satisfaction. This may be a “strange” notion, but there are many explanations why this kind of tour has become a successful and common way to explore towns and cities. Since the guides get no other money to lead such tours (from any particular company or agency), they must earn their tip. The income of the guides is always fluctuating from tour to tour and so they are eager to deliver a high-quality experience, which leaves much less space for complacency than if they were paid for a tour with a fixed amount. For the idea to work, the tour itself must be fantastic. Tipping: Something to Think about on a Free Tour Moreover, at the end of your tour, tipping your guide implies that you have the control. Though not mandatory, you determine what the tour’s worth is, or, what you can afford. You determine the price-performance ratio. So there is no risk of being ripped off or feeling that you have not got your money’s worth. Advice for tips: If you decide to tip, be sure to bring your maximum tip budget to a smaller denomination. This way you can give your guide the right amount they are entitled to, determined by you (after the tour), without worrying about the tip being too little or offering a larger bill to ask the change back. Behind the Free Tour Tour guides weigh the risk factor because they count on tour participants to give them a tip, even if they do not have to do so. Fortunately, the growing popularity of free tours and the growing number of free tours providers worldwide is a proof that this “unconventional” style of tours work. People see the value in the concept, appreciate the unique experience it offers, realise they receive high quality tour experiences and tip their guides accordingly while saving much on their own. Tour guides providing free tours are, in the great majority of cases, freelance tour guides. They are young people as free tours encourage them to operate freely and the guides keep their tips rather than getting charged a fee to gain an appropriate income for their efforts. These independent freelance guides often add their own style to their tours to give you a true local experience, show you their town and make your best trip. The guide normally enhances the experiment instead of depending solely on a structured ‘tour’ or ‘script.’ This makes the experience of a place, history and culture more real, enthusiastic and rewarding. Some Free Tours in a particular city are arranged and managed by local guide collectives. Alternatively, others are facilitated by free travel organizations that actively promote or assist independent local guides. This takes place in exchange for a fairly low advertisement charge through successful promotional services through a multitude of platforms and alliances, thus maintaining the consistent quality of guides and tours provided by them.


Why Free Tours Work in Istanbul


The whole idea of free tour is for the tourist and the local guide a win-win situation. Having authentic city tours open to all, irrespective of budget, are fun way to explore cities, while saving a lot of money and monitoring everything you spend on a city tour, apart from helping dedicated local guides and businesses.

Where does the free tour in Istanbul start and end?

The tour starts from the Sultanahmet Square, next to the decorative pool. It ends in front of the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque.

254 reviews for Free Tour in Istanbul

  1. 5 out of 5

    Rachel - 04/06/2020

    Couldn’t have asked for a better tour of Istanbul! Our guide Betul was highly professional, knowledgeable and warm. She also provided a lot of great local recommendations of the city. Lots of fun – recommend the tour to all!

  2. 5 out of 5

    Ilker - 04/06/2020

    Last year we did this tour with Betül and it was amazing! We just saw so many things and I also really learned a lot! It was like Istanbul in a nutshell! I can totally recommend it and would do it again!

  3. 5 out of 5

    Shonit Biswas - 07/06/2020

    Istanbul is the most beautiful city in the world. It truly is a temporal zone between ancient and modern period. Soaked in history and rich culture, we were completely immersed in Istanbul’s tour and Betül ensured it to be the best memory we carry back home. She is undoubtedly a wonderful person besides being a brilliant tour guide

  4. 5 out of 5

    Anabela - 09/06/2020

    Excellent tour! Very educational and intersting! Perfect tour guide! If you are planning a trip to Istanbul I recommend you to contact Viaurbis and join their free tour!

  5. 5 out of 5

    미니미니 - 11/06/2020

    우리가이드 Betul! 정말 너무너무 고마웠네요. 영어라서 고민하다가 그냥 박물관 들어가보고 사진만 찍는건 좀 아닌거 같아서 참가했는데 어렵지않게 너무 친절히 잘 대해줬어요. 투어 후에 문의했던 질문에도 우승면서 끝까지 답변해줬규요!

    이스탄불 오신다면 한번쯤은 그역사를 설명해줄수 있는 가이드 만나보시면 좋으실꺼 같아요! 강추!

Add a review