Istanbul - Tours of the City

Walking tours
Istanbul Walks offers a choice of walks lasting aroundtwo hours, including classic sights around Sultanahmet, around the Bazaar, and Galata and Pera. Most tours depart from the Tourist Information Office on Sultanahmet Square in the morning. Reservations are recommended. Downloadable self-guided audio tours for MP3 players are also available from the website.

Tel: 0532 365 9985.
Website: www.istanbulwalks.com

Bus tours
Details of bus tour operators with English speaking guides are available at most hotels. In addition to a hop-on hop-off bus service, Plan Tours arranges city sightseeing tours of Istanbul, including Jewish Heritage tours. Sites visited include the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar. Transfers to and from hotels (European side only) are provided. Fez Travel, which is geared to backpackers, organises longer sightseeing trips for small groups to 'off-the-beaten-track' locations. A three-night Istanbul city break includes two full days of sightseeing, the services of an English-speaking guide, all entrance fees and bed and breakfast accommodation.

Plan Tours
Tel: (0212) 234 7777.
Website: www.plantours.com

Fez Travel
Tel: (0212) 516 9024.
Website: www.feztravel.com

Boat tours
Plan Tours offer a full-day Bosphorus river cruise with lunch, including a visit to Dolmabahe Palace and other sites along the way. During the summer, they also run private boat tours of the Bosphorus, as well as dinner cruises and trips to the Princes' Islands. The Tur Yol boat owners consortium also operates frequent Bosphorus cruises (duration: 90 minutes) with departures from the Eminonu ferry docks. Book with Backpackers Travel Agency.

Plan Tours
Tel: (0212) 234 7777.
Website: www.plantours.com

Backpackers Travel Agency
Tel: (0212) 638 6343.
Website: www.backpackerstravel.net