Istanbul Old City Tour Review: Cruise & Lunch Included

Planning a trip to Istanbul? You know, that place that bridges Europe and Asia? Then a guided tour of the Old City, topped off with a relaxing Bosphorus cruise and lunch, sounds, too, like a pretty solid way to pack in some of the city’s top sights and, I guess, flavors. Is that right? I took the “Istanbul Full Day Old City Tour with Cruise and Lunch,” and this is my take on whether or not it’s seriously worth your money and time. Spoiler alert: It’s not completely terrible, but a few things definitely, certainly could be better.

What’s Included in the Istanbul Old City Tour?

Okay, so what do you get? Well, the tour I hopped on said it covered the main historical hotspots in Istanbul’s Old City and included, too, a cruise on the Bosphorus Strait and a local lunch. The sites listed almost always feature, you see, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Hippodrome. Transportation was laid out, too, between the spots, plus you almost always get a local guide who is seemingly very ready to spill all the historical beans. Basically, you’re signing up for a crash course in Ottoman and Byzantine history with a side of scenic views and, perhaps, okay food.

I mean, first off, there’s Hagia Sophia. This former church-turned-mosque is absolutely, completely amazing, very visually. Like, seriously, you’re standing in a place that’s been around for, basically, ages, soaking in all that historical atmosphere. That said, it is super crowded, like squeezing-through-a-packed-subway-car crowded. And next you get, of course, the Blue Mosque, right? With those fancy tiles and striking architecture, the Blue Mosque is, too, a feast for your eyes – so long as you can elbow your way through, anyway, the crowds. The sheer volume of people, at the end of the day, sort of, okay, kinda dulls the experience, as a matter of fact.

Exploring Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome

Moving along, there’s Topkapi Palace. This one, I feel, might be my favourite stop. The palace grounds seemingly ramble on forever, stuffed, very much, with stories and treasures, actually. So long as you are willing to wander, anyway, away from the huge tour groups, there’s loads to take in. The Hippodrome, on the other hand, just didn’t hold my attention for too long. I mean, sure, it’s where chariot races almost always used to go down, but what you see now isn’t really, in that case, very impressive. Is that right? A few monuments and an open area don’t really do it, you know, for a place with that sort of storied past, alright?

Bosphorus Cruise: A Breath of Fresh Air

Now, for the Bosphorus cruise. Ah! Very nice, definitely. I really think the boat ride was truly the highlight of the day. Like, after shuffling through those busy tourist spots, gliding along the water with the breeze on your face and views of both Europe and Asia? Very much a welcomed change. The sights of the city from the water are, in other words, top-notch. Palaces, old houses, all of it slowly coasting by – very pleasant, at the end of the day. So long as you like taking pictures, of course. Plus, there are not many better ways, I feel, to sit for a while, very peacefully, to take in some Istanbul sunshine. That said, the boat can seemingly get a little crowded too, so try to snag a good spot early for unobstructed views, so.

Lunch: A Taste of Turkey?

And then, lunch. So, yeah, the tour includes, also, what they call a traditional Turkish meal, you know? Honestly? I just thought the lunch was alright, at best, almost. Basically, it’s your average tourist fare – kinda bland, kinda basic, designed for the masses and seemingly without a lot of care, actually. Still, food is food, after all, right? And you likely won’t starve. In fact, you can definitely count on that. But I’d say don’t set your sights too high culinary-wise for this one. At least then you might not be a little let down by this detail, right? Instead of the inclusive meal I think you should just try to find some spots of Turkish delight by yourselves.

The Good, the Bad, and the Touristy

Let’s get right to it: Very organized? Check. Very efficient? I think so, actually, too. You know, the tour seemingly does a great job of packing a lot in without leaving you entirely spent by day’s end. So long as you can get your body through all of the packed walkways it seems okay, right? On the other hand, you’re seemingly seeing these amazing places at, arguably, their most crammed. That just means elbow-to-elbow shuffling and a constant battle, basically, to hear your guide. Very authentic, alright? The lunch wasn’t mind-blowing and there were parts of the itinerary that left me a bit cold, basically. The Hippodrome could be, you know, totally skipped without regret.

Who’s this trip probably awesome, nearly always, for? People who want a snapshot of Istanbul’s main sights without, literally, any planning on their part. Someone on a short timeline? I would recommend that this is also a very solid pick, seemingly. You are in, of course, capable hands, seeing some major places, alright? But very independent travelers? People who seriously dislike crowds? Foodies who have to have the genuine goods? You could be feeling a little letdown here, at the end of the day.

Is the Istanbul Old City Tour Worth It?

So, the big question: Is it worth it? To some extent, yeah, I think it may be a useful investment. But you know, as with many tour packages, there’s almost always a give and take, seemingly. This trip gives convenience and coverage at the expense of real immersion and perhaps, potentially, freedom. For a quick, comfortable overview of the Old City’s main attractions combined with a relaxing Bosphorus cruise, this tour is a totally reasonable choice, almost always. If you want to make sure, too, you dig deeper, you’re gonna have to think about breaking free from the group and, arguably, finding your own way – very often without the mediocre lunch. The choice, by the way, is totally yours. Have fun.