Istanbul Golden Horn Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: Audio Guide with Headphones Included
This is a hop-on hop-off bus ticket: you are not joining a tour with a fixed start and end time, your ticket is valid all day. You can get off at as many stops as you like along the Golden Horn route, explore, and then continue your journey from where you left off on the next bus. Buses depart from Sultanahmet, Hippodrome at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30 and 16:00.
On board an open-top double-decker bus, you pass through the Golden Horn districts of Eyüp Sultan, Balat, Fener and Sütlüce. With the headphone system, you choose your own language from 14 options and listen to the history of the places you pass.
The Golden Horn takes its name from the "golden horn" comparison inspired by the colors reflected on the water at sunset. The surrounding districts showcase Istanbul's multicultural past on the same streets, with their mosques, churches and synagogues. In Eyüp Sultan you visit the mosque and Pierre Loti Hill, in Balat the colorful houses and antique shops, in Fener the Greek High School and the Patriarchate, and in Sütlüce you explore the waterfront parks.
Having suffered severe environmental problems due to industry in the second half of the 20th century, the Golden Horn was revived by the cleaning and transformation efforts from the 1990s onwards. Today, with its parks, walking paths and museums, it is one of the city's breathing spaces.
Tour Information
- Duration: 1 Day
- Languages: tr, en
- Categories: Daily Tours, Istanbul Tours, Turkey Tours, City Tours & Cultural Trips
- Age Groups: Baby: 0 - 0 · Child: 3 - 11 · Adult: 12 - 99
Included Services
- Audio guide
- Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Audio commentary in 14 languages with headphones
- Tour map
Not Included
- Personal expenses
- Museum entrance fees
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Entrances other than museum and archaeological site tickets
Meeting & End Points
- Starting Point: Sultanahmet Camii
- Ending Point: Sultanahmet Meydanı
Meeting Points
- Blue Mosque — Cankurtaran, At Meydanı Cd No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Tour Route
10:00 · Sultanahmet Camii — Blue Mosque
You board the double-decker bus at the stop at At Meydanı (Hippodrome) in Sultanahmet. You pick up your headphones, settle into your seat, and choose your own language from 14 options. Since the upper deck is open, you enjoy unobstructed views of the city. Your ticket is valid all day; you can hop off at any of the stops below, stay as long as you like, and continue your journey on the next bus.Eyüp Sultan Mosque
Eyüp Sultan is one of Istanbul's most visited spiritual centers. If you hop off here, you can visit the Eyüp Sultan Mosque and its tomb, and take a breather beneath the centuries-old plane trees in the courtyard. The road leading uphill from the mosque takes you to Pierre Loti Hill; from this hill, which can also be reached by cable car, you can take in the most famous view of the Golden Horn. It'Balat
With its colorful facades and narrow slopes, Balat is the most photographed neighborhood in Istanbul. If you hop off here, you can see the famous colorful houses of Merdivenli Yokuş (Staircase Slope) and browse the antique shops and secondhand stores. The neighborhood's cafés are known for their breakfasts. Within walking distance are the Ahrida Synagogue and the Bulgarian Church; the fact that aFener
Fener sits right next to Balat, on the hillside overlooking the Golden Horn. If you hop off here, you can see the Fener Greek High School (the Red School) with its massive red-brick building, and the Fener Greek Patriarchate, the center of the Orthodox world. The streets leading down to the shore are peaceful; you can gaze across at the opposite shore from the promenade along the Golden Horn.Sütlüce
Sütlüce is on the northern shore of the Golden Horn. If you get off here, you can relax in the parks and walking paths that stretch along the waterfront and explore the area around the Haliç Congress Center. Miniatürk and the Rahmi Koç Museum are near this route; from the shore you can see the silhouette of Fener and Balat on the opposite bank. It is one of the spots that best shows the Golden HorSultanahmet Meydanı — Sultanahmet Square
We return to At Meydanı (Hippodrome), the bus starting point. Since your ticket is valid all day, you don't have to end the tour here: you can get off at a stop you haven't visited yet, or hop back on to return to a neighborhood you liked. In Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace are all within walking distance.
Popular Points
- Eyüp Sultan Mosque
- Balat
- Fener
- Sütlüce
Tour Rules
Identity and Entry Documents
- Allowed: Passport or photo ID
Transport and Baggage
- Allowed: Close to public transportation
What to Bring and Dress Code
- Allowed: Comfortable shoes
Not Allowed
- Not Allowed: Smoking
- Allowed: Alcoholic drinks are not allowed on the vehicle
Good to Know
- Allowed: The program may change depending on traffic conditions
- Allowed: In bad weather, the program or departure point may change
- Allowed: Your ticket is valid all day; you can get off at any stop and board the next bus
Booking Conditions
- Reservation request is instantly confirmed.
- Pay 30% now, the rest by Cash, Bank/Credit Card
- (Taxes Included)
Upcoming Departures
Tap a date to open the booking calendar with that date selected.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Are taxes included in the tour price?
- Yes, taxes are included in the prices shown on this page.