12 Apr 2023
My family of 5 adults booked this tour, and it was disappointing. The tour advertises the Blue Mosque, which has been closed for renovation for quite awhile. Our tour guide did not engage with our family, and provided limited and rote information. We had a very cut and dry description of the Hippodrome, and no info about the Hagia Sophia (which we did not get to go into because lines were long on the first day of Ramadan.) We spent most of the time at Topkapi Palace, and didn't learn much about Istanbul history or culture. What is not clear in the tour description is that this is primarily a walking tour, although it did state we had to pay for local transportation (which was nominal). I would recommend clarification of this tour as a walking tour, eliminate the Blue Mosque as a site, as long as it is closed, and provide assistance to see cultural things in the Grand Bazaar. We had about 25 minutes to walk one corridor of the Bazaar, without our guide. I didn't get to experience the spice area or other areas of interest. I think that an engage tour guide leaves the tourist with excitement about the city, and a desire to return. I'm not interested in returning to Istanbul.