Touristanbul is a free layover service offered by Turkish Airlines for their international transfer passengers. Turkish Airlines passengers who fly via Istanbul and have a layover of 6-24 hours there are able to tour the largest city of Turkey for free.
You can book a flight with a stopover at Istanbul New Airport (IST) and go on the free Turkish Airlines tour of Istanbul.
You can get a really good flight deal for your trip on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. We would recommend checking both flight search systems and compare prices as for different flights any of them can offer better price.
Free Istanbul Tour Schedule & Itineraries
There are 6 free tours offered by Turkish Airlines. All the tours depart daily from Istanbul New Airport (IST).
Free Istanbul Tour Schedule
The schedule of free Istanbul tours is:
- T01: 08:00 to 11:30 Sightseeing tour
- T02: 08:30 to 15:00 tour
- T03: 08:30 to 16:00 tour
- T04: 12:00 to 18:00 tour
- T05: 16:00 to 21:30 walk tour
- T06: 18:00 to 23:00 Bosphorus tour
T01: 08:00 to 11:30 Sightseeing Tour Itinerary
- Departure from Istanbul Airport
- Following the Coastal Road
- Sightseeing tour (outer visit & sightseeing tour)
- Yedikule Fortress
- Old Samatya Armanian District
- Yeni Kapı Harbour
- Walls of Constantine
- Eminonu District
- Photo break on Galata Bridge for 10 mins
- Dolmabahçe Palace
- Free time at Dolmabahçe Palace for 20 mins
- Departs from Dolmabahçe Palace
- Taksim Square
- Galata Tower
- Golden Horn
- Aqueduct of Valens
- Yeni Kapı Harbour
- Returns to Istanbul Airport
T02: 08:30 to 15:00 Tour Itinerary
- Departure from Istanbul Airport
- Breakfast
- Blue Mosque
- Hippodrome: German Fountain
- Serpentine Column
- Obelisk of Thedosius
- Hagia Sophia Museum
- Lunch
- Returns to Istanbul Airport
T03: 08:30 to 16:00 Tour Itinerary
- Departure from Istanbul Airport
- Breakfast
- Blue Mosque
- Hippodrome: German Fountain
- Serpentine Column
- Obelisk of Thedosius
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
- Topkapı Palace
- Lunch
- Grand Covered Bazaar
- Returns to Istanbul Airport
T04: 12:00 to 18:00 Tour Itinerary
- Departure from Istanbul Airport
- Lunch
- Pierre Loti Hill & Coffee House
- Eyüp Sultan Mosque & Square
- Byzantine City Walls
- Ayvansaray Sahaba Tombs
- Church of St. Mary (Panagia - Blachernae)
- Balat (a walk through the streets with ancient houses)
- Bulgarian St. Stephen Church (from outside)
- Ahrida Synagogue (from outside)
- Fener Greek Orthodox College (from outside)
- Patriarchate of Istanbul
- Return to Istanbul Airport
T05: 16:00 to 21:30 Walk Tour Itinerary
- Departure from Istanbul Airport
- Following the Coastal Road
- Yeni Kapı Harbour
- Beyazit Square
- Istanbul University (outer visit)
- Beyazit Tower
- Old Book Market
- Grand Bazaar
- Çorlulu Ali Pasha Mosque
- Tomb of Mahmud the 2nd
- Column of Constantine
- Hippodrome Square
- German Fountain
- Egyptian Obelisk
- Serpentine Column
- Obelisk of Theodosius
- Blue Mosque (outer visit)
- Hagia Sophia (outer visit)
- Dinner
- Returns to Istanbul Airport
T06: 18:00 to 23:00 Bosphorus Tour Itinerary
- Dinner
- Bosphorus cruise
How to join a free tour?
You just need to find the Hotel Desk to apply for Touristanbul. The Hotel Desk can be found after passing the passport control and customs at Istanbul Airport. There is no need to book in advance to join the free tour.
Free Istanbul Tour Review
Our review of free tour in Istanbul with Turkish Airlines can be found here: Review of Touristanbul - Free Istanbul Tour with Turkish Airlines.