Things to do in Turkey

The hot air balloon guide was fantastic! High energy throughout the ride, and even though it was my first time and i was slightly nervous, his excitement and confidence helped ease the nerves. 10/10 would recommend and go again! superb experience for a good price in June!! The flight was 1hr plus and it was worth it definitely. Thank you skyway for the wonderful experience. I would recommend this provider for your hot air balloon ride. Just do it.

The Basilica Cistern offered an incredibly stunning experience; it's hard to imagine such a magnificent ancient reservoir hidden beneath the city. The skip-the-line ticket was a lifesaver, saving us from long waits under the scorching sun, and the entry process was smooth. With the audio guide, we learned about the history of its construction and the stories behind it. The tall stone columns were neatly arranged, and the lights reflected on the water, creating an absolutely captivating atmosphere. The Medusa column is a classic highlight here, both mysterious and unique. Walking through the damp corridors, a profound sense of ancient history enveloped us. The overall pace of the tour was comfortable, feeling both fantastical and awe-inspiring, full of mystery. It's a must-see attraction when visiting Istanbul.

Visiting Hagia Sophia was the main purpose of this trip. It was a shame that both the exterior and interior were under renovation. Nevertheless, it was truly wonderful to experience the profound historical significance of this cultural heritage site, with its frescoes and even graffiti from when it was used as a mosque after being an Orthodox church, all preserved as they were. Although there's a mobile Japanese audio guide, I had to infer a lot because many parts of the AI voice's Japanese were incomprehensible. The speaking speed was also slow, so I set it to 1.5x speed, which made it sound normal. Still, I believe you can't talk about sightseeing in Istanbul without seeing Hagia Sophia. I'm glad I went.

Dolmabahçe Palace is truly stunning, living up to its reputation as the New Palace. The entire palace stands by the water, with its pristine white marble architecture facing the Bosphorus Strait. Its exterior is grand and magnificent, making every photo opportunity a perfect shot. Purchasing the skip-the-line ticket saved us from long queues, allowing for smooth entry. Coupled with the audio guide, we were able to understand the historical stories behind it. Inside, the palace is opulent, with giant crystal chandeliers dazzling brightly and abundant gold decorations adding to its splendor, creating a powerful visual impact. Strolling along the corridors, one can experience the luxury of late Ottoman European court life while also enjoying views of the strait. The overall experience was excellent, the pace of the visit was comfortable, and the architectural aesthetics were impressive. It's definitely a must-visit when in Istanbul.

Awesome ferry ride. Was not expecting this level of awesomeness from just a simple boat ride. for those who wish to experience both Europe and Asia side, this ride is for you. But bring a jacket though as it gets very windy. Overall, POWEEEEER!

Exploring Cappadocia on horseback turned out to be an incredibly impressive and uniquely original experience for us. We got to admire the breathtaking rock formations and fairy chimneys from a special perspective that you cannot reach by car or on foot. Our riding guide Muhsin was extremely professional throughout the whole journey. He handled the horses skillfully, gave us clear guidance along the trail, and always kept a close eye on our safety. It was a wonderful, unforgettable adventure that we would highly recommend to anyone visiting Göreme.

We enjoyed beautiful views of the Bosphorus Strait from a wonderful location until sunset. You can get a great view of Dolmabahçe Palace, Rumeli Hisarı, and the Maiden's Tower from the sea as you pass under the bridges. Chef Ahmet served warm tea and distributed blankets. The fruit and cookie platter, along with the additional french fries and toast, were also delicious. With drink service included, this tour offers great value and is highly recommended. Please do order drinks and additional food! Thank you for the lovely magnet gift! This is my third time in Turkey, and this cruise is the best for relaxing and enjoying the music. Thank you for the excellent service, Chef Ahmet!

The trainers were great, very kind and helpful. my horse Sultan was a huge brown female horse, but she was kind and would walk slowly for me. although it can be a little scary for a first timer, it is worth the experience. the instructors helped us throughout the way and took for us pictures and videos. super worth it. thank you to yasin, ahmed, and majeed for all your help! it lasted more than 2 hours so super worth your money!!

Convenience: It was easy to book, and using it was convenient too, as I just had to show the voucher code for immediate entry. Included Activities: It was great to experience a variety of activities, but I wish more passes were available for popular tourist areas like Cappadocia and Antalya. I used three passes: Basilica Cistern, Cappadocia Cave Dinner Show, and Pamukkale. If you choose the fast-track option for Basilica Cistern, you get in really quickly; the regular line was too long. Also, download the audio guide beforehand and listen to it at your accommodation. Even if you download it, once you're on-site, the data connection might drop midway, and it's too chaotic with so many tourists to concentrate anyway, haha. And the complimentary cruise was really good! However, for the unlimited drinks package, the seats are in the center, so you can't sit by the edge; those seats are reserved for people who booked with a meal. But I was satisfied because going downstairs to the first floor after the boat departed and standing outside was cooler, offered better views, and made for great photos.

I purchased the Hagia Sophia + Basilica Cistern combo and visited on July 19th. If you wait at the meeting point where people are gathered, a man with a flag will appear about 5 minutes before the tour starts! We first toured the Basilica Cistern, and our guide gave an excellent explanation! We saw the Cistern in the morning, did other activities, and then visited Hagia Sophia around 4 PM. At that time, there was no line for on-site tickets, and we went straight in after a quick bag check with the fast-track entry. However, there's really not much to see at Hagia Sophia, so it felt like a waste of money. The Basilica Cistern, though, exceeded expectations!

Since it was peak season and I was traveling with my mother, I booked a fast-track ticket for convenience. I usually explore museums and palaces thoroughly with audio guides even when traveling alone, so I booked the fast-track option (including an audio guide). However, I later found out it didn't include the Harem section. To add the Harem, it would cost an additional 1040 lira, which is about 35,000 won, purchased at the internal ticket office. In hindsight, it would have been better to buy a ticket that included a guided tour from the start. The palace is so vast and has so much to see that it took us three hours just to look around on our own, and we visited on a Sunday, so there were long lines at each section. I thought it would have been more efficient if a guide had pointed out the key locations and must-see items. Also, the audio guide included with this ticket is not the official palace commentary but a much more concise version. While the official version might be better for those with a strong academic interest exploring alone, on a day like ours, when we were simply enjoying the beautiful and rare artifacts, we didn't really listen to the commentary anyway. So, it wasn't an issue. The tickets are exchanged inside the meeting point (Bistro), and at the designated time, a host personally escorts you into the palace. It was nice to arrive a little early, have a drink, and wait comfortably. The host spoke English clearly and distinctly, which made me think it would have been even better to have an English guided tour. In conclusion, even a simple guided tour is better than none, and I recommend a tour that includes the Harem section if you're going anyway. However, I have no regrets about exploring freely, and I was truly happy because Topkapi Palace was so magnificent. With its panoramic views, architecture, and the artifacts and jewels inside, it's a must-visit attraction that I highly recommend, despite the expensive admission fee!

It was smooth, exciting, with the right amount of time to spend, as well as some given free time to explore the sites. The attractions are close together, which made the rides enjoyable. I liked that it wasn't a big group. My tour guide, Rabía, is great, professional, informative, and she always checked on us. I really appreciated her. The buffet-style lunch was fresh and tasty. Just one thing was out of the itinerary written here: we had a quick stop for a complimentary Turkish food and coffee tasting session at a store, which I didn't mind because I didn't feel any pressure to shop. It was lovely that they offered you a deal after the tasting and prior to your browsing at the store. The customer service team of this tour was good as well, and the response time was reasonably quick. I do encourage you to reach out to them first about the arrangement via the contact info they provided here.