Islamic Istanbul Tour with a Private Guide

Istanbul's Islamic heritage

For almost five centuries Istanbul was the seat of the caliphate, and the city is filled with sacred places. Long before the Ottoman conquest of 1453, Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came to the walls of Constantinople, and several of them are buried here. The most revered is Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, whose tomb in Eyüp is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Islamic world.

On this private tour a licensed guide takes you to Eyüp Sultan Mosque and the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, the tombs of the Sahaba around the old city walls, the Underground Mosque in Karaköy, the mosque and tomb of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, and the great Ottoman mosques. You travel in a private car and pray at the mosques along the way, at your own pace. A shorter half-day tour covers Eyüp, the cable car to Pierre Loti Hill and the city walls.

Islamic tour highlights

• Eyüp Sultan MosqueAnd the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, the standard-bearer of the Prophet.
• Tombs of the SahabaThe resting places of the Companions around the old city.
• The Underground MosqueYeraltı Camii in Karaköy, set in the vaults of a Byzantine fortress.
• Fatih MosqueThe tomb of Sultan Mehmet II, the Conqueror of Istanbul.
• Pierre Loti HillThe cable car from Eyüp and the view over the Golden Horn.
• Private and flexibleYour own guide and car, with time for prayers.

Places we visit

1. The Underground Mosque, Karaköy
   A small mosque in the vaults of a Byzantine tower, with the tombs of two Companions.
2. Fatih Mosque
   The tomb of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror and the Şeyhülislam.
3. Tombs of the Sahaba along the walls
   The tombs of Companions such as Abu Darda, Hafir and Jabir, near Edirnekapı and the land walls.
4. Merkezefendi
   The historic cemetery and the complex of the 16th-century scholar Merkez Efendi.
5. Eyüp Sultan Mosque
   The mosque, the cemetery and the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari.
6. Back to your hotel, around 17:00
   Or, on the half-day tour, finish with the cable car up to Pierre Loti Hill.

What is included in the islamic tour

Good to know before you go

• Dress modestly: long trousers or skirts and covered shoulders. Women need a headscarf in the mosques and tombs.
• Visits pause during prayer times; guests are welcome to join the prayers.
• Shoes are taken off inside the mosques and tombs.
• Friday noon prayers draw large crowds in Eyüp; we plan the route around them.

What our guests say about our cruises

Booking, payment and cancellation

1. RequestSend your date, group size and wishes. No prepayment.
2. Your plan and priceWe reply with a tailored itinerary and a written price, usually within the hour.
3. On the dayPay in cash in euro, US dollar or Turkish lira.
4. 24+ hours beforeCancel or change your date free of charge.
5. Under 24 hoursLate cancellations and no-shows cannot be refunded.

If a cruise is cancelled because of bad weather or an official warning, you choose a new date or cancel at no cost. These terms are for guided tours and shared cruises; private yachts have their own private tour terms.

Islamic tour FAQ