Hop on Hop off Bus Tours

Touring a city in a double-decker open-top tourist bus is very common in major destinations around the world, and Istanbul is no exception. In this post you'll find everything you need to know about prices, schedules, stops and tips. So you can hop on to see more of Istanbul and hop off to explore the most visited and popular places in the city.

Tickets are for 1, 2 or 3 days allowing you to organise yourself much better and have a range of 6 months. In addition, all tickets include two different routes and entry to the Miniaturk Museum and the Naval Museum.

The best option

Istanbul Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

Your Hop On Hop Off tour on Big Bus

Excellent option if you are looking for a sightseeing bus tour of the city in order to see the most important sights from an ideal perspective.

From £37 at Hellotickets

One of the best ways to see Istanbul is on a double-decker sightseeing bus with free stops. With this tour you can see the main attractions of Istanbul such as Topkapi Palace, Taksim Square, Bosphorus Bridge, the Golden Horn, and many more. In addition, these buses have no roof so you can enjoy 360-degree panoramic views throughout the tour. The tour lasts approximately two hours and you can make as many stops as you like.

Recommended: If you are short on time and want to make the most of your stay in Istanbul. It is also an excellent way to save money on transport.

There are several options to buy tickets for tourist bus, you can buy them directly on the bus you are going to get on, or you can also buy your ticket online and in advance.

I recommend you to buy the tickets online, to avoid being left out of the bus due to the crowds; moreover, it is also cheaper than buying on the spot. Of course you can safely buy tickets on board, but be aware that you won't know the price in advance and you will have to wait in line.

The price of a ticket varies according to age and the length of the ticket. If you are an adult, from €50 you can enjoy a day full of trips and tours.

• 24-hour ticket: The adult ticket costs around €41.

I recommend a sightseeing bus tour as it is a great way to see the s ights of the city in a fantastic, efficient and cheap way. Ideal for getting a general overview of what the city is like it will make your planning much more efficient regardless of whether you are going to Istanbul for 1 day or spending 7 days in Istanbul.

It is also highly recommended for you if you are visiting the city for the first time, if you are in Istanbul for a short stay (between 2 and 7 days), if your budget is limited and you cannot afford to be constantly moving from one place to another; or if you are travelling with family, children or elderly people (especially if any of them suffer from reduced mobility).

It is also a great way to experience the history of the city and enjoy the sights accompanied by a knowledgeable guide of the city and its sites.

There are usually two routes offered as a sightseeing bus tour. A city tour of Istanbul (Red Route) with 11 stops (buses arrive every 30 minutes). And a tour known as the "Golden Horn Tour" (Blue Route) with 8 stops (buses arrive every 60 minutes).

• April to September: In the case of the Red Route, the first departure is at 09:15 at Sultanahmet Square, the frequency is 30 minutes, and the last stop is at 16:45. In the case of the Blue Route, the departure is at 10:00 at Sultanhmet Square, the frequency is 30 minutes, and the last departure is at 18:00.
• October to March: For the Red Route, the first departure is at 09:45, the frequency is 60 minutes, and the last departure is at 16:45. In the case of the Blue Route, the first departure is at 09:00, the frequency is 30 minutes, and the last departure is at 17:00.

You can start the Istanbul sightseeing bus tour at any of the many stops. The tour starts initially from Sultanahmet Square, just across from Hagia Sophia on the historic peninsula. The tour bus is really easy to find and identify. Let's take a more in-depth look at this pair of tours and what stops they include.

Istanbul City Tour (Red Route)

The stops on the first Big Bus route:

• Stop 1: Sultanahmet Square, start of the tour.
• Stop 2: Galata Bridge
• Stop 3: Tophane
• Stop 4: Harbour
• Stop 5: Dolmabahce Palace, one of the most popular palaces in Istanbul.
• Stop 6: Naval Museum, here I would recommend you to get off and spend at least 1 hour. The museum contains a large collection of maritime and military artefacts. Admission is included in the ticket. Remember that this museum is closed on Mondays.
• Stop 7: Beylerbeyi Palace
• Stop 8: Akaretler / W Hotel
• Stop 9: Taksim Square, here I recommend you get off and spend at least 1-2 hours walking along the famous Istiklal Street, visit the church of St. Anthony of Padua and the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
• Stop 10: Sishane
• Stop 11: Egyptian Spice Bazaar in Istanbul, here you could also get off and spend at least 1 hour in the bazaar, this very famous place is close to Eminonu Square and is ideal to experience the lively atmosphere of the locals.
• Sultanahmet Square: End of the tour.

Golden Horn Tour (Blue Route)

The stops on the first route of the Big Bus:

• Stop 1: Sultanahmet Square, start of the tour.
• Stop 2: Galata Bridge.
• Stop 3: Patriarchate.
• Stop 4: Cable Car, here I would recommend you to get off and take the cable car to Pierre Loti Hill for panoramic views with coffee and Turkish tea, I would advise you to spend about 1 hour.
• Stop 5: Istanbul Dolphinarium.
• Stop 6: Miniaturk. Admission is included in the tourist bus ticket.
• Stop 7: Rahmi Koc Transport Museum.
• Stop 8: Egyptian Spice Bazaar.
• Stop 9: Sultanahmet Square, end of tour.

About the duration of the tour, a full circuit on the Red Route (City Tour) takes approximately 2 hours, while the Blue Route (Golden Horn) Tour takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The duration may change due to heavy traffic at some peak hours. Duration may change due to heavy traffic at some peak times.

If you are looking to enjoy a tour with the fewest number of breaks and in a much smoother way, travel to Istanbul in autumn or spring is ideal. The city will still have a fairly bearable climate and a much less hectic atmosphere.

The sightseeing bus, besides being a great way to see the city, get a more global perspective on Istanbul and save money, also includes some features that are definitely worth noting:

• A double-decker bus with an open top that allows you to get panoramic views.
• Sightseeing tour of Istanbul's main attractions and sites.
• Tickets for the Miniaturk Museum, the Naval Museum and the Bosphorus Cruise, free of charge.
• A free audio guide available in 8 languages and with a new pair of headphones.
• Flexibility thanks to multiple stops.
• Freemobile app with informative guide.
• A chance to see most of the sights and landmarks in just two hours.
• Free Wi-Fi on board.

Here are some tips, directions and extra information to help you before you get on the Istanbul sightseeing bus:

• With the double-decker sightseeing bus tour you can get off at any of the designated stops and then explore the area and sights on foot at your leisure; you can then catch the next bus**(buses arrive at stops every 30 minutes / 60 minutes**) from any stop. Once you're ready you can hop back on and move on to visit the other sights.
• Stops are located near Istanbul' s most visited and famous monuments and attractions. The top deck of the sightseeing bus offers amazing panoramic views of the city and allows you to take pictures.
• Each ticket gives you access to two different routes, so it is very flexible. In addition, there are also three types of tickets to choose from such as 1 day (Classic), 2 days (Premium) or 3 days (Deluxe) which include both routes, plus entrance to the Miniaturk Museum and the Naval Museum.
• When you take the Istanbul sightseeing bus you will receive a coupon book with a variety of discounts and offers to use at Istanbul's best attractions. You will also receive a free newspaper which is available in English and Arabic.
• The tour also features stops ideal for activities with children in Istanbul such as the Dolphinarium or the Miniaturk open-air museum (included free of charge), where Turkey's most important monuments are recreated in miniature. A great way to save money and create an atmosphere for younger visitors.
• I recommend that you buy your ticket in advance, especially if you are travelling to Istanbul in summer or high season.