istanbul tourist pass review

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Istanbul Tourist Pass® Review: Is It Worth It? Insider Tips

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The Istanbul Tourist Pass is one of the two common city passes in Istanbul , together with Istanbul E-Pass and Istanbul Museum Pass . We tested them all and here we’ll give you information and advice about the Istanbul Tourist Pass, including would it worth it, what you’ll get, the advantages and disadvantages, the buying process, how you’ll use it and how much you’ll save when comparing with other tourist passes.

Table of Contents

Our Istanbul Tourist Pass® Review

This year we decided to give the Istanbul Tourist Pass ® a try. Here is our review of this famous Pass; what’s included, what’s not yet included, how to get the pass, how to use it, and of course whether it’s worth the investment. Let’s begin.

What is Istanbul Tourist Pass®?

Basically, it is a digital card that offers access to 100+ attractions in Istanbul. As we told Istanbul Tourist Pass® is the first tourist city card introduced in Istanbul and an experienced tourist agency created it. It is important because as you may agree, in tourism you want your providers to be experienced. So far, it is safe to say that Istanbul Tourist Pass is a reliable card.

Rather than paying for each item individually, the pass allows you to choose from 100+ things to do in Istanbul so you can pack as much into your stay as possible for a single set price. You’ll get valuable discounts of up to 80% .

After you purchase the pass, it will be delivered to mobile phone and will be ready to use at upon arrival.

There are four types of Istanbul Tourist Pass (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10-Day) .

Buy Your Istanbul Tourist Pass Online Now

Valid for 1 to 10 days depending the pass you buy, starting from your first activation.

What is included in the Istanbul Tourist Pass®?

Since there are 85+ attractions included it is hard for us to write them all but you can check them out on their websites. But it is fair to say that they gathered nearly everything you must see and do in Istanbul.

The best part of the pass is they have their own tour guides. The professional guides of the Pass offer guided tours to Hagia Sophia , Blue Mosque , Topkapi Palace , Dolmabahce Palace , Basilica Cistern , and Grand Bazaar . This makes a huge difference because it is important to see these places with informative guides. So far we loved the tour guides we met, they answered all our questions by heart.

No Regrets Booking Advice

There are also great options for families with kids like free access to aquariums or other fun places. For our group though, the best thing was the discounted internet provider they gave us and airport transfers.

The company is also one of the very few providers of unlimited public transportation cards, and they deliver your card to your hotel! It is a great difference since we didn’t try to buy a transportation card, we just started to travel around the city! If you travel a lot, then you know how public transportation cards can be confusing. We were so thankful for that service!

Since there are 85+ attractions included in the Istanbul Tourist Pass® it may be so long to list them all there but you can check here all the attractions and services. Here we wanted to categorize them so you can understand the rich list of categories.

Guided Tours – Istanbul Tourist Pass® has a great team of professional guides
Entrance tickets to various attractions, shows, and museums – privileged, skip the line
Sightseeing tours: Cruises, yacht tours, helicopter tours, and breakfast & dinner cruises
Day Trips from Istanbul to nearby towns and cities
Experiences for you to feel like a local
Family & Kid attractions – they have something for every age
Services and offers for making your life easier during your holiday
Transportation options

How to get an Istanbul Tourist Pass®?

It is very easy and convenient to buy this pass from its website. Here is a screen grab for you to see the options they have in 2023. You can just choose the day and buy it. Right away you get an email with all details to start using.

As soon as we placed our order, we received the digital pass via email. It was instantly valid for access to most inclusions of the pass; however, some experiences and services require advance reservation such as Airport Transfer and Whirling Dervishes Show .

The next step is to download the Istanbul Tourist Pass® app from the App Store or Google Play Store to view your pass. It is a very easy-to-use app to make reservations and see the locations of attractions.

While we ordered, we added unlimited public transportation cards to our order. So the transportation cards were waiting for us when we got to our hotel! We think it is a great service.

the Easiest and the Cheapest Way

We recommend you to buy the Istanbul Tourist Pass from its own website on istanbultouristpass.com

You can cancel all reservations for free with a FULL REFUND up to 24 hours in advance.

How to Use Istanbul Tourist Pass®?

First, download the Istanbul Tourist Pass® App from Google Play Store or Apple Store Click and enter your Istanbul Tourist Pass ID in the My Pass section.

Then you can see all the attractions whether you need a reservation or not from the app. We made reservations easily and in our group, everyone found the app very easy to use.

They have a helpful team to answer all questions by the way. You can call them from their office 7 days a week and text them from their WhatsApp number. We received responses right away when we emailed them. We think it is really important to talk with a real person to help while you are in a foreign country! We felt safe for sure.

The unlimited public transportation cards were also great since they arrived at our hotel before us. Since it is prepaid we didn’t have to put on money or do anything more, we just started to use them.

Whatsapp Instant Guiding Service

As we mentioned before, Istanbul Tourist Pass offers a fast and helpful instant message service. When you travel in a foreign country it is really important to have someone you can ask questions to and get answers instantly. That’s why we really liked the instant guiding service Istanbul Tourist Pass® provides. It is not just a simple customer service that only answers your product-related questions but much more!

If you are stuck in traffic and have no idea how to go to, for example, Hagia Sophia, they are ready to help you! The professional personnel answering your questions will be clear and professional. Since you don’t have to ‘talk’ then don’t worry about your English, they can easily assist you to solve your problem. Feeling safe is important while traveling, we felt safe and grateful for this guiding service.

Happy Customers

If you are like us, you always check the previous comments and rates given by other customers before buying anything. If it is the case then it is fair to say that nearly all the comments we read about Istanbul Tourist Pass are super positive! People generally mentioned the money and time they saved and are thankful for the helpful customer service team.

Is the Istanbul Tourist Pass® worth it?

First things first, yes it is worth the price! On their website, you can compare the prices of tickets. But apart from the ticket prices, it is great to have a combination of selected attractions. So you can decide where to go and when to go.

Taking a simple addition and subtraction approach to compare the savings will help us understand it better. Here is a sample itinerary for a three-day trip. For an evenhanded comparison, keep in mind that activities such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Dolmabahçe Palace, and Basilica Cistern are not only entrance tickets but guided tours.

The best part for us was the guided tours. The informative guides were very friendly and informative. We didn’t have to pay more for tour guides and entrance.

Since the company behind the pass was an experienced one, they seemed to know our needs and they cared about our wishes. We got replies right away when we called or wrote them, it made us feel safe.

So, we comfortably recommend you to go for it and buy an Istanbul Tourist Pass® if you visit this amazing city. You will save time and money, and more importantly, you will feel safe and covered.

Things to know before you buy

Istanbul Tourist Pass is an online/digital pass .
The voucher you get is your digital pass for admission to included attractions .
All support is provided in English .
Valid for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 consecutive days.
Some attractions require reservations. Download the Istanbul Tourist Pass app to do so
All attractions are single entry, except the Boat Tour which is valid for 1 day or 1 full loop
All children will be asked to present their valid passport at the entrance of the museums in order to validate their age

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Istanbul Tourist Pass Review

Heading to Istanbul and looking for the best way to explore its historic mosques, monuments, palaces, and other attractions? An Istanbul Tourist Pass may be the answer. But how do you know it’s worth the money and your time? In this Istanbul Pass Review, we will talk in detail about the pass.

Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. With an incredible mix of ancient history, iconic cultural landmarks and mesmerizing views, it’s no wonder that tourists flock to this fascinating city year-round. The Istanbul Tourist Pass aims to make your trip easier by allowing you access to various attractions at a discounted price.

In this review, we will explore what makes the Istanbul Tourist Pass a great choice for your next visit. We’ll look at what attractions are included in the pass, where you can buy it and compare prices so that you can make an informed decision if this pass is right for you.

Istanbul Tourist Pass Review Summary

Istanbul Tourist Pass is a digital travel discount card that provides entrance and transportation tickets to many of Istanbul’s top tourist attractions. It is created by CityBerry, which has 25+ years of experience in Tourism and offers tours to historically important places with knowledgeable guides.

The pass allows you to choose from 75+ things to do in Istanbul for a single set price, with discounts of up to 75%. It is very easy to buy and use since it has a great website and an app you can easily download.

Istanbul Tourist Pass® offers 1-day, 2-day, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 10-day pass options. The company has sold over 250,000 passes by the end of 2022 with a 98.7% customer recommendation rating. Reviews can be found on the website to ensure reliable tourism agency backing when travelling abroad. This makes it easier for tourists who want to explore Istanbul without having to worry about buying individual tickets or paying full prices for attractions

The pricing of Istanbul tourist passes offers a range of options to suit different budgets and needs. For those looking for a short stay, the 1-day pass is available at €95 (Adult) and €55 (Child). For those wanting to explore more of the city, 2-7 day passes range from €105 – €175 (Adult) and €65 – €125 (Child), while the 10-day pass is priced at €195 (Adult) and €145 (Child).

The Istanbul Tourist Pass also offers great value with premium entertainment and museum visits such as Bosphorus Dinner Cruise, Whirling Dervishes Show, Big Bus tickets and skip-the-line museum tours. For five or seven day passes, visitors can get an 80€ value plus free entry to Sea Life Aquarium and Madame Tussaud’s at 12€ each by including the Bursa Day Trip and Sapanca Lake Tour. Guided tours of various attractions are also available for purchase.

Check the availability of the Istanbul Tourist Pass below

What’s included?

This package offers a comprehensive tour of Istanbul, Turkey. It includes access to attractions such as state museums and discounts on airport transfers. Additionally, there is a chat service over WhatsApp for any questions or concerns you may have during your stay. Pickup and drop-off from select hotels is also included in the package.

The tour guide will take you through some of Istanbul’s most iconic sites, including Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahce Palace, Grand Bazaar and Blue Mosque. Audio guides are provided to help you get the most out of your experience. However, please note that the Harem section is excluded in the Dolmabahce Palace museum tour. With this package, you can be sure to make the most out of your time in Istanbul!

Some of the included things

Attractions & Tours:

Attractions & Tours is the perfect way to explore the best of Istanbul. With a range of guided tours, experiences and discounted services, you can make the most of your time in this vibrant city. From guided tours of popular attractions such as Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahçe Palace, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazar and Byzantine Hippodrome to experiences such as museum passes, photoshoots in Ottoman attire, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and SEA Life Aquarium –

there’s something for everyone. Plus, with access to attractions and experiences with a digital pass emailed after purchase – there’s no need for printed tickets or hidden payments. And if that wasn’t enough – free guided tours are provided for state museums! So why not take advantage of Attractions & Tours and explore all that Istanbul has to offer?

How much will I save?

The Istanbul Tourist Pass is a great way to save money if you plan on visiting multiple attractions in the city. With English support and valid for 1-10 consecutive days, it can be used to gain admission to included attractions.

Reservations can be made via the mobile app and most attractions are single entry, except the Boat Tour which is valid for 1 day or 1 full loop. Children must present a valid passport at museum entrances to validate their age.

The Istanbul Museum Pass can also save you money if you plan to visit multiple museums. You can buy the pass from a ticket booth, Mosaic Museum, Museum of Islamic Arts or a vending machine. The card is activated when used at the entrance and is valid for 5 days or 120 hours.

Vending machines only accept cards and do not accept cash, but there are also vending machines on the square in Sultanahmet that may be operational. With all these options available, it’s easy to see how much money you

Ordering and Getting Started with Istanbul Tourist Pass

The Istanbul Tourist Pass is the perfect way to explore the city and save money. With this pass, you can access a variety of attractions and services at discounted prices. To get started, simply order your pass online and receive a link to your pass page. You can also download the app for iOS or Android for easy use of the pass. Once you have your pass, you can reserve seats and WiFi devices to make the most of your experience.

Making Reservations

Making reservations for a trip can be a daunting task, especially during high season. It is best to order passes a few weeks before the start of the trip in order to get the best deals and discounts. Airport pickup is now a discounted service for which an extra fee needs to be paid. When ordering a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, the user must provide their hotel’s name and address for delivery.

The Istanbul Tourist Pass is an excellent way to explore the city as it includes entrance fees and guided tours to various venues. The schedule of the guided tours can be checked on the Istanbul Tourist Pass page, making it easier to plan an itinerary with the pass. Popular attractions should be booked early in order to avoid last minute rush.

All detailed information about tour and booking experiences are available on the digital pass, which can also be used to book attractions, sights and services via its mobile app.

My 3-day Itinerary

My 3-day itinerary in Istanbul is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

Day 1 – I will start my journey by visiting the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, followed by a visit to Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern. After that, I will explore Hippodrome and fountain, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar. To end the day with a bang, I will enjoy a Whirling Dervishes show and dinner at Nevizade.
Day 2 – I will tour Dolmahbaçe Palace, Beşiktaş Stadium, Topkapı Palace and Hagia Irene. Then I will take a Bosphorus cruise with dinner and entertainment.
Day 3 – This day of my trip will begin with a Hop On-Hop Off bus tour around the city. During this tour I will visit Madame Tussauds, Pera Museum and Galata Tower before ending the day with dinner. With all these activities planned

My Experiences Using Istanbul Tourist Pass

I recently had the opportunity to use the Istanbul Tourist Pass during my visit to the city. This pass provided me with a mobile Wi-Fi device, power bank, and USB charger cable, which was incredibly convenient for staying connected while exploring the city.

The Hop On-Hop Off bus is the starting point for most guided tours and guides require Istanbul Tourist Pass numbers to be shown via the app on a mobile device.

The Istanbul Tourist Pass proved to be an invaluable asset during my stay in Istanbul. It provided me with a discounted way to experience all of the city’s top attractions and sights. The accompanying mobile app was easy to use and served as a great city guide book.

All of the attractions, sights, and services that I booked from the app worked out perfectly with my digital pass. Additionally, I found their Whatsapp support team to be quick and helpful when I had questions or needed assistance. Overall, I highly recommend this pass for travelers staying at least 3 days

Guided Tours

Guided tours of Istanbul’s most popular attractions are a great way to explore the city. With the Istanbul Tourist Pass, visitors can skip the line and go straight in with their pass to enjoy guided tours of attractions such as the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabache Palace, Basilica Cistern and Serfifye Cistern. The Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is also included in this package.

The guided tours provide an enhanced experience for tourists as they are led by an accredited guide who speaks English. The guide provides brief explanations of the exhibits as well as interesting facts and legends about them in a balanced way. This allows visitors to gain more knowledge about the history of the museum while still having time to explore it in more detail. Guide Livan is known for providing an enjoyable tour experience that will leave you with lasting memories of your visit to Istanbul.

Activities Which Required Reservations

Making reservations for activities in Istanbul is a great way to ensure that you get the most out of your trip. From Whirling Dervishes ceremonies at the Hodjapasha cultural center to Bosphorus cruises with dinner and entertainment, there are plenty of options available

. It is best to book passes a few weeks in advance, especially during high season, to ensure availability. Airport pickup is now a discounted service for which you must pay an extra fee. When ordering a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, provide the start date and hotel address so it can be ready upon arrival.

The Istanbul Tourist Pass includes entrance fees and guided tours to various attractions. The third step on the pass page is to check the schedule of the guided tours. Making an itinerary can be done by printing out the page and creating one’s own plan.

On board the Bosphorus cruise, guests can choose between fish, chicken or Turkish meatballs for the main course while enjoying entertainment such as Turkish

Other Activities

The Istanbul Tourist Pass app is a great way to get access to all the activities in the city. It was especially helpful when we wanted to take the Beşiktaş Stadium Tour, as the help desk was available at 10:00 and provided assistance with getting an entrance ticket.

Reservation was also required for some activities, such as a Whirling Dervishes ceremony at the Hodjapasha cultural center and a Bosphorus cruise with dinner and entertainment, including hotel pickup.

Passengers were seated together on the cruise regardless of party size, allowing them to meet people from all over the world. Guests could choose between fish, chicken or Turkish meatballs for their main course while enjoying entertainment such as Turkish folk dances, a demonstration of whirling dervishes and a belly dancer.

They could also take pictures in Ottoman style dresses and enjoy water pipe while the DJ played music. The Istanbul Tourist Pass app made it easy to get into all these activities without any

Is Istanbul Tourist Pass Worth It?

The Istanbul Tourist Pass is a great value for money if you plan to take advantage of the activities and benefits it offers. For a three day itinerary, the regular price (excluding the ones not included with the pass) would be over €210 instead of €115.

The pass includes skip-the-line tours, evening entertainment, 3 days of pocket WiFi mobile internet, discounted airport pickup and entrance tickets to Sea Life and Madame Tussauds wax museum. Without the hop on-hop off bus, the regular price is still more than €165.

However, if you only want to go to museums and take a short Bosphorus cruise, then the Istanbul Tourist Pass may not be worth it. It may not be the best choice for those who prefer to explore Istanbul independently without a guide or take a short day cruise on the Bosphorus. Ultimately, it depends on individual preferences and budget considerations when deciding whether the Istanbul Tourist Pass is worth it.

What is the alternative to Istanbul Tourist Pass?

Now this is an interesting topic because you have numerous Istanbul City Passes available which you can check and select as per your need while we are planning to write more around the Istanbul Tourist Passes available but most of them includes everything.

If you are short on budget then we would recommend you to combine Istanbul Unlimited Public Transport Pass with Istanbul Complete Experience Pass .

Conclusion:

The Istanbul Tourist Pass is a great way to explore the city of Istanbul and get access to all the activities it has to offer. It provides VIP style access to over 35 of the top attractions across Istanbul, including 3-day pocket WiFi, skip-the-line guided tours for 5 top attractions, free access to museums and attractions, discounted airport transfer, a Whirling D

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Sankalp Singh is the Founder and Author of Chasing Whereabouts. He is passionate about travel, photography, and food. He has travelled across Europe extensively to experience its quirks, culture, and diversity. He is a self-taught traveller and he has been exploring the world since the age of 25. When he is not travelling, you can find him at work being a Software Engineer in 9-5 Job.

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Istanbul Tourist Pass Review: Top Must-See Attractions Included in the Pass

Planning a trip to Istanbul, Turkey? Consider using the Istanbul Tourist Pass, which grants you access to some of the city’s top attractions.

When my mom and I decided to embark on an unforgettable journey to Istanbul, we knew we wanted to make the most of our time in this vibrant city, rich with history and culture. That’s when we discovered the Istanbul Tourist Pass, which promised to grant us access to some of the city’s top must-see attractions – all within the span of our 4-day visit. We couldn’t resist, and let me tell you, this pass did not disappoint!

In this article, I’ll share our whirlwind adventure exploring Istanbul, from the stunning Bosphorus Boat Tour to the mesmerizing Traditional Turkish dance show and everything in between.

Whether you’re travelling with family or friends, the Istanbul Tourist Pass offers an incredible variety of experiences that cater to all interests and ages. So, buckle up and get ready to dive into our action-packed journey through this enchanting city, where my mom and I created memories that will last a lifetime!

Where to stay in Istanbul?

I recommend staying in the old centre of the city, to have easy access to all these tourist sites. Istanbul is a huge city, and staying further away from the centre means that you will spend a lot of time commuting in the city. If you’re here for a limited time, it would make more sense to book a hotel closer to the places you’d like to visit.

I can personally recommend the MENAR SUITES IN OLD CITY . The staff was exceptional, the breakfast was very good, and the hotel’s location is simply great if you want to visit all the most popular places in Istanbul.

Why buy Istanbul Tourist Pass?

The Istanbul Tourist Pass is a special kind of pass, and it was my first time dealing with it. At first, it seemed complicated and gave me a bit of a headache. But it does include all the must-see attractions in Istanbul and much more. To be honest, on my next visit to Istanbul, I will get it again, to visit the rest of the places that I had no time for this time.

Now let me tell you a bit about the Istanbul museum pass so that you know what to expect.

Note that some of the attractions are free to enter, while others are not. Most of the mentioned attractions, like the palaces and the mosque, are offered as a private tour, and the pass is only valid when entering the place with a tour. For instance, you can’t visit the Topkapi palace by yourself.

Also, these experiences are not offered every day, so I highly recommend checking the schedule beforehand and creating a specific schedule for your days in Istanbul.

Besides the tours to the mosque and palaces, other experiences, such as dinner cruises or day trips, must be booked in advance on the app, so make sure you make your schedule and then book the experience, as the seats are always limited.

I know that the Istanbul Tourist Pass is a hassle at first and doesn’t function like other passes you’ve used in Europe, but at the end of it, you get so much more.

I’m actually thrilled that I got to experience Istanbul with this pass, as the guides are extremely knowledgeable, and now everything makes a lot more sense.

Can you believe that I was in Istanbul at least five times before, but this was the first time I actually visited tourist places? Yes. That’s me. And all thanks to my mom, who wanted to visit Istanbul.

All-in-all, Istanbul is a great choice for a city break, a historical city destination. It’s big, crowded and loud, but it’s also extremely special and has a lot to offer.

Istanbul tourist pass must-see attractions

You may find the Istanbul Tourist Pass online here . While you can purchase it after you get to Istanbul, as I did, I do recommend keeping an eye on the website and subscribing to their newsletter if you know you’ll visit in the future.

They occasionally share special discounts with their subscribers, so that will help you save even more of your budget while still visiting the best places that Istanbul has to offer to first-time visitors.

You can also watch the video that includes all these attractions on my YouTube channel :

Bosphorus Boat Tour

Enjoy a scenic cruise along the Bosphorus Strait, which separates Europe and Asia, offering breathtaking views of Istanbul’s skyline and historic landmarks.

If you’re planning a trip to Istanbul, you’ve gotta check out the Bosphorus Boat Tour. It’s this super cool, laid-back cruise that sails along the Bosphorus Strait, which, if you didn’t know, is the waterway that separates Europe and Asia. How awesome is that?

This tour is perfect for anyone who’s into beautiful views and snapping Instagram-worthy photos. You’ll get to see some of Istanbul’s most famous landmarks from a whole new perspective, so get ready to be wowed.

But, let me give you a heads-up – the boat can get pretty crowded. So, you’ll wanna make sure to grab a sweet spot as soon as you get on board. Trust me, you don’t wanna miss out on those killer views.

So, whether you’re a history buff, a sightseeing enthusiast, or just looking for a chill way to spend an afternoon, the Bosphorus Boat Tour is definitely one of the best choices to get an overview of what Istanbul has to offer.

During the Bosphorus Boat Tour , you’ll catch sight of some amazing landmarks, including:

Dolmabahçe Palace (The European-style palace of the last Sultan)
Ortaköy Mosque (one of the most beautiful mosques in Istanbul with a magnificent interior design)
Rumeli Fortress (15th-century fortress with multiple towers)
Maiden’s Tower (a tower in the middle of the strait)
Bosphorus Bridges (You’ll get to see the 15th of July Martyrs Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge)
Beylerbeyi Palace (summer residence of Ottoman sultans)

These are just a few highlights, but you’ll also get to see plenty of waterfront mansions, historic buildings, and stunning panoramas of Istanbul’s skyline. Enjoy!

The Blue Mosque

Also known as Sultanahmet Mosque, this architectural marvel is famous for its six minarets and beautiful blue Iznik tiles that adorn the interior.

If you’re roaming around Istanbul, you can’t miss visiting The Blue Mosque, also known as Sultanahmet Mosque. The Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul’s crown jewels, and it’s perfect for anyone looking for a mix of culture, history, and awe-inspiring beauty. Don’t forget to bring your camera – you’ll want to capture every moment!

Trust me, it’s jaw-droppingly gorgeous, with its six towering minarets and incredible blue Iznik tiles that give the mosque its nickname.

Whether you’re a history lover or just someone who appreciates stunning architecture, this place is a must-see. Once you step inside, you’ll be amazed by the grand, light-filled interior, intricate designs, and peaceful atmosphere. It’s like stepping into another world!

Just a heads up – when you visit, you’ll need to dress modestly and take off your shoes, as it’s an active place of worship. But don’t worry; they provide cover-ups and shoe bags, so you’re all set.

Also, in 2022, the mosque was still under massive renovation, so most of it was covered by scaffolding, but at least the blue-tiled dome is visible.

Hagia Sophia Mosque

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Hagia Sophia is a former church and mosque, now a mosque again, renowned for its magnificent dome, Byzantine mosaics, and rich history.

So, if you’re in Istanbul, you’ve absolutely gotta check out the Hagia Sophia Mosque. This place is not only stunning but also has a super fascinating history! Get this: it was originally built as a mosque, then it became a Christian church, then a mosque again, then a museum, and since 2020, it’s back to being a mosque. Talk about a rollercoaster, right?

Now, here’s the cool part: since it’s a mosque again, you can visit it for free. But let me tell you, I had an amazing time with the guided tour that’s included in the Istanbul tourist pass. The guide really brings the history to life, and you’ll get to learn so much more than just walking around on your own.

Topkapi Palace

This opulent palace, once the residence of Ottoman sultans, houses incredible treasures and artefacts, including the famous Topkapi Dagger and the Spoonmaker’s Diamond.

Of course, if you’re exploring Istanbul, you’ve got to make time for Topkapi Palace. This place is dripping with history, and it’s seriously impressive. For over 400 years, it was the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans – can you imagine the stories these walls could tell?

One of the most interesting facts about Topkapi Palace is that it’s actually made up of a bunch of different buildings and courtyards. It was built in the 15th century, but over time, sultans added their own touches, making it a fascinating mix of architectural styles.

Now, when you visit, you’ll get to see some seriously cool treasures. For example, there’s the Topkapi Dagger, which has a whopping three emeralds on its hilt, and the mind-blowing 86-carat Spoonmaker’s Diamond. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

But here’s a little insider tip: don’t miss the Harem. It costs extra, but if you have the time, go for it. This was where the sultan’s wives, concubines, and children lived, and it’s full of stunning rooms, like the Imperial Hall, with its jaw-dropping tilework and golden decorations.

Bosphorus Dinner Cruise

Enjoy a leisurely dinner cruise along the Bosphorus, complete with traditional Turkish cuisine, live music, and stunning nighttime views of Istanbul’s illuminated landmarks.

Looking for a magical evening in Istanbul? You’ve gotta check out the Bosphorus Dinner Cruise. Imagine this: you’re cruising along the Bosphorus Strait, with the glittering lights of Istanbul’s skyline reflecting off the water, while you indulge in delicious Turkish cuisine. It’s a night you’ll never forget!

But it’s not just about the food and the views. This dinner cruise also features some fantastic live entertainment, like traditional Turkish music and dance performances. You’ll get to see local artists showcase their talents, and you might even feel the urge to join in and dance the night away.

The cruise takes you past some of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks, like the Dolmabahçe Palace, the Bosphorus Bridges, and Maiden’s Tower, all beautifully illuminated against the night sky. It’s the perfect backdrop for a romantic evening or a fun night out with friends.

While the food wasn’t anything special, the experience was fun, and the views were pretty. One of the most memorable moments was the lively entertainment and breathtaking views.

And the best part is that they provide free pick-up and drop-off if your hotel is in the centre of the city.

However, do know that every service will cost extra.

If you want alcoholic drinks, you should specify that at the time of booking (you must book the experience 1 day in advance) and pay for it then. If you decide you want to drink after you arrive, it will be more expensive. Also, there’s a photographer running around and taking pictures of everyone. They will try to sell you the pictures at the end of the cruise for 25 euros per photo or more. But maybe you can negotiate.

Regardless, this will be an evening you’ll be talking about long after you’ve returned home!

Grand Bazaar

One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, the Grand Bazaar is a shopping paradise with over 4,000 shops selling everything from jewellery and carpets to spices and ceramics.

If you’re a fan of shopping, you’ve got to make your way to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. This place is like a treasure trove, with over 4,000 shops packed into its winding lanes and colourful alleys. It’s one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, and trust me; you’ll find something amazing around every corner!

Of course, The Grand Bazaar is free to visit. But if you get the Istanbul pass for museums (Istanbul Tourist Pass), you’ll be able to join the Grand Bazaar tour with a local guide. This is a rather shorter tour, but it’s worth it to have a local guide you. I find that having a guide makes more sense if you want to ask questions and really dig deeper into the history of the place. After the tour, you can go and enjoy your shopping experience.

Here’s the deal: the Grand Bazaar is a shopper’s paradise, with loads of unique items you won’t find anywhere else. Looking for some gorgeous Turkish ceramics? They’ve got you covered. How about intricately woven carpets that’ll make your home feel like a sultan’s palace? They’ve got those too.

But it doesn’t stop there. You’ll find shops overflowing with vibrant textiles, shiny gold and silver jewellery, aromatic spices, and even handmade leather goods. And if you’re into antiques, you’ll be in heaven! There are tons of shops offering one-of-a-kind trinkets and vintage treasures.

Now, get ready to haggle because bargaining is all part of the fun at the Grand Bazaar. The shopkeepers are friendly, and they’ll be more than happy to chat and help you find the perfect souvenir or gift.

So, if you want to dive headfirst into the sights, sounds, and smells of Istanbul’s shopping scene, the Grand Bazaar is the place to be. Just make sure you’ve got some room in your luggage – you won’t leave empty-handed!

Dolmabahçe Palace

This lavish palace, which served as the administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century, is known for its grandeur, European-style architecture, and exquisite artwork.

If you’re in Istanbul and love history, architecture, and all things grand, you’ve gotta visit Dolmabahçe Palace. This place is seriously stunning – I mean, it was the lavish home and administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century, so you know it’s gotta be something special!

Dolmabahçe Palace was built between 1843 and 1856, and it’s a beautiful mix of European and traditional Ottoman styles. The palace’s designer, Garabet Balyan, really went all out, creating a jaw-dropping waterfront masterpiece that’ll leave you in awe.

Now, when you step inside, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a world of opulence and elegance. The palace is filled with luxurious furnishings, glittering chandeliers (including one that’s the world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier!), and breathtaking frescoes.

But heads up – you’re not allowed to take pictures inside, so you’ll have to store those stunning visuals in your memory. And honestly, it’s kinda nice to just take it all in without worrying about snapping the perfect shot.

So, if you’re ready to walk in the footsteps of sultans and experience the splendour of the Ottoman Empire, make sure Dolmabahçe Palace is on your Istanbul itinerary. It’s a place that’ll leave a lasting impression, and you’ll be talking about its beauty and history for years to come.

Traditional Turkish dance show

Experience the vibrant culture of Turkey through a mesmerizing performance of traditional dances, including the famous Whirling Dervishes.

If you’re in Istanbul and looking to experience the vibrant and rich culture of Turkey, you’ve got to catch a Traditional Turkish dance show. With the Istanbul Tourist Pass, you have two awesome options to choose from, depending on the day you want to book: the mesmerizing Whirling Dervishes or the lively traditional dances.

I went to the traditional dance show, and let me tell you, it was an unforgettable experience! The performance featured a bunch of different dances from various regions of Turkey, showcasing the country’s diverse cultural heritage. The dancers were incredibly gifted, and their energy and passion were totally contagious – I loved every moment of it!

The best part? You can take photos and even videos of the performance to share with your friends and family back home. Just remember not to use the flash, as it can be distracting for the performers.

So, if you want to immerse yourself in the captivating world of Turkish dance and music, be sure to book one of these fantastic shows with your Istanbul Tourist Pass. It’s an unforgettable experience that’ll leave you with a deeper appreciation for Turkey’s rich cultural tapestry.

Pierre Loti Hill (half-day trip)

This is a half-day trip which is included with your Istanbul Tourist Pass. You’ll need to book it one day in advance. The trip also includes a trip with the Pierre Loti cable car, a visit to the Eyüp Sultan Mosque and one hour at the Miniaturk open-air museum.

Now, when you reach Pierre Loti Hill, you’ll see why it’s named after the famous French writer who fell in love with the place. The view of the Golden Horn and the city skyline is truly enchanting – it’s the perfect spot for a selfie or just to take in the beauty of Istanbul.

The trip also includes a visit to the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, an important pilgrimage site with a rich history dating back to the 15th century. It’s a serene and spiritual place that’ll leave you feeling connected to Istanbul’s past.

Miniaturk Open Air Museum in Istanbul

And let’s not forget Miniaturk! This open-air museum is like a trip around Turkey in miniature, featuring scale models of the country’s most iconic landmarks. It’s like going through an entire itinerary of places to visit in Turkey in a matter of hours.

But if you don’t have time to visit all of Turkey, then the Miniaturk Museum is a good alternative. It’s a fun and educational experience that’ll give you a glimpse into Turkey’s rich history and culture.

Now, just a heads up – at the end of the trip, you might be offered some leather jackets for sale. But hey, if you’re in the market for some stylish Turkish leather, why not take a look?

So, if you’re ready for a half-day adventure that combines stunning views, historical sites, and unique experiences, be sure to add the Pierre Loti Hill trip to your Istanbul itinerary. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss!

Galata Tower

This medieval stone tower provides stunning panoramic views of Istanbul from its observation deck, as well as a museum that details its history.

If you’re in Istanbul and looking for a place with breathtaking views and rich history, make sure you visit Galata Tower. This medieval stone tower has stood tall since the 14th century, and it’s one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

Built by the Genoese in 1348, Galata Tower has served many purposes over the centuries, from a defensive watchtower to a fire lookout tower. Today, it’s a popular tourist attraction, and for a good reason – once you climb to the top, you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree panoramic views of Istanbul that you won’t find anywhere else.

Here’s a tip: if you want to beat the crowds and enjoy the view in peace, try visiting early in the morning or just before sunset. Not only will you avoid long lines, but you’ll also get to see the city bathed in that magical golden light.

From the top of Galata Tower, you’ll get a bird’s-eye view of the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, and all the must-see landmarks like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. Don’t forget your camera, because you’ll want to capture every moment!

So, if you’re ready to take in the best views of Istanbul and walk in the footsteps of history, be sure to add Galata Tower to your list of must-see attractions. It’s an experience that’ll leave you in awe of this incredible city.

Museum of Illusions

A fun, interactive museum that plays with your perception through mind-bending exhibits and optical illusions.

If you’re looking for a fun and unique experience in Istanbul, you’ve got to check out the Museum of Illusions. It’s included in the Istanbul Tourist Pass, and even though it’s more of a family and children’s attraction, trust me, it’s a blast for visitors of all ages!

I went with my mom, and we had such a great time exploring the museum together. It’s not huge, but it’s packed with cool illusions and interactive exhibits that’ll leave you scratching your head and laughing at the same time.

One of my absolute favourites was the Vortex – it’s a mind-bending, spinning tunnel that’ll make you feel like you’re walking on a different planet. But there’s so much more to discover, from optical illusions and holograms to rooms that mess with your perception of size and perspective.

So, if you’re in Istanbul and looking for a fun, lighthearted break from the historical sites and museums, be sure to visit the Museum of Illusions. It’s a memorable experience that’ll bring out your inner child and leave you with a whole new appreciation for the power of your own mind.

Madame Tussauds Istanbul

Pose for photos with lifelike wax figures of famous celebrities, politicians, and historical figures at this popular wax museum.

If you’re in Istanbul and want to rub shoulders with the stars (well, sort of), you’ve got to visit Madame Tussauds. This world-famous wax museum has a location right in the heart of Istanbul, and it’s the perfect place to have some fun and snap photos with your favourite celebrities – both Turkish and international!

What’s cool about Madame Tussauds Istanbul is that they’ve got a fantastic mix of figures, from Ottoman sultans and Turkish artists to Hollywood A-listers and legendary musicians. It’s like a who’s who of history and pop culture, all under one roof!

I went with my mom, and she absolutely loved it. She took photos with at least half of the wax statues, and we had so much fun striking poses and getting up close and personal with the lifelike figures.

So, if you’re looking for a lighthearted and entertaining experience in Istanbul, be sure to add Madame Tussauds to your itinerary. It’s a great opportunity to mingle with famous faces from history, the arts, and entertainment – all without leaving the city!

Is the Istanbul Tourist Pass worth it?

So, is the Istanbul Tourist Pass worth it? Based on my action-packed 4-day adventure, I’d say it’s definitely worth it! With so many incredible attractions included, like the Bosphorus Boat Tour, Topkapi Palace, the traditional Turkish dance show, and even Madame Tussauds, my mom and I were able to fully immerse yourselves in Istanbul’s rich history, culture, and entertainment.

Now, do note that the pace was intense, but the great thing about the pass is that it allows you to make the most of your time in Istanbul. Luckily, I’m not much of a foodie, so that helped. Not having to stop for lunch during our long days of sightseeing meant that we could squeeze in even more attractions and experiences.

In conclusion, the Istanbul Tourist Pass (or the Istanbul Pass museum) is a fantastic option for visitors who want to see and do as much as possible in this vibrant city. From iconic landmarks and historical sites to unique museums and unforgettable experiences, the pass offers something for everyone. And considering the convenience and the memories my mom and I created during those four days, it’s safe to say the Istanbul Tourist Pass was definitely worth it!

Iulia Vasile

Iulia is a travel expert, blogger, engineer, freelance copywriter, and a curiosity-driven personality. She sees travel as the ultimate tool for self-improvement and personal growth, and that's the main topic of her blog, Juliasomething.com.

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Istanbul Tourist Pass Review: Is It A Scam?

I came across the Istanbul Tourist Pass while researching things to do in Istanbul for an upcoming trip.

It sounded promising – access to over 70+ attractions and tours for a fixed low price. It almost sounded too good to be true. But since post-pandemic travel costs were sky-high, I was eager to reduce my expenses by any means necessary.

I desperately wanted this to work.

After spending 8 days in Istanbul and thoroughly putting the Istanbul Tourist Pass to the test, I was deeply disappointed, with a bad taste in my mouth.

Turkiye’s capital has centuries of experience running scams of all shapes and sizes – from opportunistic to well-organised. Pick-pockets in busy tourist attractions. Taxi drivers falsely claim their meters are broken and demand an over-priced fare. Fake guides in front of the Blue Mosque claim it is closed in an attempt to lure you to their carpet shop. Shopkeepers offering “low prices” end up charging credit cards the amount in Euros instead of Lira. A free shoe shine that isn’t really free. The list goes on.

They all follow the same format: start off friendly and seemingly innocent, lure you into a false sense of security, and then once you’re hooked, the shoe drops.

To summarise the whole article… would I buy the Istanbul Tourist Pass again next time I visit Istanbul?

Short answer, no. Hell no.

Unlike romance novels and superhero movies, life is rarely black and white. And the Istanbul Tourist Pass has some redeeming qualities, but you should also be aware of its limitations, pitfalls, and dark underbelly.

I'll be clear: no one asked me to write this article. But if you feel compelled to buy the pass anyway, please consider doing so via my link here . I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

But if you’re curious whether the Istanbul Tourist Pass is a scam, then keep reading, and I’ll explain the details.

You might notice that my writing style over the years has been decidedly optimistic. I go by the adage, "pick flowers, not weeds". But once in a while, I come across something very, very concerning. My first priority is always helping my valuable readers who have come to trust my advice and guidance. And if I were to shy away from some inconvenient truths, and you fall prey to the same shady tactics, then the fault would lay with me.

So here’s the full story, warts and all, and I’ll let you decide if you think Istanbul Tourist Pass is a Turkish scam.

Is the Istanbul Tourist Pass Worth It?

From a financial perspective, it depends on how many of the attractions and tours you’re planning on using. Be careful about using the “value” of each attraction on the website , as it’s often inflated.

If you were to just directly purchase the few good attractions, then it would probably be cheaper than buying the Istanbul Tourist Pass.

You definitely won’t end up using all the attractions in a single visit to Istanbul. I felt compelled to use as many attractions as possible to get my money’s worth, but it also led to burnout… there’s only so much you can do in one day before you drop.

Still, the convenience of not having to deal with many different providers is a big bonus.

If you cram your itinerary, you could save a considerable amount, but a vacation should be about wonderful experiences, not just about money.

Istanbul Highlights

Let me pick the flowers first before I get into the nitty-gritty. Some of my favourite experiences in Istanbul were:

Princes Island Boat Trip (Büyükada)

Escape the hustle and bustle of the big city and relax on this quaint island, lined with cobblestone streets and an unusually large number of ice cream vendors. The locals were so friendly and generous, I was apprehensive at first after being burned so many times in Istanbul. But there was no catch. They’re just genuinely sweet.

It takes 75-100 minutes to reach the island via ferry (depending on the weather). This is just enough time to unwind and release the tension with the help of gorgeous skyline views and gentle rocking side to side. Keep in mind that this trip will take up most of the day, with the last return ferry leaving the big island at 3:30pm. Book your ferry tickets online in advance.

Tip: I recommend the restaurant, Taşfirinn2 , just a 5-minute meander from the ferry terminal. Staff are super hospitable, portion sizes are large, and the food is delicious.

Whirling Dervishes (Hodjapasha Culture Center)

There is something mystical about watching talented dancers spinning in a trance-like state around and around and around. Inside a restored 550-year-old Ottoman Turkish bath , guests are seated around the edge of a circular, dimly-lit room, while ‘semazens’ recount stories, not with speech, but through symbolism and coordinated movements matched to the rhythm of live music. “Dance” is not the right word. You just have to see it to understand. Buy tickets online in advance.

Tip: Before the performance, take the time to read the exhibits in the waiting room, describing the history and philosophy of Mevlevi Sema , a Sufi order based on the teachings of Rumi.

Galata Tower

This is on the touristy end of the scale, but it’s still a remarkable piece of architecture and history, and something that every visitor to Istanbul must do at least once. This is one of the oldest surviving towers in the world (dating back to 507 AD, with the current iteration from 1348 AD), and for while, was the tallest building in the world at a whopping 67 metres. From the top viewing deck, you can soak up 360-degree views of Istanbul and the Golden Horn. Buy tickets online in advance.

Tip: Arrive early, near opening time (8:30am), and expect to wait up to an hour or more in the queue before entering.

If you like to drink, find out how it’s done in Istanbul. Istanbul Party Pub Crawl starts off in a bar within the historic district of Sultanahmet and a few drinking games. Then onto a bus to 3 clubs in the nightlife district of Beyoğlu, near Taksim. No queues or waiting. Just a free shot on entry at each venue, great music, and a fun group of party animals.

Ok, now the niceties are out of the way.

How Istanbul Tourist Pass Works

You won’t find this clearly outlined on their website. So to fully understand the dynamic of what goes on under the hood with Istanbul Tourist Pass, I’ll fill you in on the process.

The company that is behind the pass is named “Cityberry Tourism” (their website doesn’t load, so I didn’t link it – not a good sign). They include a handful of in-house tours run by their team of 3 friendly guides. I couldn’t fault the guides – they were super nice. The in-house tours are: Blue Mosque (and Hippodrome), Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Archaeological Museum, and Dolmabahçe Palace.

The management also partners with 3 rd party attractions and experiences who get a cut when you use the pass. There’s no way you can use all 70+ attractions in a single trip to Istanbul, so they bank on the hope that you’ll only use a small fraction of the attractions. The fewer you use, the more profit they make.

In order to get the most number of experiences included with the pass, they cut corners in terms of quality – both for in-house tours and 3 rd party experiences. But I’ll explain more later. Suffice it to say that quantity does not trump quality.

It’s not all black and white. So let me break it down into the good, the bad, and the ugly. There’s a lot to go through, so I’ll keep it condensed.

The card price is relatively low compared to the advertised value of tours and attractions.
The slick website has lots of useful info, including attraction opening hours, and tour meeting points.
It’s easy to organise your entire Istanbul itinerary with 1 supplier.
Digital delivery for the pass, with easy ticket redemption (every attraction/tour understood the process).
You can make all tour/attraction bookings within the app (kinda).
The card includes some high-quality attractions (like Madam Tussauds ).
Some experiences/tours include pick-up from your hotel (although they’re not always punctual).
WhatsApp support is included and is relatively responsive.
There were some attractions and experiences I loved, like Whirling Dervishes .

Ok, now that we got the easy stuff out of the way. Let’s lift the lid.

Some of the attractions are far away from the historic city centre, and you’re not likely to use them. They’re just fluff.
Digital delivery was not instant (from Viator) – it only occurred during Turkish office hours. So don’t leave it to the last minute as I did. You’ll need to book the “free” airport transfer service at least a day in advance.
You can’t use most big attractions (such as Basilica Cistern) whenever you want – you have to go with a guide at pre-determined times.
Some attractions have a lot of overlap – the Bosphorus Cruise and Hop On Hop Off Cruise are technically different but cover the same territory, so there’s little point in doing both.
The in-house tours were extremely short – most only half an hour – which is not enough to explore or learn much. So the guide’s job is more about arranging the bulk tickets and ensuring all guests get inside. After an introduction, they often disappear and leave guests to their own devices. In fairness, the length of the tour is indicated on the website. Just don’t expect a “full” tour each time compared to what you’re used to.
The poor in-house tour guide was stranded at Dolmabahçe Palace, waiting for the management to transfer money to buy the bulk entry tickets. Guests sat around waiting for almost an hour. The guide was frustrated but professional about it, but I could tell he felt like the ham in a sandwich.

The “my pass” feature on the mobile app logs out at least once daily, which is annoying. A small inconvenience, although when you’re at a ticket booth, fumbling around and wasting time is pretty annoying. But still – how hard is it to save this info in the app?
When making bookings via the app, you have to enter the same info each time which is annoyingly repetitive and a waste of time. They use cheap integration with Jotform to submit the info you provide – it’s not as efficient or polished as it could be.
I experienced late hotel pickups on some tours (by up to 45 minutes).
You still have to queue for Hagia Sophia (upwards of an hour on the day I went) – which would have used the entire scheduled tour time. So I bailed and went to a nearby rooftop restaurant instead.
I had to request my tickets to Galata Tower via Whatsapp because they weren’t delivered via email. So keep on top of all your bookings. You can’t just blindly rely on the Istanbul Tourist Pass team.
The tour to Miniaturk was run by a 3 rd party tour agency. It was the most uninspiring tour I’ve ever done. It was nothing more than a glorified taxi. Fortunately, on the day I went, there were only about 5 guests. The “guide” was glued to her phone making personal calls most of the time. Her interactions with guests were nearly nil. She left some guests behind while crossing busy roads – no care was shown. It’s a miracle all the guests made it back to the bus in one piece.

You only get 1 tourist photo per pass – not per adult. Even though you paid for 2 full-priced passes in 1 order. The photographers do half the work. They clarify this on their website/app in small print, but there’s no good reason. The staff who lured customers even aggressively demanded a tip at the end of the photo shoot – even though I had paid an inflated price for extra photos. WTF?

Ok, now that we got that out of the way, let’s wade waist-deep into the murky waters of the Istanbul Tourist Pass. Grab a life jacket, just in case.

The values of attractions and tours on the website are almost always inflated – some more than others.
The number of tours included is inflated (Blue Mosque & Hippodrome are the same tour). And spending 30 seconds walking through the Hippodrome toward the Blue Mosque does not constitute €12 of value as they claim.
Many included 3 rd party tours and experiences are low quality. This is so rampant that I just don’t know where to start.
Some in-house tours are overcrowded - 40+ guests to 1 tour guide in the Basilica Cistern. Most guests couldn’t hear what the guide was saying and were getting frustrated. Even the guide was complaining about the management’s greed and poor decisions, encouraging guests to file a formal complaint. That’s a huge, huge red flag.

The Bosphorus dinner cruise was terrible. Or whatever is worse than terrible. I’ve had a lot of travel experiences, and this was one of the worst in my life. I casually browsed the Google reviews for this dinner while waiting for the boat to leave the dock, and a chill went up my spine when I read, “if you are reading this and the boat has not left, get off now while you still can”. I should have listened. The waiter put a single chicken nugget on my plate even though I had clearly requested a vegetarian option multiple times to multiple staff (and it was in my booking). The food was inedible – the pasta was not just bland but downright disgusting. How does a chef make such a simple dish so badly? My neighbouring vegetarians had the same repulsed reaction. My table included views of the air conditioning unit – not the Bosphorus. The photographer was bossy and harassing. A Spotify playlist would have been 10x better than the DJ – terrible song choices, and even worse transitions, no flow, awkward silences, no emceeing. I felt sorry for the belly dancers putting in a big effort jiggling from table to table (to receive tips), but almost every guest was so repulsed by the whole trip, they just looked the other way. The only people who seemed to have “fun” (I counted 3) were too drunk to be aware of what was going on. They would have enjoyed themselves in an empty, windowless room as long as there was a bottle of wine. I have to tie my hands up while typing this to avoid using expletives.
The Segway tour operator “forgot” my reservation. I turned up at the appointed time in the appointed place (a dingy unlit office down a dark, eerie hallway), only to find there was no tour. The guide was not there. I contacted him on the phone, and he said he either forgot or didn’t see the email when I made my booking 5 days prior. He proceeded to blame me for this since I had not followed him up – um… am I taking crazy pills? Did this guy do the full “blame, excuses, and denial” spiel in one fell swoop? Yes. I told him exactly what I thought about his poor attitude. Eventually, he offered to do the tour on another day (which would have clashed with my tightly-packed itinerary). But I had to ask myself, would I want to spend an hour and a half with a twat like that? Hell no! After scrolling through other Google reviews on that business, it seems to be a trick he runs regularly. Even weirder is that some of the reviews are 5 stars because they are grateful the guide turned up on his “day off” to do the tour. No son, you didn’t do the job you were supposed to – manipulating and gaslighting guests that way is not cool.

Airport transfer – I had an early morning transfer booked for 4.45am. The driver sent an SMS at 4:07am (before I woke up) saying the address he was given was incorrect. Not true. He called as I woke at 4:15am and was unable to speak a word of English just blurted out, “SMS”. So I looked at his message, and it seemed like he couldn’t find the hotel, so I sent him the full name, address and Google Map link for the pickup point. He responded, “ok”. I waited in the hotel lobby, and after he was late, I asked my hotel front desk staff to talk with the driver. He still couldn’t work out where the hotel was – it took 3 calls. And he turned up 12 minutes late in a large minibus when a regular sedan would have done fine. In the booking, I had indicated the destination at the airport, number of passengers and 0 large suitcases (only travelling with a carry-on). That’s terrible when I have paid a premium of about twice the price of a taxi expecting a service that would save me headaches and hassles and instead create more. To top it off, he drove down the freeway at a fraction of the speed limit. My only communication with him was via Google Translate, and I asked why he couldn’t go faster. He replied, “speed camera”. But I watched as car after car overtook us. Istanbul taxis usually drive like they’re in a James Bond chase scene, and you hold on for dear life, but the one time I needed him to speed up, and he was a turtle. The final cherry on top was that he missed the turnoff to the airport and took a longer route which put me even further behind schedule. Where did this guy get his taxi license? A cornflakes box?

I Gave Them A Chance For Redemption

I raised my long list of concerns with the Istanbul Tourism Pass support agent on WhatsApp, and they were not willing to step in and assist. They made excuses and deflected the genuine issues I experienced. They used prefabricated stock responses with PR mumbo jumbo, and finally insisted that I submit my complaints via email so they could make an “overall valuation”. Which meant they’d do absolutely nothing.

I could tell they’d run this routine many, many times.

I hate doing this, but in the end, I pulled out the “travel blogger” card, and gave them fair warning of who I was, and if they treated me this way, I could only assume they do it every day to other tourists as well. And I felt compelled to share my experiences. They financially benefit from douchebags like Mr Segway, and although they claimed to “understand” my situation but declined to do anything about it, including any partial refunds.

Wow. Really helpful. Thanks.

As long as there is a flow of fresh-faced foreigners into Istanbul, there are new suckers to take advantage of.

It’s been like this for centuries. Nothing has changed.

Reader Feedback

Here's a message I received from one of my readers who went to Istanbul after reading this article, Dervis M:

"I took your advice and did not buy the tourist pass. And in the end I paid less for the places I visited. It turns out that you do actually need to leave an ID card/passport or similar in the palaces to get a headset. People I talked to in Istanbul who got the headset said it went OK, but I had only my passport and didn't get the headset. You're right, a driver's license or any other card that can be cancelled easily would do the trick. Again, thanks for writing that blog, it made sure I didn't get dragged into something that wasn't as they said it was. Good luck on your future travels."

If You Don’t Want to Use The Istanbul Tourist Pass

Ok, Josh, you’ve convinced me that Istanbul Tourist Pass is a piece of shit. Now what?

Rather than relying on a “discount” tourist card that leaves you high and dry, you can have more control over what you do with your time in Istanbul by building an itinerary that fits your schedule and interests, and dealing with independent providers.

To make your life a little easier, here are links to book some of the best experiences and alternative tours in Istanbul:

GetYourGuide
Transport: Bus from airport ( HAVAIST ), private transfer
Attractions: Galata Tower , Whirling Dervishes , Madam Tussauds , Museum of Illusions , Flyzone , Pub Crawl , Ferry to Princes Island .

On these platforms, you can read reviews from other travellers, so you know what you’re getting into. There’s a greater degree of transparency and accountability, and a helpful support team in case something doesn’t go to plan.

That’s how it should be.

The Bottom Line

While The Istanbul Tourist Pass might not be an outright “scam” in that it delivers on most of what it promises (albeit poorly in some cases). It definitely crosses the line into dishonest and shady tactics.

It is completely possible that you can have a somewhat ok experience using the Istanbul Tourist Pass, as long as you’re aware of all the caveats upfront and set your expectations exceptionally low.

But you should really ask yourself the question… is that how you want to spend your vacation in Istanbul?

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The Best of Istanbul in One Place

Istanbul Pass Comparison: Save Money with Museum Card, Istanbul E-pass, and More

If you’re planning a trip to Istanbul, you might be overwhelmed by the plethora of tourist passes available. They all promise to make your visit more convenient and cost-effective. But which one is the best fit for your travel style and budget? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the options, including the Istanbul E-Pass and Istanbul Tourist Pass, so you can make an informed decision and maximize your savings.

Page Contents

🚗 First Time in Istanbul? Be Prepared & Carefree!

Istanbul: Private Airport Transfer with Meet and Greet 🌟 4.4 / 5 (318 reviews)

Istanbul: Turkey and Europe eSIM Roaming Mobile Data 🌟 4.1 / 5 (216 reviews)

Istanbul: Full-Day Highlights Tour with Guide and Lunch 🌟 4.5 / 5 (1101 reviews)

Which Istanbul City Pass to Choose? Our Comparison

Certainly! Here’s the updated comparison table with green ticks and crosses:

Note: The longer the duration of the pass, the more savings you can make as you visit more attractions and make use of the included benefits.

Istanbul E-Pass: Your Digital Gateway to Istanbul’s Rich Heritage

The Istanbul E-Pass is your all-in-one digital solution for exploring Istanbul’s cultural treasures. With instant confirmation, this pass provides access to over 80 top attractions, including historical landmarks, museums, and unique experiences. It also includes a roundtrip ride on the Havaist shuttle and discounts on SIM cards.

Duration Options of Istanbul E-Pass

You can choose from 3, 5, and 7 days Istanbul E-pass cards.

What’s Included in Istanbul E-Pass

The Istanbul E-Pass includes access to over 80 top attractions, including historic landmarks, museums, unique experiences, and a roundtrip ride on the Havaist shuttle, providing a comprehensive Istanbul exploration experience.

How Does Istanbul E-Pass Work?

Once you purchase the Istanbul E-Pass , you’ll receive instant confirmation and access to a digital guidebook. You can then visit attractions at your own pace, and some may require advance reservations. Simply show your pass at the gate for entry.

Prices as of 2024 for Tourist Istanbul E-Pass:

Who is istanul e-pass suitable for.

The Istanbul E-Pass is perfect for adventurers eager to discover Istanbul’s rich history and diverse attractions. It’s especially advantageous for budget-conscious travelers looking to save on entrance fees.

Savings with Istanbul E-Pass: Unlocking Your Budget-Friendly Adventure

When it comes to exploring Istanbul, the Istanbul E-Pass is your ticket to substantial savings. This all-inclusive pass offers you access to over 80 incredible attractions, ensuring that you get the most out of your Istanbul adventure.

Here’s how the savings stack up:

For the 3-day pass, priced at just €129, you’re already making significant savings compared to the total cost of €262 for individual attraction tickets. This means you’ll be enjoying a substantial saving of €133 during your 3-day exploration.
Opting for the 5-day pass at €149 is an excellent choice. Considering that individual attraction tickets would set you back €359, you’ll be saving an impressive €210 over the course of your 5-day journey.
If you’re planning an extended stay with the 7-day pass at €169, the savings are equally remarkable. With individual attraction tickets totaling €424, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the €255 you’ll keep in your pocket.

But here’s the real magic: The longer you stay and the more you explore, the better the value. At approximately €43 per day for the 3-day pass, €30 per day for the 5-day pass, and €24 per day for the 7-day pass, you only need to enjoy 2-3 activities each day to make the Istanbul E-Pass your ultimate budget-friendly choice.

Don’t Miss The Best Tours and Cruises in Istanbul

Istanbul tourist pass®: your digital gateway to istanbul’s cultural extravaganza.

The Istanbul Tourist Pass® offers an all-inclusive digital solution for an immersive exploration of Istanbul’s rich cultural tapestry. With instant confirmation, this pass grants you access to an extensive selection of over 100 attractions, experiences, and services, making it your ultimate key to unlock the city’s wonders.

Duration Options of Istanbul Tourist Pass®:

You have the flexibility to choose from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10-day Istanbul Tourist Pass® cards , tailoring your experience to your preferred timeline.

What’s Included in Istanbul Tourist Pass®:

The Istanbul Tourist Pass® encompasses an astonishing array of over 100 attractions, experiences, and services, ensuring that you can make the most of your Istanbul adventure. Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store:

Guided Tours of the Best Museums in Istanbul, including Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahçe, Topkapi Palace, and more.
Skip-the-Ticket Lines at numerous attractions, allowing you to breeze past long queues.
Savings of up to 80% and more compared to individual attraction tickets.
Discounts for Wi-Fi devices or airport transfers.
Complimentary Havaist and Havvabus trips to and from the airport.
Coverage of all historical museums and a wide range of entertainment options.

How Does Istanbul Tourist Pass® Work?

Using your Istanbul Tourist Pass® is a breeze, with just 4 simple steps:

Purchase your Istanbul Tourist Pass® online.
Download the Istanbul Tourist Pass® app and log in.
For most attractions, you can walk in, but some may require pre-reservation, which you can make in just 15 seconds. For guided tours, simply meet the tour guide based on the provided timetable.
Scan your QR code or Pass ID at entries, to guides, or to the gatekeepers, and you’re all set to enjoy your Istanbul adventure!

Prices as of 2024 for Istanbul Tourist Pass®:

Who is istanbul tourist pass® suitable for.

The Istanbul Tourist Pass® caters to travelers who crave a comprehensive exploration of Istanbul’s cultural gems while enjoying substantial savings. It’s especially appealing to budget-conscious adventurers seeking to optimize their budget during their visit.

Savings with Istanbul Tourist Pass®: Your Path to Cost-Effective Exploration

When it comes to experiencing Istanbul to the fullest without breaking the bank, the Istanbul Tourist Pass® stands as your best ally. This comprehensive pass offers access to over 100 remarkable attractions, ensuring that you extract the utmost value from your Istanbul sojourn.

Here’s how the savings come into play:

With the 3-day pass, priced at just €130, you’re already enjoying significant savings compared to the cumulative cost of €328 for individual attraction tickets. This equates to a substantial saving of €198 during your 3-day escapade.
Opting for the 5-day pass at €150 is a smart choice. When juxtaposed with the €460 you’d shell out for individual attraction tickets, you’ll pocket an impressive €310 in savings across your 5-day adventure.
For the 7-day pass, priced at €170, the savings remain remarkable. With individual attraction tickets tallying €576, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the substantial €406 remaining in your wallet.

But here’s where it gets exciting: The more you immerse yourself in Istanbul’s offerings, the greater the value you reap. At approximately €43 per day for the 3-day pass, €30 per day for the 5-day pass, and €24 per day for the 7-day pass, you need to savor just 2-3 activities each day to make the Istanbul Tourist Pass® your ultimate choice for a budget-friendly and enriching experience.

Istanbul Welcome Card: Your Key to Unlocking Istanbul’s Delights

The Istanbul Welcome Card offers an array of options to make your visit to Istanbul hassle-free and memorable. With choices like the Classic Card, Saver Combo, Deluxe Card, and Premium Card, this pass is designed to cater to your specific needs and interests.

Istanbul Welcome Classic Card (€24)

The Classic Card provides a convenient start to your Istanbul adventure. Here’s what it includes:

Public Transportation Card with 5 Rides : Valid for Metro, Tram, Ferry, Funicular, Bus, and Metrobus.
105 min. Bosphorus Cruise & Audio Guide : Experience the stunning Bosphorus cruise with an audio guide. Marvel at Istanbul’s iconic landmarks while sailing between Europe and Asia.
2 Istanbul Walking Tours : Explore the city on foot with informative guided tours.
Istanbul Guide Book and Map : Receive a digital guidebook and city map via email.
20% Discount at the Best Things To Do : Enjoy exclusive discounts on various tours and attractions.

How Does the Classic Card Work?

Free Hotel Delivery : Your card is delivered to your hotel before your arrival.
Audio Guide App : Download the included audio guide app for insights and recommendations.

Saver Combo (€81)

The Saver Combo combines access to Istanbul’s top attractions with a Bosphorus Cruise. It includes:

Fast-Track Entry : Skip the ticket lines (except for Hagia Sophia) with an official tour guide.
60 min Hagia Sophia Tour
60 min Topkapi Palace & Harem Tour
20 min Basilica Cistern Tour
90 min Bosphorus Cruise & Audio Guide : Explore the Bosphorus with captivating commentary.
English-Speaking Tour Guide : Get insights from a knowledgeable guide.
All Entrance Fees : Entry fees for included attractions are covered.
Audio App in 7 Languages : Enjoy audio guides in English, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, and Turkish.

Istanbul Welcome Card Deluxe (€171)

The Deluxe Card offers a comprehensive Istanbul experience. It includes:

3 Tours with a Historian Guide : Discover Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace & Harem, and the Basilica Cistern with a historian guide.
Fast track entry at: Topkapi Palace, Harem, Galata Mevlevi House, Great Palace Mosaics Museum, Hagia Irene, Archaeological Museums, Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, Rumeli Fortress, Science and Technology in Islam, Galata Tower
90 min Bosphorus Cruise & Audio Guide
20 Rides Public Transportation Card
Istanbul Guide Book and Map
20% Discount at the Best Things To Do

Istanbul Welcome Card Premium (€91)

The Premium Card offers top-tier convenience and access. It includes:

3 Highlight Tours with Official Guide & Audio Guide : Explore Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern with a local specialist.
10 Rides Public Transportation Card

How Does the Istanbul Welcome Card Work?

Fast-Track Entry : Skip the ticket lines at major attractions.
Audio Guide App : Download the audio guide app to your smartphone.
Stay as Long as You Want : Enjoy flexibility at museums and explore at your own pace.

The Istanbul Welcome Card offers flexibility, convenience, and savings, making your Istanbul visit a memorable one. Whether you choose the Classic Card, Saver Combo, Deluxe Card, or Premium Card, you’ll unlock the best of Istanbul’s cultural treasures.

What Is the Istanbul Museum Pass: Price, Museums, Effectivness

The Istanbul Museum Pass is your key to unlocking the rich historical and cultural treasures of Istanbul with ease. Available in two types and valid for a specific duration from your first use, this card streamlines your access to numerous museums and cultural points of interest in the city.

What Sightseeing Spots Can You Visit with the Museum Pass?

The Istanbul Museum Pass grants you complimentary entry to several captivating attractions, including:

Topkapi Palace Museum (including Hagia Irene Church and Harem)
Istanbul Archaeological Museum (Inside Topkapi Palace Complex)
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum (Near Hippodrome)
History of Islamic Science and Technology Museum (within Gulhane Park)
Great Palace Mosaic Museum (Byzantine Palace Mosaics – Near Blue Mosque)
Galata Tower (Near Taksim Square)
Rumeli Hisarı Fortress (Citadel at the Bosphorus)
Galata Mevlevi House Museum (Whirling Dervishes Museum – in Galata)

Is it Worth It, to Buy an Istanbul Museum Pass?

When evaluating the cost-effectiveness of the Istanbul Museum Pass, it’s important to note that while it can offer savings, it may not always be the most budget-friendly option. For instance, let’s take a look at Topkapi Palace, a multi-section complex. The standard ticket for the main courtyards and the Harem is priced at 1500 Turkish Liras. To access the Hagia Irene, you need to buy a separate ticket for 500 TL, bringing the total to 2,000 TL for all areas.

While these visits do provide some value for the card, it’s worth considering that if you plan to explore additional attractions like the Istanbul Archaeology Museums (340 TL), Turkish Islamic Art Museum (390 TL), and Galata Tower (650 TL), your total expenses could reach 3380 TL. In other cases, the Istanbul Museum Pass might not offer as much cost-effectiveness.

If you’re seeking guided tours, a cruise experience, and a broader selection of museums, alternative options like the Istanbul E-Pass or Istanbul Tourist Pass may provide a more well-rounded and budget-conscious choice.

How Much Does the Istanbul Museum Pass Cost?

The Istanbul Museum Pass is priced at 3600 TL per person and remains valid for 5 days from the first usage. It’s important to note that each museum included in the pass can only be visited once, and the pass is personalized with the applicant’s name.

For children under the age of 12, entry to the included venues is free, so there’s no need to purchase a pass for them.

Be Aware of the Security Queues!

While the Istanbul Museum Pass saves you from waiting in ticket lines, it’s essential to be aware that you may still encounter security queues, especially during the busy tourist season. Visitors are required to undergo security checks, including X-ray scans of bags, before entering the museums.

The Istanbul Museum Pass is Not Valid in These Places

Regrettably, the Istanbul Museum Pass is not valid for admission to some of Istanbul’s popular museums, as these are operated by different government institutions. Museums like the Basilica Cistern, Dolmabahce Palace, and Beylerbeyi Palace do not accept the museum pass.

In conclusion, the choice between these Istanbul passes largely depends on your travel style, interests, and budget. While the Istanbul Museum Pass offers easy access to specific historical sites, it may not cover all the places you wish to explore. The Istanbul E-Pass is an excellent all-inclusive option for those looking to visit a wide range of attractions and save money in the process. Istanbul Welcome Cards, on the other hand, cater to various preferences, offering a mix of convenience and guided experiences.

Ultimately, the key to making the most of your Istanbul adventure is to evaluate your itinerary, the attractions you plan to visit, and your budget. Each pass has its unique advantages, so choose the one that aligns best with your travel goals and embark on a journey through Istanbul’s captivating history and culture. Whether you’re gazing at centuries-old artifacts or cruising the Bosphorus, Istanbul is sure to leave you with unforgettable memories of its timeless charm.

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Istanbul Tourist Pass® Reviews

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I am very satisfied with the whatsapp…

I am very satisfied with the whatsapp consulting service. we were not able to meet the guides for the guided tours and we were not able to visit without a guide. we also visited other objectives not included in the pass. but if you organize better than us and meet the guides, you will surely be very satisfied. we, without benefiting from the guided tours, saved €135 per person, we would have paid €285, so we paid €150 for the 5-day pass. I recommend, with the mention of organizing yourself very well.

Date of experience : January 18, 2023

Reply from Istanbul Tourist Pass®

Hello Oana, Thank you for your kind feedbacks and hope to serve you again in Istanbul!

The Istanbul Tourist Pass for 4 days…

The Istanbul Tourist Pass for 4 days was a great experience for me. We were able to schedule so many things that we wanted to do. Their tour guides were knowledgeable and amazing. I really enjoyed the dinner cruise that was included in the package. It was great to have consistent WhatsApp support as part of the package.

Date of experience : March 18, 2023

Hello Dear Muhammad, Happy to see your lovely comment for our services. Always here to answers your quarries about Istanbul. Also thankful for your 5 star feedback. hope to see you again.

Sile & Agva Tour

We weren’t in Sile. We are very disappointed. The Guide usually speaks Arabic and only a few words English. No information before departure that we are not going to Sile. We wanted to go zippline Sile lighthouse.

Date of experience : August 05, 2023

Dear Mr. Mrs. Husman Thank you for reaching out and providing further information. We understand that offering another tour may not be feasible at the moment. However, we are committed to ensuring your satisfaction and would like to facilitate the compensation process. Please feel free to contact us via email at [email protected], and our dedicated team will work with you to arrange a suitable compensation for the inconvenience you faced during the Sile & Agva Tour. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. If you have any specific preferences or details you would like us to consider during the compensation process, please include them in your email. Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience caused, and we look forward to resolving this matter to your satisfaction. Best regards,

Great deal!!!

I had a problem with same day booking. Contacted costumer service. They guided me and helped with the booking and reservations! Great service and worths buying Istanbul Tourist Pass! We saved our time and money!

Date of experience : July 22, 2023

Hello Dear, Thank you for taking your valuable time to leave a review about our services. We are available to help our guests during their Istanbul trip. Istanbul is our love and we are happy to help visitors to make it easier 🥰🥰

Worths buying it, just to skip the queues...

We bought the Istanbul Tourist Pass for our short visit to Istanbul, it was delivered the previous night so we could use the tickets as soon as the next day. I realized how great of a decision it was to buy the pass when I saw the ticket queue in front of the Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia museums. I totally recommend it.

Date of experience : November 14, 2014

Dear Mr. Martin, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with the Istanbul Tourist Pass! We're delighted to hear that it made your visit more enjoyable by allowing you to skip the queues at Topkapı Palace and the Hagia Sophia museums. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope you had a fantastic time exploring Istanbul with the convenience of the pass. If you have any more feedback or suggestions, feel free to let us know. We appreciate your support! Safe travels!

I have enjoyed a lot all the…

I have enjoyed a lot all the experiences and visits i have booked. The staff and guides really nice, well prepared and helpful. Great experience at The Fire of Anatolia show, absolutely recommended!

Date of experience : September 18, 2023

Hello Dear Marco, Thank you for sharing your experience with Istanbul Tourist Pass®! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Istanbul with our pass. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more unforgettable adventures in this beautiful city. Regards,

Guide Ayse was patient with my many…

Guide Ayse was patient with my many questions and knowledgeable. I had a private tour experience twice with her as I was the only one. Nice.

Date of experience : February 06, 2024

Dear M Phuah, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and for choosing Istanbul Tourist Pass® for your Istanbul trip. We're delighted to hear that you found our guide, Ayse, to be patient and knowledgeable during your tours. It's always a pleasure to hear when our guests appreciate the expertise and dedication of our guides. We're grateful for your feedback and hope that you had an enriching experience exploring Istanbul with us. If there's anything else we can assist you with or if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable journey in Istanbul. Warm regards, Istanbul Tourist Pass® team

The customer service was very good

The customer service was very good, they stayed online with us beyond their hours when we had difficulty with one of the tour companies. Very important!

Date of experience : August 06, 2023

Dear Mr. Cohen, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with our customer service. We greatly appreciate your kind words and are delighted to hear that our team could assist you effectively, even beyond our regular hours. Ensuring our customers' satisfaction is our top priority, and your feedback serves as a testament to our commitment to providing excellent service. If you have any further comments or suggestions, please feel free to share them with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future. Once again, thank you for choosing us, and we appreciate your positive endorsement. Best regards,

A great time in Istanbul

We had a wonderful time in Istanbul. All the different attractions we visited with your guides were informative, interesting and suited to our individual taste. The dinner cruise was the best. Thank you all for making our trip to Istanbul so pleasurable.

Date of experience : December 30, 2020

Dear Thomas, Thank you for taking the time to review your experience with Istanbul Tourist Pass. It was our pleasure to provide hassle free tour & attractions in Istanbul. Hope to serve you again in Istanbul. Istanbul Tourist Pass Team

Would not recommend

We were absolutely not satisfied with the pass. Lots of information on the website was wrong: there was the need for booking, no internet, many promised tours were not included, WhatsApp messages were ignored sometimes. Would not recommend.

Dear Eugenia, Thank you for taking the time to review your experience with Istanbul Tourist Pass. We appreciate your feedback. Some of the attractions need to be booked 24 hours in advance, which is mentioned on each tour/attraction's information page. Our WhatsApp support line is available 09:00 - 18:00 Istanbul local time. We would appreciate if you can share the information on the website you think is wrong so that we can make necessary changes. Once again appreciate your feedback and accept our apologies for any inconvenience. As a courtesy of goodwill we are happy to apply a 10% discount for your next trip to Istanbul. Please email us before your purchase so that we can share the code with you. Regards, Istanbul Tourist Pass Team

Guide review

I want to give a review of our guide Oguzhan Gurkcu. Great guide, we couldn't have asked for better, very helpful, informed. He was our guide on two tours, very satisfied

Date of experience : August 07, 2023

Hello Dear Aleksandra Ilic, Thank you for your kind words! We take pride in offering unique and exclusive experiences. We're delighted you had a fantastic time exploring Istanbul with us. Regards,

Ok just dissent

Very good experience !! The only think is that to see some attraction you have to be exact times to meetings point to see it cause the only way to into is the guides !!!!

Date of experience : January 02, 2023

Hello Dear Pandelis, we are happy to see your nice review. Meeting points are really required to meet with our beloved guests otherwise we could not be able to meet and tell you everything about museums.

Great value for money

Great value for money. And you can actually skip some very long lines at the most crowded attractions. The night Bosphorus cruise that is included is really worth it!

Date of experience : March 17, 2023

Hi Maria, Most appreciated to see your feedback. It was a pleasure to serve you here in Istanbul. There are a lot of spots you need to see here. See you again.

Definately a great deal there are lots…

Definately a great deal there are lots of things to do in istanbul and with this pass it is way more cheaper and they have a great support line

Date of experience : October 06, 2022

Hi Lisa, Appreciate your time and rating. It was our pleasure to serve you during your visit in Istanbul. Can't wait to see you again.

Highly recommend

Highly recommend! Having the pass made for easy access to all of the sites, the guides were excellent and the customer service was great. This is well worth the price and if you use it to it’s potential, will save you a lot of time, money and hassle. Do it!

Date of experience : December 29, 2020

Hi J Foster, thanks for your feedback and happy to hear that you are satisfied with the service. Hope to see you again!

Great guides

Great guides, great whatsapp support, very friendly and helpful people and great turist pass app . The best experience ever

Date of experience : January 24, 2023

Dear Nina, Thanks for your beautiful feedbacks, Hope to see you again in the future!

Great idea in istanbul

Great idea in istanbul, if you compare with the price definately worth more. also when i need help they were always with me from whatsapp and did their best to make my visit better... thanks to all..

Date of experience : July 01, 2022

Hi Jack, thanks for your rating and sharing your experience with Istanbul Tourist Pass. Hope to serve you again in Istanbul!

We perchased the Istambul pass and…purchase of Istambul pass was our worst experience in istambul

We perchased the Istambul pass and where not able to use it on any point of interest… Santa Sofía, topicate museum.. etc No tram .. no boat Very expensive No use

Date of experience : January 27, 2023

Hello Mr. Thomas, We are sorry to hear that you could't use any of these attractions. They were all included with Istanbul Tourist Pass and were waiting for you to join. Could you please let us know the situation and share more information to find the best solution for you. [email protected]

Must have for Any Istanbul Visit

Must have for any Istanbul Tourist ..covers a lot of things - definitely more than what you can visit.

Date of experience : January 05, 2023

Thank you for this 5-Star review and recommendation. We would be happy to see you in Istanbul again. You can never visit all Istanbul in once. Once never enough.

Outstanding show

The Fire of Anatolia show was outstanding and a great way to experience Turkish culture!! The dancers were all terrific - such precision and grace in a beautifully choreographed set of sequences. Thanks for the wonderful experience!

Hello Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your experience with Istanbul Tourist Pass®! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Istanbul with our pass. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more unforgettable adventures in this beautiful city. Regards,

Istanbul Insider

Istanbul travel guide and advice by locals.

Istanbul E-pass Review: Is It Worth It?

Last updated: July 9, 2022

This spring I decided to give the Istanbul E-pass a try. I’ll review what’s included, what’s not included (yet), how to get the pass, how to use it, and of course whether it’s worth the investment.

What is the Istanbul E-pass?

As the name suggests, it’s an electronic pass in the form of a QR code on the Istanbul E-pass app. It provides access to over 45 attractions and services.

What is all included in the Istanbul E-pass?

I think it’s fair to categorize the contents as follows:

skip the ticket line entrance to Istanbul attractions
English-spoken guided tours to a selection of Istanbul sightseeing spots
ferry rides and Bosphorus cruises (with dinner)
discounted day trips from Istanbul to various cities

It goes without saying that entrance to the main attractions such Topkapi Palace and Harem (audio guide), Dolmabahçe Palace (guided), Hagia Sophia (guided), Blue Mosque (guided), Basilica and/or Serefiye Cistern (guided), Galata Tower, and Whirling Dervishes is included. Don’t forget often overlooked gems such as the Archaeology Museum and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts.

But there’s more, much more. There are the various Bosphorus cruises (regular, hop-on hop off, and one with dinner and entertainment), ferry rides to the Princes’ Islands, as well as place of interest for all ages, such as the aquariums, Madame Tussauds, and the rather impressive observation deck.

For a full and up-to-date list, please check the attractions overview on the Istanbul E-pass website .

How to Get the Istanbul E-pass?

The process is very easy. You go the Istanbul E-pass website , select Prices & Durations from the top menu, and select the pass of your choice based on the duration (2, 3, 5 or 7 days).

You enter the amount of adults and children under 13 (they have a discount) and click on checkout. On the next page you must provide your details and billing address.

Make sure to provide a working mobile phone number, I’ll explain why a bit later. After that you continue to payment and you’ll receive a confirmation email with your E-pass ID. Definitely keep this for further reference. In that mail you’ll also find a link to the pass management panel.

Remember the importance of a correct mobile number? Moments later, you’ll receive a WhatsApp message from the Istanbul E-pass customer support. They immediately share a few messages containing very helpful information on how to make the most out of your digital Istanbul pass (see screenshots below). Feel free to ask them any questions you may have, even if your trip hasn’t started yet.

How to Use the Istanbul E-pass?

Make sure to download the Istanbul E-pass app, preferably before your trip. The app is very intuitive to use and a great help while preparing for your city trip.

Upon opening the Istanbul E-pass app for the first time, you’re asked to fill in your E-pass ID. Once approved, you’ll be taken to your E-pass main screen with on top the QR code, followed by two buttons:

View All Attractions
Reservation Required Attractions

That’s right, for some activities, such as airport transfers, day trips and the dinner cruise, you need to make reservations ahead of time.

And the first button of course provides a nice overview of all the attractions and services included in the Istanbul E-pass.

Per activity, you have again two small buttons: one provides information on how to enter the activity as well as the departure time in case of a guided tour, and the other opens Google maps to show you directions to the entrance or meeting point. Very practical, I must say. Both for preparing your trip, and while spending time in Istanbul.

Last but not least, there is the QR code. That’s you golden ticket so to speak, it’s what you have to show to enter the attractions. In some rare cases you need to show it at the sales booth in exchange for a regular ticket, but most of the times you can just skip the ticket sales line. In other words, the Istanbul E-pass is super easy to use and can save you quite a bit of time.

Is the Istanbul E-pass worth it?

Let’s approach this mathematically. Let’s take their sample 3-day itinerary. Also, for an honest comparison, keep in mind that activities such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Dolmabahçe Palace and the cistern are guided tours.

The prices they mention if you were to buy a similar service elsewhere or at the sales booths, are correct. I checked them all. So, if you actually do all these activities (some with guides) in three days, you will indeed save about 50%.

Is this doable, sure. If you want to make the most out of your short stay in Istanbul, I even recommend it. You can also exchange a few activities based on your preference. I for instances opted to visit the Observation Deck instead of the Museum of Illusions, and I still made a decent profit.

Also notice that I haven’t mentioned the free Havaist shuttle service or discounted private airport transfer yet. I tried out the latter and it’s very straightforward. When you leave the airport building, you find the person with the sign CEO34, who takes you to the vehicle. I enjoyed a very comfortable and relaxed drive into the city center.

And the best news was that you can even use that outside the validity dates of your Istanbul E-pass.

Meet the Istanbul E-pass Customer Service

As I mentioned before, shortly after buying your Istanbul E-pass, you’ll get a WhatsApp message from their customer service. Sure, in the beginning they send a few obligatory, very helpful but albeit pretty impersonal messages.

But make no mistake, even two weeks before my actual arrival in Istanbul, I asked them for some extra info. And every time, I got a very detailed and informative answer. While in Istanbul, the exact same story. Every time I had a question, needed to ask ask if the guide could wait an extra minute because I was running late, make reservations … their response was lightning quick, to the point, and super polite. Even after midnight, believe me, I tried by accident. I can imagine that, certainly for first-time visitors, having an almost personal help desk in your pocket, is a great bonus.

Bottom Line

It’s all about maths, skip the line, and ease of mind really. If you’re the type of traveler that wants to cover as much of Istanbul’s attractions as possible during your stay, who doesn’t want to waste time in ticket sales lines, loves to have a guide explaining the ins and outs of some of the Istanbul’s top attractions, than you should buy the Istanbul E-pass . The discounted transfers and day trips, as well as the magnificent customer service just sweeten this deal even more.

If on the other hand, you prefer to wake up late, enjoy an elaborated breakfast, plan to do two activities a day and spend the rest of your time browsing the streets, do some shopping and sit on a terrace watch Istanbul pass by, then this is not for you.

Either way, I wish you a nice time in Istanbul.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission to keep the site ad-free . I only recommend products and companies I use or have used.

Yungsun Hahn says

March 9, 2024 at 10:48 pm

I am planning a 4-night trip (3 full days) to Istanbul at the end of April. As I want to see as much as possible, Istanbul E-pass seems to be perfect. If my phone runs out of battery, can I show a printed QR code for entries? This is a major concern for me with any e-pass.

Yungun Hahn (Mr.)

Erlend says

March 10, 2024 at 7:22 pm

Yes, you could do that, but it’s best you ask the lovely people of Istanbul e-pass to be sure. I also found this on the FAQ pages on their website : “You don’t need to print. Your E-pass customer page will be enougt to use. If you will be out of internet, you can have screenshot or print of your E-pass.” But this of course doesn’t solve the problem when out of battery.

January 27, 2024 at 12:29 pm

Do I have to be part of guided tours, I mean If I just use skip the line ticket to enter and explore on my own, and then enter another tour at its designated time??

January 29, 2024 at 8:55 pm

You can only reserve once as far as I know. So, you can enter with the guide to skip the line and then tell the guide you’ll explore on your own. But you can’t take the same tour another day again. Mostly, people go in with the guide, listen to his story, and then continue exploring on their own.

January 17, 2024 at 9:23 pm

I just purchased it and tried to install the app. It says my device (Samsung Galaxy S21+) is not compatible????

Do I have to use the phone app or can I use the website?

January 18, 2024 at 12:11 am

You should contact their support team , they are really nice and helpful. Obviously, you can’t via the app, but you can email or even whatsapp them.

Tammy Ho says

January 16, 2024 at 4:52 am

Can I know more about the Airport shuttle buy from airport to downtown hotel? How does it works and is it only covered one way OR it can also from hotel to airport?

How about the schedule of the shuttle bus?

January 17, 2024 at 12:40 am

For details about the Istanbul E-pass, I suggest to contact the lovely people of Istanbul e-pass . They’ll respond very quickly to your questions.

Patrick says

September 1, 2023 at 12:20 am

I plan on purchasing an E-Pass and will provide my Canadian phone number to receive QR code.

However, I will buy a Turkish SIM at airport. Will I be able to use new Turkish number to communicate with E-Pass reps?

September 1, 2023 at 8:35 pm

Hi Patrick,

Sure, normally WhatsApp will ask you weather you want your new or normal number associated with it (I usually say to keep my current), and other than that it just uses your internet data. And you can always tell the people at Istanbul e-pass before you actually replace your SIM that your new temporary local number will be … You can even use the free airport WiFi (with or without your VPN) to do that.

August 27, 2023 at 8:41 am

Hello What hotels (3 or 4 star) do they use for their 2 days trips to Ephesus and Pammukale and Eastern Black Sea tours ?

August 27, 2023 at 12:14 pm

I contacted them, and they told me that they use the Karaasalan inn Hotel in Kusadasi. For Çanakkale they mostly use the 3* Anzac Hotel. Of course, this depends on availability. If not available, they use similar hotels.

Hope this helps.

August 21, 2023 at 12:07 pm

Istanbul E Pass or Istanbul Tourist Pass? One better than the other?

August 21, 2023 at 6:31 pm

Not really, there is a minimal difference in services / attractions with tour guides. I tend to recommend e-pass these days since their customer service and support is just great. They’re very helpful, before and during your stay. Have a great time!

Madiyar says

August 19, 2023 at 3:36 pm

Hey, thank you for the review of Istanbul E-pass! I have a question, do we need to always get a guided tour or can we just go by ourselves to the places such as Cistern Basilica, Topkapi Palace, Galata and Bosphorus tour?

We have very limited time, so we want to visit everything by ourselves.

August 19, 2023 at 7:12 pm

Unfortunately, some state owned museums don’t have electronic tickets (yet) so the guide needs to get them for you. Once you’re in, you’re of course free to explore everything on your own (although I suggest to listen to what the professional guide has to say).

If you want to know exactly which sightseeing spots you can’t visit on your own, I suggest to contact the lovely people of Istanbul e-pass . They’ll respond very quickly to your questions.

Susan mclean says

August 17, 2023 at 11:07 am

My boyfriend and myself are coming to Istanbul in September for 2 weeks and I have seen we need to get e passes can you please tell me a bit about it as never been before . I was looking at them and it looks to me as if you can only get them for upto 10 is this wright ?? And the one that I seen seems to be quite expensive. Please help only 32 days till we are there

August 17, 2023 at 2:47 pm

Since you’ll be here for 2 weeks, I assume you will leave no stone unturned and that you plan to visit every sightseeing spot on offer. To make sure I understand your question, you’re wondering what to do since the Istanbul e-pass only offers passes for up to 10 days, is that correct?

Shahen says

August 10, 2023 at 7:32 pm

We are visiting Istanbul at the end of August and are very interested in the epass. When we plan our day for the tours, how much time should I allow in between different tours?

August 10, 2023 at 7:52 pm

That really depends on what you prefer. I have take tours back-to-back, but for others I stayed long after the guide had left to absorb the atmosphere or revisit some parts for more detail. Or sometimes you just want to take a break, have a drink, have lunch, or the tour you want to take next is only a few hours later. It’s really a personal preference and also based on what you want to / can do on a certain day.

Mohammad says

June 4, 2023 at 7:47 pm

Hello, I am planning to visit Istanbul with my family. Do I need to buy Epass for every adult? Or 1 card can be used for all

June 7, 2023 at 11:46 am

You need to buy an ePass for every adult.

Reaniel says

June 2, 2023 at 8:52 pm

Erlend, I’m trying to build up our 4 day itinerary for the e-pass (I bought the 5 day pass since it’s only €20 more, but I get to have it covered for all our 4 days there, along with hitting even more places), and I’m running into a bit of dilemma that I’d like to ask for your opinion/recommendation. I managed to fit all the guide tours as well as the important walk-in museums and landmarks in the 3 days. For the one day (a Monday), I’m torn between whether to join the Bursa day tour or visit Buyukada. Obviously, they’re both going to take almost a whole day, and I’d like to know which one will be the “mustn’t miss!” experience. In addition, our visit is going to be in mid November (12 – 15), and I don’t know if the season/weather is going to be a factor or not.

Thanks ahead!

June 3, 2023 at 10:52 am

Hi Reaniel,

Well, for the islands, the weather is a big factor. If it rains cats and dogs, you shouldn’t go there. If it’s sunny, even in November, it’s a nice experience. So I suggest to wait and see what the weather is like when you’re here. You can wait for making reservations until 24 hours ahead of time, and by then the weather forecast should be pretty spot on. Hope this helps. If you have more questions, by all means contact the lovely people from Istanbul E-pass directly, they’ll gladly help you out.

June 3, 2023 at 7:19 pm

They have been very helpful in answering questions I have with various activities. I just didn’t know if it’s okay to ask them something subjective (like Bursa vs Prince’s Islands). Otherwise, they have been great in answering every little things we raised about the attractions/tours they offer.

On an unrelated note: I heard that the new national park that’s built on the old Ataturk Airport is now open. Is it worth visiting? Is there an entry fee to enter? And is it fenced in or an open park (like the NYC central park)?

I’m surprised there isn’t any official map or aerial pictures/videos of the park on the internet.

Thanks again for all your help!

June 3, 2023 at 10:56 pm

As far as I know, there is no park yet, there is just a manifestation/gathering area for large crowds. I just passed the old airport a few days ago, and trust me, there is nothing green like a national park that you have in mind. The biggest parks you’ll find in close to typical tourist areas are Gülhane park (not very big), Yıldız park (very nice) and of course the green zones at Büyükada (certainly when you take the long bicycle tour).

June 4, 2023 at 5:47 am

Thanks! I’ll keep those you’ve listed in mind!

Amina Yasmin says

May 7, 2023 at 11:39 pm

Hi is there anywhere to access how long the guided tours last in each place – also is there a list of times for each day for each attraction place. Or do we just tell them we want to visit x,y, z places and then they meet us?

May 8, 2023 at 3:33 pm

On the Istanbul E-pass website, at the top click on attractions, and then you can click on each attraction to see more details about it. If it’s a guided tour, it’s mentioned there how long it takes. As for the schedule and what tour takes place when, you better contact the nice people of Istanbul E-pass via their website.

June 2, 2023 at 8:39 pm

They have a dedicated page right here for the guided tours that doesn’t require reservations (there are 7 of them). https://istanbulepass.com/guided-tours-timetable.html Which was what I used to try and fit everything. They also have the meeting spots listed near the bottom of the page.

Note that there’s one more guided tour in Istanbul that requires reservation. It runs for roughly 4 hours and covers Pierre Loti Hill, Sky tram, Eyup Sultan Mosque, and Miniaturk Park. It takes some effort to fit all 8 of them, so good luck!

tania ghose says

December 13, 2022 at 4:06 pm

HI ERLEND, Thank you for this wonderful reviwe it was really helpfull. We are planning to visit in month of mid March next year when should we book the Istanbul Epass. if it a group will they arrange tour for them separately should we have reach places of our own or they arrange transportation too asking about 7days tour package.

December 14, 2022 at 9:34 pm

I would order it at least a month upfront, so that you can already get used to the app and make the necessary reservations for some of the activities, making sure there is still some space. normally, you buy for each member of the group an e-Pass, which you can use individually, or of course as a group.

Diny Slamet says

October 24, 2022 at 8:27 am

Hi Erlend, Thanks for this informative article. Our trip is a while off but my question is similar to Steve’s. I will have an Australian phone number which I don’t intend to use in Turkiye. So should I buy the e-pass once I’ve landed at my hotel and have a Turkish SIM in my phone? I don’t have to buy the e-pass while I’m overseas, do I? Also, we have almost two weeks in Istanbul so is it better to buy three days at a time to fit in a bunch of sightseeing, then have a couple of days to be more relaxed before buying another three days?

October 25, 2022 at 8:28 am

I would suggest to purchase it in advance, so you can read up on all the activities, get used to the app, get to know the customer service and more importantly, make reservations for activities where this is required. The E-pass gets activated only on actual first use, so no need to worry about that either. Since most communication happens via WhatsApp, I do suggest to get a local SIM card. Istanbul E-pass recently added discounted SIM cards (and a discounted WiFi device ) to their package. You don’t even have to change your number on WhatsApp, you can still use your Australian number while using the Turkish SIM. And if you do want to change your number while in Istanbul, just let the customer service know. Don’t buy two packages, just start with one that best fits your needs, like the 3-day one, and if you need extra days, before the pass expires, ask to extend it to a 5 or 7 day pass. That way you only pay the difference, and not for a full new pass.

I hope this helps.

October 31, 2022 at 12:32 pm

Thank you so much for your advice.

November 7, 2022 at 11:08 am

This is bullshit with those sim cards. Currently, 22GB of data costs 300TL at each GSM point with a SIM card. If you have a SIM card, the 50GB package costs 149TL.

November 8, 2022 at 1:58 pm

I think it’s fair to assume that tourists don’t have local sim cards, so let’s focus on that for a minute. I just checked the Tourist Sim Cards sold at SAW and Trump Tower, and for 20GB (+ 200 min calling) it’s respectively 490 TL (31 Eur) and 750 TL (45 Eur). So yes, prices fluctuate depending location and competition probably, but what E-pass offers for tourist SIMs is certainly not bad.

Winnie Chanlee says

October 12, 2022 at 1:25 am

I have read the reviews posted on Trip Advisor about the Istanbul Tourist Pass. There were a few issues with *the guides rushing off to another tour and the tourists did not get a full hour or 30 minutes. *the # of people were large and it was difficult to hear the guide. There were no head phones or no personal audio equipment. *the guide was not competent in giving guided tours for that particular site. *Hagia Sophia where there is no “skip the line” accommodation, the wait time cut into the 60 minute tour time. The tour fell way short of the 60 minutes. * Many of the sites, mosques and public places are free entries. If the guided services did not measure up, then we would be disadvantaged and would have missed the opportunites to learn about the palaces or museum or moques.

Did you experience issues with the guided tours? How would you rate the various guides? Are they average, excellent or sub standard in terms of knowlege, and presentation?

Regards winnie

October 12, 2022 at 9:51 am

First of all, you are mentioning comments on the Istanbul Tourist Pass but you’re writing this in the Istanbul ePass section. These two passes are not the same. They have similarities, but also differences. When I last used and reviewed the Istanbul Tourist Pass (already 4 years ago) they didn’t rush the tours and the group was never more than 15 people. And I was very lucky with my guides. Truth be told, the situation has changed quite a bit since then. The Hagia Sophia became a mosque, which means free entrance but closed before and during prayer. The top section is also closed. Also is there now a security perimeter around the square. The same with Topkapi Palace, they moved the security check to the first gate, before the ticket booths. Guided tours can skip the ticketing line, but of course not the security line. And last but not least, I don’t know when these comments were written, but there also have been 2 COVID years, where rules were a bit different.

I tried and reviewed the Istanbul ePass only a few months ago, and was very happy with their service as youi can read here. They do have a few less guided tours compared to the Istanbul Tourist Pass if I’m not mistaken, but their customer service is great. I hope this helps.

September 30, 2022 at 12:30 am

For a couple visiting Istanbul December 20 – 25, 2022, and, again, December 30 – January 3, 2023, which pass is most appropriate; Istanbul Welcome Card, Istanbul, Tourist Pass, Istanbul E-Pass? We are interested in the main museums, transportation, and a Bosphorus dinner cruise.

September 30, 2022 at 9:34 am

Since you’ll be there for almost 8 days, I wouldn’t consider the Welcome Card since it doesn’t include many activities and the transportation card for 10 rides won’t be enough to cover your whole trip. Moreover, most sightseeing spots they offer are included in the two passes. So this leaves either of the two passes, where I tend to lean towards the Istanbul E-pass these days, not the least because of their excellent customer support/helpdesk during your visit.

September 27, 2022 at 12:15 am

Thank you for a very detailed explanation we want to explore at a pace as against rushing up hence wondering will it expire say if i start at afternoon on monday will it expire on tuesday afternoon

September 27, 2022 at 8:00 am

Istanbul E-pass counts calendar days, not 24 hours for one day. For example; if you have a 3 days pass and activate it on Tuesday, it will be expired on Thursday at 23:59. The pass can be used only in consecutive days.

September 26, 2022 at 10:38 am

Very interesting . Thank you . We are visiting Istanbul in October from the UK. I’m a little concerned that my mobile number will cost a lot in data whilst there. Is it fine for me to order an Istanbul r pass on my UK phone or should I buy a Turkiye SIM card on arrival and then purchase the e pass?

September 26, 2022 at 9:46 pm

I would buy a Turkish SIM with the focus on data. Just don’t buy at the airport, but instead, use the free wifi there. Buy it once you’re in the city center, it’s cheaper.

Momtchil says

July 21, 2022 at 12:37 pm

Which pass you will recomend better for family and a kid -the Istanbul Touris Pass or the E-pass

July 22, 2022 at 1:30 am

At the moment I would go for the Istanbul E-pass.

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Which Istanbul Tourist Pass is Best?

With over 1 million tours provided, our guides are always being asked about the best ways to save money on popular attractions around the city.

In this post, we'll use details from our best guides regarding each of the passes available in Istanbul Turkey.

We'll also include advice from popular Istanbul travel groups on Facebook, to give you an idea of what locals and travelers think about these services.

Before You Buy

All-Inclusive
Prepackaged
Build Your Own

Museum Pass

Is it Worth it?

There are a wide variety of tourist passes offered in Istanbul, each offering significant deals on entrance fees for popular activities throughout the city.

Before you make any decisions about which ones to buy, it’ll be important to understand how each service works in order to save as much money as possible.

The main difference between each pass is which attractions are included, but you can usually expect to find deals on admission to some of the following locations and tours:

Galata Tower
Topkapi Palace
Basilica Cistern
Bosphorus Cruise
Grand Bazaar Tour
Hagia Sophia Museums
Popular museums (Madame Tussauds, Museum of Illusions, etc.)
Outdoor activities (Zipline, Climbing Walls, Parkour, etc.)
Public transport cards and airport transfers

If you’re interested in any of these activities, chances are you’ll find a low cost pass below that will help you save money on skip-the-line tickets.

We’ll include tips for each service to help you find the right one for your needs, but first let’s take a look at the difference between each pass.

All-Inclusive Pass

This type of pass allows you to access a wide variety of top attractions and activities over the course of 1-10 days.

The more days your pass is active, the less you’ll pay per day, and the more likely it is you’ll be able to use it for everything you want.

These tend to be the most expensive tourist passes, but they also usually offer the best potential to save money.

Depending on how you use these passes, you could save 50% or more off general admission prices.

If you’re planning to fit as many activities as possible into each day of your trip to Istanbul, this will probably be the best type of pass for your needs.

The more attractions you visit, the more money you’ll save!

Prepackaged Pass

If you’re only interested in a few specific activities and you don’t want to get too carried away while visiting Istanbul, you might want to consider this type of pass.

Prepackaged passes provide admission to a predetermined set of attractions for one low price.

Although you won’t usually save as much money with a service like this, they often include deals of 10% - 20% off additional activities that aren’t included with the main pass.

This type of pass typically includes entry to historic attractions and museums, tours, and audio guides. You can also expect a cruise and even a public transport card!

Build Your Own Pass

This is a relatively uncommon type of pass nowadays, but there is at least one such service in Istanbul as of 2024.

A build your own pass is typically active for a much longer period than any other competitors, and it allows you to enjoy a specific concession on every attraction you choose.

Although the concession provided by these passes is typically capped at around 20%, at least you’ll only have to pay for the activities you actually want to enjoy.

This might not be the best option for every traveler, but it’s definitely worth considering if you’re trying to save some money while visiting Istanbul.

As the name implies, this type of pass covers the cost of admission for a wide range of museums located all over Istanbul for one flat price. This is one of the more affordable tourist passes in the city.

Unfortunately, this service does not include any tours, cruises, or other activities you will find on other tourist passes.

If all you want is to see the best museums in the city, this is an excellent option. However, if you’re interested in doing a bit more than that, you might want to consider something else.

Thankfully, some of the other passes on our list actually include the Istanbul Museum Pass at no additional cost!

You might be shocked to find that there is actually a free tourist pass in Istanbul. Before you get too excited, it should be noted that this service does not include free admission to any notable attractions; instead, this pass offers deals on a wide variety of activities.

This service offers up to 30% off at a variety of shops, restaurants, and other businesses. If you’re interested in saving money without spending any money upfront, this is going to be your best bet.

All-Inclusive Passes

There are currently at least two all-inclusive pass options in Istanbul, and they each include admission to dozens of attractions over the course of multiple days for one low price.

Istanbul Tourist Pass

This pass covers the cost of admission for over 85 popular attractions, tours, and other services throughout the city.

The pass is available for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 days, and they advertise that you can save up to 80%.

It’s more likely that you’ll save closer to 50% off, but it’s definitely possible to save even more.

Here are just a handful of the most notable activities included with the Istanbul Tourist Pass:

Hagia Sophia
Whirling Dervishes
Madame Tussauds
SEALIFE Aquarium
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise
Sapphire Observation Deck
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
Safari Theme Park

In addition to these attractions, this pass also includes deals on special services such as a mobile hotspot and an unlimited public transportation card.

An airport shuttle is provided at no extra cost, but they also offer a concessionary private transfer if you don’t feel like getting on a coach.

Another thing worth noting about the Istanbul Tourist Pass is that it covers the cost of several outdoor activities for free, including the following examples:

Climbing Walls
Carousel & Ferris Wheel
Mini Football Experience
Adventurous Ropes Parkour

Here are the prices you can expect to pay for each pass based on the length of its duration:

1-Day Pass: €120/Adults | €90/Children
Price per Day: €75/Adults | €57.50/Children
Price per Day: €60/Adults | €46.66/Children
Price per Day: €48.75/Adults | €37.50/Children
Price per Day: €42/Adults | €33/Children
Price per Day: €33.57/Adults | €25.71/Children
Price per Day: €26/Adults | €19.50/Children

Purchase the Istanbul Tourist Pass or learn more .

Things to Consider

As you can see, the lowest price per day is with the 10-day pass, at just €26 for Adults and €19.50 for Children. Many of the attractions included are between €20-€40, but it should be noted that there are also a lot of activities that usually cost less than €10.

Although it would certainly be easy to save a lot of money using a 10-day pass, even if you choose a much shorter option, you can still get a great deal. Here’s a sample itinerary for a 3-day pass to show you what we mean:

Topkapi Palace Guided Tour | €46
Madame Tussauds | €18
Hagia Sophia History & Experience Museum | €25
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise | €70
Istanbul Segway Tour | €50
SEALIFE Aquarium | €20
Spice Bazaar Audio Guide | €10
Whirling Dervishes Show | €40
Sapphire Observation Deck | €10
Basilica Cistern Guided Tour | €29
LEGOLAND Discovery Center | €20
VR Helicopter - Flyride Adventure | €19

Total Price: €180

Total Value: €357

Total Savings: €177 (50% off)

You might not save as much as they advertise, but even if you only use the pass for a few activities each day, this example shows how it’s possible to save close to 50% off general admission prices.

That saving doesn’t even include the additional concessions offered with the pass, and when you factor those deals into the value, chances are you’ll end up saving much more than half off.

If you still don't feel you saved enough to make the pass worth it, they will work with you to provide an adequate refund. In addition to that, you can also get full refunds up to 3 days before the pass is activated.

The Istanbul Tourist Pass provides access to a very diverse collection of tours, museums, historic sites, outdoor activities, cruises, and family-friendly attractions.

Furthermore, you can use this service in full via the Istanbul Tourist Pass app when you download it onto your mobile phone.

This would be an excellent option for anyone planning to stay in Istanbul for over a week, and it’s especially good for anyone who wants to fill each day with as many fun things to do as possible.

Istanbul e-Pass

Although this all-inclusive pass is similar to others, there are a few notable differences.

The e-Pass provides concessionary admission for over 60 fun activities and attractions, and it’s valid for 2, 3, 5, or 7 consecutive days.

Most of the notable tours, museums, and historical locations included with this service are the same that you will find on almost every other pass in Istanbul, including top favorites like the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower, Basilica Cistern, and more.

Here are some of the other popular attractions included with the Istanbul e-Pass:

Istanbul Aquarium Florya
Dolmabahce Palace Guided Tour
Spice Bazaar Guided Tour
Istanbul Cinema Museum
Rustem Pasha Mosque Tour
Blue Mosque Guided Tour
Hippodrome of Constantinople Tour
Hagia Irene Museum
Bosphorus Boat Tour
Serefiye Cistern

In addition to these activities, this pass also offers free and low cost day trips from Istanbul to notable nearby locations such as the following:

Sile & Agva
Western Turkey
Sapanca Lake and Masukiye
Ephesus & Virgin Mary House

To be fair, many of these day trips are also included with other tourist passes in Istanbul, so this isn’t necessarily unique to the e-Pass.

Even so, it’s worth noting that if you want to do some sightseeing outside of the city center, there are plenty of options provided by this service.

Here are the current prices for the Istanbul e-Pass:

Price per Day: €69.50/Adults | €57.50/Children
Price per Day: €54.66/Adults | €46.66/Children
Price per Day: €38.80/Adults | €33/Children
Price per Day: €30.57/Adults | €25.71/Children

Purchase the Istanbul e-Pass or learn more .

Prices for this service are much more affordable than other all-inclusive passes, and it includes most of the same attractions.

Unless there’s something special that only their competitors offer, we recommend this pass if you want to save more money.

The biggest difference between this pass and its competitors is that it doesn’t include as many outdoor activities.

If you’re interested in things like wall climbing or ziplines, you’ll want to pick a different pass.

In addition to that factor, although the Istanbul e-Pass does include deals on popular services such as a private airport transfer and mobile hotspot, it doesn’t have as many extra concessions as you will find on other passes.

That said, here’s a sample itinerary to show how big of a concessions you can get using the 3-day pass:

Topkapi Palace w/ Audio Guide | €47
Hagia Sophia (Outer Visit) | €14
Istanbul Aquarium Florya | €21
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise | €35
Dolmabahce Palace Guided Tour | €38
Dolmabahce Palace Harem Section | €10
Madame Tussauds | €24
Whirling Dervishes Show | €20
Serefiye Cistern Guided Tour | €15
Basilica Cistern Guided Tour | €26
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre | €24
Sapphire Observation Deck | €15

Total Price: €164

Total Value: €289

Total Savings: €125 (43% off)

As with other all-inclusive services, the best way to save the most money is to get the pass with the longest duration and lowest price per day.

At around €30 per day, you’d only have to use the Istanbul e-Pass for 2-3 activities each day to get the best possible deal.

We recommend this pass for anyone who wants to pay less upfront and still enjoy access to a lot of the same attractions that their competitors offer.

That said, this service does not include a public transport card and it’s missing a lot of the extra deals provided by other all-inclusive passes in Istanbul.

If you’re interested in those extras, you might want to consider another option on our list.

Istanbul TriPass

This all-inclusive pass works much the same way as others in Istanbul, offering a wide range of services over the course of 3 or 5 days for one low price.

Depending on the duration of your pass, you can expect to save up to 75% off general admission prices.

What makes the Istanbul TriPass stand out from the rest is that it includes a lot of attractions you won’t find on any other pass.

Like other all-inclusive options, it also comes with multiple deals on popular services like mobile hotspots and car rentals.

If this tourist pass has any flaws, it’s the fact that it doesn’t have as much variety as other passes, providing access to just over 30 attractions.

Of course, you can still expect admission to the big historic sites such as Topkapi Palace and Galata Tower, but you might notice a few activities missing that are present on other passes.

Here’s a short list of some of the more noteworthy activities that aren’t offered by any other all-inclusive pass:

Vialand Theme Park
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
Derinkuyu Underground City
Nevsehir Goreme Archeological Site
The Basilica of St. John and Ayasuluk Castle

In addition to these attractions, this pass also includes the following interesting deals:

50% off Car Rental
10% off at Network (Clothing store)
10% off at Divarese (Clothing store)
10% off at Derimod (Clothing store)
20% off at ARIS Diamond Jewelers

Here are the prices you can expect to pay for the Istanbul TriPass:

Price per day: €39.67
Price per day: €35.80

Purchase the Istanbul TriPass or learn more .

Although this pass doesn’t provide access to nearly as many attractions as other all-inclusive services, it does include admission to at least a few tours and historic locations that their competitors don’t offer.

If you’re interested in a bus tour or perhaps your family wants to visit the Vialand Theme Park, this is an excellent way to save money on dozens of popular activities.

Here is a sample itinerary to show how much money you can save with this all-inclusive pass:

Izmir Ephesus Ancient City | €55
Derinkuyu Underground City | €20
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise | €50
Sapanca & Masukiye Day Trip | €35
Whirling Dervish Show | €30
Galata Tower | €31.75
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour | €45
Flyzone | €10

Total Price: €119

Total Value: €277

Total Savings: €158 (57% off)

As you can see, it’s actually a lot easier to save more than 57% off using the Istanbul TriPass than it is with other all-inclusive passes.

Even though there aren’t as many things to do, the services they do provide are often more valuable, so you end up enjoying a larger concession as a result.

This is a great option for anyone who wants an all-inclusive pass but isn’t confident in their ability to take full advantage of it.

With fewer included activities that are more valuable, you can save a lot of money without worrying about how much time you’re spending at each location.

Prepackaged Passes

At the moment, there are three prepackaged passes in Istanbul, and they offer a specific set of attractions that you can visit over the course of 5, 7, or 30 days.

Unlike all-inclusive passes, it’s not really possible to save more money by fitting as many activities as possible into each day.

Istanbul Welcome Card

This company currently offers two different cards valid for either 5 or 7 days. The 7-day pass actually doesn’t include as much as the 5-day option, and it costs less because of that.

If you want to take your time visiting some of the most notable attractions in Istanbul, this tourist pass is an excellent choice.

In addition to covering admission to most of the popular historic sites, this service also includes a public transport card (bus, tram, metro) and multiple tours.

Here are the activities included with both the 5 and 7-day Istanbul Welcome Card, as well as the prices for each option:

Deluxe Card (5 Days)

Topkapi Palace Guided Tour
Basilica Cistern Guided Tour
Hagia Sophia Guided Tour
Grand Bazaar and Spice Market Tour
Bosphorus Cruise & Audio Guide
Museum Pass (entry to 13 museums)
20-Ticket Public Transportation Card
€171 per person

Premium Card (7 Days)

10-Ticket Public Transportation Card
€91 per person

The extra 20% off promo code is valid for a variety of attractions and services, including the following examples:

Airport Transfers
Whirling Dervish Show
Luxury Yacht Tour
Princes’ Island Ferry

Purchase the Istanbul Welcome Card or learn more .

Although these passes are somewhat limited, they’re still a relatively good deal for travelers who are focused primarily on sightseeing.

If you want to visit attractions like LEGOLAND or Madame Tussauds, you’ll probably need to consider another pass.

That said, one of the nicest things about this pass is that it provides an extra 20% concession for additional activities, which essentially means that the amount you can save using the Istanbul Welcome Card is not limited to the services included.

The Deluxe Card offers more value than the Premium Card, and we recommend it to those who want to get the best deal.

Even so, the Premium Card is still excellent for anyone who wants to go sightseeing in Istanbul at their own pace.

TriPass Basic

This prepackaged pass covers fewer noteworthy attractions than almost any other service in Istanbul.

Even so, if you really want to take your time exploring the city, you might still want to consider the TriPass Basic, because it’s valid for 30 days.

The following activities and deals are included with this pass:

Sabanci Museum
7.5% off at Boyner
10% off at Kiğılı

As you can see, this tourist pass is a bit anemic.

Thankfully, it’s pretty well-priced at just €49.90 per person.

Purchase the TriPass Basic or learn more .

Although you can save some money with this pass, chances are you’ll save a lot more with one of the other services offered by TriPass (all-inclusive, build your own).

Using their build-your-own pass as an example, if you were to use it to get tickets for each of the activities included with their basic pass, you’d only pay €48.75.

It’s also worth noting that their free pass includes many of the deals that are offered with the TriPass Basic, and that pass has no expiration date.

In other words, you could technically pay less by using a combination of two other passes that are both offered by this same company.

Keep these details in mind as you make a decision about which tourist pass to purchase.

Unlike the TriPass Basic, this pass is actually valid for a total of 60 days, and it allows you to pick only the attractions you want to visit.

The deals offered by this service are much lower than their competitors, as they are capped at just 25% off at most.

Although you won’t save a lot of money with this type of pass, it does provide concessionary rates for a wide range of activities, including the following:

Topkapi Palace Tour
Istanbul Aquarium

One notable activity included with this pass that you won’t find anywhere else is a Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour.

You’ll have to pay almost €200 for this, but at least you won’t pay the full price!

There is no official price for this type of tourist pass because the final price depends on how many activities you choose and how much they cost with their respective concessions.

This is a pass that you might actually want to use in combination with others.

If you’re interested in one of the other Istanbul tourist pass options, but it doesn’t include every activity you want to enjoy, this is a great way to save money on any additional activities of interest.

You’ll also pay less for this pass than some of the others on our list, and it’s nice to have total control over which attractions you will have an opportunity to visit.

The basic Istanbul museum pass includes admission to 13 museums for one low price.

As with most other passes in the city, this one also provides access to some of the most notable attractions.

This service is valid for 5 days, so you’ll want to visit at least 2-3 museums each day if you want to fit all of them into your trip.

Here’s the full list of museums you can visit with this service:

Yıldız Palace
Fethiye Museum
Rumeli Fortress Museum
Great Palace Mosaic Museum
Galata Mevlevi Lodge Museum
Hagia Irene Monument Museum
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
Istanbul Archaeological Museums
Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology

As of 2024, the price for this pass is 3600 Turkish Lira (around €105 ).

Purchase the Istanbul Museum Pass or learn more .

In addition to the basic service, there is also an Istanbul Guided Museum Pass. This option is also valid for 5 days, and it includes guided tours of each museum included.

Here are the locations you’ll be able to visit with this version of the pass:

Blue Mosque
Grand Bazaar
Dolmabahce Palace Museum
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

Prices are €197 for adults and €187 for children.

Purchase the Istanbul Guided Museum Pass or learn more .

The Museum Pass is included with some of the all-inclusive and prepackaged passes, so you actually don’t have to purchase it separately if you’re already planning to purchase one of those services.

Even the Istanbul Guided Museum Pass is technically included with the Istanbul Tourist Pass, as they offer the exact same guided tours at the same locations.

While you could purchase this separately, we recommend considering one of the other passes that include the Museum Pass at no additional cost.

Free Istanbul Tourist Pass | TriPass Lite

Yes, technically there is a tourist pass in Istanbul that won’t cost you anything.

It doesn’t provide free admission to any attractions, but it does have a lot of deals at popular stores, restaurants, and other locations.

Here is a short list of the most impressive deals you can get for free with TriPass Lite:

10% off at Network
10% off at Derimod
10% off at Divarese
50% off Car Rentals
15% off Mobile Hotspot
20% off at English Home
20% off ARIS Diamond Jeweler

You’ll also be able to get concessionary rates at the following attractions:

Pera Museum
Rahmi M. Koç Museum

As you can see, this pass is pretty limited, but that’s to be expected with a service that is entirely free to use.

If you can’t afford any of the passes, this will at least give you an opportunity to save money on shopping, activities, and even a car rental.

Get the TriPass Lite .

Many of the deals included with this pass are also available on every TriPass at no extra cost, and you’ll also find similar deals offered by their competitors.

If you’re already planning to get another tourist pass, you probably won’t need this. Even so, it’s still going to be useful for a lot of people.

Two standout deals are the car rental and the mobile hotspot. If you’re planning to do any work while in Istanbul, it’s likely you’ll need a hotspot at some point, and this is a free deal to help you save money on the service.

Similarly, if you’re interested in a day trip from Istanbul, the car rental deal would certainly come in handy.

This deal isn’t offered by every competitor, so it’s nice to know you can get it for free!

Is an Istanbul Tourist Pass Worth It?

The answer to this question ultimately depends upon a variety of factors including how much time you have in Istanbul, how many activities you want to enjoy, and other details.

We'll be honest: a tourist pass is not going to be the best option for everyone. That said, there are plenty of travelers who would absolutely benefit from using one of these services.

Here are a few examples of visitors who will likely get the most out of a pass:

Travelers w/ long stays
Both couples and families
Tourists who want to see 3-4 attractions per day
Anyone who enjoys a lot of the included activities

One nice thing about these services is that most of them offer full refunds if you don't use them, and some even provide partial refunds if you aren't happy with your experience.

In addition to that, some passes also include tickets for public transportation, which makes it much easier to get around the city.

However, it should be noted that you might find yourself tied to the actitivies included with your pass as you attempt to get the best possible deal, which could make it more difficult to see other attractions and areas you might want to discover in Istanbul.

If you're looking to see some of the less touristy neighborhoods and landmarks in this city, a pass might not be the best way to do it, because most of the included services are not off the beaten path.

These are arguably among the most important factors to consider when deciding whether or not a tourist pass is worth the price.

We recommend planning out an itinerary for yourself ahead of time to see if you can fit enough activities into your vacation to save a lot of money. If so, give it a go!

Tips From Locals and Travelers

If you're still unsure about whether or not to purchase one of these tourist passes, perhaps the advice of locals and travelers who have used these services will give you a better idea of what to expect.

Istanbul Travel is one of the best Facebook groups for advice on this and other questions tourists may have.

Here are a few tips we've selected which are perhaps the most helpful of them all.

When asked whether or not the Istanbul e-Pass is worth the price, David made some very good points about the kind of calculation necessary when purchasing a pass.

While he indicates he was able to easily save money using just the Museum Pass, he also notes that these passes often "include" admission to attractions that are already free.

This is another factor that comes into play when deciding whether or not to get a pass, because depending on which attractions you want to visit, you might not even need one!

Here's a great comment from the Istanbul reddit page noting that the Hagia Sophia is now free to visit because it has been converted to a mosque.

Being that this is often one of the more popular attractions included with these passes, it's important to note that you don't even necessarily need tickets to enter.

We don't want to misrepresent reality, so it's important to point out that the experience noted above is actually quite common for tourists traveling to Istanbul.

In many cases, travelers find that they can save more money by simply paying for the individual tickets they want.

This commenter also notes that some attractions will take longer than others to experience, leaving little time for other things, and that can be a problem if you're trying to fit as many activities as possible into one day.

Although a lot of locals and travelers don't think these passes are worth it, there are some who still insist it's a good way to save money.

And to their credit, it is entirely possible to get a decent deal using these services. The only problem is the amount of research necessary to get the best possible deal.

With all that said, we do highly advise checking and even joining Istanbul Travel Tips groups on Facebook if you want more advice on this and other issues.

And much, much more

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COMMENTS

Istanbul Tourist Pass® Review: Is It Worth It? Insider Tips
Rather than paying for each item individually, the pass allows you to choose from 100+ things to do in Istanbul so you can pack as much into your stay as possible for a single set price. You'll get valuable discounts of up to 80%.. After you purchase the pass, it will be delivered to mobile phone and will be ready to use at upon arrival. There are four types of Istanbul Tourist Pass (1, 2, 3 ...
Istanbul Tourist Pass® Reviews
Used the pass, to gain acces to most visited atractions in Istanbul. The guided tours were very good, very professional guides that knew how to keep the attention of the crowd. Depending on the number of atractions you want to visit, you can spare a great quantiti of money. Date of experience: January 18, 2023.
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Istanbul Tourist Pass Review: Top Must-See Attractions Included in the Pass

Where to stay in Istanbul?

Why buy Istanbul Tourist Pass?

Istanbul tourist pass must-see attractions

Bosphorus Boat Tour

The Blue Mosque

Hagia Sophia Mosque

Topkapi Palace

Bosphorus Dinner Cruise

Grand Bazaar

Dolmabahçe Palace

Traditional Turkish dance show

Pierre Loti Hill (half-day trip)

Miniaturk Open Air Museum in Istanbul

Galata Tower

Museum of Illusions

Madame Tussauds Istanbul

Is the Istanbul Tourist Pass worth it?

Iulia Vasile

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