Picture of More of Istanbul: Chora Museum, Tekfur Palace, Balat & Fener
5.0
284 reviews

More of Istanbul: Chora Museum, Tekfur Palace, Balat & Fener

Kadir Celal - The Passionate Historian

Our local for this tour

Kadir Celal - The Passionate Historian

Discover the first steps of Christianity in the mosaics and frescoes of the Chora Mosque. Visit the last palace of the Byzantine. Get ready to explore the cultural tapestry of old Istanbul's Muslim, Armenian, Jewish, and Greek Orthodox neighborhoods.

Experience details

  • Destination

    Istanbul

  • Category

    Day trips

  • Duration

    5 hours

  • Mode of transport

    Walking

  • Available languages

    English • Türkçe

  • What's included

    Private guide • Welcome tea (or coffe) at the start • Entrance Tickets for the Tekfur Palace

Here’s an overview of your tour

Our tour starts at the Chora Mosque, originally a church adorned with more than 100 detailed frescoes and mosaics depicting the life of Mother Mary and Jesus. Following this, we'll explore the Tekfur Palace Museum, the final Roman (Byzantine) Palace, now home to an impressive collection of Turkish Tiles. En route, we'll walk alongside the historic city walls and wander through Balat, the old Jewish Neighborhood, where several synagogues stand, some still active. Fener awaits as our next stop, boasting the Greek Orthodox Patriarchy, a respected religious institution. We will finalize our journey at the Bulgarian (Iron) Church. Along the way, we'll have many options for delicious snacks and hot and cold beverages.

It takes a bit more than 4 hours and around 2,5 km. walking downhill.

This tour can be 100% customized around your wishes, so please get in touch if you have any preferences.

Museums have entrance fees: €20 for Chora and €8 for Tekfur per person (as of Feb ’25).

Your itinerary

  • Meeting point

    Pembe Köşk Aile Çay Bahçesi

  • Chora Museum

    An old church, then a mosque, now a museum, containing unique religious frescoes and mosaics from the last Byzantine period.

  • Tekfur Palace

    Tekfur Palace Museum, which is the last Roman The last standing part of the Byzantine palaces is a very impressive tile museum, now.

  • City Walls

    Historical walls that have secured the Byzantines for centuries

  • Balat

    Old Jewish neighborhood with typical Jewish houses and many synagogues. Now a unique part of the city full of antique and junk shops

  • Fener

    Following the cute Bulgarian Iron Church we will also visit ecumenical patriarchate and St. Georg church, which is the religious center of most Orthodox Christians of the world.
I have a teen daughter with us - is it possible to plan a drinks and bites tour with her?
Me13:42
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Of course! I can definitely tailor our tour for you and your daughter! :)
Local host Maria13:44
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Do you know all our tours are private & personalised?

Did you know that Withlocals tours are completely customisable to your needs? What you see here is a base itinerary that you can modify! Simply get in touch with your selected local and let them know what you would like!

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  • Kadir Celal - The Passionate Historian

    Kadir Celal

    The Passionate Historian

    Kadir Celal
    5.0
    284 reviews
    I speak
    English • Türkçe
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Good to Know

  • Tips

    • Bring a reusable water bottle to reduce plastic
    • Be mindful of sharing the real secret spots - let's keep them a secret
    • Be aware of cultural norms & be mindful

  • Included

    • Private guide
    • Welcome tea (or coffe) at the start
    • Entrance Tickets for the Tekfur Palace

  • Cancellation

    • Receive a full refund for cancellations done 7 days before the experience date.
    • Your experience can be cancelled and fully refunded within 24 hours of purchase.

Why should you book a Withlocals tour?

  • Customizable IllustrationMarker IllustrationSparkleSparkleIllustration Message Bubble SquareIllustration Message Bubble SquareIllustration Gear

    100% customizable

    Let your local host tailor the tour completely to your wishes.

  • Private IllustrationMessage Bubble IllustrationSparkleSparkleMan pointing illustratorWoman in dress Illustration

    Private guided tours

    No strangers on your tour. It’s just you and your local host.

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    Responsible

    Our tours are designed with people, places & the planet in mind.

Questions?

We are here to help!

  • What is the cancellation policy?

    When you make a booking you will receive a full refund when you cancel more than 7 days before the start of the booking.

    When you make a booking that starts within 7 days and cancel within 24 hours after purchase you will receive a full refund.

    When you make a booking that starts within 24 hours your booking is not refundable.

    Read more
  • What payment methods are available?
    During checkout you can choose from a number of different payment methods based on your location. We accept a variety of payment methods such as Credit Card, iDeal and many more.
  • Can I pay in any currency?
    Payment is always done in Euro but you can view the total amount in your local currency. Your bank might charge you a conversion rate fee from your local currency to Euro. No extra fees apply.
  • Is this tour always private?
    All our tours are 100% private, only you and your host.

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your tour.

€66.18per person
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Kadir Celal - The Passionate Historian

Our local for this tour

Kadir Celal - The Passionate Historian

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