Private Literary Istanbul Tour: Books, Pera Palace and Pamuk
The old book bazaar by the Grand Bazaar, the hotel of the Orient Express, and the museum Orhan Pamuk built from a novel.
Photo: Turkey Your Way
- Duration
- Half day (about 4 hours)
- Region
- Istanbul
- Walking
- Easy
- Starts
- Morning
Best for Returning visitors
Tour code IST-H16
The essence
A private literary Istanbul tour follows writers and books through the city. First, you browse the Sahaflar, the old book bazaar beside the Grand Bazaar. Then you visit the Pera Palace Hotel, built for passengers of the Orient Express, with its Agatha Christie room. Finally, you walk into the Museum of Innocence in Çukurcuma, which Orhan Pamuk made from his own novel.
Highlights
- The Sahaflar book bazaar
- The bust of İbrahim Müteferrika, Turkey's first printer
- The Pera Palace Hotel of the Orient Express
- The Agatha Christie room
- Orhan Pamuk's Museum of Innocence
Program
-
Morning
Meet your guide
At your hotel, or at the Beyazıt Mosque.
-
Morning
The Sahaflar on the literary Istanbul tour
The old book bazaar between the Grand Bazaar and the Beyazıt Mosque.
Opening hours & dress code -
Late morning
The Pera Palace Hotel
The hotel of the Orient Express passengers.
Opening hours & dress code -
Midday
The Museum of Innocence
Orhan Pamuk's museum in Çukurcuma.
Opening hours & dress code
In depth
Istanbul has inspired writers for centuries, from Ottoman scribes to Agatha Christie and Orhan Pamuk. A private literary Istanbul tour follows them through the city, with your own guide.
The Book Bazaar on the Literary Istanbul Tour
The Sahaflar
First, you walk into the Sahaflar, between the Fesçiler Gate of the Grand Bazaar and the Beyazıt Mosque. Booksellers moved here from inside the Grand Bazaar around the earthquake of 1894. Today, its shops sell old and new books.
The first printer
In the middle of the bazaar stands a bust of İbrahim Müteferrika, founder of the first Turkish printing press, set up in 1981.
Pera Palace and Pamuk on the Literary Istanbul Tour
The Pera Palace Hotel
Then your driver takes you across the Golden Horn to the Pera Palace Hotel, which opened in 1895 for passengers of the Orient Express. For dinner after the walk, we book you a table at Mikla, on the top floors of The Marmara Pera in Tepebaşı. Agatha Christie stayed in Room 411, and the hotel keeps an Agatha Christie room with her books and a copy of her typewriter.
From our guides
Our suggestion At the Pera Palace Hotel, look for the Agatha Christie room, kept with her books and a copy of her typewriter.
The Museum of Innocence
Finally, you walk down to Çukurcuma and the Museum of Innocence, which Orhan Pamuk built to go with his novel of the same name. Nearby, our Bosphorus villages tour visits Ortaköy, and our Kuzguncuk walk goes to Üsküdar and the Maiden’s Tower.
Would you like to follow the writers of Istanbul? Choose your day, and we will plan the book bazaar, the Pera Palace and the Museum of Innocence.
Before you go
-
- Entry
- No ticket needed, open market
-
- Entry
- A working hotel; public areas and rooms through the hotel
-
- Entry
- Ticketed private museum
Hours can change on religious holidays. Your guide confirms them the day before.
What’s included
Included
- A professional licensed guide, in the language you ask for
- Car and driver when the route or your group needs one; we plan this with you.
- A 10 GB eSIM for one traveler in your group, our gift, valid for 30 days (data only)
Not included
- Entrance tickets, unless agreed in your program
- Meals and drinks
- Tips
“From the pick up to the drop off, the entire experience was top notch”
From your guide
What to wear
Comfortable shoes for the hills of Beyoğlu.
Best time
Any season. It is a good plan for a rainy day.
Photos
Ask in the shops and the museum whether photos are allowed.
Practical
Updated:
- Starts
- Morning
- Ends
- Çukurcuma, or your hotel
- Meeting point
- Your hotel, or the Beyazıt Mosque
- Walking
- Easy: short walks, with the car between the old city and Beyoğlu.
- Accessibility
- Tell us your needs. The streets of Çukurcuma are steep.
- Cancellation
- If a visit is not possible on the day, we change the order or the day.
Frequently asked questions
Should I read Orhan Pamuk before the literary Istanbul tour?
No, but it helps. The Museum of Innocence goes with his novel of the same name, and your guide tells you the story.
Can we see the Agatha Christie room on the literary Istanbul tour?
Possibly. The room belongs to a working hotel, so we ask the hotel for your date.
How is the literary Istanbul tour different from your Beyoğlu tour?
The Beyoğlu tour walks the whole district. This tour follows writers and books, from the old city to Çukurcuma.
Is it suitable for kids and seniors?
Yes. The walking is easy, with steep streets in Çukurcuma.
What is your cancellation policy?
Every trip with us is private, so we agree the cancellation terms with you by email before you book, and you find them in writing in your booking confirmation. The deposit is non-refundable.
How long does the tour take?
Half a day, about 4 hours. It is your own day, so you choose how long to stay at the Sahaflar, the Pera Palace Hotel and the Museum of Innocence.
