Has anyone had experience using the skip the line tickets from Get Your Guide? The one I am interested in is good for three days and has tickets to Hagia Sophia, the Basillica Cistern and Tokapi Palace. There is no guide. You have a time slot for Topkapi Palace to meet host who will escort you into the palace. I’m interested to know if this company is legit. I would hate to get through security only to learn they are bogus tickets. Also if anyone has used it for Topkapi Palace if the host thing worked. Thanks for any input.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
15261 posts
Just a general comment about Get Your Guide, Viator and similar companies. They are tour aggregators and do not run the tours/experiences themselves. I realize you are asking about Turkey but the companies advertise "skip the line" tours in Paris and the security lines are skipped by no one. If you have a pre-purchased ticket you would not be in a ticket line anyway.
In the Viator website you can see which company provides the tour. I don't see that option in the GetYourGuide listings. I DO see they are careful to say "skip the TICKET line" and in one location they carefully mention that the security line is not skipped and can take up to an hour to get thru. There is apparently a need to be accompanied to get into the harem area.
You may be able to buy cheaper tickets directly from each venue. I have not been to Istanbul so can't speak with authority on the ticketing process.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2963 posts
I have not used them, but as I posted on your other thread the official Hagia Sophia website points to the Get Your Guide page so that counts for something. They take their museums pretty seriously so I can't imagine they would send you to a seller that was bogus. That said, there are reviews on the Get Your Guide page for each of the ticket options, I'd read through those carefully to see if you identify any patterns in the comments.
Also, looking at that ticketing site reminded me that some things are closed on certain days of the week - I don't know what days you are there but the Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays, Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday. Hagia Sophia used to be closed Mondays but it looks like the museum is now open that day.
Posted by
near San Francisco
5685 posts
I've used the GetYourGuide platform (and app) dozens of times, each one a success in terms of providing the stated service, ticket or entry - including a couple of times in Turkey, but not for the 3 places you mention. The service is only as good as each individual provider, which varies.
Hagia Sophia can have very long security lines, which might drive your waiting time more than any ticket line.
There was no line whatsoever when I visited Basilica Cistern, in the evening last August. Perhaps there is a line during the day.
I've not used GetYourGuide for Topkapi Palace.
Posted by
Oregon
35 posts
I used Get Your Guide to buy Hagia Sophia skip the line tickets. Definitely worth it, as you will see when you visit. I had to change my dates, due to illness. I contacted them the day before and they easily changed my dates last October. Was so impressed with their customer service. Remember to use the WhatsApp as a point of contact. I also used WhatsApp with my hotel owner in Cappadocia. Thumbs up to Get Your Guide and WhatsApp!! In Turkey.
Posted by
307 posts
Linda, do the tickets skip the security line though? That is always the slow part, it is easy to skip the ticket line.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2963 posts
Linda, do the tickets skip the security line though? That is always
the slow part, it is easy to skip the ticket line.
DebH you cannot skip the security line at any venue in Istanbul that has one - regardless of how you get your ticket. The Get Your Guide page spells it out in the details:
During peak seasons, lines may form at security checkpoints. Your
ticket does not grant priority access through the security check
lines. In the high season, it might take up to 30 minutes to get in.