Ertugrul and Osman Ghazi Movie Set Tour from Istanbul

The main appeal here is simple: you get to walk around the actual Kuruluş Osman filming area, rather than merely hearing about the series in a city museum or watching clips on a screen. The day also takes you from Istanbul’s European side to Asia, then gives you several hours among castle and house sets tied to the stories of Ertuğrul Gazi and Osman Gazi.

I like the generous time at the film plateau and the included lunch, transport, entrance fees, and live performance. The main caution is cost control: professional photos and a 20-minute horse ride are extra, and the tour does not collect you from your hotel.

Key points to know

• About eight hours door to door: Meet at 10:00 and return to the same Taksim meeting point around 19:00 to 19:30.
• A real European-to-Asian outing: The ride crosses from Istanbul’s European side to the Asian continent before reaching the filming area.
• Five hours at the main set: You have time to see castle and house areas instead of making a quick photo stop.
• Live action is included: A 15 to 20 minute performance adds a theatrical element to the film-set visit.
• Extras can add up: Photography starts at 15 euros, while 20 minutes of horse riding costs 20 euros.
• Small maximum group: The vehicle is limited to 28 people, though this is not a private tour.

From Taksim to the Kuruluş Osman set

Your day begins at 10:00 in front of the main door of the Atatürk Culture Center at Taksim Square. This is a central meeting point, and public transportation is nearby, but you must make your own way there. Hotel pickup is not offered.

The first part of the ride takes about an hour and a half. You leave Istanbul’s European side and cross to the Asian continent, which gives the outing a little more scope than a simple studio visit. You are not just moving between two tourist attractions in central Istanbul. You are heading out to the production area where the Turkish historical dramas are made.

I would arrive early. The meeting point is described clearly, but Taksim Square can be busy, and a large cultural center has several doors and surrounding streets. Keep the address and meeting instructions on your phone, and allow extra time if you are coming by public transportation.

The ride is in an air-conditioned vehicle. That matters on a full summer day, especially because much of the later visit takes place around outdoor sets. The total group can reach 28 people, so expect a shared excursion rather than a quiet private transfer.

Seeing Istanbul from the road

There is a short stop in Istanbul during the transfer, lasting about 15 minutes, where you see open areas used for filming. Do not think of this as a full sightseeing stop. It is a quick look at the broader production setting before you reach the main Kuruluş Osman area.

The value of this short pause is context. Film and television sets often appear as isolated buildings when you see them on screen. Here, you begin to understand that the production uses several open spaces and constructed sections, not just one decorative gate.

Still, keep expectations in check. Fifteen minutes is enough for a brief look and perhaps a few photographs, not a full tour of every filming location around Istanbul. The main visit comes later, at the dedicated set area.

Five hours among castles and houses

The centerpiece is the long visit to the Kuruluş Osman filming location, scheduled for about five hours. That is the part that makes this outing worthwhile for dedicated fans. You have time to look around rather than being rushed through a single backdrop.

The set includes several castle and house areas. These are the kinds of locations that help the television series create its period setting. You can inspect the constructed spaces, take in the scale of the production area, and connect familiar scenes with physical places.

I like the amount of time allocated here. Many film-set excursions can feel like a short photo opportunity followed by a long ride. This one gives the set itself most of the day. If you know the shows well, you can spend time recognizing locations and details. If you are less familiar with the series, the visit still works as a behind-the-scenes look at how a historical drama creates its world.

The supplied details do not promise access to every building or set interior, so you should not assume that every door is open. The wording points to visits around the castle and house set areas. Your experience may depend on what is in use for filming that day.

You should also plan for a mostly outdoor visit. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. The tour requires good weather, and if conditions force cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The exact amount of walking is not stated, but a large set area and several locations usually mean you will be on your feet.

The live show adds a theatrical touch

A 15 to 20 minute live show takes place on the film plateau during the day. The schedule gives this performance about 45 minutes, presumably allowing time for gathering and watching rather than counting only the action itself.

This is a useful addition because it changes the mood from looking at scenery to seeing the stories performed in front of you. The show is designed around the world of Ertuğrul Gazi and Osman Gazi, so fans get a short burst of live storytelling in the same setting used for filming.

Do not confuse the performance with a full theater production. It is a short live segment within a much longer set visit. Its appeal is the combination of actors, action, and the constructed setting, not a long scripted performance with extensive seating or stage production.

The live show is included in the admission. That helps the overall value, since it gives you more than access to empty buildings and props.

Lunch and what the price covers

The listed price is $120.16 per person. For an eight-hour outing, that is not a bargain basement price, but the package includes several costs that can otherwise creep into a long day: lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, the entrance fee for the movie set, the live show, and pickup and drop-off at the Taksim meeting point.

The price makes the most sense if you are a real fan of the series. You are paying for the ride out of central Istanbul, the set admission, several hours on location, a meal, and organized transport back to Taksim. Arranging the same trip independently might be difficult because the filming area is outside the usual central sightseeing circuit.

Lunch is included, though the meal type is not specified. If you have strict dietary needs, confirm details before booking rather than assuming a particular menu. Personal expenses are not included, so bring money for drinks, souvenirs, or anything else outside the package.

The extra charges deserve attention. Professional photography starts at 15 euros, and a 20-minute horse ride costs 20 euros. These options may appeal to fans who want a more staged photograph, but they are not required for the main visit. Set a budget before you arrive so an enthusiastic sales pitch does not turn a $120 day into a much more expensive one.

One review praised the outing as especially enjoyable for someone over 60 because the pace did not feel rushed. That is useful information. The long set visit appears to allow a more relaxed rhythm than a packed city tour, though you should still expect time outdoors and some walking.

Photos, horses, and souvenir spending

The set naturally invites photographs. You can take advantage of the surroundings, but the professional photography service costs extra, starting at 15 euros. The provided information does not state how many photographs that includes, so ask before agreeing to the service.

Horse riding is another optional activity. A 20-minute ride costs 20 euros. This may be a fun add-on for fans who want a picture that fits the series’ historical setting, but it is not part of the base price.

Souvenirs can also be expensive. One review specifically found the souvenirs and extra activities costly, while still considering the overall experience worthwhile. I would treat the shop as optional, not as part of the tour’s core value. You can enjoy the sets, lunch, and performance without buying anything beyond the admission package.

Group size, pace, and comfort

The maximum group size is 28 people. That is small enough to feel organized, but too large for a private or highly personal tour. You may need to stay with the group during transfers and the live performance, and photographs at popular set areas could take a little patience.

The pace seems best suited to people who prefer a full-day excursion with a major stop, not those who want to keep moving every 20 minutes. The main set visit lasts about five hours, so you have room to slow down, look around, and enjoy the atmosphere.

The tour is offered in English. No guide names are provided, so you should not book expecting a particular host. The available details also do not promise extensive historical commentary or behind-the-scenes production access. The strongest part of the day is the physical setting itself.

Most people can participate, according to the booking information. Still, the tour requires transport, outdoor time, and movement around a film plateau. If you have mobility concerns, ask the operator for current details before reserving, since the amount of walking and the surface conditions are not specified.

Returning to Atatürk Culture Center

After the set visit, the vehicle returns to the same meeting point at the Atatürk Culture Center. The expected arrival is around 19:00 to 19:30, making this a full day with little room for another evening booking.

That return arrangement is convenient if you are staying near Taksim or planning dinner in the area. It also removes the worry of finding your own way back from a distant filming location. The catch is that there is no hotel drop-off, so you must arrange the final leg from the culture center yourself.

Keep your evening flexible. The tour lasts approximately eight hours, and traffic can affect the return time. Do not schedule a theater performance or airport transfer immediately afterward.

Who will enjoy this tour most

This is a strong match for fans of Diriliş: Ertuğrul and Kuruluş Osman, particularly those who want to see the sets rather than only visit Istanbul’s standard attractions. The castle and house areas, live show, and long time at the filming location give the day a clear purpose.

It also suits visitors who want a guided, organized way to reach a film production area outside central Istanbul. Lunch and transport simplify the day, and the air-conditioned vehicle is helpful during hot weather.

You may want to skip it if you have not watched the series and prefer museums, mosques, markets, or historic monuments. The tour does not replace Istanbul sightseeing. Its appeal comes from the television sets and the stories connected to them.

It is also a poor fit if you dislike long excursions, optional paid add-ons, or group transport. The ride to the set takes about an hour and a half, the overall day lasts eight hours, and the main visit occupies several hours.

Booking, cancellation, and practical planning

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the tour is commonly reserved about three weeks ahead. That advance pattern suggests you should not leave it until the last minute if the set visit is important to your plans.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, and cancellations inside that window are not refunded. Cutoff times follow local time in Istanbul.

Bad weather can cancel the outing, since the activity requires suitable conditions. In that case, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same choice applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

Bring a charged phone, comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and some cash or a card for personal spending. Most important, go to the correct meeting point at Taksim because hotel transfers are not included.

Should you book the Kuruluş Osman set tour?

Book it if the series is a major reason you are interested in Turkey, or if you want a full day built around the actual production sets. The five-hour visit, included lunch, return transport, entrance fee, and short live performance give the $120.16 price a reasonable basis for a committed fan.

Think twice if you want a classic Istanbul sightseeing day or a low-cost outing. The extras can raise the final bill, the group may include up to 28 people, and much of the appeal depends on your connection to the shows.

My practical verdict: dedicated fans should book, especially if they value time on the set and do not mind traveling beyond central Istanbul. Casual viewers should compare it with a regular city tour before committing a full day and this much of the budget.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at 10:00 in front of the main door of the Atatürk Culture Center at Taksim Square in Istanbul.

Does the tour provide hotel pickup?

No. You must make your own way to the Taksim meeting point. Hotel transfers are not included.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours. It begins at 10:00 and returns to the meeting point around 19:00 to 19:30.

What is included in the price?

The price includes lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees for the movie set, the live show, and pickup and drop-off from the Taksim meeting point.

Are horse riding and professional photographs included?

No. Professional photography starts at 15 euros, and a 20-minute horse ride costs 20 euros. These are optional extras.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.