Ertugrul and Osman Ghazi Movie Set Tour from Istanbul

The main draw here is simple: you get to walk through the actual outdoor sets used for the Ertugrul and Osman Ghazi stories, then watch a short live performance among the castle walls and houses. For fans of the series, this is far more personal than seeing costumes behind glass.

I like the cross-continental journey, which takes you from Taksim on Istanbul’s European side toward the Asian side. I also like the relaxed pace: about five hours are reserved for the filming area, so you are not pushed through in a quick photo stop.

The catch is the long day and the extra charges. Hotel transfers are not included, and photography and horse riding cost more. Souvenirs and add-on activities may stretch the budget beyond the $120.16 tour price.

Key points before you book

• The filming plateau is the main event: Spend several hours among castle, house, and open-air movie-set areas linked to Kuruluş Osman.
• Live action is included: Watch a 15 to 20-minute performance with the sets as its backdrop.
• You cross from Europe to Asia: The journey begins at Taksim and travels across Istanbul to the filming location.
• Lunch and transport are covered: The price includes lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees, and return to the meeting point.
• Extras cost more: Professional photos start at €15, while a 20-minute horse ride costs €20.
• The group can reach 28 people: That is small enough to remain manageable, though it is not a private tour.

Why this set visit is more than a quick photo stop

The Ertugrul and Osman Ghazi series have turned outdoor filming locations into a major attraction for fans. The appeal is not only seeing a scenic backdrop. It is the chance to recognize the kind of spaces where the stories were built: castles, houses, open areas, and performance zones arranged for period drama.

I would choose this tour for the setting rather than for a formal lesson in Ottoman history. The supplied details focus on the filming areas and live entertainment, not on a long museum-style explanation. If you want a detailed historical lecture, this may feel light. If you want to step into the world of the shows, it gives you several hours to look around.

The day begins at 10:00 a.m. at the main door of Atatürk Culture Center in Taksim Square. You need to reach the meeting point yourself because hotel pickup is not included. That matters in Istanbul, where crossing the city can take time even when the distance looks short on a map.

The tour is offered in English, and confirmation is sent when you book. The vehicle is air-conditioned, which is useful for a full-day outing, especially when weather conditions are warm.

From Taksim Square to the Asian side

At Taksim Square, look for the meeting point in front of the main door of Atatürk Culture Center. The first portion includes departure from central Istanbul and the trip toward the filming location. The listed timing allows roughly an hour and a half before arriving at the movie set.

One appealing part of the route is the move from Europe to Asia. Istanbul’s two continents are not just a line on a map, and crossing between them gives the day a sense of travel rather than a simple transfer to a theme attraction.

The schedule also includes a brief 15-minute stop in Istanbul to see open areas where movies are made. The details do not promise a long guided stop here, so I would treat it as a short look at filming spaces rather than a separate sightseeing tour.

Bring a little patience for the road. The filming site is not in central Taksim, and the transfer takes a meaningful share of the day. The reward is time at the sets, but you should not book this expecting to spend eight hours inside central Istanbul.

Five hours among the Kuruluş Osman sets

The largest part of the experience lasts about five hours at the Kuruluş Osman filming location. That is the strongest feature for serious fans. You have enough time to see more than one backdrop and to take in the way the set is arranged.

The tour specifically includes several castle and house areas. These are not described as a single building or one photo platform. You move through multiple set areas, which gives you a better sense of how a large outdoor production space supports different scenes.

I would use this time slowly. Look at the scale of the structures, compare the castle and domestic settings, and take photographs where permitted. The schedule leaves room for the experience to feel unhurried, a point that should suit older visitors and anyone who prefers not to be rushed from one stop to the next.

The five-hour block may feel long if you have never watched the shows. That is an important distinction. A fan can spend hours recognizing locations and imagining scenes, while someone unfamiliar with the series may find the visit more like a set tour with limited context.

The tour is capped at a maximum of 28 people. That is not an intimate private outing, but it is more manageable than a large coach group. Staying with the group will matter when the guide moves everyone between the different areas.

Castle walls, houses, and the working feel of a movie plateau

The sets are designed for filming, not as a permanent medieval town. You should expect constructed movie environments rather than untouched historic buildings. That difference helps set fair expectations and does not lessen the appeal for fans who want to see how the stories are presented visually.

The castle and house areas provide variety. Instead of looking at one repeated backdrop, you can see several types of spaces used in the production. The open-air layout also lets you understand how scenes can shift from a public stronghold to a domestic setting within the same general filming area.

I would bring a phone or camera, but keep some cash or card available for the optional photography service. Professional photographs start at €15. The tour price includes access to the movie set, but it does not include this extra service.

Horse riding is another optional activity. A 20-minute ride costs €20. It may appeal to fans who want a more dramatic photograph, but you should not assume it is part of the included program. If you are watching your spending, skip the add-ons and focus on the included set visit and performance.

The live performance gives the day its dramatic finish

The day’s most theatrical portion is the live show, listed at about 45 minutes in the schedule and described as a 15 to 20-minute performance. The safest expectation is a short live performance within that larger time block, with the remaining time likely allowing people to gather, watch, and move on.

The show uses the film plateau as its backdrop and draws on the stories of Ertugrul Gazi and Osman Gazi. That makes it a good fit for fans who want action and storytelling rather than only static scenery.

I like this part because it connects the constructed sets to performance. A castle wall looks different when actors use it, even briefly. It also gives the day a clear high point after the longer period of walking around the houses and other set areas.

Still, keep the scale in mind. This is not advertised as a full theatrical production. It is a short included show, so you should see it as an added feature of the set visit, not the entire reason to book the tour.

Lunch and what the $120.16 price covers

At $120.16 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day in Istanbul. The value depends heavily on how much the series means to you and how useful the included transport is from central Istanbul.

The price covers lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees for the movie set, pickup and drop-off at the designated meeting point, and the included live show. It also saves you the trouble of arranging independent transport to a filming area outside the central sightseeing zone.

For a committed fan, several hours at the sets plus lunch and transport can make the price reasonable. You are paying for access, time, and the organized route, not simply a short photo opportunity.

For someone only mildly curious about the series, the calculation is harder. You will spend much of the day on this one attraction, and the tour does not include hotel transportation. Add the cost of reaching Taksim, optional photographs, horse riding, or souvenirs, and the final spend can rise.

The extras deserve particular care. Photography begins at €15, horse riding costs €20 for 20 minutes, and personal expenses are not included. One useful rule is to decide before departure whether you want these additions. That keeps the base price from turning into an unexpected total.

A relaxed day, but not a short one

The full experience lasts about eight hours. Departure is at 10:00 a.m., with the return to Atatürk Culture Center expected around 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. You should keep the evening fairly open because traffic or timing at the filming site could affect the exact return.

The schedule is suited to people who enjoy a full-day outing. A visitor over 60 specifically found the pace comfortable and not rushed, which fits the long set visit and the limited number of major stops.

I would wear comfortable shoes and plan for time outdoors. The tour is built around open filming areas, and the experience requires good weather. If poor weather cancels the outing, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Most people can participate, according to the activity details. No special access limitations are stated, so if you have mobility concerns, it is sensible to ask the operator before booking rather than assume every part of the set is easy to reach.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend it first to people who have watched Diriliş Ertuğrul or Kuruluş Osman and want to connect the fictional world with its physical production spaces. The long visit gives you time to look around rather than simply pose at one recognizable entrance.

It also suits families and mixed-age groups if everyone is comfortable with a full day away from central Istanbul. The live performance adds energy for people who may not want to spend all five hours taking photographs.

It is less suitable if you have only one day in Istanbul and want major city sights such as historic monuments, markets, or museums. This outing takes you away from the center for much of the day, and the main reward is tied closely to the television series.

I would also hesitate to recommend it to someone seeking a private guide or a highly detailed cultural tour. The group may include up to 28 people, and the published details do not identify individual guides or promise extensive historical commentary.

Meeting point, cancellation, and useful planning details

You must make your own way to the main door of Atatürk Culture Center at Taksim Square. The tour does not offer hotel transfers, although the meeting point is near public transportation.

The activity ends at the same meeting point. That makes it easier to plan an evening in central Istanbul, but leave some flexibility around the stated 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. return.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 10:00 a.m. start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.

The tour can also be canceled if the minimum number of participants is not reached. In that case, you are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund. The same choice applies if bad weather forces cancellation.

Should you book the Ertugrul and Osman Ghazi set tour?

Book it if the series is the reason you are interested in the outing. You get a substantial visit to the Kuruluş Osman filming areas, time among castle and house sets, lunch, air-conditioned transport, and a short live performance. The European-to-Asian route adds a useful Istanbul touch.

Think twice if you are not familiar with the shows, dislike long day trips, or want hotel pickup and a fully guided historical program. The $120.16 price is fairer for a fan who will use the long set visit than for a casual sightseer.

My practical advice is to arrive at Taksim early, budget for the meeting-point transfer and any optional extras, and keep your evening free. For a fan, this offers a rare chance to see the physical world behind Ertugrul Gazi and Osman Gazi. For everyone else, it is a specialized full-day excursion rather than a general Istanbul tour.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

No. You must reach the meeting point yourself. Hotel transfers are not included.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at Atatürk Culture Center, generally around 7:00 to 7:30 p.m.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the tour price.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle between the meeting point and the filming location is included.

Is the live show included?

Yes. Watching the live show on the film plateau is included. The performance lasts about 15 to 20 minutes.

Does the tour visit the actual Kuruluş Osman sets?

Yes. The visit includes the Kuruluş Osman filming location, including castle and house set areas.

Is horse riding included?

No. A 20-minute horse ride is an optional extra costing €20.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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