Planning an incentive trip or corporate tour can be overwhelming, with the pressure to deliver a unique and memorable experience for your team. Standard destinations often fall flat, lacking the blend of culture, luxury, and activities needed to motivate and inspire. The solution? Istanbul, a city that offers world-class accommodations, rich history, and thrilling corporate team-building opportunities. Discover why incentive trips to Istanbul can exceed your expectations and deliver a trip your team will never forget.
What to Expect?
Istanbul is one of the premier destinations in Europe for incentives, employee incentive trips, programs and corporate tours. The city is one of the most diverse, fantastic, and vibrant cities in the world that has it all. There are only few cities in the world that can be so delightful to experience and enjoy as Istanbul.
You are able to find wide range of events, concerts, art exhibitions, conferences, festivals and social gatherings throughout the year in Istanbul.
Istanbul is also a magical composition of two continents with its diverse culture. And especially the Bosphorus, Istanbul Strait will cheer up your hearts. Aside from being the largest and most popular city of Turkey, Istanbul is also the biggest cultural and financial center of Turkey. Istanbul is considered to be the bridge that links Asia with Europe from a cultural and geographical standpoint.
When you combine all these excellent features of Istanbul together with the superb network of luxury accommodations, congress centers and unlimited sights and sounds, and finally you’ll find a perfect city for companies to inspire and enrich their workplace community.
Incentive Ideas for Istanbul
Istanbul offers a wide range of incentive ideas for the incentive planners to enjoy their guests along with fantastic incentive experiences. You can have a dinner or social event in the company of historic and modern city sights, experience the unique Whirling Dervishes show, enjoy the heaven Bosphorus on a boat tour, or relax in a historical Turkish Bath.
Sightseeing Tours
You can find a wide range of sightseeing tours to experience the amazing sights and sounds of the city, as well as visit Istanbul’s most famous landmarks, museums, structures, neighborhoods on one of these top Istanbul sightseeing tours.
Take a sightseeing tour of Istanbul and learn from the professional guides as they show you the best sights of the city. Enjoy the exciting historical and cultural facts about the city on these top rated and most visited landmarks and city walking tours, a double decker bus tour, a Bosphorus cruise, etc.
City Walking Tours
Istanbul also offers many city walking tours for travelers as majority of the popular tourist zones and sights are very accessible on foot. You can explore the city’s top attractions and get a closer look at the popular sights whether by self-guided or with professional guided city walking tours.
Admire the Hagia Sophia
Istanbul’s, as well as the World’s one of most visited sights. Formerly church and mosque, now a museum. First built in 325 AD, collapsed 2 times and rebuilt 3 times. Built in the year 532 AD, as the world’s largest place of worship.
Converted to a mosque after Ottoman Empire’s conquest of Istanbul in 1453. Converted to a museum in 1935, and finally converted to mosque in July 2020. Declared as one of the world’s greatest architectural works. Accepted as the 8th wonder of the world. Hagia Sophia is one of the most visually breath taking monuments you’ll find in Europe.
Charming Museums
For the ones who are a true enthusiast of culture and art, the city’s museums offers the best of the city’s historical heritage, culture and modern art. The city hosts more than 80 museums and many art galleries showcase all the culture, arts and history; including painting, sculpture, photography and more.
Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul Modern, Rahmi Koc Transport Museum and Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts are among the best museums in Istanbul that won’t want to miss.
Witness the amazing landmarks
The beautiful silhouette of Istanbul combines historical sites and monuments such as Roman aqueducts, Byzantine churches, Venetian towers, Ottoman palaces from the Byzantine, Ottoman and Turkish periods.
And the skyline covers monumental minarets with skyscrapers and plazas. And especially the Historical Peninsula and the Bosphorus will cheer up your hearts. Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Maiden’s Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, Grand Bazaar and Galata Tower are some of the most visited historical sites in the city.
Taste the authentic Turkish cuisine
The richness of the Turkish cuisine will let you experience and enjoy new flavors, from exquisite pastry choices to delicious meat, fish and vegetable specialties. The gastronomy of Turkey reflects a remarkable culinary synthesis that comes from its cultural heritage.
The traditional Turkish cuisine is really worth a taste. Travelers may choose from a wide range of Turkish kebabs, mezes (starters) and dishes that are mostly based on meat. Also Turkish sweets such as baklava and Turkish delight are worldwide famous.
Enjoy the shopping scene
The shopping variety of the city ranging from traditional and modern products makes Istanbul an attraction center for shopping lovers. As being a very big metropolis, travelers can easily find almost every world brand in the shopping malls and the districts of Istanbul.
From popular outdoor markets, bazaars, carpet & kilim workshops, copper working shops, antique and handicraft shops, to designer shops, traditional shops, modern department stores and very big shopping malls; Istanbul has everything for every budget and style.
The Grand Bazaar definitely will be a unique experience and a shopping adventure for you. A series of covered streets feature over 4,000 merchants, all selling their products and wares. You can find anything here from spices, dried fruits, basketry, drapery, haberdashery, boots and slippers to gold and silver jewelry.
Experience traditional Turkish Bath
This will is one of the one time experiences on your Istanbul visit. With a Turkish bath, also called Hammam, you can enjoy an authentic experience, relax your muscles, refresh your body.
Admire the unique Bosphorus
Istanbul has a unique beauty with the Bosphorus (Bogazici), a 19 miles long strait running across the city, and separating the two continents, Asia and Europe, as well as Marmara and Black Sea. Bosphorus is one of the world’s most beautiful and charming natural formations and will definitely cheer up your hearts.
You can explore the Bosphorus by cruising along and visiting the shores of both continents lined up with summer palaces, mansions, fortresses, groves, parks and gardens, by motorboats, yachts and public ferries. A unique experience.
Enjoy the vibrant nightlife
The nightlife in Istanbul is one of the best in the world with lively clubs by the Bosphorus, and lively neighborhoods like Taksim and Kadikoy. Istanbul can also considered to be the city that never sleeps.
With its numerous little bars, pubs, cafes, and restaurants, you can easily spend the night bouncing from one venue to the next in Istanbul. You can enjoy the city’s dining, wining, shopping, music and entertainment scene throughout the year of its variety of lively events, concerts, festivals, art exhibitions and more.
Whirling Dervishes Show
This is another unique attraction and one of the most visited Istanbul attractions with the tourists.
It is because that this ceremony is a very unusual event for the tourists and when they hear about it, majority of them try to catch this one hour show and witness the miracle of the whirling dervishes.
Tour of the City on Hop-on Hop-off Double Decker Bus
The Istanbul hop on hop off tour provides service to many key stops and at least 46 attractions (28 landmarks, 15 attractions and 3 shopping places) on two lines on just one ticket.
The sightseeing bus runs every 30/60 minutes and lets you see the most popular popular sights along the interesting and different districts and neighborhoods of the city. And what is great that you can all do it in a couple of hours.
FAQs
What is an incentive trip, and how does it benefit companies?
An incentive trip is a reward provided by companies to employees or partners to recognize their performance and boost motivation. These trips improve employee engagement, foster team bonding, and promote loyalty, resulting in enhanced productivity and better company culture.
Why choose Istanbul for an incentive trip or corporate tour?
Istanbul offers a unique blend of history, culture, and modern luxury, making it a top destination for incentive trips. The city’s world-class hotels, conference facilities, vibrant nightlife, and rich heritage provide diverse experiences that cater to both relaxation and professional development.
How do I plan a corporate tour in Istanbul?
Start by determining the purpose and goals of the tour. Partner with local event planners or destination management companies (DMCs) to organize activities like team-building exercises, cultural excursions, and networking events. Be sure to include corporate meeting spaces and opportunities to explore Istanbul’s landmarks.
Who are the top providers for organizing incentive trips in Istanbul?
Companies like Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau (ICVB) and local destination management companies (DMCs) specialize in organizing incentive trips and corporate tours in Istanbul. They provide tailored experiences, including event planning, logistics, and coordination with local venues and hotels.
Where are the best venues for corporate events in Istanbul?
Some of the best venues include Cıragan Palace Kempinski, Swissotel The Bosphorus, and Istanbul Congress Center. These locations offer luxurious settings, advanced meeting facilities, and stunning views of the Bosphorus, making them perfect for corporate events and gatherings.
How long should an incentive trip to Istanbul last?
Incentive trips to Istanbul typically last between 3 to 5 days, allowing enough time for both business meetings and leisure activities. This duration provides opportunities for sightseeing, team-building, and relaxation without overwhelming participants with a tight schedule.
Will language be a barrier for corporate travelers in Istanbul?
No, language is generally not a barrier for corporate travelers in Istanbul. Most hotels, event venues, and tourism professionals speak English, and many large-scale event management companies offer multi-lingual services to ensure smooth communication for international clients.
What activities can we include in an incentive trip to Istanbul?
Include cultural tours to Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus cruises, and team-building activities like Turkish cooking classes or scavenger hunts through historic districts. You can also arrange spa sessions at traditional Turkish baths or a hot-air balloon experience over Cappadocia for an extended trip.
How can we ensure a successful corporate tour in Istanbul?
Work with an experienced destination management company (DMC) to plan a well-organized itinerary that balances corporate goals with leisure. Provide clear communication to participants, ensure all travel logistics are seamless, and include unique experiences that reflect Istanbul’s culture and history.
Why are incentive trips important for employee motivation?
Incentive trips serve as powerful motivators, as they provide employees with recognition for their hard work. These trips offer employees a break from routine, foster team bonding, and reinforce a company’s commitment to rewarding its top performers, ultimately leading to higher morale and engagement.