Tour description Istanbul Day Tour of Sultanahmet
Visit six of Istanbul’s best sights in one day on a full-day sightseeing tour of the city! The action-packed day includes a comprehensive tour of the historic Sultanahmet district, home to many of the city’s best architectural heritage and landmarks. Visit the Istanbul Hippodrome with the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace museums, the sunken palace of the Basilica Cistern, and the dazzling Grand Bazaar. A delicious 3-course lunch halfway through the day is also included. Numbers are limited to 14 on this small-group tour providing a personalized experience.
Start your day with a pickup from your hotel on the European side, or alternatively, meet your guide at a central meeting point. Before setting off with the coach, listen to a brief summary of the day. The order of your itinerary may vary, so some attractions (as detailed below) may be visited in a different order. Includes lunch at a traditional restaurant halfway through the day; See Itinerary for a sample menu. Head to the Blue Mosque to admire its six minarets and the thousands of Iznik tiles with a blue sea flowing into the interior of the building. One of the most beautiful examples of classical Ottoman architecture, the mosque was built in the will of Sultan Ahmet I, who demanded a mosque to rival the splendor of Hagia Sophia. Sofia) is currently a UNESCO-listed museum displaying artifacts from the Ottoman and Byzantine periods. Check out the interior architecture and historical exhibits with your guide, and then continue to Topkapi Palace. Like Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace now exists as one of Istanbul’s leading museums and once houses an ornamental collection belonging to the city’s 15th-century sultans and harems. Continue by seeing the granite Egyptian obelisk gifted to the city at the Istanbul Hippodrome and hear how the site once represented the center of the city’s sports and political life. After taking a break for photos, visit Istanbul’s “sunken palace” Basilica Cistern, a famous place in the movie From Russia with Love James Bond. The site is one of the city’s largest ancient cisterns lying underground, and the last attraction included in your tour is the Grand Bazaar, one of the most famous bazaars in the world. The bazaar with about 60 streets and thousands of shops can be overwhelming. Let your guide introduce you to the colorful (chaotic) highlights and purchase jewelry, leather, pottery, spices, and more. Your tour ends with a drop-off at your hotel on the European side or in the center of Istanbul. The Grand Bazaar will be closed on Sundays and Hagia Sophia will be closed on Mondays. If your tour falls on any of these days, an alternative attraction (such as the Chora Museum or another market) can be visited instead, Topkapi Palace (closed on Tuesdays; will be replaced by the Istanbul Archeology Museum) You can visit the Basilica Cistern or the Nakkaş Cistern.
Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Lunch – 3-course lunch
- Entrance / Admission – Hagia
- Sophia Museum / Church (Hagia Sophia)
- Entrance / Admission –
- Topkapi Palace
- Entrance / Admission –
- Basilica Cistern
Not included
- Tips
- Food and drinks unless specified
Featured
- An excellent promotion for first-time visitors
- All entrance fees are included
Including lunch - Hotel pick-up included
