Tour Information
This an exclusive tour visiting the most popular places in Istanbul in one day. The tour provided with an experianced tour guide private for you to introduce you the places visited, also Turkish culture and local way of living. This tour is also good option to spend a time in Istanbul, especially if you are cruise traveller is one of the best option.
Your private tour guide will pick you up from your lodging in the morning with a van.
The tour starts with Hagia Sophia Museum, a master of mankind, standing since 6th century and bearing the symbols of Christianity and Islam together. Your visit will take about an hour at least including the courtyard, entrance hall, main gallery and upper gallery.
The next visit is to Basilica Cistern (Sunken Palace) built by in the 6th century as well Byzantine Emperor Justinian with the structures taken from collapsed Roman buildings in the area. The cistern has a unique atmosphere with the Roman columns and head pillars inside. Your visit to the Cistern will take about half an hour. Basilica Cistern is under construction will be replaced by Serefiye Cistern
The final visit of the morning part of the tour is to Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque) decorated with some of the best examples of Turkish Tiles. Built on the 17th century, Blue Mosque is a city symbol standing in the hearth of the city.
Lunch will be provided at popular Puding Shop, overlooking the Hippodrome (At Meydani), a Turkish cuisine restaurant with the choices of vegetables or meat dishes. Your lunch including soup, main course ( 2 kind of self choice dishes), seasonal salad and desert.
The tour will continue with a walking through Hippodrome, which was the site of chariot races, celebrations, riots, executions and other important events through Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Hippodrome decorated with Roman, Egyptian and Ottoman monuments which are visible today. Your walk through Hippodorme takes about 45 minutes.
The final visit of the day is to Topkapi Palace, Ottoman Sultan’s Residance, built on the slopes of Sarayburnu against Bosphorus and The Sea of Marmara. Topkapi Palace is a combination of different architectural styles as built and restorated in following centuries. The Palace today is world famous museum where the Ottoman Empire treasury, Dynasty clothing, Harem life and Sacred Relics belonging to Divine Religions exhibited. Your tour in the palace will take about 2 hours.
You can expect your tour to finish by 17.00 and your guide will be gald to lead you to the Grand Bazaar if you have not visited yet. Grand Bazaar is the most popular shopping area in the city with good quality of products such as jewelery, leather products, hand-made rugs, textile and foods. The bazaar established over a huge area with about 58 covered streets and 4000 shops. Please feel free to ask your guide help for the best tips while shopping at the local shops.
You will be transferred back to your lodging at the end of the day with your private van again.
The tour cost as follows :
Private Istanbul |
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Please note that : Topkapi Palace closed on Tuesdays, replaced with Istanbul Archeology Museum.