BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN TRACES

80 € Per Person Request to Book

Istanbul City Tour

Full Day City Tour With Lunch and Entrace Fees Included

Full-Day Istanbul Classic City Tour Including Blue Mosque, Ancient Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar. Sultanahmet and Beyond: Explore the old city of Istanbul on a full-day guided tour.

The heart of Istanbul remains its fascinating Old City, home to some of the most historical sites of this vibrant megapolis. Dramatically located on a peninsula pointing across the Bosphorus Strait to Asia, Sultanahmet was formerly the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.

Overviev, Istanbul Tour Of Highlights

See the sights of Istanbul on an 8-hour tour with inclusive lunch. Admire the former church and mosque of the Hagia Sophia, see the site of Byzantine sports at the Roman Hippodrome, explore the alleys of the Grand Bazaar, and much more. On this tour, you should expect to see 2000 years of the mysterious history of the Roman Empire to the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic. You will be learning about the lives of Roman Emperors and Ottoman Sultans in the haves and the have-nots or things that shouldn't be talked about and the implicit stories. This tour will give you information as clear as daylight from the dusty books and will provide it in interaction and sometimes with humor. We are here to give you wonderful days with the accompany of our passionate tour guides who have dedicated their lives to both learning and share

Istanbul City Tour Highlights

Full-day tour of Istanbul's essential sites.
See one of the world's great architectural masterpieces at the Hagia Sophia.
Wander the stores of the Grand Bazaar.
Admire the blue Iznik tiles of the Blue Mosque.
Discover the 5 tombs of the Ottoman Sultans: Sultans Tombs.
Go to the imperial residence of the former sultans.
Visit the site of ancient chariot races at the Roman Hippodrome.

What To Expect

Hippodrome

The Hippodrome (At Meydani) was a, of course, a horse-racing track, what's in the name. But during the Byzantine Empire, the hippodrome was not only used for chariot races. Court ceremonies, coronations, and parades also took place at the hippodrome, making it the sporting and social center of Byzantine life for over 1000 years. The reason why some refer to it is the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, Walled Column, German Fountain;

Hagia Sophia Museum or Ayasoya-i Kebir Cami-i

Hagia Sophia or Ayasofya-i Kebîr Câmi-i Serîfi with its official name, Hagia Sophia Church with its old name, a mosque in Istanbul, an old basilica, cathedral, and museum. It is a patriarchal cathedral with a basilica plan built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the old city center on the historical peninsula of Istanbul between 532-537 and was transformed into a mosque by Fatih Sultan Mehmed after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453. It was transformed into a museum with the Decree of the Council of Ministers published in 1934, excavation and renovation work started and served as a museum between 1935-2020. With the cancellation of the museum status in 2020, it regained the status of a mosque.

Blue Mosque

The Mosque is known as the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles surrounding the wall's interior design. Mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 years, during the rule of Ahmed I. Just like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasa, and a hospice. Besides still being used as a mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque has also become a popular attraction in Istanbul.

Shopping Opportunity

Lunch Break

Topkapi Palace

The Topkapi Palace is a palace in Istanbul, Turkey, which was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years of their 600-year reign, from 1456 to 1856. The palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments and is a major tourist attraction today, containing the holiest relics of the Muslim world such as the prophet Muhammed's cloak and sword. Topkapi Palace is among those monuments belonging to the ''Historic Areas of Istanbul '' which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and is described in Criterion iv as ''the best example of ensembles of palaces. of the Ottoman period.

The Second Largest Church After Hagia Sophia(Hagia Irene Museum)

The Hagia Irene located in the outer courtyard of Topkapi Palace is the oldest church of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine). It was also the second-largest church in Istanbul after Hagia Sophia. Hagia Irene, originally meant “sacred peace” (Hagia Eirene), has a special meaning as the first place where Turkish museology was born.

Grand Bazaar; One of the largest and oldest markets in the world

As the Ottoman Empire grew larger, the Grand Bazaar also kept up with the development of the capital. The Bazaar that initially was comprised of two bedesten now occupies an area of about 47 thousand square meters. Although the Grand Bazaar suffered eleven fires and two earthquakes, it still fascinates visitors with its architecture. It is composed of 61 streets, some of whose names refer to different businesses such as Fesciler(Fez sellers), Kalpakcilar(fur cap sellers), and Aynacilar(mirror sellers). Bedesten, which is set on an area of around 1500 square meters, and Sandal Betesteni, which comprises an area of 1300 square meters, as the half-area somewhat detached parts of the bazaar. Around the bazaar is this inn that is again part of the bazaar. Today there are around 400 shops in the Grand Bazaar.

Why you'll love this trip

To feel the touch of history and discover the different places that you can see to capture the moment. On your side or the other may be a step, you will make a decision. Ou You're gonna love, going to be upset, angry, but in the end, you will be happy, maybe you'll beautiful memories to tell your family and friends, for everything beautiful. We, as Cruise Istanbul Tour, are on your side and are always happy.

Important Info

-Blue Mosque will be replaced with Nuruosmaniye Mosque on Friday
-Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday
-The vehicle is used only for the necessary part of these tours, so please be prepared for a bit of walking during the day.
-Topkapi Palace will be replaced with Underground Cistern on Tuesday

Inclusions

Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Mosque are closed on Fridays.
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.
The vehicle is used only for the necessary part of these tours, so please be prepared for a bit of walking during the day.
Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.

Exclusions

Gratuities (optional)
Food and drinks, unless specified

Additional info

Confirmation for this tour will be received at time of booking
5-8 yrs %30 discount / 0-4 yrs Free

Istanbul City Tour Frequently Asked Questions;

Questions: What is the maximum group size of Istanbul Trip?
Answer: We keep our tour group size as limited as possible, no more than one person per group.

Questions: What sightse are visited in guided Istanbul walking tour?
Answer: All the sights indicated in the tour itinerary are visited in the tour.

Questions: Will I skip the line booking with you?
Answer: Yes! For most of the tours we guarantee pre-purchased tickets in order to skip the line.

Questions: Will I skip the queue reservation with you?
Answer: Yes! We guarantee pre-purchased tickets for the Topkapi Palace museum without waiting in line.

Questions: How to book Istanbul Tour with you?
Answer: Send us an email or a request form from our site, and an operator will answer as soon as possible providing
all the detailed information about the tour (length, price, what is included, etc...). Then you will answer your decision
about the tour and the operator will email you how to conclude the booking.

Questions: Is there a transfer from the accommodation place?
Answer:Yes; Transfers are hotels located within the transfer area. Please specify the hotel to be transferred to. If the
hotel is outside the region, the transfer is not possible.