Full Day Ottoman & Byzantine Relics Tour

General Information

This comprehensive sightseeing tour of Istanbul provides the perfect introduction to the fabled city that spans Asia and Europe. On this one day sightseeing tour you will see how old meets new when you visit Istanbul’s four “must-see” historic sites.

Formally called Constantinople, Istanbul was the capital of the Roman Empire and Europe’s wealthiest metropolis, and is now the largest city in Turkey.

Blue Mosque:

One of the most famous monuments in both the Turkish and Islamic worlds, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) is a superb creation in the classical Ottoman style. The mosque has six towering minarets and 260 windows illuminating its vast main chamber, which is decorated with more than 20,000 Iznik tiles.

Hippodrome

The Hippodrome, the stadium of ancient Byzantium, held 100,000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire. Of these, an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture of three entwined serpents from Delphi survive.

Hagia Sophia:

Now a museum, Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian, and was one of the largest basilicas in the Christian world. After the Ottoman conquest, it was converted to a mosque and is today one of the most magnificent museums in the world. Take a moment to linger here to admire the fine Byzantine mosaics. (closed on Monday)

Grand Bazaar:

In operation since the 14th century, the Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s largest covered markets, with 58 streets and over 4,000 shops. The bazaar is specially known for its jewelry, leather, pottery, spices and carpets. (closed on Sunday additional time will be spent at the other locations)

Topkapi Palace:

The largest and oldest palace in the world, Topkapi is the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire. With its treasury and exotic buildings overlooking the Golden Horn, your visit to Topkapi promises to be a truly fascinating experience. (closed on Tuesday)

Program

 09:30 You will be transferred to Sultanahmet Area to begin our tour. The area maintained its importance in the Byzantine and Turkish eras. The baths, temples, religious, cultural, administrative and social centers were all in this district.  

10:00 The tour will start with Hippodrome. The Hippodrome was shaped like a gigantic "U" and the imperial box, built like a balcony with four bronze horses on its roof, was situated on the eastern side. The original ground level of the Hippodrome was 4 or 5 meters lower than the present surface. Three monuments have remained to our day: the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the Walled Obelisk.

 10:30 Next visit is to a Mosque. This imperial mosque is an example of classical Turkish architecture, and it is the only mosque that was originally built with six minarets. Although it is popularly known as the Blue Mosque, its real name is Sultan Ahmet Mosque. Befitting his original profession, its architect Mehmet Aga decorated the interior fastidiously like a jeweler. The walls of the galleries surrounding the three sides of the interior chamber are decorated by over 20,000 exquisite Iznik tiles. The areas above the tiles and the inside of the domes are decorated with paintwork.

11:15 After that we will visit Hagia Sophia, which is considered as one of the eight wonders of the world. It is one of the rare works of this size and age that has survived to our day. The church (called Ayasofya in Turkish) is erroneously known as Saint Sophia in the west. The basilica was not dedicated to a saint named Sophia, but to Divine Wisdom.

13:00 Next stop is Topkapi Palace. First of all we will have lunch at local restaurant.

 14:00 After lunch, tour of palace will start. Topkapi is the largest and oldest palace in the world to survive to our day.  it commands an impressive view of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. The palace is a complex surrounded by 5 km of walls and occupies an area of 700,000 sq. m at the tip of the historical peninsula. The different tiles, woodwork and architectural styles displayed in Topkapi Palace reflects the development of Turkish art and the harmonious existence of differing styles over the centuries.

15:45 Transfer to Grand Covered Bazaar for shopping. The Grand in Istanbul is one of the largest covered markets in the world with more than 58 streets and 6,000 shops. It is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for leather coats, gold jewelry and the like.

17:30 Return back to the hotel.

FULL DAY OTTOMAN & BYZANTINE RELICS TOUR

Included Services

Hotel pick up and drop off
English Speaking Tour Guide
Lunch
Museum Fees
Gassoline
Parking Fees.
Non Smoking air-conditioned touristical vehicle
Local Taxes
Serice Charge

Services Not Included in the Program

Tips to driver and Guide
Personal Expense
Drinks at Lunch

Galeri