Private Guided Tour: Discovering Istanbul [8273P14]
This private tour of Istanbul's old town district is a wonderful mix of history and culture, enriched by an expert tour guide.
ADDITIONAL INFO
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Due to the COVID-19 Virus the itinerary may change as some attractions may be closed.
- Dolmabahce is closed on Mondays.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
- This is a walking tour.
INCLUDED
- Pickup / drop off service is provided from/to hotels at European side of Istanbul
- Professional art historian guide
- Guaranteed to skip the long lines
NOT INCLUDED
- Food and drinks
- Entrance fees to attraction
CANCELLATION POLICY
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
ITINERARY
- After your guide picks you up from your accommodations, the tour will open with the magnificent Hippodrome, once the site of chariot races during the Roman and Byzantine times. See the ancient monuments which stand here to this day, such as the Obelisk of the Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine.
- Then, visit the most photographed site in Istanbul, the Blue Mosque. Famous for its beautiful courtyard and impressive minarets, the mosque gets its nickname from the splendid blue tiles that cover its interior walls.
- Next, visit Topkapi Palace, home to the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire. Today, Topkapi Palace is a spectacular museum that houses the Muslim world’s holiest relics, including the cloak and sword of the Prophet Mohammed.
- Break for lunch, then continue to the Hagia Sophia, one of the world's architectural gems. An ancient basilica dating back to the 4th century, the Hagia Sophia stood as the Cathedral of Constantinople for over a thousand years before being converted into a mosque in 1453, it serves as a museum today.
- Spend time in Istanbul's famous Grand Bazaar, the largest and the oldest covered marketplace in the world, where you may find all kinds of gifts, leather, clothing, rugs (carpets), antiques, and jewelry in an authentic Oriental atmosphere. Experience the sights, sounds, and aromas. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel or cruise port.
