ITINERARY

• The old part of Istanbul where we can visit many attractions such as Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Blue Mosque.
• Topkapı Palace was an administrational base of the empire and the home of the Royal Family (Harem) and educational center (Enderun) of the Ottoman Empire for about 400 years. The palace is a great open-air museum within four courtyards, has been the home of Sultan Mehmet II and other sultans who came after him until Sultan Abdulmecid.
• Hagia Sophia is and should be on every traveler’s itinerary in Istanbul. It was built 3 times in history at the same location and served as a Greek Orthodox cathedral until the end of the Byzantine Empire. As can be understood from the minarets, it also served as an important place of Muslim worship. That was after Sultan II. Mehmed designated the building as a mosque following the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. This is an exceptional monument with its mosaics from the Byzantine period, its huge dome, decorative and functional elements added during the Ottoman period, and its endless mysteries after many years serving as a museum,now you can visit it as a mosque.
• Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) was built by Architect Sedefkar Mehmet Aga for Sultan Ahmet l in 1617. It is world-famous with its beautiful 22.000 floral-shaped handmade blue İznik tiles,therefore foreigners call it a blue mosque and attractive 6 minarets around the main building. Located directly across from the great Hagia Sophia.
• The Hippodrome covers 3 important monuments in its central area to see: 1-The Egyptian Obelisk Built in the 16th century BC by the Pharaoh Tuthmosis in Egypt. It was brought to Istanbul by boat in the 4th century AD. 2-The Serpentine’s Column Originally erected in the Temple of Delphi in Greece, but taken to Istanbul. Until the 17th century there were three bronze snake heads projecting from the column, but they have since been lost. One can be seen in the archaeological museum. 3-The Column of Constantine Although it is believed that this dates from the 10th century, evidence shows that it was built earlier than that. Until 1204, it was covered by bronze and silver. When the Crusaders came to the area, they pulled off the bronze and silver, melted them down and made coins out of them.
• There is another mysterious world under the houses and structures we see especially in the Historic Peninsula. Only a few of the underground water cisterns are open to visitors today and the Basilica Cistern is the largest and best excavated. Located to the west of Hagia Sophia, the cistern had a capacity of holding 80.000 cubic meters of water. The Basilica Cistern was the scene of several international movies. Among others, scenes from James Bond’s “From Russia with Love” with Sean Connery and Dan Brown’s “Inferno” with Tom Hanks.
• Grand Bazaar was built as the first covered market in 1461 after the conquest of Istanbul by Sultan Mehmet II. Experience the old Ottoman atmosphere in the Grand Bazaar, a huge building that has preserved its authentic identity, unlike today’s modern shopping malls. Each quarter is specialized in a particular kind of merchandise in Grand Bazaar. This is the reason why each street has the name of a particular type of merchandise.
• Spice Market or Egyptian Bazaar is standing right behind the New Mosque in Eminonu square. It was indeed built as part of this mosque complex in 1660 by Hatice Turhan Sultan. The name of the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) is based on the goods, especially the spices that came from Egypt and were sold here. Also, the building was originally funded with taxes on imported Egyptian goods. A large part of the around 100 shops consist of traditional spice merchants.
• Dolmabahce Palace is lying on the southern shore by the Bosphorus in Besiktas district. It was built in the mid 19th century and had been the residence of the last 6 Ottoman Sultans for varying amounts of time. The form of the palace was highly influenced by European architectural styles such as Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical.Dolmabahçe Palace was renovated and converted into a museum in 1984.
• Galata Tower is the most important building that remained from the Genoese colony in Istanbul, first built in the 14th century. The tower rises at the top of the Galata Walls, at the entrance of the Golden Horn. It has been restored many times and used for different purposes. Its location overlooking the Golden Horn makes it visible and memorable for centuries, perfectly in harmony with the fabric of the city. One can feel the European atmosphere in this part of the city, when approaching the iconic tower on the small streets with brick road, small boutiques and cafes.
• Bosphorus Cruise is definitely a must-do experience for every traveler in Istanbul. Discover the most magnificent landmarks , nostalgic mansions, imperial palaces and many other fancy buildings, both in the Asian and the European sides of Istanbul with a nostalgic journey on a boat cruise.
• The Taksim area is one of the most important tourist areas in Istanbul, and it has a great position for everyone, as it was in the past a region to distribute water to the neighborhoods and regions of Istanbul. Therefore, the area was named (Taksim) due to the distribution and division of water among the city’s regions. The Taksim area , which is located in the heart of Istanbul, contains historical places in Istanbul, with modern touches that give an air of beauty to the monuments. Besides, the commercial markets that increase movement in Taksim Square and Istiklal Street like a flowing river that does not stop from tourists, shoppers, and visitors.
• Istiklal Street extends from Taksim Square to the Karakoy area, which is one of the most famous streets of Istanbul, and one of the oldest trams in the city breaks through it and goes back for about a hundred years.
• The districts of Fener and Balat are surely the ones that have the richest history in Istanbul. They are also on the list of the UNESCO heritage sites. Organized like small villages, the tangle of cobblestone alleys that go up and down gives the impression of being in a labyrinth filled with treasures. The colorful Ottoman houses, some of which are perfectly restored, the religious buildings, the small craftsmen, the merchants, the children playing in the street and the linen hanging from the windows give this area a unique charm, out of time that will allow you to discover a new side of Istanbul.
• The neighborhood of Balat, which is adjacent to Fener, also fascinates visitors like Fener with its colorful cafes and restaurants, antique and vintage shops, traces of Jewish heritage, various synagogues and churches. Balat has been home to Greek-speaking Jews since the Byzantines. However, in the 15th century, the Sephardics who were exiled from Spain settled in Balat. The Balat area is also very rich with Byzantine heritage. Being an old Jewish quarter, it always has been a poorer one than Fener. There is a large Jewish population in Balat, so that you may find many synagogues and Jewish establishments, as well as some churches and mosques.
• The Fener Greek Patriarchate and the Patriarchal Church of St. George is located in the Fener neighborhood on the banks of the Golden Horn and share the same courtyard. The Patriarchate is still the mother-church for 300 million people worldwide. And it has retained its center in Istanbul for over seventeen centuries.
• The church of St. George (the Great Martyr and Trophy-Bearer) is the 5th church housing the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate since the 15th century. It was once a convent for Orthodox nuns and was converted to the patriarchal offices in between the years 1598 and 1601.
• Church of Saint Stephen is a place of worship built for the Bulgarian community in the last years of the Ottoman Empire. Built of iron and steel, this church is known locally as the “Iron Church”. The Church of Saint Stephen has been recently restored and is in very good condition. It fascinates its visitors with its interior decoration and icon wall.
• Pierre Loti is one of the best places to visit in Istanbul. Located in Eyüp, one of the most eye-catching districts of Istanbul, the hill is named after a French writer, Julien Viaud. The writer settled in Istanbul in 1876 and used to come to a coffee house and write his novels here. Later this hill began to be called after him.This place will fascinate you with its romantic and unique atmosphere.
• Golden Horn was an old trading harbor and a popular residential area during the Byzantine period. Its entrance was blocked by a huge chain to stop unwanted ships to enter. During the Ottoman period it was largely inhabited by Jewish immigrants from Spain. The mixtures of Armenians, Greeks, Gypsies and Turks living along its shores reflected the city's colorful ethnic mosaic.