ITINERARY

• Built in 1450 by Sultan Mehmet the Second. We will go through its 3 doors and patios. From its last courtyard the city looks wonderful with the first Bosphorus bridge and the Galata tower. There are the rooms where they keep the treasures of the Ottoman Empire and kiosks of the Sultans. The library, the mosque and the Haren section are the other parts of the palace. Haren was the no-go zone for others. Only the sultan and his mother and wives and favorites, concubines and eunuchs could live in the Haren. The famous Topkapi Dagger and the 84 carat diamond are in the treasure room. The swords of the prophets and sultans are on display in the weapons room. The kitchen is famous with its Chinese porcelains. Our visit will last 2 hours or so.
• Built by Sultan Ahmet in Ottoman times. It is the first mosque to be built with 6 minarets. It is the other jewel of Istanbul from the 17th century. It is visited every day by thousands of people. 5 times a day they call Ezan (the call of the Muslims to inform them of the time of prayer) their patio has the fountains for the believers because it is obligatory to take ablution before praying. You can take photos inside the mosque without flash. The wonderful tiles adorn its wall for this reason known worldwide as the Blue Mosque. Its name comes from the blue tiles. There is a dress code. Women should cover their shoulders and heads with pasmina or a scarf. You must wear long skirts or long pants. For men you only need to wear pants. Shorts above the knee are not allowed. Our visit will last 40 minutes or so.
• Hippodrome of Constantinople: It is also known by the name of Sultan Ahmet Square. This complete tour begins with the Hippodrome of Constantinople where horse carts competed. Gladiators fought here against wild animals or each other. The emperors participated in the events, fights, chariot races to be with their people and enjoy their time with their family. The racecourse housed 100,000 spectators in the rectangular shape. But today unfortunately there are no seats, few parts remain. The famous Obelisk of Theodosius, the Column of Constantine, the Serpentine Column and the German Fountain are found in its location. We will see you all during this tour in half an hour or so.
• This is the third Hagia Sophia to continue on foot since 532 AD. It is a true gem of the city. It was the most important building of the Byzantines for almost 1000 years and preserves a large number of religious frescoes and mosaics of Christianity. Its size and the work of its architecture will surprise you. With the conquest of Constantinople it became a mosque and even at the founding of the new Turkish republic it was used that way. With the decision of the Senate it became a museum in 1932. In 2020 it became the mosque again and is visited by tourists outside of prayer time. Saint Safia is the symbol of Istanbul. Our visit with the guide's explanations includes time to take photos and record videos will last an hour or so.
• The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and more than 4,000 shops. It is like a shopping paradise. You can get anything. It was built in Ottoman times and became the largest and best-known market in the Ottoman Empire. It is the home to bring home goodies from Turkey. And the money exchange is cheaper here therefore the best place to change money in any country in Turkey. With free time 2 hours or so.