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7 hours
Daily Tour
14 people
English
We begin our tour of the Sultanahmet district, the heart of old Istanbul, at Hagia Sophia. Built by Emperor Justinian in the early 6th century AD and designed by Anthemius of Tralles and Isodore of Miletus, the church is one of the marvels of world architecture. Converted into a mosque in 1453, it is now a museum.
Next, we visit the Blue Mosque which takes its name from the exquisite tiles adorning its interior. Built by Sultan Ahmet I in the early 17th century and designed by a pupil of Sinan, the greatest of Ottoman architects, it is the only imperial mosque with six minarets.
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.
Our tour is continued at Topkapı Palace, which, from the 15th to the 19th century, was the principal residence of the Ottoman Sultans. We will visit the fabulous Imperial Treasury and the Baghdad Kiosk. Topkapı Palace is now a museum and has unrivaled collections of jewelry, including the Spoonmaker’s Diamond, the 3rd largest in the world.
Step into the opulent world of the Ottoman Empire with our exclusive tour of the Harem section at Topkapı Palace. Uncover the secrets of the sultans as you explore the lavishly adorned chambers, private quarters, and hidden courtyards that once housed the imperial family and their concubines.
Dating back to the 4th century, the Hagia Irene (Aya Irini in Turkish), formerly a church, now a museum and a center of cultural activities and exhibitions, is situated inside the 1st court of the Topkapi Palace.
Last but by no means least, we visit the Grand Covered Bazaar, the most attractive shopping center and the biggest “souk” in the world with nearly 4000 shops selling antiques, jewelry, gold, carpets, leatherware, and souvenirs.
The primary language for group tour guidance is English or multilingual available. Tours in languages other than English are available exclusively as private tours. Please note that there might be a price variation for different languages. Kindly specify your preferred language for the tour if it's not English!
Tour fees include professional English guide service or assistant service. In half-day tours, meals are not included, but in full-day tours, a set menu or open buffet meal is generally included. Kindly refer to the tour description for a detailed breakdown of included and excluded services.
In group tours, hotel pick-up and drop-off are generally included. Rarely, some tours do not include hotel pick-up and drop-off or just drop-off. All private tours include hotel pickup and drop-off. Please read the description carefully to find out.
