Start your day with a pickup from your European-side hotel or alternatively, meet your expert guide at a central meeting point. Before departing by coach, listen to a brief breakdown of your day. The sequence of your itinerary is subject to change, so certain attractions (as detailed below) may be visited in a different order. Lunch at a traditional restaurant is included halfway through the day; see the Itinerary for a sample menu.
Head to The blue mosque to marvel at its six minarets and the thousands of Iznik tiles that cascade a sea of blue over the building's interior. One of the finest examples of classical Ottoman architecture, the mosque was built at the bequest of Sultan Ahmet I who demanded a mosque to rival the grandeur of the Hagia sophia.
Both a church and a mosque in its past life, Hagia sophia (or Aya Sofya) is now a UNESCO-listed museum that showcases Ottoman- and Byzantine-era artifacts. Browse the interiors architecture and historical exhibits with your guide.
Then continue to Topkapi Palace. Like Hagia sophia, Topkapi palace now exists as one of Istanbuls premier museums, home to a collection of ornamentation that once belonged to the citys 15th-century sultans and harems.
Continue through Istanbul Hippodrome, seeing the granite Egyptian obelisk that was gifted to the city, and hear how the site once represented the hub of the citys sporting and political life. After stopping for photos,
visit Basilica Cistern, Istanbul's sunken palace a site that famously featured in the James Bond movie From Russia with Love. The site is one of the largest of the city's ancient cisterns that lie beneath the ground.
The final attraction included in your tour is the Grand Bazaar, one of the world's most famous souks. Comprising nearly 60 streets and thousands of shops, the bazaar can be overwhelming. Let your guide introduce you to its colorful (if chaotic) highlights, and shop for jewelry, leather, pottery, spices and more.
Your tour finishes with a drop-off at your European-side hotel or in central Istanbul.
Please note: The Grand Bazaar will be closed on Sundays and Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays. If your tour falls on any of these days, an alternate attraction (such as Chora Museum or another market) may be visited instead, Topkapi palace (Closed on Tuesdays; will be replaced with Istanbul Archaeology Museum). You may visit the Basilica cistern or Nakkas Cistern.
