Full Day Istanbul Ottoman Relics and Byzantium Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel around 8:30 am and taken to visit some of Istanbul’s most famous historical sites.

Your first stop will be the Hagia Sophia Museum, a former Greek Orthodox Christian basilica turned imperial mosque and now a museum. You’ll be able to admire the stunning architecture and learn about its rich history.

Next, you’ll visit the Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, and appreciate its impressive domes and famous blue tiles while learning about its unique architectural style.

You’ll then visit the ancient Hippodrome, which was the center of entertainment and political life in Constantinople during the Byzantine Empire. Here you’ll see the ancient obelisks and learn about the events that took place there.

After a break for lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll head to the Topkapi Palace Museum, the former residence of Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years. You’ll explore its impressive architecture and learn about the lives of the Ottoman rulers.

Finally, you’ll end your tour with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. Here you’ll have the chance to browse through countless shops and stalls and purchase souvenirs to take back home.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel or cruise port around 5:30 pm.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price

• Hotel pickup and drop off (on the European side of Istanbul only) & Istanbul cruise port.
• Transport by air-conditioned coach
• Professional licensed English-speaking guide during the tour
• Lunch
• Entrance fees
• Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED:

• Gratuities (optional)
• Food and drinks, unless specified

IMPORTANT INFO:

• Pick-up and drop-off service is only provided from city center hotels including the Old City and Taksim and Beyoglu hotels. Pick-up service from outside the city center will be at an additional cost that we will communicate once you give us your exact pick-up location.
• A moderate amount of walking is involved.
• Please note that the Blue Mosque is not open for visitation on Fridays as it is closed for religious prayer services. You will only be able to visit the outside of the Blue Mosque area on tours operated on Fridays. No visitation will be allowed inside the Blue Mosque for tourists on Fridays.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici).
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.
• During religious holidays, the spice market and Grand Bazaar are closed.
• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has a shopping stop included in the tour.