Istanbul Trip Overview
Feast your eyes on architectural masterpieces on this full-day private tour of the classics, from Istanbul. Embark on a sightseeing tour of several of Istanbul’s greatest architectural achievements. Your private car can accommodate you and up to 13 of your friends and family, including a hotel pickup and drop-off. See monumental structures such as St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia), the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, and the Grand Covered Bazaar (which is closed on Sundays and Eid festivals).
Important notice: Tour service starts in between 8:00 and 10:00am and finishes in between 4:00pm and 5:00pm.
Travelers from Sultanahmet area do not need a vehicle for old city classic tour.
Additional Info
Duration: 7 hours
Starts: Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Istanbul Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Istanbul, Turkey, Turkey
Feast your eyes on architectural masterpieces on this full-day private tour of the classics, from Istanbul. Embark on a sightseeing tour of several of Istanbul’s greatest architectural achievements. Your private car can accommodate you and up to 13 of your friends and family, including a hotel pickup and drop-off. See monumental structures such as St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia), the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, and the Grand Covered Bazaar (which is closed on Sundays and Eid festivals).
Important notice: Tour service starts in between 8:00 and 10:00am and finishes in between 4:00pm and 5:00pm.
Travelers from Sultanahmet area do not need a vehicle for old city classic tour.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Hippodrome, Binbirdirek, Sultan Ahmet ParkI No:2, Istanbul Turkey
Hippodrome was built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century. There is an Obelisk, Knitted Column and Serpentine Column in the Hippodrome today. Among these works, the Obelisk was brought from Egypt, and the Serpent Column was brought from the Apollo temple in Delphi. In fact, there were many more works here: works of pagan and Christian beliefs, statues of legendary racers, monuments of emperors, etc.
But, as a result of the uprising in 532, the hippodrome was no longer standing. The hippodrome was actually decorated with bronze, bronze and copper statues brought from many places such as Rome, Greece, the Aegean Islands, Egypt, but almost all of the works were destroyed during the 57-year Latin occupation. The artefacts were either sold, sent elsewhere or melted and used for other purposes (coins, shields, etc.). In short, this place has been a gathering and rebellion square for the crowds throughout history.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Mah At Meydani Cad No 7, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
This place is also known as the “Blue Mosque” among tourists and abroad because of the colour of the magnificent patterns that decorate its inner walls. The mosque’s decorations consist of more than 20 thousand tiles with 50 different tulip patterns in Iznik. There are flowers, fruits and cypress on these magnificent tiles made by tile makers in Iznik. All these tiles create a deep blue, peaceful and magnificent scene. It is normal for tourists to call it the Blue Mosque because the blue colour is quite intense here. In addition, ostrich eggs were placed in various parts of the carefully created interior to prevent spiders. One of the most important elements in the mosque is the mihrab made of fine workmanship and carved marble. In addition to the magnificence of the mihrab surrounded by windows, the perfection of the interior acoustics makes it easy to hear the imam’s voice even when the mosque is at its most crowded.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Hagia Sophia Mosque, Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya MeydanI No:1, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Hagia Sophia Mosque, together with its neighbour Topkapi Palace Museum, is among the most impressive places visited by local and foreign tourists in Istanbul. Hagia Sophia, built as a church in 325, was rebuilt in 537, turned into a mosque by the conqueror Mehmet II after the conquest of Istanbul. Hagia Sophia is also considered as the eighth wonders of the world. It is adorned with many mosaic ornaments with and without figures from different periods. The most important examples of mosaic decoration that have survived to the present day are the figureless mosaics that can be seen in the narthex area. All kinds of efforts have been made to protect and preserve Hagia Sophia as a symbol of conquest. The Hagia Sophia Mosque, with its minarets, madrasah, primary school, fountains, public fountains, sundials, trustees’ room built outside the building in different periods, was transformed into a complex structure in the Ottoman Period.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
P.S.: Closed on Tuesdays.
The palace, which was started to be built in 1460 after the conquest of Istanbul by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1453 and completed in 1478. It was used as the administration, education and art centre of the empire for about four hundred years from Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror until the 31st Sultan Abdulmecid, and at the same time became the sultan’s house. Although it was abandoned in the middle of the 19th century when the dynasty moved to Dolmabahce Palace, it has always maintained its importance. Topkapi Palace Museum, which was turned into a museum in 1924 and was the first museum of the Republic, covers an area of approximately 30 decares today. Topkapi Palace, separated from the city with the Sultan wall built by the Conqueror by the land and the Eastern Roman walls by the sea, is one of the largest palace-museums in the world with its architectural structures, collections and approximately 300,000 archive documents.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Grand Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
It is one of the oldest and largest covered bazaars in the world. The Grand Bazaar, with its maze-like streets and passages, is one of the most popular and visited places, especially among tourists. At the same time, it has the status of a kind of trade centre of Istanbul. It is possible to find something for every taste and budget here. The Grand Bazaar is a wonderful historical place not only for shopping but also walking through its lively streets and to have a nice day amidst the charming smells of colourful shops and spices.
Duration: 2 hours
