Why choose this Istanbul tour ?
Experience the beauty of Istanbul’s Old City with a fully-guided small group walking tour. On this 5 -hour tour, spend the day wandering through the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, the Grand Bazaar. Hotel transfer in a climate-controlled coach is available and lunch is included.
Make the most of your Istanbul adventure
What makes Highlights of Istanbul a unique experience ?
A truly awe inspiring, 1,400 years old Byzantine cathedral which houses mosaics, relics and iron work. Hagia Sophia was, for nearly a thousand years, the largest enclosed space in the world, and is still seen as one of the world’s most important architectural monuments. It is one of Turkey’s most popular attractions, drawn by the sheer spectacle of its size, architecture, mosaics and art. It was built during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD.
Built during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I during 1609-1616. It is the only mosque in Turkey with six minarets. Due to its magnificent hand-dyed blue, green and white Iznik tiles it has been named the “Blue Mosque” by Europeans. The central dome is 43 m in height and is 33.4 m in diameter; it also boasts 260 windows.
Hippodrom square is the backdrop of chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life. Of the ornaments which once decorated it, only three remain: The Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. The Obelisk is in the Egyptian style and was erected in 1547 BC and stood 60m tall. The German Fountain is also within the hippodrome area, constructed in Germany to mark German Emperor Wilhelm II’s second visit to Istanbul; it was imported and officially opened on January 1 1901. The fountain’s three domes are decorated with gold mosaics.
The Basilica Cistern, or Cisterna Basilica
Turkish: Yerebatan Sarnıcı or Yerebatan Saray, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The cistern, located 150 metres (490 ft) southwest of the Hagia Sophia on the historical peninsula of Sarayburnu, was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.Today it is kept with little water, for public access inside the museum.
One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 1,200 shops. Opened in 1461, it is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by the type of goods, with special areas for leather coats, gold jewelry and the like. The bazaar contains two bedestens (domed masonry structures built for storage and safe keeping), the first of which was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.The grand bazaar consists of 12 major buildings and has 22 doors.
Tour Description & Additional Info:
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
- To visit mosques a scarf is requested for ladys
Options To Choose for Your Trip:
- Highlights of Istanbul
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Pickup included
Highlights of Istanbul Inclusions:
Included with Your Ticket
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Local guide
Not Included
- Drinks
- Entrance Tickets To The Museums
- Pick up / drop of outside of our free service area, like the 2 istanbul int.airports
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Special Instructions:
- This Tour is Provided by istanbul sightseeing tours.
- Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Istanbul.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- This Tour is Rated 5 Stars based on 28 valid reviews on VIATOR.
- Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
- Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.
Istanbul’s traffic may affect the duration of the tour.
On Mondays the Hagia Sophia Museum is closed; in its place we will visit another museum.
On Tuesdays the Topkapi Imperial Palace is closed.
On Sundays the Grand Bazaar is closed, but the Spice Bazaar is open.
Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 – 60 minutes prior to this time, exact pickup time will be advised on reconfirmation.
Times are subject to change due to local traffic conditions.
