Istanbul Private Tour: Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia

You will have the possibility to see the best sights of Istanbul on this guided Istanbul Classics tour:

The Blue Mosque or the so called Sultanahmet Mosque, which has big importance in the Islamic world, the Topkapi Palace, which was more than 400 years the palace of the Ottoman Sultans, the Grand Bazaar with more than 4.000 shops, the Hippodrom and the Saint Sophia Museum are the highlights of our tour.

As this is a private tour limited with maximum 7 people, it is much more personalized than the bigger groups and can be customized at any point.

Topkapı Palace was not only the residence of the Ottoman sultans, but also the administrative and educational centre of the state. Initially constructed between 1460 and 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople, and expanded upon and altered many times throughout its long history, the palace served as the home of the Ottoman sultans and their court until the middle of the 19th century. In the early 1850s, the palace became inadequate to the requirements of state ceremonies and protocol, and so the sultans moved to Dolmabahçe Palace, located on the Bosphorus. Despite this move, the royal treasure, the Holy Relics of the Prophet Muhammad, and the imperial archives continued to be preserved at Topkapı, and-since the palace was the ancestral residence of the Ottoman dynasty as well as the place where the Holy Relics were preserved-Topkapı continued to play host to certain state ceremonies. Following the abolishment of the Ottoman monarchy in 1922, Topkapı Palace was converted into a museum on April 3rd 1924, on the order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

The Hagia Sophia, one of the historical architectural wonders that still remains standing today, has an important place in the art world with its architecture, grandness, size and functionality. The Hagia Sophia, the biggest church constructed by the East Roman Empire in Istanbul, has been constructed three times in the same location.

During the East Roman period, the Hagia Sophia was the Empire Church and, as a result, was the place in which the emperors were crowned. The area that is on the right of the naos, where the flooring is covered with colorful stones creating an intertwining circular design (omphalion), is the section in which the Eastern Roman Emperors were crowned.

Istanbul was occupied by Latins between 1204 and 1261, during the Holy Crusades, when both the city and the church were damaged. The Hagia Sophia was known to be in bad condition in 1261, when Eastern Rome took over the city again.

Following Fatih Sultan Mehmed’s (1451-1481) conquer in 1453, Hagia Sophia was renovated into a mosque. The structure was fortified and was well protected after this period, and remained as a mosque. Additional supporting pillars were installed during the East Roman and Ottoman periods as a result of the damage that the structure experienced due to earthquakes in the region. The minarets designed and implemented by Mimar Sinan have also served to this purpose.

Sultanahmet Mosque, one of the most fascinating pieces of Istanbul’s skyline, is also, at the same time, one of the most important symbols of Istanbul. And it is not only its magnificent appearance that makes it so fascinating. The Blue Mosque has many distinctive features separating it from other mosques such as being the first mosque with six minarets.

The Grand Bazaar, constructed under the command of Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Mehmed the Conqueror), is a historical shopping arcade surrounded by shops covered with roofs and domes. The two covered bazaars form the core of the large area with its historical name, “Çarşu-yı Kebir”. The construction of the first bedesten (bazaar) was completed in 1460s, namely Cevahir, and Sultan Mehmed was endowed with the yield, to grant it to Hagia Sophia. The Sultan later developed a variety of shops and shop stalls which later became the center of commercial life.

The Hippodrome of Constantinople was an arena used for chariot racing throughout the Byzantine period. First built during the reign of Roman emperor Septimius Severus in the early 3rd century CE, the structure was made more grandiose by emperor Constantine I in the 4th century CE. The Hippodrome was also used for other public events such as parades, public executions and the public shaming of enemies of the emperor. Following the Fourth Crusade in the early 13th century CE, the Hippodrome fell out of use and its spectacular monuments and artworks were looted.

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

• Istanbul Private Tour: Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia
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  Pickup included

• Tour guide: English, German, French speaking guides depending on the guests joice by the booking.

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• This Tour is Provided by Holiday Experiences.
• 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.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 7 Travelers is accepted for booking.