Istanbul Trip Overview
You have a long layover in Istanbul and you don’t want waste all these hours at the airport. You want to go the center but worried if you will risk your flight. Here we are for you with providing a service of a friendly local guide who knows the city very well where you can do a lot during your layover. As this is a layover tour so, we will need to arrange an itinerary according to your flight times. You can discus the itinerary with your guide when you meet him/her at arrival at the center. You can see some or all sights below from inside if your flight lands before 4 pm. However, if your flight lands after 4 pm then you will see these sites from outside only and see Istanbul by night.
Sight to See : Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Topkapı palace, Basilica Cistern
Optional Activities:Cruise in the Bosporus, food market in Asian side, Turkish bath, dinner at local restaurants, Baklava tasting and more…
Additional Info
Duration: 4 to 8 hours
Starts: Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Category: Shore Excursions >> Ports of Call Tours
Explore Istanbul Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Istanbul, Turkey, Turkey
You have a long layover in Istanbul and you don’t want waste all these hours at the airport. You want to go the center but worried if you will risk your flight. Here we are for you with providing a service of a friendly local guide who knows the city very well where you can do a lot during your layover. As this is a layover tour so, we will need to arrange an itinerary according to your flight times. You can discus the itinerary with your guide when you meet him/her at arrival at the center. You can see some or all sights below from inside if your flight lands before 4 pm. However, if your flight lands after 4 pm then you will see these sites from outside only and see Istanbul by night.
Sight to See : Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Topkapı palace, Basilica Cistern
Optional Activities:Cruise in the Bosporus, food market in Asian side, Turkish bath, dinner at local restaurants, Baklava tasting and more…
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Hagia Sophia Mosque, Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya MeydanI No:1, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
For the morning arrivals, Hagia sofia is an option to visit from inside with paying an admission fee of 60 tl ( 10 USD). This is one of the most visited attraction in Istanbul. Built as a church in 6 c AD, converted to a mosque in 1453 and to museum in 1935. It is a unique building in the wold which embrace Islam and Christianity inside one single building.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Basilica Cistern, Alemdar Mahallesi, Yerebatan Caddesi, No:1/3, Istanbul 34410 Turkey
The most impressive water reservoir you can ever see. Built in 6th Century AD to preserve drinking water for the city. It was supplied from rain and aqueducts. 336 column, each column 8 m tall, 100.000 ton water capacity. The legendary Medusa heads are here located at the end of the cistern in the far blind corner.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Mah At Meydani Cad No 7, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
The biggest and most visited mosque in Istanbul. This was built in 1609 by Ottoman sultan Ahmet and still host prayers five times a day. After the praying is conclude it is open to visitors.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Hippodrome, Binbirdirek, Sultan Ahmet ParkI No:2, Istanbul Turkey
This is the hippodrome where the chariots races were held here from 4th century until 15 century. It has been pull down by the Ottoman and its materials been recycled to built mosques and palaces by the Ottoman. There are monuments survived and can be visited. Four live size horse statues in St Mark Basilica are taken from here. One of the head from the serpent column is the British museum.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
This was the Ottoman residential and parliament house for four hundred years. It is a museum since 1930. This museum helps to understand how Ottoman lived and managed a huge empire over six hundred years.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise, Akbiyik Degirmeni Street, No:4, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
These ferries carry the locals between Europe and Asia in 20-30 minutes.It is the best way to see Istanbul from the water.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Misir Carsisi (Spice Market), Rustem Pasa Mahallesi, Erzak Ambari Sok. No:92 Eminonu – Fatih, Istanbul 34116 Turkey
This is the places where the aromas from the world meet. Spice bazaar was built in 1664 as a part of the New mosque next to it. The complex is built by a lady Turhan Sultan.
In this market you can find and taste the best spices, Turkish delights, nuts, herbal teas,dried fruits and vegetables.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Kadikoy Carsisi, Caferaga Mahallesi Kadikoy, Istanbul Turkey
This is a non touristy local market where local shop for the daily needs, greengrocers, butchers, fish mongers, restaurants an more..
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Cinili Turkish Bath, Murat Reis Mah. Cavusdere Cad. Cinili hamam sok no 6 Uskudar, Istanbul Turkey
If you feel tired and need a massage then it is time to go to a Hamam ( Turkish bath). You don’t need to take anything with you ( towels, shampoo etc. ) as they all provided for you. Here you will be washed with a scrubbed, soap massaged and relax at the lobby of a historic building covered with towels and sip your apple tea.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Suleymaniye Mosque, Prof. SIddIk Sami Onar Cd. No:1 Süleymaniye Mah, Istanbul 34116 Turkey
A great mosque which was built in 1550 by Ottoman sultan Suleyman the magnificent. mosque is famous with its architecture and its high location which offers great Istanbul view.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Grand Bazaar Jewelers, Alemdar Mah. Bab-I Ali Cad. Guran Han No:34 D. 4, Istanbul 34110 Turkey
This a bazaar built in 1461 by Ottomans with 4000 thousands indoor shops. It is an up market offers anything you need but mainly carpets, antiques, jewelries,leader products, textile products.
Duration: 1 hour
