Photo permit included
Tour by public transport
Canal Boat tour included
Train tickets included
Suitable for little children
Wheelchair accessible tour
Museum ticket included
Light snack included
Lunch included
Transportation included
Walking Tour
Begin at the St Sophia Museum, the Byzantine church which served as the cathedral of Constantinople for over a thousand years. Built as an Orthodox patriarchal basilica, the magnificent structure became a mosque in the 15th century and now serves as one of the finest museums in all Istanbul.
What's included
- Transportation
- English Speaking Guide
- Entrance Fees as per itinerary
St Sophia’s is closed on Mondays, and you will visit the beautiful Chora Church instead, famed for its mosaics and frescoes.
Highlights
Itinerary
10:00
We will then continue the tour to the Blue Mosque, where we will visit the tomb of its founder, Ahmed 1, and admire the exquisite tiling and decoration. Then we will continue to the former Hippodrome Square, once the centre for entertainment and sporting contests in ancient Constantinople, and now the modern Sultanahmet Square.
From here, it’s a short stroll to the magnificent Grand Bazaar – the largest covered market in the world, where you’ll have the chance to buy the best that Istanbul has to offer from more than 3,000 stalls selling everything from fine Turkish carpets and jewellery, to leather goods and souvenirs – an experience not to be forgotten.
In the afternoon, the tour continues to Topkapi Palace, the former seat of the Ottoman sultans, and now a remarkable museum, containing many beautiful royal treasures and Islamic holy relics. You’ll visit the Mosque of Rüstem Pasha, famous for its lavish use of rich red Ottoman Iznik tiles and see ancient Roman walls that have guarded the city for two thousand years.
The tour will come to a close as you look over the city’s natural harbour, the Golden Horn, where you’ll have time to take pictures and reflect upon your remarkable day in historic Istanbul.