Private Tour – Grand Bazaar, St. Sophia, Hippodrome Square & Mosque
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
Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city; it lies on the bustling Bosphorus – the river that flows from the Black Sea of the Asian continent to the European waters of the Mediterranean. The city combines the architectural elegance and sophistication of any of the greatest European capitals with the vibrancy and energy of the East.
What's included
- English Speaking Guide
- Entrance Fees St Sophia
- Air-Conditioned Vehicle
- Food and drinks
St Sophia is closed on Mondays and will be replaced by the Topkapi Palace will be visited instead.
The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays – Free time will be given for shopping on Nuru Osmaniye Street or in Arasta Bazaar
Highlights
Itinerary
10:00
You will start the tour at the Hippodrome Square also known as ‘The Horse Square’ in the Ottoman period, this is where the chariot races took place during the Roman & Byzantine period. Just a short walk away is the Hagia Sophia built in 532 by Roman Emperor Justinian I an architectural beauty.
A short walk away is the Hagia Sophia which was the Greek Orthodox Christian Patriarchal cathedral, then later the Ottoman imperial mosque, now a museum famous for its massive dome, close by is the Blue Mosque. Sometimes known as the Sultanahmet Mosque, it commands the Istanbul Skyline and is famous for its beautiful blue Iznik tiles. Constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed, it is a most impressive structure that cannot be missed!
Next, we will head towards the Grand Bazaar one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with more than 58 covered streets and over 1200 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.
Opened in 1461 and very well known for the goods such as jewellery, pottery, a range of different spices and of course the many carpet shops.
You will be able to have some free time to wander around the market and shop for souvenirs before the heading back to the port.