Itinerary

1. Full Day Live Guided Group Tour

   • Meet our tour guide and start your Istanbul tour by visiting the Blue Mosque to admire its 20,000 blue Iznik ceramic tiles and its six towering minarets. Find out how it was built for Sultan Ahmet I and how it was the last great mosque of the Classical period.
   • Make your way to the sporting and social center of ancient Constantinople at the Hippodrome. View the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, the Bronze Serpentine Column, the Obelisk of Theodosius, and the Column of Constantine.
   • Stop in front of Hagia Sophia. Learn about this 6th-century building constructed by the emperor Justinian as a Greek Orthodox Church. Hear about how the Hagia Sophia has transformed over time and how it was the largest church in the world for 1000 years.
   • Continue to the Basilica Cistern, avoid the hassle of waiting in lengthy ticket lines and uncover the wonders of the Basilica Cistern beneath the enchanting streets of Istanbul. Immerse yourself in the impressive architecture and encounter the legendary Medusa heads from Greek mythology.
   • Indulge in shopping for memorable gifts at the store we will visit before reaching the Grand Bazaar or rest for some minutes. Stroll through the Grand Covered Bazaar, the world's oldest and biggest covered market. Get lost in 65 streets with more than 4000 shops.
   • Spend your free time for lunch or as you wish.
   • In the afternoon, hop aboard the coach for a scenic exploration of the Golden Horn by bus and remnants of the Roman Wall as you traverse the captivating landscape.
   • Ascend the Pierre Loti Hill by bus and snap some photos of sweeping views of the Golden Horn.
   • Marvel at city views as you descend the hill on a cable car ride.
   • Visit the Eyup Sultan Mosque and see the Abu Ayyub al-Ansari Tomb (Abu Ayyub al-Ansari was Muhammad's standard bearer and companion).
   • Take in the city sights from the sea on a Bosphorus cruise. Capture pictures of the Golden Horn, the Topkapı Palace, the Dolmabahçe Palace, the Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Maiden’s Tower, the Galata Tower, the Blue Mosque, and Ortaköy mosque. Gaze out at the bridges connecting Europe and Asia.
   • At the end of your tour, return to your pickup point by coach.