Itinerary

1. Istanbul Sightseeing Tour

   • Begin our tour drive around the Golden Horn and the great walls of Constantinople.

   • Pass by the Dolmabahce Palace, then cross the Galata Bridge before arriving in Sultanahmet Square, where we visit the Topkapi Palace. From the 15th to the 19th century, this palace was the principal residence of the Ottoman Sultans.

   • Visit the fabulous Imperial Treasury and the Baghdad Kiosk. Topkapi Palace is now a museum and exhibits works of art. Many priceless artifacts with endless collections of jewellery, including the Spoon maker’s Diamond, the 3rd largest in the world, Ottoman court costumes and ceramics, notably one of the world’s finest collections of early Chinese ceramics, much of it gifts from other rulers. Interestingly, some of the ceramics have a special glaze that was said to change colour in the presence of poison.

   • Explore the Imperial Armoury, displaying centuries of Ottoman weaponry, religious artifacts and other priceless relics. See the loveliest features of Topkapi Palace – its courtyards with their ancient trees, and it is easy to imagine the sultan strolling here far from the cares of state and empire. Harem section is not included in the program; visits are due to extra entrance fees.

   • Visit the Süleymaniye Mosque, the largest and grandest of Istanbul’s imperial mosques. It dates from the 16th-century heyday of the Ottoman Empire and was designed by Mimar Sinan, the greatest architect of his day and originator of the Classical Ottoman style of architecture. This mosque complex once included a soup kitchen, hammam, caravanserai and primary school. Remember that the Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.

   • Continue with a drive along the Golden Horn past Roman land walls and Byzantine churches.  

   Half-day tour: 09.00 am – 13:00 pm or 14:00 pm -17:00 pm