4 h

Morning

Instant confirmation

About this activity

Tour stars with pick up from your hotel. You will visit Hagia Sophia Museum firstly. Built in the 6th century AD and then converted into a mosque in 145,3 it was the first large domed building of the world and religious focal point of the Orthodox Church for 1000 years. You will be informed about its history by your expert local guide and you'll admire its unique decoration from Byzantine and Turkish periods. Unlike most city tours, your guide will also take you to the upper galleries. Later, you'll enjoy a short walk across to Blue Mosque which owes its fame to the exquisite blue Iznik Tiles adorning its interior walls. Hippodrome is next to here. Here you will see the Egyptian Obelisk and the Snake Column from the ancient Roman Empire which used to promote regional power during horse chariots races. Next, you will see the German Fountain which was a gift of Kaiser Wilhelm 2 and enjoy the stories of his liaison with the orient.

Finally, you will go to the exciting Grand Bazaar. Following the introduction by your guide at Turkey’s biggest oriental carpet export center, you will have some free time to browse its 1200 spice and gold shops. If time permits you'll have a short stop at an Istanbul leather wholesaler firm. After the tour, transfer back to your hotel.

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Included

Hotel pickup from the hotels located in Taksim and Historical Peninsula areas
Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
Entry/Admission - Blue Mosque
Entry/Admission - Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya)

Not included

Food and drinks

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Clients must be ready at their hotel lobby 15 minutes before the exact departure time
Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays and will be replaced with the Chora Church Museum
Blue Mosque is closed on Fridays until 2 pm and will be replaced with Petite Hagia Sophia Church
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and will be replaced with authentic shops or Spice Bazaar
Please note: pickup reconfirmation is required upon booking, please refer to voucher for further details

Features

Tourism

95%

Cultural

80%

Reviews

4.0

1

L

Lauraine M

4 | 2015-11-29

Levent, our tour guide was extremely informative and this made the tour very enjoyable. I had only booked for the 1/2 day tour, but I paid extra and joined the group for lunch and a tour of the Topkapi Palace. A visit to a leather factory turned out to be a sales pitch in a showroom. A visit to a shop was a sales pitch for carpets, although the staff did not pressure too much. Overall, an enjoyable experience.

Collections This experience is part of these collections

Collections

Morning Tour 23 Activities

Collections

Old Town 30 Activities

Morning Tour of Istanbul Old Town

Istanbul

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