Istanbul Classics & Ottoman Relics Tour

Istanbul Classics and Ottoman Relics Tour

Let us introduce you to Istanbul’s most incredible attractions. In this tour you will see five of the most important attractions in Istanbul.During the tour tour you will visit Topkapi Palace, where you can see amazing treasures and imagine how Sultans' life were. You will visit the Hippodrome, which was once the social center of Istanbul. The Blue Mosque, with its beautiful hand painted tiles and Hagia Sophia: one of the greatest masterpieces ever built.The tour ends with a walk through the Grand Bazaar, where 5000 shops, selling everything: from rugs to lamps, are waiting for you. At the end of the day you will fall in love with Istanbul

This tour is a full day tour and departs everyday.The sequence of the sights might differ depending on the business of the sights

09:00 - 09:15

Pick up from your hotel and drive or walk to the meeting point to depart for the tour.

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Hagia Sophia

One of the greatest marvels of architecture, Hagia Sophia was founded as a basilica in the 6th century. Built by the order of Byzantine Emperor Justinianus, St.Sophia was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years; it is considered the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. After being considered the Patriarchal Basilica of Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque in 1453 by Sultan Mehmed II, The Conqueror, which led to adding the minarets, tombs and fountains.In 1935 it was turned into a museum by Ataturk, and it was turned into a mosque in 2019.By 2023 it can be visited as a museum.

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Blue Mosque

( Closed on Friday Mornings because of Friday Pray )

Facing Hagia Sophia, famous for its blue Iznik tiles and its unique six minarets, the Blue Mosque was built in the name of Sultan Ahmet. This is the last great imperial mosque of the classical period. The name for which is commonly now known, “Blue Mosque”, comes from the 20.000 marvellous blue-toned Iznik tiles decorating the interior walls.

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Hippodrome and Obelisks

It’s a former center of sportive events (chariot races, for example) and political activities of the old city. The Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, and the German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments that you can find and learn more about while visiting the Hippodrome.

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Grand Covered Bazaar

( Closed on Sundays , replaced with Arasta Bazaar or Spice Market )

In this labyrinth of streets and passages are more then 4,000 shops with each trade having its own area: the goldsmiths' street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as handpainted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes

Lunch will be provided in a cozy local restaurant

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Topkapi Palace

( Closed on Tuesdays, replaced with Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts)

This extraordinary and, full of secrets, palace was the residence of the Imperial Ottoman Sultans and the center of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 400 years. The building is a typical example of Ottoman architecture and the rooms exhibit rich collections of porcelains, robes, weapons, shields, armours, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts as well as Ottoman treasures and jewellery The Treasury and Harem sections are not included in the program and are due to extra entrance fees)

What is Included

• Pick up & Drop off from / to your hotel in Sultanahmet and Taksim
• Proffessional English speaking guide
• Lunch
• Entrance fees to Hagia Sophia Museum & Topkapi Palace

What is Not Included

• Personal expenses
• Gratitude's & tips to the guide and the driver
• Entrance fee to Harem of Topkapi Palace
• Other (Anything unspecified)

Travel Tips

• At the end of tour, participants will be dropped off to their hotels. Please inform your tour guide if you prefer to return by yourself or to spend more time at wherever you are

A Journey Through Empires: The Complete Old City Tour

Embark on the definitive full-day journey through Istanbul's historic heart, where the legacies of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires stand side-by-side. This comprehensive tour is perfectly designed for the first-time visitor, covering all the essential monuments of the Old City. With an expert guide to lead you through the layers of history, you will witness how Constantinople became Istanbul and explore the magnificent relics left by two of the world's most powerful empires.

Your day begins in the ancient Hippodrome, the social and sporting center of the Byzantine capital. Here, you will stand before the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia, a marvel of engineering that has served as the world's most important church and a grand imperial mosque. Just across the square, you’ll visit its architectural rival, the Blue Mosque, an iconic symbol of Ottoman Istanbul with its six soaring minarets and breathtaking blue tilework that creates an atmosphere of serene grandeur.

The tour continues into the opulent world of the Sultans at Topkapi Palace, the vast command center and private residence of the Ottoman court for centuries. After immersing yourself in the stories of the palace, the day culminates with a visit to the vibrant Grand Bazaar. Lose yourself in a labyrinth of over 4,000 shops, a living testament to Ottoman-era commerce and the perfect place to experience the dynamic energy of modern Istanbul.