• Sultanahmet District - Upon arrival at Ataturk Airport, meet the driver at the exit gate, who will be holding a sign with your name. Transfer to a charming boutique hotel in the Sultanahmet area. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay at a hotel in Sultanahmet.
• Blue Mosque - After breakfast, meet the guide for a tour of Ottoman Istanbul. A short walk leads to the Blue Mosque, completed in 1616. The next destination is the Topkapi Palace, a complex of museums showcasing collections gathered by the Sultans over nearly five centuries. The tour includes a visit to the renowned Harem, where the Imperial Family lived. Lunch is at a local restaurant on Divan Yolu. Continue through the historic cobbled streets to Rustem Pasha Mosque and the Spice Market, where goods from Genoa and Venice were traded before the Suez Canal existed, and spices from the East were brought here via Egypt.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Sultanahmet.

• Hagia Sophia Mosque - The second day in Istanbul explores several Byzantine relics. Begin with a walk to the great square, once the Byzantine Hippodrome, now a park-like area surrounded by the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Underground Cistern, also known as the Basilica Cistern. The Hippodrome features the Walled Column, The Serpent Column, and the Egyptian Obelisk from Byzantine times, with the German Fountain at its northern end. Visit the Hagia Sophia, the world’s most significant Byzantine building. After lunch at a local restaurant, take a short drive to The Chora Church to admire the pinnacle of Byzantine Mosaic Art. Conclude the tour with a visit to the Grand Bazaar.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Sultanahmet.

• Dolmabahce Palace - On the final day in Istanbul, check out after a leisurely breakfast, taking luggage along. A short drive to the Bosphorus shores leads to the Dolmabahce Palace. Overlooking the Bosphorus, its beauty is unmatched, featuring 14 tons of pure gold in its interior decoration, priceless paintings, furniture, and a rich collection of Bohemian crystal, along with its famous Harem section.

Board at Eminonu for a relaxing Bosphorus cruise to the charming village of Sariyer. In the late afternoon, transfer to Istanbul Airport for the flight home or to another destination in Turkey.

• Local taxes and 18% VAT included
• Lunches provided during the tour
• Expert private guiding throughout the tour
• Comfortable private A/C minivan for tours and transfers
• Convenient return airport transfers

• Personal expenses
• Drinks at lunches
• Dinners
• Gratuities for the guide and driver

• Infant meals not included

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.