• Hagia Sophia Mosque - Guests are picked up from their hotel and join the group at the meeting point. The tour begins with a visit to the Hagia Sophia Museum, which was originally a Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral, later transformed into an Ottoman imperial mosque, and now serves as a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. Constructed in AD 537, it was renowned for its massive dome and was the largest building of its time, showcasing remarkable engineering. It is considered a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and is said to have “changed the history of architecture.” The Hagia Sophia Museum is regarded as one of the Eight Wonders of the World.

On Mondays, when Saint Sophia is closed, the tour visits the Chora Church, known for its stunning mosaics.

• Blue Mosque - The next stop is The Blue Mosque, which remains an active mosque while also drawing numerous tourists. Built between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Ahmed I, its complex includes Ahmed’s tomb, a madrasah, and a hospice. The mosque’s interior walls are adorned with hand-painted blue tiles, and at night, it is illuminated in blue, highlighting its five main domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. It is located next to the Hagia Sophia, another popular tourist attraction.

Note: On Friday mornings, The Blue Mosque is viewed only from the outside due to Friday Prayer.

• Hippodrome - The tour continues to Hippodrome Square, the ancient sporting and social hub of Byzantium, which could hold 100,000 spectators and featured artifacts from across the empire, such as the Egyptian Obelisk and the Serpent Column.
• German Fountain - The German Fountain, located at the northern end of the old hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square) in Istanbul, Turkey, and opposite the Mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed I, was built to commemorate the second anniversary of German Emperor Wilhelm II’s visit to Istanbul in 1898. Constructed in Germany, it was transported piece by piece and assembled at its current location in 1900. The neo-Byzantine style fountain features an octagonal dome supported by eight marble columns, with the dome’s interior adorned with golden mosaics.
• Serpent Column - The Serpent Column, also known as the Serpentine Column, Plataean Tripod, or Delphi Tripod, is an ancient bronze column located at the Hippodrome of Constantinople, now Istanbul, Turkey. Originally part of a Greek sacrificial tripod in Delphi, it was moved to Constantinople by Constantine the Great in 324 to commemorate the Greeks’ victory over the Persian Empire at the Battle of Plataea. The serpent heads of the 8-meter (26 ft) high column remained intact until the late 17th century.
• Grand Bazaar - A brief presentation and lecture on handicrafts (optional attendance) is offered next to the Grand Bazaar. Guests have free time to explore the Grand Bazaar independently. The group reconvenes and proceeds to lunch.

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets globally, featuring 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops across a total area of 30,700 m2, attracting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. In 2014, it was ranked as the world’s most-visited tourist attraction with 91,250,000 annual visitors. The Grand Bazaar is often considered one of the world’s first shopping malls.

Note: The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. On Sundays, the tour visits Nuruosmaniye Street around the Grand Bazaar since it is closed.

• Sultanahmet District - Lunch
  (Restaurant may vary) Olive Oil Marinated Seasonal Vegetables, Traditional Fried Pastry Roll with Cheese “Sigara Beurreck”, Seasonal Garden Greens Salad, Traditional Grilled Meatballs “Kofte” served with rice and boiled Seasonal Vegetables or Chicken Grill, Seasonal Fresh Fruit Platter
  (Vegetarian menu is also available)
  (Drinks are not included)
• Topkapi Palace - The tour then visits Topkapı Palace, the grand palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries, housing a magnificent collection of precious gems, jewelry, thrones of sultans, robes worn by the sultans and their families, miniatures, the Holy Mantle, and the Chamber of Sacred Relics.
  (The Harem is not included in the program and requires an additional entrance fee.)
  Guests are dropped off at their hotels at the end of the tour.
• Hagia Irene Museum - Hagia Eirene, the Church of the Holy Peace, is one of the few churches in Istanbul that was never converted into a mosque, as it was used as an arsenal until the 19th century. Hagia Eirene is reputedly located on the site of a pre-Christian temple and holds the distinction of being the first church built in Byzantium when it became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.
• Gulhane Park - The final visit is to Gülhane Park, once part of the outer gardens of Topkapı Palace, where the Edict of Gülhane, a declaration of rights and liberties that played a crucial role in the modernization of the Ottoman Empire, was proclaimed. After the establishment of the Republic, Gülhane Park was home to the Istanbul Zoo for many years.

• Cruise Port pickup and drop-off
• Hotel pickup and drop-off (From City Center Hotels in European Side)
• Professional Guide
• Entrance Tickets for each Itineraries
• All Fees and Taxes
• Lunch
• In-vehicle air conditioning

• Drinks

Enjoy a full-day small group tour with a maximum of 20-25 participants. Explore Istanbul’s rich history with our certified and experienced guides over the course of 7 hours. Visit iconic landmarks such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, and the Grand Bazaar.

After lunch, the tour continues with visits to Topkapi Palace, Hagia Irene, and Gulhane Park, followed by a drop-off at your hotel.

• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Cover ups and head scarves are provided at the Blue Mosque free of charge
• During religious holidays the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar are closed
• On Friday morning, The Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia are visioned only from outside because of Friday Prayer.
• On Sundays, when Grand Bazaar is closed, we visit Nuruosmaniye arround Grand Bazaar
• On Tuesdays, when Topkapı Palace is closed, this tour is not offered
• Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
• Cover ups and head scarves are provided at the Hagia Sophia with fee. Take your own scarf with you.
• We do not recommend this tour for the persons having walking difficulty

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