Istanbul City Tour

Meeting with Aflatoon DMC staff at Istanbul airport and transfer to the hotel for your first night in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

At 08:30 am pick up from the hotel for full day tour of old Istanbul city.
The tour starts at HIPPODROME Square. It was a public arena mainly for chariot races and also home to gladiatorial games, official ceremonies, celebrations, protests, torture to the convicts and so on. The GERMAN FOUNTAIN OF WILHELM II, the OBELISK OF THEODOSIUS, the bronze SERPENTINE COLUMN and the COLUMN OF CONSTANTINE are other monuments at the square.

SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE built in the 17^th century and known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.

St. SOPHIA, This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great, in 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time.

GRAND BAZAAR(COVERED MARKET)More than 4000 shops in this labyrinth of streets and passages trade having its own area; the goldsmiths’ street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as hand painted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx ware and meerschaum pipes.

LUNCH (Drinks are extra)

LITTLE HAGIA SOPHIA MOSQUE is known as one of the oldest standing churches in Istanbul dating back to 6th century and ithas been used as a mosque since 1497.

TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from 15th to 19th centuries, housing an exquisite collection of precious gems, jewelry thrones of sultans, robes worn by the sultans and their families; miniatures, the Holy Mantle; CHAMBER OF SACRED RELICS.

[Harem (women’s quarters) is not included in visit program and extra entrance fee is required.]

After old city tour, transfer back to the hotel. Free evening or optional Istanbul night shows or Bosporus dinner cruise including traditional Turkish entertainment and dinner.Overnight in Istanbul.

Pick up from the hotel for a full day tour of Istanbul city is at 08:30 am

CITY WALLS Among the many well-known monuments in Istanbul, the centuries-old city walls stand out with their effective surroundings and construction. They were demolished only twice in their all history, firstly by the Latin Crusaders in 1204 and again in 1453 by the Ottoman Turks who tried to conquer the city of Constantinople.

DRIVE BY BUS TO GOLDEN HORN approximately 8 km long Golden Horn also known by its modern Turkish name as Haliç is a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosporus, and it separates the European shore into two sides.

SPICE BAZAAR (EGYPTIAN BAZAAR)The Spice Bazaar dates back to the 17th Century. It is one of Istanbul’s oldest covered markets, where the exotic, oriental aspect of the city still survives.It is the best place to find spices, herbal teas, and traditional Turkish foods such as Turkish delight (lokum).

BOAT TRIP ON THE BOSPHORUS An amazing cruise between the two continents, EUROPE and ASIA, along the Bosporus by the Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi Palaces, wooden villas and mansions up to the Rumeli Fortress.

(THE RUMELI FORTRESS FROM THE SEA (NO INTERIOR VISIT))

LUNCH (Drinks are extra)

SHOPPING As Turkey is one of the best leather producing countries in the world we will watch a fashion-show in an outlet center which produces and manufactures different several of great quality leather ware. So it’s a good opportunity to have a look at the reasonable priced good quality leather accessories.

BOSPHORUS BRIDGE Unique chance to step from one continent (ASIA) to another (EUROPE)

BEYLERBEYİ PALACE The summer residence of Ottoman Sultans with its original furniture and magnificent gardens with the HAREM on the ASIAN SIDE.

ÇAMLICA HILL one of the highest points in Istanbul. At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of İstanbul and the Bosporus from the beautiful gardens, landscape in traditional style, as you sip your drinks in a cafeteria.

After breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer to the airport.