Morning
Travel to Turkey
Upon arrival in Turkey, you will be met by our local representative in the arrivals area of the airport before being transferred to your hotel.
Morning
Tour of Istanbul
Enjoy a morning city tour of Istanbul, which will include visits to the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia Museum (viewed from the outside, closed on Mondays), the Egyptian Obelisks, the Roman Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace.
This lively city is a perfect combination of modern and ancient, displaying a range of architecture from majestic skyscrapers to historic mosques, temples and churches.
The afternoon will be at leisure, to relax and get to know your surroundings. Your guide will be happy to suggest places of interest.
Morning
Asian side of Istanbul
After breakfast, set off on a half day guided city tour of Istanbul’s Asian side including Camlica Hill, where you can have a panoramic view of Istanbul, you will also have a view of Beylerbeyi Palace as you pass by, the summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans.
Afternoon
At Leisure
The afternoon will be at leisure. Your guide will be pleased to advise on sightseeing suggestions to suit your interests, like a cruise down the Bosphorus, or the Spice market, Istanbul is a big city and there is lots to see.
Full Day
At Leisure
You will have today free to take in some sightseeing and shopping at your own pace. You might like to visit the Underground Cistern, a fascinating network of water channels and ornamental pillars, dating back to Roman times. Another Istanbul highlight is the Grand Bazaar, a sprawling, lively covered market where you can haggle with vendors while drinking apple tea and enjoying the unique atmosphere, or enjoy a cruise down the Bosphorus and a visit to the Spice market.
Optional Excursions
Half day afternoon old city tour :
Enjoy a visit to Hagia Sophia, one of the world’s greatest marvels of architecture and an important monument for both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Hagia Sofia was once a church, later a mosque and today it is a popular museum. Don’t forget to look out for Gli, the famous guardian cat with over 18k Instagram followers!
Also included on today’s half day tour is a visit to the Grand Bazaar (covered), one of the oldest and largest markets in the world. The Grand Bazaar was constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian. In this fascinating labyrinth of streets and passageways there are more than 4000 shops where you can find carpets, spices, jewellery and much more. (Please note the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays).
Further details on this pre-bookable excursion are available on request.
Optional Excursion
Enjoy a panoramic tour of the old city walls on the way to the Golden Horn, a natural second harbour and inlet that separates the European shore into two. Also included is a visit to the Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar) where you can enjoy the aromas of various spices and teas. After this, enjoy a cruise down the Bosphorus by boat or ferry, cruising between the two continents of Asia and Europe, passing some beautiful land marks along the way!
Please note there are mobile steps to board and disembark the boat or ferry, hence this excursion may not be suitable for customers with restricted mobility.
Further details on this pre-bookable excursion are available on request.
Full Day
Return Home
Transfer by coach from your hotel to Istanbul Airport for your flight home, with guide assistance.