Itinerary

 TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1 - Istanbul - Arrival Day
Welcome to Turkey, Istanbul Airport. Meet with the traveling Istanbul staff and transfer to your hotel for your first night. Transfer from the airport & check-in to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2 - Istanbul City Tour

We will pick you up at 08.30pm, 09:00am, 09.30am, 10:00am (any hour you informed us) at your hotel for a day tour of old Istanbul city.
ST. SOPHIA - Visit this ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time.
TOPKAPI PALACE - The great palace of the Ottoman sultans during the 15th through the 19th centuries which houses an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle and enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed.
SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE - Across from St. Sophia and built in the 16th century by the architect Sedefkar Mehmet this mosque is often referred to as the “BLUE MOSQUE” because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.
HIPPODROME - Ancient Hippodrome, the site of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine.
GRAND COVERED BAZAAR - More than 4,000 shops with each 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 (pitcher), onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes. After the tour, transfer back to your hotel. Free evening and optional Istanbul evening shows or Bosphorus dinner cruise including traditional Turkish entertainment and dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3 - Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping Tour

We will pick you up at 08.30pm, 09:00am, 09.30am, 10:00am (any hour you informed us) at your hotel for a day tour of old Istanbul city.
SPICE BAZAAR - (Egyptian Bazaar) The air is filled with enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice.
BOSPHORUS BY BOAT - A traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will see the magnificent sights of the following attractions from the boat: The Dolmabahce Palace and the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, you will see Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of marble facade that faces the shore. At Ortakoy, a small village within Istanbul, a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a Greek Orthodox Church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries.
RUMELI FORTRESS - Built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452, and prior to the conquest of Istanbul, this structure was completed in only four months with the purpose of controlling and protecting the infamous Bosphorus passage. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world.
DOLMABAHCE PALACE The Dolmabahce Palace, a blend of various European architectural styles, was built between 1843 - 1856 by Karabet Balyan, the court architect of Sultan Abdulmecid. The three –storied palace built on a symmetrical plan has 285 rooms and 43 halls. The palace has survived intact with its original decorations, furniture, and the silk carpets and curtains. Its Surpasses all other palaces in the world in wealth and magnificence.
BOSPHORUS BRIDGE - Enjoy a unique chance to step from one continent (Asia) to another (Europe).
CAMLICA HILL – This is the highest point in Istanbul. You can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the Bosporus from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional Turkish Ottoman style.

Day 4 - Istanbul - End of Tour
After breakfast, checkout from your hotel. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another Traveling Istanbul Tour. Have a safe trip back home and thanks for choosing Traveling Istanbul.