Byzantine Ottoman Relics Full Day Tour

Description

Tour Date : Everyday
Pickup       : Pickup from Sultanahmet, Taksim or  City Center Areas.
Starts         : 08:30
Ends           : 17:00
Price           : 120  Euro per person.

TOUR ITINERARY ;

Byzantine Ottoman Relics Tour, visit the top historical attractions of Istanbul with our one day walking tour. Explore UNESCO-listed Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Istanbul Hippodrome. Find out the Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar and hear the story about extravagant sultans and their harems from your expert guide!

We will pick you up from your hotel after your breakfast for the walking tour in old city. This tour covers the most famous historic monuments and sights in Old City area. 1500 year old Hagia Sophia Mosque, gigantic Blue Mosque with its famous blue tiles, Hippodrome area where the Byzantium era chariot races use to be once held, Topkapi Palace with Harem and world’s oldest indoor market Grand Bazaar. After the Byzantine Ottoman Relics Tour, we will take you back to your hotel.

Tour of “Sultan Ahmet Center”, the heart of the “Old City” from where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled.

Hagia Sophia (From Outside): It is a UNESCO-listed museum that contains Ottoman and Byzantine works. From golden age of Byzantine, this once Christian church is one of the most extraordinary buildings in the history of architecture. Listen the history and examine the architecture displays with your professional guide.

Blue Mosque: visit to the Blue Mosque with six minarets, was built at the bequest of Sultan Ahmet I and one of the best preserved and most significant examples of Ottoman architecture.

Hippodrome: Continue to Istanbul Hippodrome where chariot races were held and also the centre of Byzantium’s life for 1000 years and of Ottoman life for another 400 years and has been the scene of countless political dramas.

Grand Bazaar: The last stop is the Grand Bazaar, one of the most famous bazaar around the world. Discover the bazaar with your guide and make some shopping. It is full with gold, jewellery, leather and spices shops.

Then give a little break for lunch in a local restaurant with typical Turkish cuisine.

Topkapi Palace and Harem, the largest and oldest palace in the world to survive to our day and also was the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for approximately 400years. Topkapi Palace was more than just the private residence of the Sultan and his court. It was centre of the supreme executive and judiciary council, the Divan and the training school. The best artist and craftman’s produced some of the finest work in the whole empire.

Hagia Irene Church: Built during the same period (4th century) as its neighbour the Hagia Sophia. The name Hagia Irene Church means ‘’Godly’’ or ‘’Holy Wisdom’’ in Greek. After the conquest of Istanbul it was incorporated into the grounds of Topkapı Palace and like many other churches was converted into a mosque. However there were no major changes made to the building structure.

HighLigts

• Hagia Sophia Mosque
• Topkapi Imperial Palace
• Blue Mosque (Mosque of Sultanahmet)
• Marvellous Ottoman and Byzantine architecture
• Grand Bazaar (Covered Market)

Topkapi Palace is close on Tuesdays; should you travel on this day, you’ll visit the Basilica Cistern instead.
The Grand Bazaar is close on Sundays; should you travel on these days, you’ll spend additional time at Arasta Bazaar.

What Service

Inclusions

• Local licenced tour guide.
• Hotel pickup.
• Entrance fees
• Turkish Lunch

Exclusions

• Gratuities (optional).
• Food and drinks, unless specified.