A Private Walking Tour That Takes You Through Byzantium, Constantinople, And The Bustling Istanbul Bazaars

Your licensed guide will meet you at 09:30 a.m. in the lobby to take you to HIPPODROME, the sports center, featuring four monuments: the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and the Walled Obelisk.

The BLUE MOSQUE, Istanbul's most famous mosque, is named for its beautiful blue Iznik tiles.

GRAND-COVERED BAZAAR features over 4000 shops in a labyrinth of streets, with specific areas for goldsmiths, carpet sellers, and Turkish arts and crafts, including hand-painted ceramics, copperware, brassware, trays, and meerschaum pipes.

Optional: Explore Turkish Carpets and Kilims, which are more than floor coverings; they are artistic representations of history and culture.

A Glimpse into the Past: Turkish carpets have a history dating back to the Seljuks and Ottomans, initially woven for warmth and later symbolizing wealth and social status. Each region in Turkey has its own unique style and weaving technique.

(Grand Bazaar closed on Sunday; visit Arasta Bazaar instead)

This half-day program can be combined with the options below for a full-day experience.

(Visits not possible on Friday due to prayer)

THE HAGIA SOPHIA, built by Constantine in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th, is a remarkable architectural feat.

HAGIA IRENE CHURCH, built in the 4th century alongside Hagia Sophia, was integrated into Topkapı Palace grounds and converted into a mosque without significant structural changes. (Closed on Tuesday)

TOPKAPI PALACE, the grand residence of Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries, houses precious gems, jewelry, thrones, and the Holy Mantle of Sacred Relics.