Discover Istanbul's most iconic sights on a van tour. Listen to your guide recount tales of the city's colorful past as you pass by landmarks such as the Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, and Hippodrome. Round off the experience with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world. Start your tour at the Hippodrome of Constantinople, which was the sports and social center of the old city. Discover major artworks including the Obelisk from Egypt, the Serpentine Column from Delphi, and the fountain of Willhelm II. Then, continue to the Blue Mosque, whose 6 minarets adorn Istanbul’s skyline. Next up is the Topkapi Palace, which was home to Ottoman emperors between the 15th and 19th centuries. Marvel at the jewel-stuffed treasury, the Ottoman Empire's imperial collections, and priceless displays of Oriental porcelain. If the Topkapi Palace is closed on your trip date, you'll visit the Nakkas Cistern instead. Continue to the Hagia Sophia Mosque, a monument of equal significance to the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Behold the dome and stunning mosaics of this architectural gem as your guide recounts its turbulent history. Then, enter the Grand Bazaar with over 3,000 shops selling everything from carpets to jewelry to ceramics and leather goods. Take a stroll around the Spice Bazaar and soak in the aroma of different spices, dried fruits, nuts, sweets, and lokum (Turkish Delights).

Your private guide and driver will meet you at your hotel or cruise ship, and you’ll head out for a full-day VIP tour of Istanbul. Visit the Hippodrome, the center of sporting and political activities of ancient Constantinople. See the Obelisk from Egypt, the Serpentine Column from Delphi, and the German Fountain of Willhelm II. Continue to the Blue Mosque, dating from the 17th century. This is one of the largest mosques in Istanbul and one of the principal features of the city skyline. It’s best known for its blue Iznik tiles and 6 minarets. Afterwards, you’ll visit Topkapi Palace, the former imperial residence that was the seat of the Great Ottoman Empire. Explore the spectacular museum and its vast collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and the treasury of the royal family. Continue to the Hagia Sophia, the magnificent Byzantine Church considered one of the finest and largest architectural works in the world. The last stop on the tour is the Grand Bazaar. In addition to its historical importance, this is a shopping venue that will tempt even the non-shoppers among you with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather, and souvenirs. At the end of the tour, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel or cruise ship.

Enjoy personalized attention while visiting Istanbul's must-see attractions. Explore the Hippodrome of Constantinople and its ancient monuments brought to the empire from various places including the Obelisk of Thutmosis III from Egypt and the Serpent Column from Delphi. Move on to the Sultanahmet Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque due to its striking blue tiles. Continue to the Hagia Sophia, a center of worship for the Christian and Muslim world for many centuries.  After visiting Hagia Irene and seeing the Fountain of Sultan Ahmet III, immerse yourself into the rich history of the Ottoman Empire at Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman Sultans for over 600 years. Here, you will get the opportunity to visit all rooms, galleries, and courtyards including the Harem.

Begin your tour of the Sultanahmet district, the heart of old Istanbul, at Hagia Sophia. Built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Emperor Justinian in the early 6th century A.D. and designed by Anthemius of Tralles and Isodore of Miletus, the church is one of the marvels of world architecture. Converted into a mosque in 1453, it is now a museum. Its massive dome still dominates the skyline of old Istanbul. It is also famed for its mosaics, including glittering portraits of emperors and empresses and a poignant Virgin and Child. Next, you will visit the Blue Mosque which takes its name from exquisite blue Iznik tiles adorning its interior. Built by Sultan Ahmet I in the early 17th century and designed by a pupil of Sinan, the greatest of Ottoman architects, it is the only imperial mosque with six minarets. Its courtyard is especially grand. The Hippodrome, the stadium of ancient Byzantium, held 100,000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire. Of these, an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture of three entwined serpents from Delphi survive. Finally, Brief Handicrafts Presentation & Lecture (Optional Attendance) next to the Grand Bazaar. Free time to explore Grand Bazaar on your own. The Grand Bazaar was the commercial heart of the old city and its 4,000 shops are full of treasures including carpets and kilims, silks, jewelry, ceramics, icons and leather goods. Wandering through the Grand Bazaar, indulge in some shopping, Ottoman style. Note: Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. On Sundays we visit Nuruosmaniye Street around Grand Bazaar since Grand Bazaar is closed.

Explore Istanbul on this coach tour of the Old City. See sights like the Eyup Sultan Mosque and the Hippodrome. Learn about Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque on a guided tour. Sit down to a tasty lunch and sail on the Bosporus. Soak up the views from Pierre Loti Hill and ride a cable car.  Enjoy the convenience of being picked up from centrally-located hotels in Istanbul. Sit back and relax in an airconditioned coach with plenty of space on your way to the departure point. Meet your local guide and head to the Old City to visit the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. Learn about this 6th century building that was constructed by the emperor Justinian as a Greek Orthodox Church. Hear about how the the Hagia Sophia has transformed over time and how it was the largest church in the world for a 1,000 years. Continue to the Blue Mosque to admire its 20,000 blue Iznık ceramic tiles and its 6 towering minarets. Find out how it was built for Sultan Ahmet I and how it was the last great mosque of the Classical period. Make your way to the the sporting and social center of ancient Constantinople at the Hippodrome. View the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, the Bronze Serpentine Column, the Obelisk of Theodosius, and the Column of Constantine. Discover the Tombs of Sultans, the final resting place of 5 Sultans and 142 members of the Ottoman dynasty. Visit the fountain of Sultan Ahmet III which is in front of the Imperial Gate of the Topkapı Palace. See the Perayton, an older Byzantine fountain with a Turkish rococo structure. Take as stroll through the Grand Covered Bazaar, the oldest and biggest covered market in the world. Get lost in 65 streets with more than 4000 shops. Have some free time to haggle before sitting down to a delicious lunch. Take in the city sights from the sea on a Bosphorus cruise. Capture pictures of of the Golden Horn, the Topkapı palace, the Dolma Bahçe palace, the Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Maiden’s tower, Galata tower, the Blue mosque, Ortakoy mosque. Gaze out at the bridges connecting Europe and Asia. Board the coach and pass by historical wooden houses, churches, synagogues, mosques, and the remains of the Roman Wall. Visit the Eyup Sultan Mosque and see the Abu Eyup Alansari Tomb (Abu Ayyub al-Ansari was the standard bearer and companion of Muhammad). Ascend the Pierre Loti Hill by bus and snap some photos of sweeping views of the Golden Horn. Marvel at city views as you descend the hill on a cable car ride. Return to your accommodation by coach at the end of your tour.

Take a guided tour of Istanbul and visit some of its most popular sights. Explore the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Grand Bazaar. Meet your tour at the Obelisk of Theodosius or get picked up from your hotel, depending on the option chosen. First, visit the Hagia Sophia, a monument of great importance to the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Learn about its history and architecture from your guide. Continue to the the Blue Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmet. Marvel at its handmade blue Iznik tiles and 6 minarets. Next, walk around the Hippodrome, where chariot races were once held. See the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. Finally, stroll through the Grand Bazaar, the oldest and biggest covered market in the world. Get lost among its 65 streets and more than 4000 shops and try haggling over any souvenirs that catch your eye.

See the main historical sights of Istanbul and take a 2.5-hour luxury cruise along the beautiful shoreline as the sun sets. Visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. Learn about their histories on a guided tour. See the site of the Ancient Roman hippodrome. Transfer to the glass-encased luxury yacht in the evening and enjoy a welcome drink of traditional Turkish demirhindi. Enjoy the sights of the city at dusk with informative commentary. Feel the soothing breeze coming over the Sea of Marmara at dusk on this highlights tour and cruise in Istanbul.

Visit Hagia (St.) Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian. St.Sophia has been the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years. It is considered the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. After having been the Patriarchal basilica of Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet II. the Conqueror and in to a museum by Atatürk in 1935. Explore the Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its blue Iznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet. The last great imperial mosque of the classical period, its name comes from the 20,000 marvelous blue-toned Iznik tiles decorating the interior walls. Discover the Hippodrome, center of sportive (chariot races, athletics) events and political activities of the old city. Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column, German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments decorating Hippodrome. You will also see one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, The Grand Bazaar. (Closed: Sunday) Replaced with Madrasa

Admire some of Istanbul’s most wondrous monuments with an expert local guide on this private, half-day walking tour. Relive the days of thrilling chariot races at the ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople. Today the Hippodrome is an open-air museum where you can see remnants of the original structure as well as the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, and the Fountain of Wilhelm II. Next, visit one of the most majestic adornments of Istanbul's skyline ̶ the Blue Mosque. Officially known as the Sultanahmet Mosque, it is the mosque’s striking blue tiles that give it its more common name and make it one of Istanbul’s most iconic attractions. The mosque also features a beautiful courtyard and six towering minarets. Then explore the ancient basilica of Hagia Sophia, one of the finest and largest architectural marvels in the world. The largest church in the world for over a thousand years, Hagia Sophia is now a museum featuring beautiful Byzantine mosaics, paintings, and sculptures.

Located in an ideal strategic position straddling the Bosporus strait, Istanbul is both the largest city in Turkey and its economic, cultural and historic centre. Uniquely situated in both Europe and Asia, Istanbul’s over 15 million residents have an array of world class historical and cultural sites at their disposal. With the help of our Istanbul guided city tours, you will gain an unparalleled insight into both the modern and historic capital of Turkey. Istanbul is renowned for its fascinating mix of architectural styles. From the Roman and Byzantine eras the Basilica Cistern and Hippodrome are outstanding feats of engineering, and the monumental Hagia Sophia has stood the test of time, continuing to wow visitors to this day, while the Süleymaniye Mosque and the Topkapi Palace are amongst the many architectural wonders of the Ottoman Empire. Renaissance Revival, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau buildings seam harmlessly with the ancient and Ottoman styles, contributing to Istanbul’s unique atmosphere. The addition of modern institutions such as Istanbul Modern and the Pera Museum ensure the city continues to move forward while maintaining its world-class heritage. 'The Highlights of Sultanahmet' includes: Hagia Sophia The Blue Mosque Sultan Mehmed III Tomb Fountain of Ahmed III German Fountain Walled Obelisk Serpent Column Basilica Cistern Topkapi Palace Hagia Irene 'The Pearls of Suleymaniye' includes: Kirazli Mescit Cami Suleymaniye Mosque Spice bazaar Mausoleum of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent Hürrem Sultan Türbesi Suleymaniye Square Fountain Büyük Valide Han Giritli Mustafa Paşa Hanı Valide Han Iranlilar Mosque Tomb of Mehmet Zahid Kotku Cenderecizade Muhittin Celebi Turbesi Our 5 self guided route's main sights: Cicek Pasaji İstiklal Avenue Taksim Mosque Taksim Square Karaköy Pier Tophane Pavilion Remains of the church of Saint Polyeuctus Aqueduct of Valens Galata Tower St. Pierre Han Nuruosmaniye Mosque ...and many more!