Istanbul, this is a great way to start your holiday in Turkey or if you are just passing through this exotic city. Because we believe that you have not seen Turkey if you haven't seen Istanbul. Istanbul is a city which re-creates itself all the time. Istanbul's streets reflect the European & Turkish & Balkan and Middle Eastern way of life, all coming together in a exotic & beautiful harmony. If you are extending your stay & you may request further information about accommodation and our tours to highlights of Turkey from our offices in Sultanahmet.
 
   
 

 

 
 
  Irresistanbul

 Imperial Istanbul

 Istanbul Two Continents

 Constantinople - Istanbul

 Istanbul on Foot
The Orient

Istanbul Getaway
Istanbul & Ephesus

Unknown Istanbul
Istanbul & Cappadocia

Istanbul - Bursa

Istanbul Shore Excursions

Glorious Istanbul

Timeless City		   Istanbul Shore Excursions / Glorious Istanbul                          

After meeting up with your guide in front of the Istanbul Karakoy Port passenger terminal, begin your drive to the Old Town. Cross over the Galata Bridge, which spans the Golden Horn, to arrive in the heart of the old town.

We will first stop at the jewel in Turkey's Byzantine crown, the marvellous Hagia Sophia. This splendid Church of Divine Wisdom, originally built in the 4th century A.D., was lovingly restored in the 1900s, reflecting the true history of the glorious city of Istanbul. When it was built, Hagia Sophia's dome was the largest in the world and it is now one of the world's finest examples of Byzantine architecture. After several conquests and pillages, the building was converted into a mosque, but fell into disrepair as the centuries passed. The mosaics were uncovered in the 1900s and the church was dedicated as a Byzantine-Ottoman museum.

Your next stop will be the Topkapi Palace Museum. Topkapi Palace, the seat of the Ottoman Empire for almost four centuries, is located on the Seraglio Point between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara with a splendid view of the Bosphorus. Walk through the courtyards of the Palace, view the chimneys of the Royal Kitchens, the Harem Tower, the Ceremonial Halls and the Throne Room and see the Costumes of the Sultans, the Treasury of the Ottoman Empire, the Library and the Pavilions.

After lunch we take a short drive to the Grand Bazaar, where handicraft from all over Turkey is displayed in thousands of shops and stores. Enjoy shopping within this bustling maze of glittering jewels, surrounded by the sweet scent of incense, radiant Turkish carpets and the vivid sheen of brass and copper. Afterwards, drive to Taksim, a leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops and hotels and considered the heart of modern Istanbul. Walk the famous Istiklal Avenue and see how the consulates, shops, restaurants, small snack bars, cinemas, libraries, pubs, coffeehouses, old patisseries, chocolateries and technological centres are integrated into the 19th-century Turkish buildings.

Your guide and driver will farewell you from Karakoy Port for your next destination on your cruise.
 		  
     

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