Highlights
St.Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, The Ancient Hippodrome & Grand Bazaar

Any time you want: Meet your Private Professional Licensed Guide at Istanbul Port with your name sign and start for Istanbul trip. Istanbul will most captivate your attention with the remains of many ancient civilizations and their culture, perfectly combined with the Turkish culture. There are impressive structures to be seen today: Topkapi Palace which has been the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans and the center of State Administration, and contains the most holy relics of the Muslim world.We enter the Treasury section, where one can see beautiful displays, such as the ‘’Spoonmaker’s Diamond’’ – the 7th largest diamond in the world!! Blue Mosque is the culmination of two centuries of both Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church development and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period. Basilica of Haghia Sophia is regarded as one of the world’s most important architectural monuments in the world! The monument dates back to 537 AD and has faced the consequences of several wars and invasions. It was repaired several times, it was once a church, later transformed into a mosque and finally a Museum. The Hippodrome of Constantinopole, the center of Byzantine civic life, where horse and chariot races used to take place. The Hippodrome is also bestowed by popular monuments like the 3500 year-old Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius and the spiral bronze base of a three-headed serpent sculpture. Have a stop in Grand Bazaar an interesting and enjoyable experience in a historical shopping area. The bazaar is one of the largest covered markets in the world – the largest and oldest in Turkey, with 60 streets and over 4,000 shops. It is well known for its unique carpets, leather embroideries, jewelleries of all kind, ceramics, antique, handcrafts, spices shops and of course for inexpensive souvenirs shops. Drive back to Port due time re-embarkation.

NOTES
The Harem section-located inside of Topkapi Palace can be added to this itinerary with additional 20 USD more per person. The Harem was the part of a Moslem house dedicated to the family and closed to the out side world. It was in these special quarters of the Ottoman Palace that the dynasty lived. The Harem, which evolved over many centuries, exhibited all the various styles of Ottoman art, and was one of the most magnificent complexes of the world in its historical and artistic aspects.
Program order: The order in which visits are mentioned might be changed and/or adjusted, according to circumstances.
Santa Sophia closed for the public on Fridays.
Topkapi Palace closed for the public on Tuesdays.
Grand Bazaar closed for the public on Sundays.

INCLUDING

Private Professional Licensed Guide
Transportation in Comfortable A/C Vehicles
Private Professional Driver
Entrance Fees to the Sights Mentioned Above the Itinerary
All parking

EXCLUDING

Any Gratuities for Guide & Driver
Any Meals and/or Drinks (Unless Specifically Mentioned)
Any Kind of Personal Expenses
Taxes