Private Tour – Cultural Istanbul Tours

1 DAY TOUR IN ISTANBUL
(Available 7 days a week, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

• English fluent guide with car
• Entrance fees
• Snacks & traditional Turkish coffee / chai

At 8:30 a.m., a guide and driver will pick you up at your cruise ship or hotel to begin your tour. You will be driven around the city and your guide will introduce you to the often unseen daily life of modern Istanbul (local vendors selling goods, children going to school, etc.).

You will then visit the following famous locations in Is tanbul. Topkapi Palace was first built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453 and was the home of the sultan until the 19th century. St. Sophia Church was built by Roman Emperor Justinian and was completed in 537 A.D.. It remained the greatest Christian church in the world for more than 1,000 years and is considered one of the greatest marvels of architecture. The Blue Mosque, commissioned by Sultan Ahmet in 1603 and famous for its Iznik blue tiles, was constructed with the deliberate intention of rivaling the St. Sophia. The Hippodrome was the center for ancient sporting events and political activities.

Afterwards, your guide and driver will drive you to the Sultanahmet area, which was one of the first trade centers of the Ottoman Empire,to visit the historical caravanserai of Köprülü Mehmet Paşa. Established in 1635, this staff house was where important political ministers or advisors would stay. Although this house has now been renovated by gallery owners, Antique Carpet, one of the rooms has been restored to how it would have appeared during the Ottoman Empire. Taking a virtual time machine back to this historic period, you will be served a traditional Turkish snack and Turkish Chai or coffee as you are introduced to the traditions and history of Turkish folk art.

After this break, you will visit the most ornamented little mosque in Turkey, the Rustem Pasa Mosque, which was created for the Grand Vizier of Suleyman the Magnificent and still functions today as a place for prayer. If you are interested, you can also visit the Spice Market, which has enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice. If time permits, you can visit the Grand Bazaar.

*itinerary is subject to change**