Istanbul: Private City Highlights Guided Tour

Meet your private guide at your hotel or port and start your full-day tour of Istanbul. Walk through the lively streets of Turkey’s largest city to visit the former basilica of the Hagia Sophia, an architectural marvel and an important monument from the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Discover how this was the largest church in the world for many centuries and still boasts the 4th largest dome in the world. Dedicated to the Hagia Sophia or “divine wisdom,” it is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. Move onward to the Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultanahmet Mosque. Marvel at its distinctive blue tiles, from which it derives its name. Learn about its significance as the Supreme Imperial Mosque in Istanbul and uncover the reasons behind its esteemed status. Continue to Topkapi Palace, a relic of the glory days of the Ottoman Empire. Located on a promontory overlooking the Golden Horn, it sits in tranquil gardens. Pop into the museum to see the gorgeous Iznik tiles and the ornate stateroom of the harem, among other attractions. Next, visit the Hippodrome, the former entertainment venue built in 203 AD by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus. See the three monuments that remain from the original building, including the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and the Constantine Column. Also, see the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, made from 8 marble columns. Wrap up your day at the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest and oldest covered markets. Soak up the electric atmosphere of hundreds of shops selling everything from carpets to handicrafts and test your bargaining skills.