3-Day Small-Group Istanbul Tour: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace

Get to know Turkey’s undisputed capital of culture, Istanbul, on this 3-day tour that combines free time with guided sightseeing. On a full-day city tour, marvel at Istanbul’s Byzantine wonders, soak up the buzz of its bustling streets and see Sultanahmet’s architectural jewels including Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome. With airport or hotel-to-hotel transfers plus two nights of 4-star hotel accommodation included, this tour lets you discover the delights of Istanbul with minimum hassle.

Numbers are limited to 14 on this small-group tour ensuring you’ll enjoy personalized attention from your guide.

Day 1: Istanbul Airport -- Istanbul
Start your 3-day tour with an airport transfer from Istanbul Airport to your central Istanbul hotel. Alternatively, if you are already in Istanbul you can opt for a hotel-to-hotel transfer for a hassle-free start to your tour. After checking in at your hotel, the day is yours to spend at leisure (any food, drinks and entrance fees at own expense). Perhaps visit Istanbul’s Byzantine churches or Ottoman mosques, or check out its world-famous souks (markets).

Overnight: 4-star Albatros Premier Hotel or Momento Hotel in Istanbul

Day 2: Istanbul (B, L)
After breakfast, set off for a full-day guided tour of Istanbul by luxury minibus, taking in the city highlights around the Sultanahmet district -- Istanbul's Old Town. First stop is the Blue Mosque – an elaborate mosque with six skyline-dominating minarets. Explore its ornate interior with your guide and marvel at the ceiling, consisting almost entirely of distinctive blue tiles, hence the mosque’s name. Continue to Hagia Sophia, one of Istanbul’s best-known monuments that started its existence as a mosque before becoming a Christian church and then a museum. Stroll around inside and admire its impressive mosaics and artifacts from the Ottoman era.

After a break for a typical Turkish lunch of soup, meatballs or chicken accompanied by fresh fruit, continue your tour with a visit to Topkapi Palace – Turkey’s largest palace and most important museum with countless relics from the 15th to the 19th centuries. See its Harem and Imperial Treasury, and learn of the colorful sultans who once lived here. Your city tour ends with a walk through town to see the Hippodrome, where chariot races were held at the bequest of Byzantine emperors and Ottoman sultans. Spend your evening at leisure in Istanbul.

Overnight: 4-Star Albatros Premier Hotel or Momento Hotel in Istanbul

Day 3: Istanbul – Istanbul Airport (B)
Enjoy breakfast, and then the morning is yours to spend at leisure in Istanbul – perhaps shopping for souvenirs or sightseeing independently. At a pre-arranged time in the afternoon, check out of your hotel and finish your tour with a transfer to Istanbul Airport or another Istanbul hotel.

Special Offer - Book and  travel before April 30, 2014 and save 10% - Book Now!

• Professional guide
• Two nights of accommodation
• Entrance fees: Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
• Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)

• Food and drinks, unless specified
• Gratuities (recommended)
• Entrance fee (approximately 20 Turkish Lira) to the Harem
  

Special Offer - Book and  travel before April 30, 2014 and save 10% - Book Now!