Istanbul City Tour

See top Istanbul attractions around every corner on a full-day tour of the incredible Sultanahmet neighborhood, where Turkey’s Ottoman and Byzantine empires once ruled. Traveling by luxury coach, you’ll stop to visit all the city showstoppers including the UNESCO-listed Hagia Sophia Museum, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Rüstem Pasha Mosque. Before lunch, discover the roar and dazzle of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar while hearing tales of sultans, harems and all-things-Istanbul from your friendly expert guide!

Start your tour with either a hotel pickup or by meeting your guide in Istanbul’s Yenikapi neighborhood. Then travel by coach to the nearby Sultanahmet district and step inside your first attraction of the day – Hagia Sophia. Formerly a church, then a mosque, and now an intriguing museum, Hagia Sophia is sure to impress from every historic angle. Admire its medley of architecture that draws on influences from both the Ottoman and Byzantine eras as you explore with your guide.

Continue to the nearby Blue Mosque, passing Istanbul Hippodrome on the way. Chariot races were held here at the time of the Ottoman Empire, and it gained a reputation as the hub of sporting and political activity in the city. Before entering the mosque, stop for photos and gaze in admiration at its six minarets that provide an iconic backdrop to Istanbul’s cityscape. Then head inside to marvel at its ceiling, adorned with bright blue Iznik tiles that attribute to the mosque’s name.

Prepare for an assault on your senses at the nearby Grand Bazaar as you browse the bustling shops and stalls that spill out into its frankincense-scented lanes. Pedaling everything from Turkish carpets to kebabs, this frantic market can be daunting to visitors, so let your guide show off its highlights while you soak up its ambiance.

Stop for lunch in a local restaurant, and then travel by coach to Topkapi Palace – one of the world’s oldest and biggest palaces. Now a significant museum, the palace seems to drip with dazzling ornamentation and artifacts at every turn. Explore its courtyards with your guide, and learn about the sultans and their harems that lived here from the 15th century.

Before your tour ends, there’s one last gem to be seen! Pass the Golden Horn, and step inside Rüstem Pasha Mosque for a tour. Small yet spectacular, this city secret boasts an eye-catching interior with a liberal smattering of geometric and floral tiles that adorn the walls and ceiling.

Your tour finishes at either your central Istanbul hotel or in Yenikapi – simply advise your guide on the day.

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Local guide
• Transport by air-conditioned coach
  
• Entrance fees: Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace
• Donations: Blue Mosque and Rüstem Pasha Mosque
  
• Lunch

• Gratuities (optional)
• Drinks