Tour code: BOE-ISE 05
Tour: Byzantine & Ottoman Relics Tour
Itinerary: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, The Grand Bazaar
Duration: 8 hours

When your cruise ship docks your professional tour guide will be awaiting you with a board where your name is written at the arrival gate of the Port. Then you will join your guide to get to the van.

Firstly, you will stop in Hippodrome of constantinople. It was the social center and sporting area of the city during the byzantine reign. Hippodrome was used for horse racing chariot racing. Big crowds used to watch these organizations from the seating rows of hipodromme which had 100000 capacity of spectators. It was buit in 324 AD by constantine. The Wall obelisk, the serpent column, the obelisk of thutmosis 3 and fauntain of wilhem II are displayed around the area.

And, we will visit to Blue Mosque. The sultan Ahmet mosque in turkish so called blue mosque as well because of the blue and turquise tiles which surrounding the walls of interior. It was built by the order of sultan Ahmet the sultan of the ottomans between 1609 and 1616 years. Its still used to pray and became one of the most popular tourist attraction in Istanbul.

After than, we will visit to Hagia Sophia. Masterpiece of the town, was built by emperor justinian in 537 AD. It is one of the most visited museum in the World today. It was used as a church for 916 years then Fatih Sultan Mehmet the conquerer converted it into a mosque and was used as a mosque for 482 years. And after the foundation of turkish republic, with the order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and decision of the miniters, hagia sophia was converted into museum in 1935. The current hagia sophia is the third one with its specific, massice and magnificient architecture history and art. It had been called the 8th wonder of the ancient World by the east romans(byzantians).

Topkapi Palace which is the imperial residence of the ottoman empire for 400 years still survives with its all glory. Strategical location of palace is one of the best spot that you can observe golden horn and bosphorus with strait of Marmara. Finest architecture of the ottomans with different rooms, garden and towers. Some of the rooms contains large number of porcelains, weapons, robes, miniatures and ottoman jewellery and treasures.

Then visit Grand Bazaar where is one of the largest covered markets in the World with 4000 shops and 60 streets and welcomes between 300.000 and 500.000 visitors Daily. Bazaar is so well known for its painted ceramics, carpets, jewellery, spices, souvenirs and antique stores. It was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of 2.Mehmet the conquerer. It has four different main gate and its not hard to get lost thats why its important to keep the name of the gate where you came in and will met with your guide at the same gate. After the tour you will be transferred back to port.

A Promise: We guarantee that you are not going to miss your cruise.

Please Note: On Mondays, the St. Sophia is closed and will be replaced by the Underground Basilica.
On Tuesdays, Topkapi Palace is closed and will be replaced by the Underground Basilica.
On Sundays and National holidays Grand Bazaar is closed and will be replaced by Spice Market.

- Private Professional Licenced Guide;
- Transportation in comfortable air-conditioned and non-smoking vehicles;
- Private Professional Driver;
- Entrance fees to the sights mentioned above the itinerary;

- Any tips for Guide & Driver;
- Any kind of other personal expenses;
- Lunch

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