This is a full-day walking tour of the Old City starting from Galata port. Your licensed tour guide will pick you up from Galataport at your preferred time and will be at your service for approximately 8 hours throughout the day.

Firstly, your private licensed tour guide (in any major language you prefer) will pick you up from Galata port. Pick-up and drop-off times will be arranged to fit your cruise schedule. After the pick-up, we will take a short tram ride from Galataport to Sultanahmet, approximately 10 minutes.

The guide will provide detailed explanations of the history and significance of the monuments. Having a private tour guide is advantageous; for instance, you will notice long queues in front of major museums. However, there's no need to worry; with your private tour guide, you won't have to wait in line. You'll proceed hassle-free, saving a lot of time. Additionally, with your private guide, you won't have to wait for others in the group, which can often be cumbersome.

During the tour, if time permits, you will visit Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Obelisks, Basilica Cistern, Topkapı Palace, and Grand Bazaar. There will be a lunch break at any time you prefer, and you'll also have free time for shopping at local stores. Your guide will assist you with bargaining, which is part of the shopping experience in Turkey. At the end of the tour, you'll be transferred back to Galataport to fit your cruise ship's check-in time.

Overall, this will be a cultural tour of the "Sultanahmet Old City," where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires once thrived. You'll be mesmerized by the grandeur of these empires, evident in Istanbul's architecture. By having your own private tour guide in your preferred language, you'll have a personalized experience. Since it's a private tour, you'll set your own agenda; you can start from whichever monument you prefer! Below is a brief summary of the places you'll visit during the tour.

Hagia Sophia, once described as the greatest church in Christendom, is certainly a masterpiece with a synthesis of the Occident and the Orient. Built by Constantine the Great in 325 on the remains of a pagan temple. Rebuilt by Justinian and Theodora. In 1453, Mehmet the Conqueror added minarets to the huge, soaring dome and turned the former church into a mosque. The building controversially became a museum in 1935, but the interior retains its religious ramifications with the Christian mosaics and Muslim calligraphic disks adorning its walls and piers. For the time being, it serves as a mosque again

Blue Mosque, also known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque, this breathtaking building is one of the most majestic Ottoman mosques in all of Turkey. The Blue Mosque was built between 1609 and 1616, by the architect Mehmet Ağa, instructed by Sultan Ahmed I. It was designed as an imperial show of strength to complement the imposing Hagia Sophia, which faces it across Sultanahmet Square. Unlike the Hagia Sophia, it is supported by four ‘elephant foot’ pillars, and the central dome is flanked by four semi-domes, making it nearly a square in shape. It is dubbed the Blue Mosque because of over 20,000 handmade ceramic Iznik tiles that decorate the interior, featuring many different tulips, rose, carnation, and lily designs, well lit by 260 windows. Aside from its staggering size and exquisite beauty, one of the most distinctive elements of this Istanbul mosque is that it has six minarets, as opposed to the usual two or four of most of the city’s mosques.

Hippodrome, a public park used in the days of the Byzantine Empire for ceremonies and sporting events (chariot races, athletics). Theodosius Obelisk, Serpentine Column, Column of Constantine, and German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments decorating the Hippodrome.

Basilica Cistern, known locally as Yerebatan Sarayı (Sunken Palace) or Yerebatan Sarnıcı (Sunken Cistern), this underground water cistern was the major water reservoir of Constantinople. The water was transported from the Belgrade Forest by the immense Byzantine aqueducts (Valens Aqueducts). It was built during the reign of Emperor Constantine in the 4th Century but greatly enlarged by Justinian in 537 AD, and used as water storage for the Great Palace during Byzantine times and for the Topkapi Palace under the Ottomans.

Grand Bazaar, is the oldest and biggest closed bazaar in the world. It was founded in 1461. Like an enormous labyrinth, it is a spectacular and unique part of Istanbul with 17 doors, 60 streets, and over 3000 stores. The Grand Bazaar offers a wide range of products from copper to glazed tiles, from marriage articles to ready wear, and from various handicrafts to all types of spice. Western writers often mention the Grand Bazaar in their memories and travel journals and it is seen in some movies like James Bond.

 

Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar, Istanbul One of the quintessential parts of any trip to Istanbul is wandering through the Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı). Underneath the ornate vaulted ceilings, you will find all the delectables and souvenirs most appealing to tourists, all in one location. These include spices, dried fruit, cheese, sausage, jam, nuts, seeds, tea, dozens of flavors of Turkish Delight, and more. You can also find jewelry, ceramics, silver, and other handicrafts.

Topkapı Palace, which had been the seat of government for the Ottoman Empire that ruled three continents for centuries, was constructed between the years of 1460 and 1478 during the reign of Sultan Mehmed II (The Conqueror). It was home to the sultans and their families until the reign of Sultan Abdülmecit. Therefore, it has a very rich collection of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armors, miniatures, Islamic calligraphy manuscripts as well as Ottoman treasures and jewelry.

Closed: Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays; it will be replaced with local shops.

Restrictions: Based on your timetable, sometimes it may not be possible to visit all the monuments listed above. Hence, if we have limited time, we will make your plan in advance based on your priorities.

What is Included: All transfers, museum fees, and professional tour guide in your preferred language.

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