Meet with your guide at Istanbul Cruise Ship Port. Your Istanbul Tour Guide will be waiting for you with a name sign your name is written on. After meeting, drive from Istanbul Port along the seaside passing over Galata Bridge and see Spice Bazaar and Yeni Valide Mosque from car. While you are driving to Old City of Istanbul your guide will explain about history of Istanbul. Today we will visit Ottoman and Byzantium Monuments located in Sultanahmet very close to each others. The tour will be done mostly by walking. The places that we are going to visit are as below
Blue Mosque, is one of the most visit mosque in Istanbul located heart of Old City and facing to Hagia Sophia Museum with its huge cascading domes and six slender minarets. It is a great example of Ottoman Mosques with its magnificent interior decoration of the blue Iznik tiles.
The Ancient Hippodrome, was the scene of chariot races and constains three monuments: Obelisk of Theodosius,was brought from Karnak Temple (Egypt) to Constantinople and re-erected on the spina of the Hippodrome. Bronze Serpentine Column, is a bronze pillar built in the ancient city of Delphi, Greece, to commemorate those who had fought against the Persian Empire then was later removed and taken to Constantinople. German Fountian of Wilhelm II was constructed to commemorate the second anniversary of the German Emperor Wilhelm II’s visit to Istanbul.
Saint Sophia Museum, was built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century as a former Byzantine church and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century then converted into a former Ottoman Mosque after conquest. Afterwards converted into Museum during Republic of Turkey. It is one of the architectual marvels of all time and most of remains are still standing today.
Royal Topkapi Palace, the great palace of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. There many section to visit such as Palace Kitchens, Pavilions, Treasure, Islamic Relics Room and more.
Grand Covered Bazaar, one of the oldest and biggest Bazaars in the world with more than 4,000 shops are selling, selling souvenirs, rugs & kilims, jewelry, pottery, leather and almost everything.
At the end of the Istanbul Shore Excursions, you will have time to shopping according to your cruise departure time. Then you will be transferred back to Istanbul Cruise Port.