4 Days | 3 Nights
Welcome to Istanbul, the only city in the world located on two continents! Your driver meets you at the airport and drives you to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at leisure, depending on your arrival time start your own explorations, dine at a local Turkish restaurant or just grab a tasty street food like Balik Ekmek, a popular fish sandwich.
Today uncover the glamorous past of the old city. Visit the Hagia Sophia, a former Byzantine church, now classified as a mosque. Be amazed by the interior with its striking mosaics and frescoes. Next up is a visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known as the 'Blue Mosque'. With its six minarets, it is unique in the Islamic world. It is considered the largest and most magnificent mosque in Istanbul and is a true work of art of Ottoman architecture. Walk across the Sultan Ahmet Square, once the Hippodrome, the former horse racing track in ancient Constantinople. See here the Obelisk of Theodosius and the German Fountain. Then experience the hustle and bustle of the Grand Bazaar with its nice ceiling paintings. Built in the 15th century it is home to 4,000 shops, selling clothes, carpets, oriental lamps, books, souvenirs, works of art and antiques. Overnight Istanbul.
Start visit a visit to Misir Carsisi, the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, where spices, herbs and teas are sold since the 17th century. Time to wander along the shops with its aromatic smells. Take a boat trip along the Bosporus, the waterway separating the continents of Europe and Asia. Sail past famous sights such as the Golden Horn - the 7 km long arm on the Bosporus -, and the Dolmabahçe Palace from 1856. Then on to Camlica Hill for great views of Istanbul. In the afternoon, visit the Topkapi Palace, the centuries old residence of the mighty Ottomans. It houses the imperial treasury, holy relics, Chinese porcelain and royal garments. After the tour, we transfer you to your hotel or leave you at the city centre. Visit on your own the Galata Tower for the panoramic view or relax at one of the Turkish baths. Overnight Istanbul.
Free time at leisure until we pick you up from the hotel lobby. Transfer to the airport to say farewell to the unique city at the Bosporus and board your flight.