Fullday Bosphorus, Palaces and Asian Side of Istanbul
Sailing between Europe and Asia with the two sides of a city on your right and left, the sensation is highlighted by the presence of two suspension bridges spanning across this busy waterway connecting the Marmara Sea and eventually the Mediterranean in the south and the Black Sea in the north. No wonder a third bridge is on its way. The shores of the Bosphorus are adorned with garlands of palaces, mansions, fortresses and nightspots...
Highlights: Dolmabahce Palace, Bosphorus cruise, Spice Market, lunch, Asian Istanbul
Meeting at the hotel lobby we will proceed by bus to the Dolmabahce Palace. Literally meaning the palace of the filled garden, the Dolmabahce Palace was built on a bay on the Bosphorus on reclaimed land during the reign of Sultan Abdulmecit in 1853 by Armenian architects Balyan family. Only the Selamlik (men’s section) and Muayede Halls (ceremonial halls) will be visited. The contrast between classical Ottoman architecture and the western approach adapted in the 19th century will be visible during our tour. The harem is also visited with particular emphasis on the room where the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who spent his last days in the palace died on 10 November 1938.
For a more leisurely continuation of the tour we embark a private motorboat for a cruise on the Strait of Bosphorus which separates the European and Asian continents and makes Istanbul a unique city built on two continents. Among the monuments to be viewed are the Rumeli and Anatolian Fortresses which were built by the Ottomans to help conquer Constantinople and the palaces such as the Beylerbeyi Palace and Ciragan Palace (now Kempinski Hotel), Kucuksu Pavilion as well as the picturesque little villages and wooden mansions along the shores of the Bosphorus. Our boat will cruise under the two suspension bridges built to cross between the two sides of the city, in other words between two continents. The Bosphorus Bridge from 1973 and the Conqueror Bridge from 1988 are very important thoroughfares between continents just as the Bosphorus is a very important sea route connecting the ports of the Black Sea to the Aegean and Mediterranean.
Discover the Asian side of Istanbul.
Intercontinental Bosphorus Suspension Bridge crossing to the Asian side of the city. Enjoy the panoramic view from Camlica Hill. Return to the European side of the city.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Continue with the Egyptian Spice Market (Misir Carsisi), built 1664 wihin the complex of the New Mosque, this is the in place for spices, dried fruits, fruit teas, nuts, variety of Turkish delight (lokum) and souvenirs in one of the most exotic ambiences of the city.
After a long day of discovery of Istanbul return to the hotel.
