Fullday Historical Tour of old Istanbul, Sultanahmet Area

Highlights: Roman Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Treasury, lunch, Grand Bazaar

Transfer from the hotel to the historical center Sultanahmet. Walking tour starting with the Roman Hippodrome and the monuments lined up along the spina of the original hippodrome built by Emperor Septimus Severus in 203 AD. Obelisk of Theodosius, walled column, serpentine column from Delphi and the German Fountain, gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II to the Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamit II will be viewed. 

Continue with the Blue Mosque built by Sultan Ahmet I in 1616, locally called Sultanahmet Mosque but known by its blue Iznik tiles and also famous for its unique 6 minarets. Modest attire recommended. Plastic bag for shoes will be provided as you will have to remove your shoes before entering the mosque.

One of the highlights of the tour is the Hagia Sophia. Church of the Holy Wisdom of God from the 6th century built by Justinian between 532 - 537 at the site of the previous two churches by the same name. Following the conquest of the city by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II, Ayasofya was converted to a mosque and eventully after the foundation of the Republic of Turkey it has become a museum.

Afternoon dedicated to the touring of the Topkapi Palace. Until finally being abandoned to more modern palaces in the middle of the 19th century the palace served as the residence of the Ottoman Sultans as well as the center of administration for 4 centuries.  On entering through the Imperial Gate the first monument to be seen is the majestic fountain of Sultan Ahmet III followed by the first courtyard housing the Church of St Eirene as well as the Imperial Mint and the Archeological Museum of Istanbul. Through the Gate of Salutation we enter the grounds of the Palace and view the various exhibitions including the imperial kitchens with its rich collection of Japanese and Chinese Ming porcelain as well as the Imperial Council (Kubbealti) and the Tower of Justice. The Treasury, housing such exquisite masterpieces as the Topkapi dagger and the Spoonmaker’s diamond will be visited. The recently renovated Holy Relics section houses collection of the prophet Mohammed’s and his caliphs’ relics.

Continue with the Grand Covered Bazaar (Kapalicarsi), a maze of 58 alleys and more than 4.000 shops. Dating from the early days of Ottoman rule in Istanbul, the bazaar houses shops selling local craftsmanship, jewelry, pottery, spices, traditional costumes, belly dancer outfits, leather, carpets and evil eye objects among other souvenir articles.
After a long day of discovery of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul, you have the choice of returning to the hotel by bus or stay around in the bazaar for a shopping spree.