Istanbul

Istanbul Classics (Half Day Morning Tour)

Tour of  “Sultan Ahmet Center”, the heart of the “Old City” from where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled. Hagia Sophia, the Church of Divine Wisdom, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian. Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its blue İznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet.

Hippodrome, center of sportive events (chariot races, athletics) and political activities of the old city. Serpentine Column, Obelisk of Theodosius and German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments decorating the Hippodrome. Grand Covered Bazaar, most attractive shopping center and the biggest “souk” in the world with nearly 4000 shops selling antiques, jewellery, gold, carpets, leatherware and souvenir. (Art demonstration of handmade Turkish carpets upon request)

THIS TOUR TERMINATES AT GRAND COVERED BAZAAR

Istanbul Classics (Half Day Afternoon Tour)

Tour of  “Sultan Ahmet Center”, the heart of the “Old City” from where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled. Hagia Sophia, the Church of Divine Wisdom, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6^th century by Emperor Justinian. Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its blue İznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet.

Hippodrome, center of sportive events (chariot races, athletics) and political activities of the old city. Serpentine Column, Obelisk of Theodosius and German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments decorating the Hippodrome. Explore a unique place for art lovers! A family-owned atelier producing handmade ceramics.

Along with Hittite productions of terra cotta, quartz Seljuk productions, quartz İznik (Nicea)-Ottoman productions, this place also has various examples from the Turkish culture.

Ottoman Relics (Half Day Afternoon Tour)

Topkapı Palace, residence of Ottoman Sultans exhibiting imperial treasury, sacred Islamic relics of Prophet Mohammed, kitchen, Chinese porcelain, weapons, calligraphy section etc. Live guide commentary is not allowed in special sections. (Harem is not included in the program) 

Sultan Tombs, there are five tombs of Ottoman Sultans within the graveyard at Hagia Sophia. The ceramic panels are the most beautiful examples of the 16th century with purple, red, green and blue flower motives. Prince robes and a small piece from the Kaaba covers are displayed on the sarcophaguses.

Byzantine & Ottoman Relics (Full Day Tour)

Tour of  “Sultan Ahmet Center“, the heart of the “Old City” from where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled. Hagia Sophia, the Church of Divine Wisdom, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6^th century by Emperor Justinian.

Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its blue İznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet. Hippodrome, center of sportive events (chariot races, athletics) and political activities of the old city. Serpentine Column, Obelisk of Theodosius and German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments decorating the Hippodrome.

Grand Covered Bazaar, most attractive shopping center and the biggest “souk” in the world with nearly 4000 shops selling antiques, jewellery, gold, carpets, leatherware and souvenir. (Art demonstration of handmade Turkish carpets upon request)

Lunch at a Turkish Restaurant.

Topkapı Palace, residence of Ottoman Sultans exhibiting imperial treasury, sacred Islamic relics of Prophet Mohammed, kitchen, Chinese porcelain, weapons, calligraphy section etc. Live guide commentary is not allowed in special sections. (Harem is not included in the program)

Sultan Tombs, there are five tombs of Ottoman Sultans within the graveyard at Hagia Sophia. The ceramic panels are the most beautiful examples of the 16th century with purple, red, green and blue flower motives. Prince robes and a small piece from the Kaaba covers are displayed on the sarcophaguses.

Also visioned during the tour :GALATA BRIDGE • GOLDEN HORN • LEANDER’S TOWER 

 This tour ends approximately at 17:00

Bosphorus Cruise on Private Boat (Half Day Morning Tour)

Golden Horn (from the bus), the arm of the Bosphorus and a natural harbour of the historical peninsula separating the old and the new parts of İstanbul where the first colonies settled during the Byzantines. The residential area for Byzantine Jews, Italian traders and other non-muslim minorities. Drive along the traces of history at Balat viewing Metal Church of St. Stephen the Bulgarian, Jewish Hospital (Or-Ahayim), Fener Orthodox Patriarchate and 22 kms. long Byzantine City Walls, strongest fortification of the middle age.

Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), mystical smells of different aromas of various spices. Shops selling fruits, vegetables, fish, flowers etc. Bosphorus Cruise on Plan Tours’ private boat, through the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia, with a possibility to take photographs of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials and luxurious apartments.

Rumeli Fortress (from the boat – no interior visit), historical armament built by the Conqueror to control and protect the Bosphorus. A unique example of military architecture.

Also visioned during the tour :  IMPERIAL GARDENS OF ROYAL YILDIZ PALACE, BOSPHORUS BRIDGE connecting EUROPE & ASIA continents BEYLERBEYİ PALACE from the boat
THIS TOUR TERMINATES AT TAKSİM SQUARE

IMPORTANT NOTICE : Bosphorus Tours are practiced with regular boat if minimum number of attendants is not provided for the private boat

Bosphorus Cruise on Private Boat / Golden Horn, Cable Car to Pierre Loti Café (Half Day Afternoon Tour)

Bosphorus Cruise on Plan Tours’ private boat enjoying the straits of both Europe and Asia with a possibility to photograph the unique beauties of the Bosphorus. Rumeli Fortress (from the boat – no interior visit), historical armament built by the Conqueror to control and protect the Bosphorus. A unique example of military architecture.

Golden Horn (from the bus), the arm of the Bosphorus and a natural harbour of the historical peninsula separating the old and the new parts of İstanbul where the first colonies settled during the Byzantines. The residential area for Byzantine Jews, Italian traders and other non-muslim minorities. Drive along the traces of history at Balat viewing Metal Church of St. Stephen the Bulgarian, Jewish Hospital (Or-Ahayim), Fener Orthodox Patriarchate and 22 kms. long Byzantine City Walls, strongest fortification of the middle age. Cable car (teleferique) to Pierre Loti Coffee House. 

Also visioned during the tour :  IMPERIAL GARDENS OF ROYAL YILDIZ PALACE, BOSPHORUS BRIDGE connecting EUROPE & ASIA continents • BEYLERBEYİ PALACE from the boat

IMPORTANT NOTICE : Bosphorus Tours are practiced with regular boat if minimum number of attendants is not provided for the private boat

Dolmabahçe Palace & Two Continents /from Europe to Asia (Half Day Afternoon Tour)

Dolmabahçe Palace, recent residence for Ottoman Sultans built by two Ottoman architects Karabet and Nikogos Balyan on a 110.000 m² area and served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. Famous with great collection of European antiquity, furniture and 4.5 tons chandelier, the palace has 285 rooms and 46 halls.

Bosphorus Bridge, unique chance to step from one continent (Europe) to another (Asia) in 2 minutes. Çamlıca Hill, famous for its widest bird’s eye panoramic view of İstanbul from Marmara Sea to the Black Sea, gives a chance to see the Bosphorus and Golden Horn from one of the best point of the highest and most appealing places of the city.

Dolmabahçe Palace & Two Continents /from Asia to Europe (Full Day Tour)

Golden Horn (from the bus), the arm of the Bosphorus and a natural harbour of the historical peninsula separating the old and the new parts of İstanbul where the first colonies settled during the Byzantines. The residential area for Byzantine Jews, Italian traders and other non-muslim minorities. Drive along the traces of history at Balat viewing Metal Church of St. Stephen the Bulgarian, Jewish Hospital (Or-Ahayim), Fener Orthodox Patriarchate and 22 kms. long Byzantine City Walls, strongest fortification of the middle age.

Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), mystical smells of different aromas of various spices. Shops selling fruits, vegetables, fish, flowers etc. Bosphorus Cruise on Plan Tours’ private boat, through the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia, with a possibility to take photographs of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials and luxurious apartments. Rumeli Fortress (from the boat – no interior visit), historical armament built by the Conqueror to control and protect the Bosphorus. A unique example of military architecture. (Visit to a leather showroom if time permits)

Lunch at a Turkish Restaurant.

Dolmabahçe Palace, recent residence for Ottoman Sultans built by two Ottoman architects Karabet and Nikogos Balyan on a 110.000 m² area and served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. Famous with great collection of European antiquity, furniture and 4.5 tons chandelier, the palace has 285 rooms and 46 halls.

Bosphorus Bridge, unique chance to step from one continent (Europe) to another (Asia) in 2 minutes. Çamlıca Hill, famous for its widest bird’s eye panoramic view of İstanbul from Marmara Sea to the Black Sea, gives a chance to see the Bosphorus and Golden Horn from one of the best point of the highest and most appealing places of the city.

 also visioned during the tour :  IMPERIAL GARDENS OF ROYAL YILDIZ PALACE, BOSPHORUS, BRIDGE connecting EUROPE & ASIA continents • BEYLERBEYİ PALACE from the boat

This tour ends approximately at 17:00

IMPORTANT NOTICE : Bosphorus Tours are practiced with regular boat if minimum number of attendants is not provided for the private boat

Tour to Byzantium (Half Day Tour)

Walk back into the history 

Natural naval harbour of the Byzantines named as Golden Horn because of its hornlike shape and golden reflection of the glittering waves under sunshine when viewed from the hill tops. Visit the Patriarchate at Fener which is the seat of Orthodox Christianity since Constantine The Great’ s declaration of Christianity as the religion of Roman Empire. Church of Panagia of Blachernae, the best known and most celebrated shrine of the Holy Virgin famed with the “Hagiasma” (holy water) and the “Hagion Lousma” (sacred bath).

Anemas Dungeons (from outside) were part of the Blachernae Palace, unique in the world with its historical and architectural structure. It consists of 14 separate dungeons, each having 2 basements below sea-level with cells for the prisoners and two towers. It was used as a prison for high ranked statesmen. Tekfur Palace (from outside) built in the 12^th century adjacent to the city walls. The only surviving pavillion of the Blachernae Palace.

St. Savior in Chora (Kariye Museum), originally a Byzantine monastery with fantastic mosaics and frescoes portraying scenes from the bible, the life and miracles of Jesus. Byzantine City Walls surrounded the Acropolis of Byzantium with 22 kms. long fortification with 96 towers and 9 main gates dating back to the 5^th century.

CAN BE A FULL DAY TOUR INCLUDING FREE LUNCH IF COMBINED WITH GOLDEN HORN TOUR

Golden Horn / Eyüp Sultan Mosque & Tomb + Pierre Loti Coffee House + Miniatürk (Half Day Tour)

“To embrace sharp harmony and historic curiosities in the most sacred site of İstanbul”

Eyüp Sultan Mosque and his Tomb are the most sacred sites in İstanbul after Mecca and Jerusalem where thousands of faithful people visit everday. Eyüp El-Ensari was the flagbearer of Prophet Mohammed and died here during the Arabic siege of the city in the 7^th century. The old trees, pigeons, praying believers and the visiting crowd create a mystical and colorful atmosphere around the mosque.

Teleferique (cable car) to Pierre Loti Coffee House among the green which is located on a hill with beautiful trees where you can enjoy the wonderful panorama of the Golden Horn. Bird’ s eye view of the Golden Horn with the teleferique (cable car) while climbing to the café, 550 beeline meters in 115 seconds. The coffee house takes its name from Pierre Loti, the French author and poet who was very fond of İstanbul and wrote as he sat in this coffee house enjoying the view.

Miniatürk, “a story land”, the most influencing open field miniature park exhibiting scaled models of the most known masterpieces which create a fairy tale environment of İstanbul, Anatolia and the former Ottoman territories. It reflects the revival of Turkish culture and history in all its magnificence. Countless human figure models situated throughout the park such as a railroad worker, Muslims in a mosque courtyard, Jews praying in a synagogue, flower seller etc., portray the lifestyle of the society through ages.

You will mostly enjoy the colorful shopping center where you may find the best souvenirs from İstanbul.

Princes’ Islands (Full Day Tour)

Cruise in the Marmara Sea to Princes’ Islands by boat. Stop at Büyükada, the popular summer resort with pinewood scenery and wooden mansions, once the pleasure island of Byzantine Princes. Tour of the island by horse-drawn carriages before lunch at a fish restaurant. Evening return to İstanbul and transfer to hotels.

also visioned during the tour :  TOPKAPI PALACE • MAIDEN’ S TOWER • ÜSKÜDAR from the boat

 PRICE : € 65.- (V.A.T. included) / pax

Romantic Bosphorus  Cruise (Private Tour, Every Evening)

An enchanted evening cruise starts while you sip your welcome drink and enjoy the marvelous scenery as the sun sets on the Bosphorus. Chance to view and photograph the precious relics of three world dominating Empires: Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman.

The royal Dolmabahçe Palace, the late residence of the Ottoman Sultans; Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges connecting the two continents Asia and Europe; Rumeli Fortress, the historical armament built by the Conqueror Sultan, marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman style besides modern residentials.

EXPLORE İSTANBUL FROM THE SEA… BOSPHORUS, A UNIQUE LINK BETWEEN EAST AND WEST… BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT…

Dinner Cruise /Bosphorus by Night (Night Tour)

Watching one of the best silhouettes in the world with Topkapı Palace, Blue Mosque and the Leander’ s Tower will be your exceptional experience to enjoy this imperial elegance and the unique panoramic view of the Bosphorus waterway which brings the two continents Europe and Asia, face to face…

UNFORGETTABLE BOSPHORUS CRUISE… DINNER… UNLIMITED LOCAL DRINKS… BELLY DANCERS… FOLKLORE SHOW…

Dinner with a rich variety of specialities from the Turkish and international cuisine including unlimited local drinks on board of a Bosphorus yacht.

GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS

for ALL TOURS

• Tour fees include A/C transportation, guidance in multiple languages, entrance fees and mentioned meals/drinks, 

• 30% discount for children below the age 7, free for the ages of 0-2, 

• We kindly request our guests to be ready by the hotel’s reception 10 minutes before departure time, 

• Courtesy transfers from/to in-city hotels. Pick-up transfers may last from 45 minutes to 1 hour due to heavy traffic. Guests who prefer not to spend time at courtesy transfers should be ready at tour departure point 10 minutes before given departure time, 

• No smoking on our tours but all tours make frequent stops, 

• Cancellation is not possible in the last 24 hours. There will be no refund for any unused portion of any tour program, 

• Guests are to be promptly on time at the meeting points given by the tour guide. Tours will proceed without waiting the delayers, 
• Tour programs and prices may change without prior notice. Any increase in museum entrance fees will be reflected in the prices.

CLOSED

• Hagia Sophia on Monday replaced with Underground (Basilica) Cistern
• Blue Mosque visited from outside on Friday mornings because of noon prayer
• Grand Covered Bazaar on Sunday replaced with authentic shops
• Topkapı Palace on Tuesday replaced with Tour to Byzantium
• Sultan Tombs on Monday replaced with Little Hagia Sophia (St. Sergius & Bacchus)
• Dolmabahçe Palace on Monday & Thursday replaced with Eyüp + Pierre Loti Coffee House + Miniatürk,
• Savior in Chora (Kariye Museum) on Wednesday