Full-Day Istanbul Private Tour with Dolmabahce Palace and Lunch

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Dolmabahce Palace

  Meeting in the hotel / cruise ship port and drive to Dolmabahce Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans during the late Ottoman Period. The constructed begun in 1843 and it finished in 1856, it replaced Topkapı Palace as the new administrative center of the Empire. The palace housed 6 Sultans from 1856 to 1924. The design of the palace consists of Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles. The world's largest Bohemian crystal chandelier is in the Ceremonial Hall. Dolmabahçe has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world.

  1 hour • Admission ticket included
• 2
  Suleymaniye Mosque

  Next, visit The Süleymaniye Mosque, the largest and grandest of Istanbul’s imperial mosques. It dates from the 16th century heyday of the Ottoman Empire, and was designed by Sinan, the greatest architect of his day and originator of the Classical Ottoman style of architecture. Of the 2,000 structures Sinan designed, Süleymaniye Mosque and its complex of charitable institutions rank among the most important.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Grand Bazaar

  Brief Handicrafts Presentation & Lecture (Optional Attendance) next to the Grand Bazaar. Free time to explore Grand Bazaar on your own. Meeting back and drive back to the lunch

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 4
  Istanbul

  Lunch (Beverages under your own expenses) *Vegeterian menu is also available

  1 hour 15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5
  Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

  Next, visit Hagia Sophia Museum, which is considered one of the Eight Wonders of the World, occupies a unique place in the history of architectures one of the rare works of this size and age that still survives.

  45 minutes • Admission ticket included
• 6
  Blue Mosque

  Our next visit will be The Blue Mosque, which takes its name from the world famous exquisite blue Iznik tiles decorating its interior. Also it is the only imperial mosque in the world that was originally built with six minarets. Note: Blue Mosque is reserved for Prayer on Fridays. On Fridays, we visit the mosque from the exterior. The Blue Mosque will be under restoration between the dates of 1 January - 21 April 2023. We will be visiting the Blue Mosque from the courtyard only (no interior visits) between these dates.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7
  Hippodrome

  We continue to the Hippodrome Square, the sporting and social center of old Byzantium, held 100,000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire such as the Egyptian Obelisk, and the Serpent Column.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8
  German Fountain

  Next, see the German Fountain, also known as the Kaiser Wilhelm Fountain. It was constructed to commemorate the second anniversary of German Emperor Wilhelm II's visit to Istanbul in 1898. It was built in Germany, then transported piece by piece and assembled in its current site in 1900. The neo-Byzantine style fountain's octagonal dome has eight marble columns, and dome's interior is covered with golden mosaics. Drive back to the hotel / pier.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Not recommended for travellers with walking difficulties
• Please note that this tour includes visits to Hagia Sophia, Suleymaniye Mosque and Blue Mosque. You will be required to have a dress covering the shoulders and above the knees during these visits (for both man & women). Guests whose dress doesn’t cover the shoulders or above the knees, can purchase a single use dress from these sites.
• Our vehicles are disinfected daily at the end of each tour

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