Day 01
Fast-Track Istanbul Icons from Hagia Sophia to the Grand Bazaar
- Bypass every ticket queue with fast-track access for more time to explore the city's iconic landmarks.
- Explore Hagia Sophia, which began as a grand Byzantine cathedral and later served as an Ottoman mosque, through expert narration highlighting its layered history and hidden stories.
- Enter the Basilica Cistern, an extensive 6th-century underground water storage system built under Emperor Justinian I, without waiting and enjoy vivid storytelling beneath its atmospheric arches and rows of marble columns.
- Pass by the Blue Mosque, also known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque, a 17th-century Ottoman masterpiece distinguished by its six slender minarets, cascading domes, and interior adorned with countless blue İznik tiles.
- Stroll across the Hippodrome of Constantinople, now known as Sultanahmet Square, while your guide reveals centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman transformation and its ancient monuments and obelisks.
- Navigate the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, with insider guidance through its labyrinth of vibrant streets filled with carpets, jewellery, spices, textiles, and traditional goods.
