Istanbul Highlights in Sultanahmet
Meet at your hotel or in the Old City Center in the morning.
Visit the ancient Byzantine Hippodrome, where chariots once raced before thousands of cheering Byzantines. Some of its important monuments include the Egyptian Obelisk dating back to the 16th century B.C., the Serpentine Column from the 5th century B.C., and the Stone Obelisk erected in the 10th century A.D.
Proceed to the Blue Mosque, built in the 17th century and famous for its six minarets and beautiful Iznik tiles decorating the interior. It is still in use and remains the most important mosque in Istanbul.
Head to Hagia Sophia, the glory of the Byzantine Empire, built in the 6th century and home to magnificent gold-leaf mosaics. The church was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century, then into a museum after the Republic, and finally into a mosque again.
After a lunch break, go to Topkapı Palace. Once the residence of the Ottoman sultans, it is located on a hilltop overlooking the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. Today, it serves as a museum where precious displays such as the sultans' costumes and treasury can be seen.
To conclude the tour, walk through the world-famous Grand Bazaar and shop for traditional goods.
