Golden Horn, Topkapı Palace and Süleymaniye Mosque
Begin your tour with a drive around the Golden Horn and the great walls of Constantinople.
Pass by Dolmabahçe Palace, then cross the Galata Bridge before arriving in Sultanahmet Square, where you will visit Topkapı Palace. From the 15th to the 19th century, this palace was the principal residence of the Ottoman Sultans.
Visit the fabulous Imperial Treasury and the Baghdad Kiosk. Topkapı Palace is now a museum exhibiting works of art and many priceless artifacts, with endless collections of jewellery, including the Spoon maker's Diamond, the third largest in the world, as well as Ottoman court costumes and ceramics. Notably, it houses one of the world's finest collections of early Chinese ceramics, much of it given as gifts from other rulers. Interestingly, some of the ceramics have a special glaze that was said to change colour in the presence of poison.
Explore the Imperial Armoury, displaying centuries of Ottoman weaponry, religious artifacts, and other priceless relics. See the loveliest features of Topkapı Palace - its courtyards with ancient trees - where it is easy to imagine the sultan strolling far from the cares of state and empire. The Harem section is not included in the program, as visits require an extra entrance fee.
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 Mimar Sinan, the greatest architect of his day and the originator of the Classical Ottoman style of architecture. This mosque complex once included a soup kitchen, hammam, caravanserai, and primary school. Please note that Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
Continue with a drive along the Golden Horn, passing Roman land walls and Byzantine churches.
Half-day tour: 09:00 am - 13:00 pm or 14:00 pm - 17:00 pm
