4-Day Istanbul City Tour with Bosphorus Cruise and Palace Visits

• You will be picked up from Istanbul Airport by the staff and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Istanbul.

• Depart at 08:30 am for the Istanbul city tour. Make your first stop at Topkapı Palace, the great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries, housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, and the Holy Mantle enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed.

• Visit the Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque. Situated across from St. Sophia, it was built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet. It is known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.

• Check out the Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with its three monuments: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine.

• Take a lunch break. Then head to the Grand Spice Bazaar, a unique atmosphere with reasonable prices for many exotic spices and herbs, Turkish Baklava, Turkish Delights, Turkish Coffee, nuts and fruits, and small souvenirs such as ceramic handicrafts, Evil Eyes totems, all-natural olive oil, soaps, and many other goods in souvenir shops and stores.

• Relax and enjoy the rest of the evening on your own.

Overnight in Istanbul.

Open buffet breakfast included.

• You will be picked up at 08:30 am from the hotel to depart for the Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping Tour.

• Cross the Bosphorus by boat, a traditional excursion along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, marble palaces, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion, you will see magnificent sights from your boat.

• See Dolmabahçe Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavilions of Yıldız Palace. On the coastal edge of this park is Çırağan Palace, with 300 metres of its marble facade facing the shore. At Ortaköy, a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortaköy is a symbol of tolerance, with a church, a mosque, and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries.

• Admire Rumeli Fortress, built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Istanbul. It was completed in only four months to control and protect the infamous Bosphorus passage. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world.

• See the Beylerbeyi Palas (Palace), the summer residence of Ottoman sultans, preserved in its original renovated glory with original antique furniture and magnificent gardens, along with the Harem on the Asian side of Istanbul.

• Check out the Bosphorus Bridge and enjoy a unique chance to step from one continent (Asia) to another (Europe).

• Head to Camlica Hill, the highest point in Istanbul. At the top, you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the Bosphorus from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional Turkish Ottoman style.

• Begin your shopping tour after the cruise. Learn about the traditional silk weaving skills of Turkish women at the carpet weaving courses provided by the Ministry of National Education. You will also have the opportunity to see a jewellery and handicrafts centre, as well as a modern leatherwear show.

• Enjoy your shopping experience while gaining knowledge about ancient craftsmen. Relax, and the rest of the evening is yours to explore Istanbul.

Overnight in Istanbul.

Open buffet breakfast included.

• Check out from the hotel after breakfast. You will be dropped off at Istanbul Airport for your departure.

Open buffet breakfast included.