Istanbul Mosques & Palaces Tour

On this tour of the mosques and palaces of Istanbul, we'll discover the masterpieces of Ottoman architecture and see emblematic buildings such as the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.

Description

At the indicated time, we'll meet at the Topkapi Cafe to kick off our tour of the mosques and palaces of Istanbul. We'll explore Ottoman architecture and the city's representative buildings.

The first stop will be the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, more commonly known as the Blue Mosque, named for its beautiful mosaics. Next, we'll stroll around the Sultanahmet District to learn about its history and see the iconic Hagia Sophia, which has served as a basilica, Orthodox church, and mosque since its construction in the 6th century.

Today, Hagia Sophia is a museum representing the confluence of religions in Turkey. With the audio guide, you'll admire the impressive interior architecture of the basilica and its central dome, along with the semi-domes and minarets from the exterior.

After visiting Hagia Sophia, you'll have 30 minutes of free time for lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Next, we'll enter the Cistern Basilica, known as the Submerged Palace. We'll explain its history during our tour. Following this, we'll head to Topkapi Palace, a luxurious site used by the Ottoman sultans to centralize administrative power between the 15th and 16th centuries.

Finally, the tour will conclude after 5 hours at the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world, where you can further explore Turkish culture and shop.