Istanbul, throne of two continents

Itinerary

• DAY 1

  Arrival Istanbul

  Meet at the Istanbul Int. airport with Demavend Travels representative and drive to the historical peninsula, known as Sultanahmet, where you spend the night at the hotel.

  Transfer time: 1 h; transfer distance: 45 - 50 km (Istanbul Int. airport to hotel in Sultanahmet/Sirkeci)

  ON: in Istanbul at the hotel

  Meals:   - / - / -

• DAY 2

  Istanbul sightseeing historical peninsula

  After breakfast we head out for a fantastic tour through Istanbul, we start the day with a walk through the historical peninsula area where we visit Topkapi palace, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome square and blue mosque.

  The Topkapi palace was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years of their 624 year reign. As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. The palace is among the monuments contained within the "historic areas of Istanbul", which became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1985. Next to Topkapi palace we head over to famous Hagia Sophia, considered to be one of the world’s most important monuments, a masterpiece and example of great architectural beauty. The marvel complex anchors the old city of Istanbul and has served for centuries as an Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later as a mosque and as museum. On our way we also pass through Hippodrome square, once a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. The surviving monuments of the Spina (the middle barrier of the racecourse), the two obelisks (Obelisk of Thutmose III & Walled Obelisk) and the Serpentine Column, now sit in holes in a landscaped garden. After passing the hippodrome square we visit blue mosque (Sultan Ahmed mosque), built between 1609 and 1616. The design is the culmination of two centuries of both Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church development. It incorporates some Byzantine elements of the neighbouring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period. Our last stop takes us to famous covered bazaar (Kapali Carsi), one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. We conclude the day with a traditional cup of Turkish coffee and afterwards return to our hotel.

  ON: in Istanbul at the hotel

  Meals:   B / - / -

• DAY 3

  Istanbul Bosphorus tour by boat, Kadikoy on the Asian side, Kariye museum and Taksim & Beyoglu squares

  Today we continue our exploration through Istanbul, we start the day with a Bosphorus tour by boat, right through the heart of modern Istanbul. The most impressive sights along the shores of the Bosphorus are the Topkapi palace, the Bosphorus maiden's tower (Kiz Kulesi) and Dolmabahce palace, several Ottoman palaces, fortresses, forested hills and shore villages with Ottoman architecture. In the afternoon we take the ferry from Eminonu/Sirkeci to Kadikoy on the Asian side. Kadikoy is a busy shopping district, with a wide variety of atmospheres and architectural styles and has many narrow streets filled with cafés and restaurants. The market area is mostly closed to traffic and contains a wide variety of traditional Turkish restaurants and patisseries, wine houses & bars (pubs) with jazz and folk music. Back on the European side we visit unique Kariye (Chora) museum (church of the holy saviour in the country), considered to be one of the most beautiful surviving examples of Byzantine art. The church was originally built as part of a monastery complex outside the walls of Constantinople. Its interior is covered with the most beautiful examples of fine mosaics and frescoes from the last period of the Byzantine paintings. In the late afternoon/early evening it is also possible to cross over the Galata Bridge with public tram or metro for a visit to Beyoglu district and Galata tower, one of Istanbul's main attractions. Afterwards continue to Taksim & Beyoglu squares, major shopping, tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants and shops and considered as the heart of modern Istanbul.

  ON: in Istanbul at the hotel

  Meals:   B / - / -

• DAY 4

  Trip concludes at Istanbul Int. airport

  After breakfast; transfer to Istanbul Int. airport where the trip concludes.   

  Transfer time: 1 h; transfer distance: 45 - 50 km (Hotel in Sultanahmet/Sirkeci to Istanbul Int. airport)

  Meals:   B / - / -