Istanbul Classics: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Gran Bazaar with Bosphorus Crui

We start in the heart of the Old City, in the Sultanahmet centre, from where our voyage into the history of Istanbul begins. The Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled from here, and no other area can compare in terms of grandness. Step into the beauty of the Hagia Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, before laying eyes on the vivid colours that define the Blue Mosque; famous for its İznik tiles and unique six minarets. The historical centre also boasts the Hippodrome and Serpentine Column that your guide will point out.

Afterwards we make our way to one of the largest covered markets in the world, the incredible Grand Bazaar. Sneak a peek at artisans at work and marvel at the 4,000 shops selling antiques, jewellery, gold, carpets and many more things. We stop for lunch at a typical Turkish restaurant before embarking on a leisurely cruise along the mighty Bosphorus, the waterway separating two continents. Then we hop aboard the bus to see the Golden Horn and residential areas for Byzantine Jews, Italian traders and other non-Muslim minorities before driving along the traces history at Balat and taking the cable car up to Pierre Loti Coffee House.

Others
Grand Covered Bazaar is closed on Sundays and replaced with authentic shops around Grand Bazaar.



Starting point: ADDRESS - location.Description, Istanbul, Turkey - (Longitude: 0,000000, Latitude: 0,000000)
Ending point: Same - Same as Starting Point