Istanbul Trip Overview
Discover Istanbul’s Imperial highlights on a full-day, small-group city tour by luxurious Mercedes minivan! Travel in style around central Istanbul while learning about its Imperial days as the city of Constantinople under Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman rule from an expert guide. Sit down to enjoy a 4-course Turkish meal in the renowned Matbah restaurant, and enjoy in-depth tours of Istanbul Archaeology Museum, Topkapi Palace (and the harem rooms), Chora Church and Hagia Sophia. Numbers are limited to eight on this small-group tour, ensuring personalized attention.
Additional Info
Duration: 8 hours
Starts: Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Istanbul Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Istanbul, Turkey, Turkey
Discover Istanbul’s Imperial highlights on a full-day, small-group city tour by luxurious Mercedes minivan! Travel in style around central Istanbul while learning about its Imperial days as the city of Constantinople under Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman rule from an expert guide. Sit down to enjoy a 4-course Turkish meal in the renowned Matbah restaurant, and enjoy in-depth tours of Istanbul Archaeology Museum, Topkapi Palace (and the harem rooms), Chora Church and Hagia Sophia. Numbers are limited to eight on this small-group tour, ensuring personalized attention.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Istanbul, Istanbul
Start your full-day tour with a pickup from your European-side hotel in Istanbul by luxury Mercedes minivan. Settle back in air-conditioned comfort as your guide talks to you and your small group about Istanbul’s Imperial history on the way to your first stop.
Under its historical name of Constantinople, Istanbul served as the capital city during the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman empires, and architectural relics from each of the eras can be found around the city’s streets today.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Istanbul Archaeological Museum, Alemdar Cad. Osman Hamdi Bey Yokusu Sk, Gulhane, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Hop out of your minibus at Istanbul Archaeology Museum, and follow your guide inside to see classical artwork, sarcophagi and other intriguing artifacts — some of which date as far back as the 4th century. Your group is small, but Istanbul’s museums are popular with visitors, so slip on some headphones to make sure none of your guide’s commentary is missed.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Continue to Topkapi Palace, a former lavish abode of Constantinople’s 15th-century sultans and their harems. Browse ornamentation from Ottoman days, and hear stories about the colorful characters that once lived there.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Chora Museum, Kariye Mahallesi, Kariye Camii Sokak, No: 18 EdirnekapI Fatih, Istanbul 34087 Turkey
After exploring the palace and its harem rooms, visit the prestigious Matbah restaurant in the area for a traditional 4-course lunch with tea or coffee. See the Itinerary for a sample menu. Then, feeling rejuvenated, continue your tour to Chora Church, a spectacular Byzantine monastery that is a museum in its own right. Admire its stunning mosaics that depict the life of Christ and marvel at the frescoes, painted in intricate detail that was way ahead of its time.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Hagia Sophia Mosque, Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya MeydanI No:1, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Travel onward to Hagia Sophia, your final stop, and head inside the impressive museum to learn all about its Ottoman- and Byzantine-era artifacts. Browse the interior’s architecture and historical exhibits with your guide, and then finish your day with a hotel drop-off on the European side of Istanbul.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
