Small Group Full Day Istanbul Tour Including Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia

Start the day by setting off in your comfortable van and venture to the Blue Mosque, one of the most amazing sights in Istanbul.

Be awed by its six signature minarets and many coloured Iznik tiles that come together to form its dazzling blue walls. While listening to your expert guide, you will be taken to the fascinating history of this Ottoman-era mosque. Then go to the Hagia Sophia, an UNESCO-listed museum that was once a mosque and a church. Next, walk over to Topkapi Palace. Explore its complex corridors and intimate rooms where sultans once entertained elite guests—and were welcomed by their harems.

Learn about the interesting bits of backstory to the rooms, bringing to life this ornamental museum and palace. Halfway through the day, have a traditional Turkish lunch. Lunch is recommended in a local restaurant. Leave for the Hippodrome, where you can admire a granite Egyptian obelisk that was a gift to Istanbul. At one point, this location marked the epicentre of the city’s sports life and also served as a political centre.

Then visit Istanbul’s sunken palace, the Basilica Cistern. Your guide will fill you in about the past of these historic places. Go to the Bazaar as your final stop. Stroll through its colourful lanes, discover the smells, crafts, sounds and sights. This is one of the most famous souks in the world; you definitely won’t want to miss this. Duck into leather, ceramic stores, jewellery, spice stalls and other unique outlets.

Meet the friendly local shop owners and craftspeople. When your tour finishes we will drop you off at your European-side hotel or in central Istanbul.