Istanbul Highlights Small Group Walking Tour - Day 1

Istanbul Highlights Small Group Walking Tour - Day 1

You will be visiting most visited points of Istanbul wiht guide. Hipodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace. Hagia Sophai and Grand Bazaar.

• Small group tour
• Professional tourist guide
• Pre-reserved entrance tickets
• Skip the long lines in Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace
• Museums mentioned at itinerary will be visited from inside.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Hippodrome, Binbirdirek, Sultan Ahmet ParkI No:2, Istanbul Turkey

On the morning part of this full-day tour you’ll begin with a visit to the Hippodrome, which at one time was the center of Byzantine social and recreational life. A few parts of this spectacular site remain, including the Obelisk of Thutmose III and Serpent Column.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Mah At Meydani Cad No 7, Istanbul 34122 Turkey

Near the Hippodrome is the Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Its exceptional architectural design features 1 main dome, 8 secondary domes, 6 minarets, and a vast number of blue tiles – hence the name.

The Blue Mosque was built during the reign of Ahmed the First. It continues to function as a mosque as well as being one of the city’s top tourist attractions.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkey

Across from the Blue Mosque is Hagia Sophia, we walk behind the Hagia Sophia to see the Topkapi Palace, which dates back to 1459. It served as the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for nearly 4 centuries. In 1924, the palace was officially declared a museum.

The Palace covers a large site and features several buildings. You’ll see a fine collection of Imperial and Ottoman utensils, relics, caftans, and portraits of the sultans.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya), Ayasofya Square, Sultanahmet, Istanbul 34122 Turkey

Afternoon visit will start whith Hagia Sophia which served both Christianity and Islam at different times in history. When it was first built in 537, it was an Eastern Orthodox church.

In 1453, when Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks, the hall was transformed into an imperial mosque. Approximately 5 centuries later, Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Grand Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

End of the tour in the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, comprising 61 covered streets and more than 3,000 shops offering almost anything you might need. The bazaar is a part of the walled city and was built during the years 1455-1461.

Tour ends at Grand Bazaar. You can stay there till the closing time.

Duration: 2 hours