Byzantine and Ottoman Highlights Tour

The tour starts with pick up from your hotel (Old City and Taksim areas provided with complimentary pick-up service) at around 08:30. We will start with Roman Hippodrome (the site of ancient races, games and riots). It was also used for similar purposes during the Ottoman Era. You can observe some of the historic monuments at the site including Serpentine Column, Egyptian Obelisk and German Fountain). After that we will continue with Blue Mosque. Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque), a unique example of Ottoman architecture. The inside walls of the Mosque are decorated with beautiful Turkish Tiles. Million Stone (an ancient monument partially remained today. It is situated right at the centre of the city to show the directions to East and West. Then, we will continue with St.Sophia Museum (Holy Wisdom Church built on 537 as the Cathedral of East Roman Empire. Today, it is a museum where the remains belonging to Christianity and Islam are visible together. It is currently listed on UNESCO World Heritage Site List. The morning section will end with a visit to Grand Bazaar. (One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. You will have a set menu lunch including local food which is included in the tour price. In the afternoon, you will visit Topkapi Palace (former residence of Ottoman Sultans and today is a museum including the sections of Treasury, Sacred Relics, Sultan Pavilions and Harem). After the palace, you will visit some of the Sultan Tombs of 17th and 18th centuries. The tour finishes at around 17:30 with a drop off to your hotel.