Dailiy Excursions

Morning visit to the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificient, a masterpiece of the famous Turkish architect Sinan proceeding with a short stop in the Roman Hippodrome before the visit of the Blue Mosque, facing St. Sophia, famous with its more than 20.000 blue Iznik tiles and unique with its 6 minarets, one of the best examples of classical Turkish art.

Topkapi Palace - Harem section is excluded - (Closed on Tuesdays; replaced with a visit to the Archaeological Museum), built in 1468 by Mehmet the Conqueror, the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans housing the souvenirs of 600 years and exhibiting imperial treasury.

The final visit of this program is to the Grand Covered Bazaar (Closed on Sundays), the most attractive shopping center in the world with nearly 4000 shops.

After a short visit to the Egyptian Bazaar,(Spice Market)(Closed on Sundays) from 1663 with its domed and vaulted shops selling spices and herbs along with a wide variety of commodities, proceed to the pier so as to embark the boat that we will cruise through the waterway separating the two continents - Asia and Europe, Bosphorus.

After lunch proceed with the visit of St Sophia one of the greatest marvels of architecture constructed as a basilica in 536 by Emperor Justinian (Closed on Mondays).

The tour terminate with the visit of the Chora Museum (Closed on Wednesdays)

Morning visit the Dolmabahce Palace (Closed on Mondays/Thursdays; replaced with visits to the Yildiz Park and Yildiz Porcelain Factory) the last residence of Ottoman Sultans, with its 365 rooms and 22 saloons and famous with the great collection of antiques, furniture and 4.5 ton chandelier. (visit of the harem section is not included).

Lunch during the tour.

Cross the Intercontinental bridge from the European side of the city to the Asian side to visit Camlica Hill with the best panoramic view of Istanbul. Proceed the tour with the visit of the Beylerbeyi Palace (Closed on Mondays and Thursdays), the summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans, with its original furniture and magnificent gardens

Drive through the old Jewish neighborhood Galata. Visit the most prestigious synagogues of the city; Neve Shalom and Ashkenazi. A short tour in the Galata region in which at the facades of some buildings the star of David appears. Visit the Galata tower where a nice panoramic view of Old Istanbul can be seen.

Then drive across over the Golden horn to Balat, which has been the core of Jewish presence in Istanbul for over five centuries. Visit the old neighborhood and the Ahrida Synagogue. It is the oldest and most beautiful synagogue in Istanbul and was built in the 15th c. Later we will and the Zulfaris Museum, with historic and ethnographic sections, celebrating 700 years of friendship between Turks and Jews.

*Prior notice and copies of passports are needed for this tour*(All synagogue visits require advance permission from the officials and therefore the guests are required to advise their full names and passport numbers at the time of booking and carry their passports during visits).

Preferably a summer escapade, this tour is ideal for a day at leisure.

These were the retreat islands for the Byzantine princes are famous for their beautiful pine woods and beaches. Today the only vehicles with engine are the boats and few government cars for official use.

The largest and most enjoyable of the islands is Buyukada. There you can enjoy a ride in a horsedrawn carriage among the pine trees after relaxing on the beaches in the numerous coves of its coast. Evening return to Istanbul .

Morning ST. SOPHIA This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all times.

HIPPODROME Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine.

Final visit to :Underground Cistern

An afternoon tour with Topkapi Palace - Harem section is excluded - (Closed on Tuesdays; replaced with a visit to the Archaeological Museum), built in 1468 by Mehmet the Conqueror, the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans housing the souvenirs of 600 years and exhibiting imperial treasury.

Suleymaniye Mosque, the imperial mosque that dominates the skyline of Istanbul, built by the famous architect Sinan the Great during the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent Grand Covered Bazaar (Closed on Sundays), the most attractive shopping center in the world with nearly 4000 shops. in the 16th century.

A morning tour at the Old City where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled.With visits to: ST. SOPHIA, constructed as a basilica in 536 by Emperor Justinian (Closed on Mondays; replaced with a visit to the Chora Museum); Blue Mosque, facing St. Sophia, famous with its more than 20.000 blue Iznik tiles and unique with its 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet in the 17th century, one of the best examples of classical Turkish art; Hippodrome, the scene of Byzantine chariot races, athletic events, victory celebrations, and political activities of the old city where one can also see today the Obelisk from Egypt, Serpentine Column from Delphi, the Fountain of Wilhelm II and the Colossus; finally the marvelous Underground Cistern

An enchanted night cruise starts while you sip your welcome drink as the sun sets on Istanbul. Beneath the Bosphorus Bridge by moonlight, glide past the Ciragan Palace, nowadays Hotel Kempinski, Dolmabahce Palace on European shores and the Beylerbeyi Palace, Kanlica and Anatolian Fortress on Asian shores. A rich variety of open buffet dishes, specialties of Turkish Cuisine, unlimited local drinks. The twinkling lights of the European shores from Tarabya to Bebek. And unforgettable belly dance and folklore show to accompany you during the night. Transfer to hotels after disembarkation

Departure from your hotel and drive to a restaurant. Dinner at a first class restaurant with half a bottle of wine or a soft drink included, watching spectacular floorshow of famous Belly Dancers, typical Anatolian Folklore groups, featuring popular musical instruments and Turkish singers