Historic Off the Beaten Path Tour of the Real Istanbul
"Our tour begins at the ancient Hippodrome where thousands of spectators were entertained and kept happy by the chariot races. The historic Sultanhamet Mosque or now known as the Blue Mosque due to its magnificent interior filled with blue Iznik tiles is we will navigate through the labyrinth of streets and passages that are home to more than 3000 shops known as the Grand Bazaar. Make sure you have practiced your bartering skills. After looking Grand Bazaar you will have a chance to rest and you will get to experience traditional Turkish tea or coffee and a popular Turkish pastry called borek all while enjoying the ancient practice of hookah at a favorite local hangout. You will then make your way to one of immediately you feel the energy in the air. Your senses will be filled with bright colors and powerful aromas of the exotic spices that will surround you. Istanbul is a city that has a rich religious history and now is composed of many different religion this church has been the location of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and is recognized as the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Religion. Your day concludes with an old world cultural experience like no other city has to offer. Your churches and synagogues that date back to the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Further to witnessing the local's life thereYou end the tour with a ferry back to Eminonu
"Start your evening with pick up from your hotel before heading to the port to embark on our 3.5-hour evening Bosphorus cruise from Istanbul. Watch the sun set over the Bosphorus Strait and cruise under Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. See Istanbul’s illuminat your experience finishes with drop off at your Istanbul hotel.""""Spend your evening in Istanbul cruising around the beautiful Bosphorus Strait while enjoying dinner and an Anatolian folklore show with belly dancing. Gliding through the water your boat follows a route that includes views of Istanbul’s top attractions – all enchantingly illuminated at night. Cruise past the Blue Mosque and Faith Sultan Mehmet Bridge while eating drinking and enjoying the show!"title=Highlights&1=Enjoy+a+romantic+night+including+dinner&2=Dinner+included&3=Free+drinks+included&4=Hotel+pickup+included
"This walking tour of Istanbul provides a perfect introduction to the city that straddles Europe and Asia.When Istanbul was known as Constantinople it was the capital of the Roman Empire and the wealthiest metropolis in Europe. On this city tour you’ll visit Istanbul’s 4 most important historic sites with a local guide.The Blue Mosque is an iconic monument in both the Turkish and Islamic wor and features 6 towering minarets and 260 windows that provide illumination for its vast inner chamber that is lined with more than 20000 Iznik tiles.In the 6th century the Hagia Sophia was built by the Emperor Justinian. After the Ottoman conquest it was converted to a mosque and later converted into a museum featuring many beautiful Byzantine mosaics.One of the largest and oldest palaces in the world
In my second visit I didn't enter Sainte Sophie, but could appreciate the influence that it had in many constructions around it, and the justice that makes it the central point of Istanbul tourism.
In my first visit to Istanbul, I was taken to the bazaar - "this is the bazaar, let's enter, be careful not to get lost... let's go out... it's seen". Things are better when you are on your own, when...
The Baths of the Sultan and the Queen Mother, dating from the late 16th century, and decorated in Rococo style in the 18th, consist of multiple rooms - a caldarium, a tepidarium and a frigidarium. The...
Visible from far, this tower, built by Genoese in the 14Th century and still keeping its italian look, is now the place of a restaurant and, it seems, a "tourist trap". Going up is expensive and the...
This sight is also in the Sultan Ahmet area. For some reason many tourists don't visit the Yerebatan Saray. Perhaps they have not heard of it, don't notice it or think it won't be all that...
I must say I am really impressed by the architecture of this mosque. You feel the peace and harmony when you step inside and isolate yourself from the outside world. I had the advantage to visit Blue...
The most commercial street in Istanbul, this is the place where everybody goes, because... everybody goes, I think. Commerce and the few attractions in the area spread to the adjacent streets, the...
Heart of the modern part of the city built in the 1940's and housing the central station of the Istanbul Metro system. This park is full of monuments and fountains of modern Turkey and has also been...
To all travelers, you can never be too careful in big cities. I'm not singling out Istanbul as a crime ridden place but I have been traveling there back and forth there for nearly 10 years for work...
I think tourist hot spots in Istanbul is where your are more than likely to come across a dishonest taxi driver as they will think tourists will carry a lot of cash. I went to Istanbul in November...
we visited istanbul in march this year- beautiful country, awe inspiring architecture and a new culture.our tour guide took us to the first shop in the spice market-alladin and recommended it.we...
As a solo female traveller I've always felt very safe indeed in Istanbul and, although normal city commonsense is required, have also felt that the risk of pickpocketing and petty theft is likely to...
The traffic in Istanbul is quite heavy. You would do well to avoid taxis and use the tramway or walk, especially in the Sultanahmet area. Not only are the places situation nearby, it is interesting to...
There are some shoe polisher crooks in town, especial around the Grand Bazar area. The trick is simple: -Shoe polishers will pass you in a quiet narrow street and "accidentally" drops a brush -Of...