Istanbul Short Stay

Istanbul Shore Excursions

Duration: 01 Day
Highlights: Istanbul, Bosphorus, Topkapi Palace, Topkapi Haerm, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, Ancient Hippodrome,
Departure Dates: Everyday
Note: All Istanbul tour packages are modular & you can use these itineraries as a starting point & we can help modify this itineraries to accommodate your personal requirements & desires to find your perfect holiday.



Glorious Istanbul
After meeting up with your guide in front of the Istanbul Karakoy Port passenger terminal, begin your drive to the Old Town. Cross over the Galata Bridge, which spans the Golden Horn, to arrive in the heart of the old town.

We will first stop at the jewel in Turkey's Byzantine crown, the marvellous Hagia Sophia. The Church of Divine Wisdom, originally built in the 4th century A.D., was lovingly restored in the 1900s, reflecting the true history of the glorious city of Istanbul. When it was built, Hagia Sophia's dome was the largest in the world & it is now one of the world's finest examples of Byzantine architecture. After several conquests & pillages, the building was converted into a mosque, but fell into disrepair as the centuries passed. The mosaics were uncovered in the 1900s & the church was dedicated as a Byzantine-Ottoman museum.

Your next stop will be the Topkapi Palace Museum. Topkapi Palace, the seat of the Ottoman Empire for almost four centuries, is located on the Seraglio Point between the Golden Horn & the Sea of Marmara with a splendid view of the Bosphorus. Walk through the courtyards of the Palace, view the chimneys of the Royal Kitchens, the Harem Tower, the Ceremonial Halls & the Throne Room & see the Costumes of the Sultans, the Treasury of the Ottoman Empire, the Library & the Pavilions.

After lunch we take a short drive to the Grand Bazaar, where handicraft from all over Turkey is displayed in thousands of shops & stores. Enjoy shopping within this bustling maze of glittering jewels, surrounded by the sweet scent of incense, radiant Turkish carpets & the vivid sheen of brass & copper. Afterwards, drive to Taksim, a leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops & hotels & considered the heart of modern Istanbul. Walk the famous Istiklal Avenue & see how the consulates, shops, restaurants, small snack bars, cinemas, libraries, pubs, coffeehouses, old patisseries, chocolateries & technological centres are integrated into the 19th century Turkish buildings. Your guide will farewell you from Karakoy Port for your next destination on your cruise.

Timeless City
After meeting with your guide in front of the Istanbul Karakoy Port passenger terminal, begin your drive to the Old Town. Cross over the Galata Bridge, which spans the Golden Horn, to drive along the old city walls of Constantinople to arrive at Chora (Kariye) Museum. The Chora Church is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of a Byzantine church. The Chora Church is not as grand in stature as some of the other Byzantine churches of Istanbul, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in the exquisite beauty of its interior golden mosaic decorations & frescoes depicting the life of Jesus Christ.

Continue on to Byzantine Cistern, also built by Emperor Justinian for the purpose of storing water against the threat of siege. The cistern features a forest of Roman Columns & you will find no other structure with such architecture any place else in the world. It is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that still lie beneath the city. With a few minutes walk we reach the Ancient Hippodrome where the chariot races took place more than 1000 years ago. The centre divide (spina) is decorated with the Egyptian Obelisk which is 1 of few around the world & the Serpentine & Bronze Columns dating back to Roman & Byzantine times.

We then walk about 200 yards to visit the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Cami), which dominates the silhouette of Istanbul's skyline with its unique six minarets. Built & named by Sultan Ahmet II in the early 17th century. The most fascinating tiles & totally hand made decorations one could see in a Mosque. We have lunch in the area at a local restaurant serving Turkish Cuisine.

Your last stop will be the Nur-u Osmaniye district, where the Grand Bazaar is located. Here you will have the chance to shop in the worlds oldest biggest Bazaar with more than 4000 shops under one roof, for the handmade fine quality; souvenirs, rugs, leather, ceramics & so much more that Istanbul is famous for. Your guide & driver will farewell you from Karakoy Port for your next destination on your cruise.