Discover the Old City of Istanbul

Información

This half day morning tour explores the magnificent buildings of the Old City, visiting Suleymaniye Mosque, the Hippodrome, The Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar.

Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent - Built by the master architect Sinan, Istanbul’s largest mosque represents the power and dignity of one of the greatest Ottoman sultans.

Hippodrome – Once the centre for sports and entertainment in old Constantinople, the Roman capital, it was also a very important centre for politics.

The Blue Mosque – Named after the delicate designs of the Ottoman tiles which decorate the walls of the shrine, the mosque is identifiable by its’ six minarets.

Haghia Sophia – Boasting the 4th largest dome in the world, this stunning building began as a Byzantine basilica built in the 6th century AD during the reign of Justinian and was an architectural innovation at the time. Converted to a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of the city, by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1453, it was converted to a museum in 1935 and is a ‘must-see’ on a visit to Istanbul.

Grand Bazaar – This world-famous covered bazaar is where people have been trading diamonds, carpets, leather, copperware, food and perfumes for centuries and is steeped in mystique. A short demonstration of Turkish rugs is included in the tour.

Meeting/pick-up point: Hotel pick-up.
Duration: 4 hours approx.
Start/opening time: At 7:45am.
Languages: English.
Others: Please note that Haghia Sophia is closed on Mondays and replaced by the 6th century Basilica Cistern which provided water to the ancient city. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.