Dolmabahce Palace and Bosphorous Cruise

Información

From marble palaces to ancient villas, trace the remains of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires as well as modern day architecture on this full day tour. You’ll drive along the Golden Horn, visit an ancient spice bazaar, travel by boat along the mythological Bosphorous, visit the Dolmabahce Palace and step between Asia and Europe on the Bosporus Bridge.

This full day tour begins with Dolmabahce Palace; this large, lavishly furnished building was the last official post and residence of Ottoman sultans, having 365 rooms and 22 halls. Famous for it’s great European antiquity, furniture and a 4.5 ton chandelier, the rooms are kept with their original furniture and visitors feel like being house guests to the Imperial family.

The tour then moves on to the Bosphorous Bridge, which connects the European and the Asian sides of Istanbul. This was built in built in 1973 and affords a spectacular view of Istanbul’s modern and ancient sites while travelling over 60 metres above sea level. Camlica Hill is the next stop. The highest point in Istanbul, from here we can enjoy a panoramic view over the city provided that Istanbul chooses to show its beauties and blesses the visitors with a clear day. After lunch in a local restaurant, the tour joins a private motor yacht for a cruise along the Bosphorous. A poet once described the Bosphorous as “God’s beautiful calligraphy written by an ink made of sapphires, on a canvas made of emerald”. This straight, separating (and connecting) two continents that form the two faces of a city, takes its name from a mythological love story. Ever since those ancient times, it inspired people with its beauty.

During the cruise, it will be possible to view many of Istanbul’s splendid sights as well as passing through different districts such as Tarabya with its’ own bay, Yenikoy famous for its’ luxury wooden houses, Ortakoy and Besiktas, a commercial district in the new part of the city. Additionally, the tour passes Rumeli Fortress, built by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror and the Maiden’s Tower, Kizkulesi, an ancient lighthouse which has inspired many legends.

A short visit to the Spice Bazaar is the surprise of the tour. In this oriental shopping area, where you experience the vibrant pulse of Istanbul at its best, rare spices, herbs, vegetables, fruits, live animals, flowers are sold. (Aphrodisiacs are available too!) After the short break in Spice Market, we will take a wonderful ride through the Golden Horn, among the walls of ancient Constantinople.

Meeting/pick-up point: Hotel pick-up.
Duration: 8 hours approximately.
Start/opening time: At 07:45am.
Languages: English.
Others: Please note that the Spice Market is closed on Sundays and Dolmabahce Palace on Tuesdays & Thursdays.