Spend a day exploring the famous sites of Istanbul’s Old City, from Hagia Sophia to Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar to the tombs of the Sultans

Day 2 Full Day Classic Tour of Istanbul // Byzantine & Ottoman Relics Following breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your professional licensed tour guide for a full day tour of Istanbul. Sultanahmet Mosque : The beauty, splendor and significance of this mosque is so much that the entire area is named after it. The mosque was commissioned by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I and is the first Ottoman church with 6 minarets. Hippodrome : The hippodrome was re-built by Constantine and was shaped as a horse-shoe at 480 mt in length and 117 mt in width, with 100,000 person capacity. It was used as a symbol of the strength of the empire. During the Byzantine era it was the center of sports activities in Constantinople and it is today called Sultanahmet Square with its four relics: Wilhelm II German Fountain, Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine (Spiral) Column, Constantine Column. Topkapı Palace : The oldest and largest palace in the world is Topkapı Palace. It has served as the command post of Ottoman State for around 400 years in Sarayburnu, Istanbul and continues to remain spectacular to the day. Hagia Sophia : Hagia Sophia museum is number one among the most frequently visited museums in Istanbul and in Turkey. It is a significant structure for two major religions and continues to defy the times. It has survived major fires and earthquakes and reached modern day. Grand Bazaar : Grand Bazaar’s architecture stands out in grandeur and has been known as one of Istanbul’s most significant centers of commerce for over 500 years. The Bazaar attracts shoppers of all ages and dates back to Byzantine times while hosting a rich culture structure developed during Ottoman era. Overnight stay is in Istanbul