Private Half-Day Tour of the Old City by Travelium

Contact Vincent Vacations to add this to your travel package today!

Duration: 4h
Location: Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey | Istanbul, Turkey


Category: Private Tours

Highlights:
Historical wonders of The Old City of Istanbul
Remaining obelisks and statues of the Hippodrome
Enchanting blue tiles of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque
Architectural beauty of the famous Hagia Sophia
Chance to barter at one largest covered bazaars in the world

Inclusions:
Guided private tour of the Old City
Admission fees
Roundtrip transportation to and from your Istanbul hotel

Description:

Explore the splendor of The Old City of Istanbul on this private-half day tour. Visit the must-see Hippodrome, the resplendent Blue Mosque, the magnificent Hagia Sophia Basilica, and the bargain-induced frenzy of the Grand Bazaar.

Your day starts at Istanbul’s Hippodrome—once the center for sports, entertainment, and politics in Constantinople. Relive the days when the passionate words of intellectuals and poets lit the flames of revolts and political movements. As you observe the obelisks and statues that still remain, listen to your guide explain the history of the Byzantine and Ottoman era.

Continue your private tour at the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles that embellish the interior walls. Admire the delicate designs of the Ottoman tiles, combined with some Byzantine elements, which decorate the walls of the shrine.

Your jaw may drop as you stand in front of the The Hagia Sophia, an architectural wonder and important monument for both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Once a church, the building was converted into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of the city, and now the basilica is a museum.

As you venture through the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered bazaars in the world, witness the centuries-old trading of diamonds, carpets, food, perfumes, and gossip. Get involved, grab a bargain, and try some attentive haggling yourself before the tour draws to a close.