Travel Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul.
Welcome to Istanbul. Arrival in Istanbul and transfer (optional) to your hotel. İf transfer needed We meet you at Istanbul Airports and transfer you to your Hotel located in the Old City area-Sultanahmet. According to your arrival time you can either check in to the hotel and relax /or check out the old city.
Overnight in Istanbul
Day 2 : Istanbul – Old City Tour . (B,L)
After having breakfast at the Hotel, Our guide meets you and We start our day trip around 09:00 am
We see how old meets new when you visit Istanbul's five "must-see" historic sites. The sites include :
Hippodrome of Constantinople
Tour Starts from the heart of the old city Turkish: Sultanahmet Meydanı, At Meydanı, was a horse-racing track that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire and the largest city in Europe. Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column, German Fountain of Wilhelm II are visited.
Blue Mosque
One of the most famous monuments in both the Turkish and Islamic worlds, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) is a superb creation in the classical Ottoman style. The mosque has six towering minarets and 260 windows illuminating its vast main chamber, which is decorated with more than 20,000 Iznik tiles.
Topkapı Palace
The largest and oldest palace in the world, Topkapi is the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire. With its harem (additional cost), treasury and exotic buildings overlooking the Golden Horn, your visit to Topkapi promises to be a truly fascinating experience.
Lunch in Konyali Restaurant in the palace’s garden with the magic view of Bosphorus and Asian side of Istanbul
Lunch in the old city.
Hagia Sophia
Now a museum, Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian, and was one of the largest basilicas in the Christian world. After the Ottoman conquest, it was converted to a mosque and is today one of the most magnificent museums in the world. Take a moment to linger here to admire the fine Byzantine mosaics.
Grand Bazaar
In operation since the 14th century, the Grand Bazaar is one of the world's largest covered markets, with 58 streets and over 4,000 shops. The bazaar is specially known for its jewelry, leather, pottery, spices and carpets.Visit of Carpet Center and art demonstration.
End of tour,Return to hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3 : Bosphorus & Two Continets Tour (B,L)
After having breakfast at the Hotel, Our guide meets you and We continue for;
Golden Horn is an inlet of the Bosphorus dividing the city of Istanbul and forming a natural harbor.One can see the old city and Galata tower panoramicly while cruising from
Spice Bazaar is located close to water front nearby the New Mosque. This is a bazaar where you can find numerous kind of spices, dried fruits, nuts and seeds and also many other things.Closed on Sundays
Bosphorus Cruise through the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia, with a possibility to take photographs of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials and luxurious apartments.
Rumeli Fortress is a fortress located on a hill at the European side of the Bosphorus just north of the Bebek district . It was built by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II between 1451 and 1452, before he conquered Constantinople. There are three great towers dominant to the Bosphorus is one of the most popular highlights of Istanbul. Beautiful settings and the plesant breeze adds to the pleasures of a boat trip. Bosphorus, also known as the Istanbul Strait connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara
Lunch in old city
The Dolmabahçe Palace it was the first European-style palace in Istanbul and was built by Sultan Abdülmecid between 1842 and 1853, at a cost of five million Ottoman gold pounds, the equivalent of 35 tons of gold. Fourteen tons of gold in the form of gold leaf were used to gild the ceilings of the palace.it was located at the European side of the Bosporus, served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1853 to 1922, (Harem is not included in the program)
Camlica Hill From here, there is an absolutely magnificent view, which makes it well worth the climb. In the morning when the sun is still easterly one has a panoramic sight of the whole city, the Bosphorus almost as far as the Black Sea, the Marmara Sea with the Princes Islands, and behind that, the great snow covered ridge of Uludag, the Bithynian Olympus. Toward evening the sun sets almost directly behind Istanbul and its domes and minarets are silhouetted against the flaming western sky like a splendid stage drop.
End of tour,Return to hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4 : Bursa Day Trip
After having breakfast at the Hotel, Our guide meets you and We continue for;
Bursa, the land of silk, was the first capital city of the Ottoman Empire and birthplace of modern Turkish culture. The mosques, like Yesil Cami ( Green Tomb) and Ulu Cami, are some of the most important and beautiful inthe country. The country's first ski resort was built on the mountain of Uludag, lying to the south of the city.
The Green Mosque and the Green Mausoleum are located in the eastern part of the city. These monuments, which are the symbols of Bursa, take their name from the green Iznik tiles that cover their interior walls. The Yesil Cami Mosque (The Green Mosque) was built in 1419-1420 by Sultan Mehmet I Çelebi and the interior was decorated with a mosaic of green tiles added by his son and successor Murat II in 1424 after Mehmet I's death. The mosque is on a typical reverse T-plan which characterizes the first Ottoman mosques, and has a beautiful carved marble doorway.
Green Moselium Accross the street and set in a garden stands the octogonal mausoleum, the Yesil Turbe which distinguishes by its exterior clad with green-blue (turquoise) tiles. A great part of the tiles were replaced by Kutahya tiles following damage in the earthquake of 1855. Mehmet I died in May 1421 in Edirne. His body was brought fourty days later to Bursa and was buried in the türbe which was built at the behest of Murat II. In addition to the glazed tile sarcophagus of Sultan Mehmet I, the türbe contains seven other tombs belonging to members of his family. The türbe has a beautiful mirhab which can be compared to the one in the Green Mosque. The old theological school or Medrese adjacent to the mosque houses the Ethnographical Museum.
Koza Han, which means the "Silk Cocoon Market", is located at the back of Koza Park where many nice outdoor cafes can be found.Koza Han was built in 1491 by sultan Beyazit II. It was both used as a caravanserai and a silk market because Bursa was the last stop on the great silk road from China. Since 1491, the han has remained the center of the silk industry and trade. The han is composed of an inner courtyard surrounded by two stories of shops. Every year in June and July, silkwork farmers bring sacks of white cocoons which are ready for spinning.
Ulu Cami, the Great Mosque, was built between 1396 and 1400 by sultan Yildirim Bayezit after the Nicopolis victory (Nigbolu). The mosque, which was burnt down by Tamerlane in 1402 and damaged by fires and by the earthquake in 1855, was restored a couple of times. It is composed of a large central hall measuring 63m / 207 ft by 50m / 164ft. The characteristic of this mosque is that it has no central dome but 20 equally-sized domes instead, that are supported by 30 pillars. 18 of the domes were rebuilt in 1855 after collapsing in the earthquake. A 19th century marble ablution fountain (sadirvan) lies in an unusual way within the mosque under the highest dome. 19th century colossal calligraphic inscriptions on the walls and pillars presenting the ninety names of Allah in divani and kufi script, and a 15th century finely carved walnut mimber adorn the mosque.
Lunch in a local restaurant in Bursa.
End of tour,Return to hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 5 : Departure Transfer (B)
After having breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport or Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport .
Note : if you need any other services such as extra nights accommodation or flights e.t.c , this can be arranged for an additional fee.
