Full day tour in Istanbul

Istanbul, also known as Byzantium and later Constantinople, is the most populous city in Turkey. It is also the historical, cultural and economic center of the country, although not its current capital.

In this visit you will visit some of the most important city attractions and you will see at first hand the mark that numerous empires have left over time, such as the Roman, the Eastern Roman, the Latin and  the Ottoman. In the morning,  you will begin your tour accompanied by an official English-speaking guide, who will bring to life the historical and cultural heritage of the city as well as offer a commentary about the current affairs. During the tour you are free to ask your questions so that you gain a better understanding of the different sights. Together with your guide you will visit "Hagia Sofía", an Orthodox Patriarchal Basilica later converted into a mosque and now open to the public. Agia Sofia is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and for almost a thousand years it was the largest cathedral in the world.

You will continue to the roman Hippodrome, the sports and social center of the Byzantine empire and which, in the 5th century, was the largest in the world. At the hippodrome, your guide will explain about all the components that make up the complex, such as the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Obelisk of Constantine and more recent ones such as the German fountain. 

You will head to the Sultan Ahmet Camii Mosque, or "Blue Mosque" because of the blue or light blue color of the decorative tiles that predominate in its interior and which has a capacity of up to 10,000 faithful. Before entering your guide will clarify the protocol that is to be followed by both men and women as well as the significance of the numerous minarets, or towers, that you see.

Your next stop will be the Grand Bazaar: since the 5th century it has been the largest in the city and one of the largest bazaars in the world. This will be your free time before lunch to explore this amazing site, with its 58 lanes and more than 4000 shops. It will be a grand opportunity to look for a good bargain and at the same time try your bargaining skills.

At around noon, you will have lunch in a typical Turkish restaurant and continue to your last visit: Topkapi Palace, literally translated as the Palace of the Gate of Canyons. It measures more than 700,000 square meters and, before it became a Museum, it used to be the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire for three centuries. The palace enjoys an unparalleled strategic position due to its location between the Golden Horn and the Sea of ​​Marmara, with incomparable views of the Bosphorus. Currently the Topkapi Palace is the seat of the Imperial Museum and its great variety of exhibits and architectural style catch the attention of all visitors.

Greca Tip: Take every opportunity you get, to try some of the local foods, such as Kofte (meatballs made with lamb or beef), Pide (Turkish pizza), Sis Kebab (skewers of cooked meat) and lokum (Turkish delight) or baklava for a sweet aftertaste.