Half day tour to Dolmabahce and Camlica Hill

At the indicated place and time, we will pick you up to start this day dedicated entirely to the architectural and historical jewels of Istanbul. Your official English-speaking guide will answer any questions you may have and will give you some interesting facts, such as the history of the city walls, that started being built in the 4th-century and stretch for almost 7 kiliometres from the Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara.

Your tour begins on the coast of Bosphorus and at the Dolmabahce Palace, which was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire for more than three decades. This incredible palace was commissioned by the thirty-first sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Abdül Mecit I.

It took 30 years to build and cost the modest sum of 35 tons of gold that contributed no less to the Empire's decline and final insolvency. It was inhabited by six sultans as well as by Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish republic, and until the abolition of the caliphate in 1924. The majestic palace will delight you with its Baroque, Rococo, Neo-Classic and traditional Ottoman styles with gilded ceilings and the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world.

This lavishly decorated, two-floor palace covers an area of 45,000 square meters, contains 285 rooms and 6 Turkish baths (hamams).

After the splendour of the palace, you will cross from Europe to Asia to enjoy the views offered by the Camlica hill, whose name, ''Cam", means pine tree, from the abundance of the pine trees that once grew here.

At 267 meters above sea level, you will enjoy unparalleled panoramic views of the Bosphorus and the European part of the city. You will have free time to appreciate the scene and stroll through its beautiful parks.

Finally, you will be comfortably transferred by bus to the Sultanahmet area, where your tour will end.

The tour finishes in Sultanahmet, the neuralgic area of the city. Take this opportunity 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.

Greca Tip: All the clocks in the Dolmabahce palace are stopped in honour of the exact time of Ataturk's death and the room where he died forms part of the tour. At Camilica hill you will find a handful of kiosks offering hot or cold drinks, ice cream and other traditioanal snacks.