9am - you'll be met at the pier by our expert guide who will be holding a sign with your name. You will then board our Mercedes minivan for an extraordinary private city tour.
Today's Istanbul hosts monumental edifices and this morning you will be viewing them from the 13th century Galata Tower - built by the Genovese merchants to view their ships arriving. Galata was the neighborhood, established by the Ottoman Sultanate, that hosted non-Muslim, European communities that migrated to Istanbul in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Next you'll be driven down the hill and over the Galata Bridge into the Old City. Although Leonardo da Vinci was the first person to work on the bridge project, it was not until the 19th century that a bridge over the Golden Horn bay was erected. After crossing the bridge, you will be greeted by the splendor of the domes and minarets of the Old Istanbul skyline.
Visit the Blue Mosque, one of the most renowned masterpieces of Ottoman religious architecture. Named after the turquoise-colored tiles made of quartz minerals, the building is also unique for its six minarets. Until the Empire collapsed after World War I, Ottoman sultans preferred to pray in this timeless shrine due to its incomparable beauty.
Continue your morning tour at Saint Sophia - built by Justinian the Great in the 6th century. This massive structure will surprise you with its gigantic dome and gold-gilded mosaics. It remained a masterpiece for over a millennium without a rival to compete against.
Just next to the basilica of Saint Sophie lies another Byzantine treasure - the Underground Cisterns. Composed of 336 ancient pillar erected in an enormous ditch carved under the ground, this unique structure served as a water reservoir for many centuries.
By noon, you'll be entering the grounds of Topkapi Palace, where Ottoman Sultans lived for centuries. Explore the Treasury to see one of the largest collections of antique jewelry in the world. Witness for yourself the Spoonmaker's Diamond and Topkapi Dagger.
You'll enjoy lunch in a lovely courtyard-restaurant in the heart of the old city - the Green House, a 19th century mansion that is now a boutique hotel.
In the afternoon, you will explore the Grand Bazaar and Nuru Osmaniye District - that has been a heart of commerce for centuries. Genovese and Venetian merchants stored their good in the stone-built warehouses that are now home to major department and jewelry stores. Hunt for bargains in the many handcrafted rugs, jewelry.
Late in the afternoon, you'll be escorted by your guide and driver back to the cruise ship after a breath-taking experience of culture and history.
Duration - 6 hours
Pricing - USD $360 per person (2-3 pax) and USD $210 per person (4-5 pax)
Includes - Professional lecturer/guide, luxury non-smoking minivan with A/C, all entrance and parking fees, guide books, maps, bookmarks and stamped postcards, complimentary refreshments in vehicle. Lunch and guide tips are extra.
Languages - English
Tour Code - TU-VTSisth