DAY 1 Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey. Arrival into Istanbul. Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Tonight you will enjoy a welcome dinner where you will be introduced to Turkish cuisine and enjoy the mystical atmosphere of Istanbul at night. Overnight in Istanbul. (Welcome dinner included)
Istanbul is an extraordinarily diverse city: Roman remains; outstanding Byzantine buildings; glorious mosaics and frescoes; Ottoman mosques and palaces.
DAY 2 – Istanbul City Tour
Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel and we depart at 09:00 for the Istanbul City Tour. We will begin with ancient Hippodrome It was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square named Sultanahmet Square, with a few fragments of the original structure surviving. Its known with the three monuments: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine.
Then continue with monuments of the Byzantine city around the hippodrome, chief of which is Haghia Sophia, greatest of all Byzantine buildings and the inspiration for many Ottoman mosques. After we will walk to Hagia Eirene, which is the largest and oldest church from the Byzantine era still standing.
The nearby Basilica Cistern is a remarkable colonnaded cistern. Then drive to Ibrahim Pasha Palace has the excellent Islamic Museum, has textiles and various artefacts.
St Saviour in Chora has some of the finest Byzantine mosaics and wall paintings in the world. Optional visit to the old commercial district and Covered Grand Bazaar.
Overnight in Isanbul
DAY 3 – Iznik Tour
Today after breakfast we will drive to Iznik (Nicea), where is famous for it’s beautiful tiles in all around Ottoman Empirea. Iznik is little town set beside a picturesque lake, historically famous for hosting the First Ecumenical Council of the church at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Upon arrival, visit the Old City Walls from Roman and Byzantine
periods, the Green Mosque, beautifully decorated in light blue ceramics and built by the
Ottomans. Then proceed to the remains of the St. Sophia Church, the site of the Second Council of Nicea in 787, and see the remains of the mosaic floor and frescoes. Following a lunch break by the lake, visit the Iznik porcelain workshops to see how the world famous Iznik tiles and other ceramics are traditionally crafted. Return drive to Istanbul and drop off at your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul
DAY 4 – Istanbul City Tour
Today we plan half day start with Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) It was built between 1597 and 1664, it is the second oldest covered bazaar in the city.You may find there mystical smells of different aromas of various spices. Shops selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish etc..
Next stop is Rustem Pasha Mosque; Mimar Sinan built this mosque in 1560 for Rustem Pasha, son-in-law and the grand vezier of Soliman the Magnificent. Its particular beauty lies in Iznik tiles covering it both inside and outside.
Then Bosphorus Cruise; the Bosphorus strait connects the sea of Marmara to the Black Sea and separates Europe and Asia, making Istanbul one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the only one built astride two continents; this romantic cruise along the Bosphorus will allow you to admire the Dolmabahce Plalace, the Beylerbeyi Palace, the Ciragan Palace and the Rumeli Fortress, ancient wooden villas and bridges and all the wonderful and unige maritime landscapes.
Afternoon free. Overnight in Istanbul
DAY 5 – Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer directly on to Istanbul Airport for return international flight.
INCLUDES
All the transfers from Airport to hotel and back.
2 Full days Tour in Istanbul
4 Night Accomodation in Istanbul with breakfast
1 Welcome dinner
1 Lunch
Professional English speaking guide (Plesa ask for ather languages)
All entrance fees
TOUR NOT INCLUDE
All meal not mentioned in program
All drinks on meals
Personal expences
Tips
All tours have been posted by TURSAB(Turkish Society of Travel Agencies) licensed travel agencies and tour operators who have replied to the formal TURSAB call of 08.07.2013 for publishing their tours on this website.
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