ISTANBUL CLASSIC

Welcome to Türkiye, a country rich in culture, history, and unique experiences, where the contrasts of East and West blend seamlessly. Get ready to enjoy an extraordinary vacation.

Arrival on an international flight at the spectacular Istanbul Airport (IST). Opened in April 2019, it is now the largest airport in Europe and one of the largest in the world. After disembarking, passing through immigration, and collecting your luggage, proceed to our meeting point at Gate 8. After this, you will meet our drivers for the transfer to the hotel. Arrival and accommodation. Free time to rest.

Note: If you do not find our representatives at the meeting point, please contact our emergency number.

Breakfast. Free day. Option to take the optional excursion: "Pearls of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus" Departing around 08:00 (time to be confirmed by the guide) (includes lunch at a traditional restaurant): Visit the old Jewish quarter in Balat, the Greek quarter in Fener, and enjoy the magnificent views of the "Golden Horn"; then visit the St. George's Cathedral, the main patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox Church; continue to the Suleiman the Magnificent Mosque, designed by the Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan and featuring the largest dome of all mosques in Istanbul. Head to the Spice Bazaar, a place with a special charm due to its color and aroma, the perfect spot to purchase teas, herbs, nuts, traditional sweets, and, of course, spices; conclude with a boat ride through the Bosphorus, the strait that divides the city between Europe and Asia, where you will appreciate the wonderful views of Ottoman fortresses, palaces, villas, and the bridges connecting both sides of the city. Transfer back to the hotel. Accommodation.

Note: The order of the excursions in Istanbul may be reversed based on operational conditions, such as the number of participants, weather, traffic, or monument closure days.

Breakfast. Free day. Option to take the optional excursion “Gems of Constantinople” (includes lunch at a traditional restaurant): Departure around 08:00 (time to be confirmed by the guide) for a tour of the historic center of the city, where you can see the variety of remnants from the different empires that shaped present-day Istanbul: the Roman Hippodrome, the center of social life in Constantinople for thousands of years where you can also see the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Obelisk of Constantine, and the German Fountain; the Blue Mosque, with its over 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles brought from Iznik; enjoy a panoramic view of Hagia Sophia, built in 537 as an architectural marvel that has served as a church, mosque, and museum. From the outside, the structure impresses with its enormous dome, which was a remarkable technical achievement in its time and remains one of the largest domes in the world. Continue to the majestic Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years, where you will visit the beautiful royal gardens, the kitchens, and the royal treasury rooms. Discover the mysterious Harem, where the sultan’s wives and children lived, famous for its luxurious decoration.

Continue with the Church of Aya Irini, a Byzantine church that was not converted into a mosque, and end the tour at the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world where bargaining is a tradition. Return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Note: For entry to Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, consult for any additional charges.

Breakfast. Transfer to the Airport (IST) and flight back.

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