MINI STAY ISTANBUL DOLMABAHCE PALACE 4 NIGHTS 5 DAYS (Available 365 days a year )

DAY 1 ISTANBUL-ARRIVAL

Welcome to Istanbul , Turkey ! You will access to your hotel by our services. Rest with a 1 night stay before starting your exciting tour tomorrow. Meals are not included.

DAY 2 BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN RELICS TOUR

After delicious breakfast, our staff will pick you up from your hotel after breakfast. Our journey starts with the "Old City" where you will see historical highlights such as the Hippodrome, The center of sport activities with its four monuments: The GERMAN FOUNTAIN OF WILHELM II, Egyptian Obelisk, SERPENTINE COLUMN and the COLUMN OF CONSTANTINE.

We will continue with The Blue Mosque. The most famous mosque of Istanbul which is known as the BLUE MOSQUE as well because of its beautiful blue Iznik tiles.

Afterwards, The Hagia Sophia, the ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great, in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time.

Then our journey continues with the Grand Bazaar (Covered Market), involves the labyrinth of streets and passages are more than 4000 shops with each trade having its own area: the goldsmiths’ street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as hand painted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyxware and meerschaum pipers.

After Lunch break, we will visit Hagia Irene Church, it was built during the same period (4th century) as its neighbor the Hagia Sophia. The name Hagia Irene Church means ‘’Godly’’ or ‘’Holy Wisdom’’ in Greek. After the conquest of Istanbul, it was incorporated into the grounds of Topkapı Palace and like many other churches was converted into a mosque. However, there were no major changes made to the building’s structure.

Our last stop is Topkapı Palace, the great palace of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries, housing an exquisite collection of precious gems, jewelry thrones of sultans, costumes worn by the sultans and their families; miniatures, the Holy Mantle; CHAMBER OF SACRED RELICS.

After our pleasant tour, you will be dropped off to your hotel. (Breakfast and Lunch included.)            

DAY 3 BOSPHORUS & TWO CONTINENTS TOUR

After breakfast, our staff will pick you up from your hotel. First, we will visit City Walls by bus. The first breach of the walls was by the Fourth Crusade in 1204, the second by the cannons and troops of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453.

Afterwards, we will see the Golden Horn by bus. Golden Horn is a natural and extremely secure harbor and has played an important role in the development of Istanbul. The inlet separates the European shore into two. It is approximately 8 km long, and the widest part is the entrance from the Bosphorus. Two streams drain into this inlet at its far end.

Then we will continue with the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Market), the air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice.

Then we will go to an experience where you will enjoy the Bosphorus on the boat. An amazing cruise between the two continents, EUROPE and ASIA, along the Bosphorus by the Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi Palaces, wooden villas and mansions up to the Rumeli Fortress. We will see the Rumeli Fortress from the Bosphorus. There will be no interior visit. İstanbul had been besieged many times before Mehmet the Conqueror took the city in 1453 but it managed to defend itself with the help of the Roman city walls.

After then, we will go to Shopping. As Turkey is one of the best later producing countries in the world; we will watch a fashion-show in an outlet center which produces and manufactures different various of great quality leatherwear. So it’s a good opportunity to have a look at the reasonable priced good quality leather accessories. Visit is optional due to high traffic jam and long line for the Palace.

After, we will get through by the Bosphorus Bridge. It is a unique chance to step from one continent (ASIA) to another (EUROPE).

Our journey continues with the Beylerbeyi Palace. It is the summer residence of Ottoman Sultans with its original furniture and magnificent gardens with the HAREM on the ASIAN SIDE.

Our last step of our trip will be the Çamlıca Hill. Çamlıca Hill is one of the highest point in Istanbul. At the top of it, you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of İstanbul and the Bosphorus from the beautiful gardens, landscape in traditional style, as you sip your drinks in the cafeteria. After our pleasant tour, you will be dropped off to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. (Breakfast and Lunch included.)

DAY 4 HALF DAY DOLMABAHÇE PALACE TOUR

You will be picked up by our staff from your hotel after breakfast. Then you will meet with your group and tour guide at the meeting point. We will visit Dolmabahce Palace, Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan Mosque. End of the tour we will drop you off Taksim Square or Sultanahmet Square. In the afternoon you will have a free time for shopping. Overnight in Istanbul. (Breakfast included.),

Day 5 Istanbul-Departure

Have breakfast at the hotel and wait for us to pick you up. According to your flight time, we will pick you up 3 hours before your flight. You can continue exploring the city if you have enough time before your flight. (Breakfast included.)