For Small Group Tours: Fascinating History Of Istanbul With Lunch and Tickets (12 People Max)

OVERVIEW

Duration: 7 hours
Tour starting point: German Fountain
Tour ending point: Grand Bazaar
Includes: Officially licensed tour guide, Small group tour, Entrance tickets, Lunch
Excludes: Drinks, transportation, gratitudes ( recommended)
Sights to see: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar

INCLUSIONS

Officially licensed tour guide
Small group tour
Entrance tickets
Lunch

EXCLUSIONS

Drinks
Transportation
Gratitudes ( recommended)

ITINERARY

Meet your tour guide next to German Fountain (Alman Cesmesi) which is located in Hippodrome Square at 09:00am. He will be waiting you with our company logo so you will be notice hi m easily and start the tour with the highlights of Istanbul;

Hippodrome and Obelisks;  The vast Hippodrome, known as At Meydani or "plaza of the horses", stretches between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Where the chariot races were held in the Roman Empire times, today German Fountain is the main cornerstone of square. 

Blue Mosque; Built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I, Blue Mosque is truly a magnificent masterpiece of architecture with amazingly delicate proportions for a building of such massive scale. The Blue Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks of Istanbul. It is very impressive with its beautiful domes and semi domes, nice courtyards and six slender minarets.The blue shade of the 27.000 pieces of Iznik quart tiles give the mosque it’s popular name and 6 towering minarets give its uniquely recognizable structure.

Hagia Sophia; Also called the Church of Divine Wisdom, it Is a masterpiece of grandeur and proportion. Coveted by the Islamic East and Christian West, the Hagia Sophia is one of mankind's greatest treasures. Built in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian, played a very important role in the Christian and Islamic World. After the Ottoman conquest the bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and many of the mosaics were eventually plastered over to convert the church into a mosque then a museum and now it’s a mosque for second time.

Topkapi Palace; was the main residence of the sultan and his court. It was initially the seat of government as well as the imperial residence. Even though access was strictly regulated, inhabitants of the palace rarely had to venture out since the palace functioned almost as an autonomous entity, a city within a city. Audience and consultation chmabers and areas served for the political workings of the empire. More than just an Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans, it was the seat of the Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for almost 400 years long. Topkapi Palace is a great monument of Oriental architecture.

Grand Bazaar; The oldest and the largest covered market place in the world is situated in the center of the city with over 4,000 shops. It was constructed in the 15th century and became the commercial hub of the trade between Europe & Asia.

Our tour ends here in Grand Bazaar and please feel free to drop us email for Bosphorus or Fener-Balat tour tomorrow with our private tour guides.

Please Note:
Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
Hagia Sophia entrance will be restricted during praying time.
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays. Due to regulations, live guide service is not available at Dolmabahce Palace.
Blue Mosque is closed until 2pm on Fridays.
Children aged 7 and under are free of charge. Please make sure that you have passport copies of children as you have to verify their ages at museums for free tickets.

Annual Closing Dates of all museums and bazaars in Istanbul as follows;

• January 1 – New Year
• May 13,14,15 – Ramadan Celebrations
• July 20,21,22,23 – Eid Celebrations
• October 29 – Republic Day

FAQ

Q: What is the group size for this tour?
A: This is a small group tour covering around 10 people.

Q: How to meet my tour guide, where is the meeting point?
A: Your tour guide will be waiting you at the German Fountain (Alman Cesmesi) in Hippodrome Square to meet you at 09:00am to start your tour, tour will start at 09:15am. In case of delay you need to catch the group in the next stop.

You can use the Google Maps link to find German Fountain 

(https://goo.gl/maps/PGZfHYraGgRrAZoD9)

Q: How can I come to meeting point?
A: You can take tram to Sultanahmet Station and then it will be very easy to find German Fountain which is located in Hippodrome Square (At Meydani)

Q: What if I delay for the meeting?
A: Please note that this is a group tour and there are other families so we need to start the tour latest at 09:15am. We kindly ask you to be punctual however in case of delay please contact us on +905434833144 (Available on Whatsapp)

Q: Which language options do you have?
A: This tour is operated in English however please contact us for other language inquiries so we can check availability for you.

Q: How about the transportation?
A: Unfortunately transportation is not included in this package, you need to meet your guide at the German Fountain

Q: Are museum tickets included?
A: Exactly, entrance fee to the sites are included in the price.

Q: Where we can have the lunch?
A: We will have a lunch in a local restaurant in Sultanahmet area which have vegetarian option for guests who have different food choices.

Q: How about shopping in Istanbul?
A: We do not include any shopping stops unless you wish to visit one of the traditional workshops of handmade rugs, tiles, jewelry. If you have any interest in workshops, please indicate while booking. At the end of our tour, your tour guide can take you for a carpet demonstration or another workshop.

Q: How do I book this Small Group Tour?
A: Easy! All you need to do is;
Fill the 'Booking' form where you will put your full details such as personal information, date. Once you complete your booking we will get back to you with a confirmation email within 24 hours.

Q: How do I pay?
A: After filling the Book Now form you can make online payment on our website to secure your booking.

Q: Does status of Hagia Sophia effect our tour?
A: After conversion to mosque entrance will be restricted during praying times however your tour guide will revise the route of your tour accordingly and entrance is free now due to it's status.