Istanbul Classics and Highlights: Full Day with Lunch
Duration: 7 hours
Likely to sell out
Hidden Istanbul: 4-Hour Walking Tour
Product ID: 4539
Discover a hidden side of Istanbul as you explore Sultanahmet with a local guide. See local mosques, markets, and more, and take in the city’s major attractions. Learn about the Ottoman Empire, and visit the vast Grand Bazaar and a historic spice market.
About this activity
Duration 4 hours
Printed or mobile voucher accepted
Instant confirmation
Live tour guide
English
Cancellation policy
Cancel up to 2 days in advance for a full refund
Experience
Highlights
- Explore the back streets and hidden gems of Sultanahmet
- Walk along "Divanyolu," the ancient highway to Rome
- Visit Suleymaniye mosque and get an inside understanding of Islam
- Explore the amazing labyrinth of the Grand Bazaar
- Discover a spice market in the middle of the city
- Wander through the Sahaflar Carsisi (book bazaar), one of the oldest markets in Istanbul
- Hear tales of both Byzantine and Ottoman dramas
Full description
Explore a different side of Istanbul on a 4-hour walking tour that takes in some of the city’s hidden sites. Learn more about the practice of Islam as you stop at mosques with your local guide. Explore street bazaars and taste the local cuisine.
Walk to the Hippodrome of Meydani, where Byzantines enjoyed chariot races. See the Blue Mosque, an Istanbul landmark, before walking along Divanyolu, originally mapped out by Emperor Constantine as a road to Rome, more than 950 miles away.
Explore the Grand Bazaar before making your way through local markets to the famous Old Book Bazaar. Visit Beyazit Camii Mosque to see the beautiful stone and wood craftsmanship and masterful stained glass windows. Pass Istanbul University, built by the reforming Ottoman Sultans, and learn about the education system in Turkey today.
Marvel at the beauty of the Mosque of Süleyman the Magnificent. Visit the royal tombs of Süleyman and his cohort Roxanna. Enjoy sublime city views and pause for tea in the sunken garden.
Continue on to the hectic trading area of Istanbul, where you’ll find crumbling Byzantine buildings and Ottoman architectural relics. Hear stories of how the merchants of the past lived. See the hidden Rustem Pasha Mosque, acclaimed for its stunning Iznik ceramic tiles.
The tour ends in the Spice Bazaar area, where your leader can direct you to a local lokanta (small restaurant) for lunch, or give you some more great Istanbul tips for you to make the most of the rest of your stay.
Walk to the Hippodrome of Meydani, where Byzantines enjoyed chariot races. See the Blue Mosque, an Istanbul landmark, before walking along Divanyolu, originally mapped out by Emperor Constantine as a road to Rome, more than 950 miles away.
Explore the Grand Bazaar before making your way through local markets to the famous Old Book Bazaar. Visit Beyazit Camii Mosque to see the beautiful stone and wood craftsmanship and masterful stained glass windows. Pass Istanbul University, built by the reforming Ottoman Sultans, and learn about the education system in Turkey today.
Marvel at the beauty of the Mosque of Süleyman the Magnificent. Visit the royal tombs of Süleyman and his cohort Roxanna. Enjoy sublime city views and pause for tea in the sunken garden.
Continue on to the hectic trading area of Istanbul, where you’ll find crumbling Byzantine buildings and Ottoman architectural relics. Hear stories of how the merchants of the past lived. See the hidden Rustem Pasha Mosque, acclaimed for its stunning Iznik ceramic tiles.
The tour ends in the Spice Bazaar area, where your leader can direct you to a local lokanta (small restaurant) for lunch, or give you some more great Istanbul tips for you to make the most of the rest of your stay.
Includes
- Local English-speaking guide
- Tour of Sultanahmet, the Grand Bazaar and the Book Bazaar
- Tea at a local tea house
- Visit to the Süleymaniye Mosque complex
- Visit to Rustem Pasa Mosque
What’s Not Included
- Extra drinks
- Additional food
- Tips/gratuities for your guide
Prepare for the activity
Meeting point
Meet at Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant, Divanyolu Caddesi No.6 34400, Sultanahmet, Istanbul. The restaurant is located on the street where the tram lines runs through Sultanahmet, approximately a 3-minute walk from Sultanahmet tram stop.
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Important information
Know before you go
• Tour operates with a maximum group size of 12 participants.
• Please be aware that the standard of dress throughout Turkey is both conservative and modern. On this walking tour you will visit a variety of mosques. To respect this, and for your own comfort, modest clothing is recommended. This means clothing that covers the shoulders and knees for both men and women. Women should bring a scarf (easily purchased in Istanbul) to cover their head.
• The weather in Istanbul is highly variable depending on the time of year. Winters can be freezing cold and it can be extremely hot and humid in summer (June, July, and August).
• The Blue Mosque is being renovated until end of 2020 so some parts of the ceiling might be temporarily covered
• Please be aware that the standard of dress throughout Turkey is both conservative and modern. On this walking tour you will visit a variety of mosques. To respect this, and for your own comfort, modest clothing is recommended. This means clothing that covers the shoulders and knees for both men and women. Women should bring a scarf (easily purchased in Istanbul) to cover their head.
• The weather in Istanbul is highly variable depending on the time of year. Winters can be freezing cold and it can be extremely hot and humid in summer (June, July, and August).
• The Blue Mosque is being renovated until end of 2020 so some parts of the ceiling might be temporarily covered
From US$ 36.03 per person
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
based on 120 reviews
Review summary
| Service | 4.6/5 |
| Organization | 4.7/5 |
| Value for money | 4.5/5 |
| Safety | 4.8/5 |
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Product ID: 4539
Hidden Istanbul: 4-Hour Walking Tour
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