Spend the afternoon exploring Istanbul's Ottoman past at the enchanting Topkapi Palace and the superb Blue Mosque on this private half-day tour.
Highlights
- Private half-day tour of Istanbul’s Ottoman sites
- Explore Topkapi Palace, former home of Ottoman sultans
- Visit Blue Mosque, one of the most well-known attractions in Istanbul
- Entrance fees included
Useful Information
Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
Blue Mosque:
One of the most famous monuments in both the Turkish and Islamic worlds, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) is a superb creation in the classical Ottoman style. The mosque has six towering minarets and 260 windows illuminating its vast main chamber, which is decorated with more than 20,000 Iznik tiles.
Topkapi Palace:
The largest and oldest palace in the world, Topkapi was the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire. With its treasury and exotic buildings overlooking the Golden Horn, your visit to Topkapi promises to be a truly fascinating experience. (Closed on Tuesdays)
Hippodrome and Obelisk:
The Hippodrome was once the heart of Constantinople’s political and sporting life, and the scene of games and riots through 500 years of Ottoman history. Today it is a city park called the At Meydanı (Horse Grounds) because of its function in Ottoman times. The Hippodrome includes the 3500-year-old Egyptian granite Obelisk, brought to Constantinople by Emperor Theodosius in 390 AD.
One of the most famous monuments in both the Turkish and Islamic worlds, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) is a superb creation in the classical Ottoman style. The mosque has six towering minarets and 260 windows illuminating its vast main chamber, which is decorated with more than 20,000 Iznik tiles.
Topkapi Palace:
The largest and oldest palace in the world, Topkapi was the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire. With its treasury and exotic buildings overlooking the Golden Horn, your visit to Topkapi promises to be a truly fascinating experience. (Closed on Tuesdays)
Hippodrome and Obelisk:
The Hippodrome was once the heart of Constantinople’s political and sporting life, and the scene of games and riots through 500 years of Ottoman history. Today it is a city park called the At Meydanı (Horse Grounds) because of its function in Ottoman times. The Hippodrome includes the 3500-year-old Egyptian granite Obelisk, brought to Constantinople by Emperor Theodosius in 390 AD.
Recent Reviews of this Tour
Reviewed by Jay J, USA, July 2010
Very much enjoyed our guide & tour. Would have liked to have the harem rooms included at Topkapi Palace instead of the Grand Bazaar, which we ended up doing on our own.
Reviewed by SHEILA C, December 2010
Our guide was pleasant and easy to understand. We went first to Suleymaniye Mosque only to discover it has been closed for reconstruction for 2 years!! We walked around outside, looked at the restaurants as well as the graveyard and then went to Topkapi. After Topkapi we went to a carpet/jewelry showroom. Although there was no real pressure to purchase I felt that I did not get my money's worth. Why weren't we taken to the Blue Mosque as a substitute. Why have a mosque on a tour that is closed. We also would have liked to get more of a sense of what the city was like. Our tour ended a half an hour early, and we really only saw one real place of interest. We did not get our money's worth on this four hour tour..
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