Full-Day Istanbul Private Tour with Dolmabahce Palace and Lunch

Hier is het startpunt

Dolmabahce Palace

Meeting in the hotel / cruise ship port and drive to Dolmabahce Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans during the late Ottoman Period. The constructed begun in 1843 and it finished in 1856, it replaced Topkapı Palace as the new administrative center of the Empire. The palace housed 6 Sultans from 1856 to 1924. The design of the palace consists of Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles. The world's largest Bohemian crystal chandelier is in the Ceremonial Hall. Dolmabahçe has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world.

Suleymaniye Mosque

Next, visit The Süleymaniye Mosque, the largest and grandest of Istanbul’s imperial mosques. It dates from the 16th century heyday of the Ottoman Empire, and was designed by Sinan, the greatest architect of his day and originator of the Classical Ottoman style of architecture. Of the 2,000 structures Sinan designed, Süleymaniye Mosque and its complex of charitable institutions rank among the most important.

Grand Bazaar

Brief Handicrafts Presentation & Lecture (Optional Attendance) next to the Grand Bazaar. Free time to explore Grand Bazaar on your own. Meeting back and drive back to the lunch

Istanbul

• Lunch (Beverages under your own expenses)
• *Vegeterian menu is also available

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

Next, visit Hagia Sophia Museum, which is considered one of the Eight Wonders of the World, occupies a unique place in the history of architectures one of the rare works of this size and age that still survives.

Blue Mosque

• Our next visit will be The Blue Mosque, which takes its name from the world famous exquisite blue Iznik tiles decorating its interior. Also it is the only imperial mosque in the world that was originally built with six minarets.
• Note: Blue Mosque is reserved for Prayer on Fridays. On Fridays, we visit the mosque from the exterior.
• The Blue Mosque will be under restoration between the dates of 1 January - 21 April 2023. We will be visiting the Blue Mosque from the courtyard only (no interior visits) between these dates.

Hippodrome

We continue to the Hippodrome Square, the sporting and social center of old Byzantium, held 100,000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire such as the Egyptian Obelisk, and the Serpent Column.

German Fountain

Next, see the German Fountain, also known as the Kaiser Wilhelm Fountain. It was constructed to commemorate the second anniversary of German Emperor Wilhelm II's visit to Istanbul in 1898. It was built in Germany, then transported piece by piece and assembled in its current site in 1900. The neo-Byzantine style fountain's octagonal dome has eight marble columns, and dome's interior is covered with golden mosaics. Drive back to the hotel / pier.