Old City Tour of Istanbul Shore Excursion

According to your cruise arrival time, our tour guide also welcomes you to the Istanbul Cruise Ship Port. After you have met our tour guide, you will drive through the Galata Bridge and Karakoy to the Old City of Istanbul.
On the way to the Old City (Sultanahmet), the tour guide will give you information about activities you will do during the day. During the tour, we will see places that are very close to each other and within walking distance. We will visit the following places;
Blue Mosque; the Sultan Ahmet Mosque was built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I in 1609-1616 on the historical peninsula of Istanbul, the architect Sedefkâr Mehmed Aga. The mosque is called the “Blue Mosque” because it is decorated with blue, green and white coloured Iznik tiles and the inside of half dome and the big dome is decorated with blue weighted pencil works.
The Ancient Hippodrome; in this square we know as a flat area today, it is still possible to see the wall surrounding the Hippodrome and the seating of the spectators! This place was used as a sports centre in ancient time.
Hagia Sophia Museum; It was built in 390 by Constantine the son of Emperor Great Constantine. The first building with a basilica plan was made of wood and was completely burnt. The construction of today’s Hagia Sophia was started in 532 in the time of Emperor Justinianus and in 537 the worship was opened. Two architects, Isidoros of Miletos and Anthemius of Tralles, worked together on this project. It is mentioned that about 10 thousand workers worked during the construction and the emperor spent a great fortune.
Topkapı Palace; it contains mansions, buildings, sets and flower gardens. The palace has a total of 7 gates, four on the land side and three on the sea-side walls, and the palace of the emperor Justinian also houses his sister Aya Irini, the majestic church of Hagia Sophia.
Grand Bazaar; the foundation of the Grand Bazaar was in 1461, started to be built by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. The main bazaar was built by Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent as a wooden bazaar and after that a bazaar that was almost gigantic overtimes … It is a totally different world with its 66 streets spread over 30.700 m2 and 4000 shops in it.
At the end of the Istanbul Shore Excursions, you will have time to shopping according to your cruise departure time.

According to your Cruise Ship departure time, you will be transferred back to Istanbul Cruise Port.