A short 4-day city break in Istanbul staying in a boutique 4-star hotel and including 2 days of sightseeing tours
Highlights
Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, the Grand Bazaar, Bosphorous cruise, panoramic views from Camlica Hill
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive in Istanbul, transfer to hotel
Welcome to Istanbul! On arrival we'll meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in the centre of the city. The rest of the day is free to settle in and start exploring.
| OVERNIGHT: Istanbul hotel
| EXTRAS: Single Room Supplement (TUTMIB), Extra day in Istanbul - pre-tour
Day 2 : Istanbul, old city tour
Today we enjoy a full day city tour with a specialist local guide. We'll take in the beautiful Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia, sometimes described as the 8th Wonder of the World. This beautiful building, famous for its huge dome, was built as a Greek Orthodox cathedral in the 6th Century when Istanbul was still known as Constantinople, before becoming an Imperial Ottoman mosque, and now a museum. We'll also visit the Topkapi Palace (closed Tuesdays), which was the residence of the Ottoman Sultans in the 16th Century, and see the remains of the ancient Hippodrome. Our final visit is to Istanbul's Grand Bazaar (closed Sundays) which is one of the world's largest covered markets, and home to thousands of shops and stalls covering nearly 60 blocks. We may also have time to visit a carpet shop and learn how carpets are made by hand.
| OVERNIGHT: Istanbul hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 : Bosphorous river cruise and Asian Istanbul
Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, has been a vitally important world city for many centuries due to its strategic location connecting Europe and Asia, and the Mediterranean and Black Seas. These are joined by a narrow strait of water called the Bosphorous, with the city spreading out from both banks. Today we'll take a boat cruise along the Bosphorous, seeing both the European and Asian sides, and learn more about the history of this fascinating city. In the afternoon we'll take a walk up to Camlica Hill on the Asian side of the city and enjoy its panoramic views.
The rest of the afternoon and evening are then free for you to explore the city more.
| OVERNIGHT: Istanbul hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 : Istanbul, free time, transfer to airport
Your time in Istanbul is free today until we transfer you back to the airport for your departure. A range of optional tours are available today if you have a late afternoon or evening flight, or if you would like to extend your stay.
| OVERNIGHT: Istanbul hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
| EXTRAS: Extra day in Istanbul - post-tour
included with
- 3 nights hotel accommodation (upgrades available)
- 2 lunches
- 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
- Specialist local guide for sightseeing tours
- Entrance fees to various sites
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches)
- Tipping kitty
excluded by
- International flights (available on request)
- Visa fees (e-visa available online before travel)
- Travel insurance (compulsory, available on request)
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
- Tips for guide & driver
- Any other items not mentioned above
Detailed Description
Day 1 : Arrive in Istanbul, transfer to hotel
Welcome to Istanbul! On arrival we'll meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in the centre of the city. The rest of the day is free to settle in and start exploring.
| OVERNIGHT: Istanbul hotel
| EXTRAS: Single Room Supplement (TUTMIB), Extra day in Istanbul - pre-tour
Day 2 : Istanbul, old city tour
Today we enjoy a full day city tour with a specialist local guide. We'll take in the beautiful Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia, sometimes described as the 8th Wonder of the World. This beautiful building, famous for its huge dome, was built as a Greek Orthodox cathedral in the 6th Century when Istanbul was still known as Constantinople, before becoming an Imperial Ottoman mosque, and now a museum. We'll also visit the Topkapi Palace (closed Tuesdays), which was the residence of the Ottoman Sultans in the 16th Century, and see the remains of the ancient Hippodrome. Our final visit is to Istanbul's Grand Bazaar (closed Sundays) which is one of the world's largest covered markets, and home to thousands of shops and stalls covering nearly 60 blocks. We may also have time to visit a carpet shop and learn how carpets are made by hand.
| OVERNIGHT: Istanbul hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 : Bosphorous river cruise and Asian Istanbul
Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, has been a vitally important world city for many centuries due to its strategic location connecting Europe and Asia, and the Mediterranean and Black Seas. These are joined by a narrow strait of water called the Bosphorous, with the city spreading out from both banks. Today we'll take a boat cruise along the Bosphorous, seeing both the European and Asian sides, and learn more about the history of this fascinating city. In the afternoon we'll take a walk up to Camlica Hill on the Asian side of the city and enjoy its panoramic views.
The rest of the afternoon and evening are then free for you to explore the city more.
| OVERNIGHT: Istanbul hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 : Istanbul, free time, transfer to airport
Your time in Istanbul is free today until we transfer you back to the airport for your departure. A range of optional tours are available today if you have a late afternoon or evening flight, or if you would like to extend your stay.
| OVERNIGHT: Istanbul hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
| EXTRAS: Extra day in Istanbul - post-tour
