Istanbul

The city combining East and West, new and old, with its glorious history dating back to 6,000 B.C. The only city hosted a role in the history of being the capital of three biggest Empires in the World, Eastern Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. Meet and assist on arrival at Istanbul airport and transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is at free at leisure to discover the city on your own and dine out at a restaurant to enjoy the different cuisines from all over the world.

Your day starts with your guided full day sightseeing tour including the highlights of the city. You first visit is the Hippodrome, where chariot races and sport events took place during the Roman and Byzantine periods. Then you will visit the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, built between 1609-1616, known as the Blue Mosque by the Europeans due to its beautiful blue tiles decorating the interior. The next monument to visit is the 6th century B.C. St. Sophia museum from the time of Emperor Justinianus, used as a church for 916 years and as a mosque for 481 years after the conquest of the city by the Ottoman Turks in 1453, then converted into a museum in 1935 after the foundation of modern Turkish Republic in 1923. Afterwards you will visit the famous Topkapi Palace, which was the residential and the administrative palace of the Sultans from 1453 until 1857. After having your lunch in a reputable first class local restaurant you will be driving to visit and explore the probably the oldest and largest indoor shoping mall in the world Grand Covered Bazaar, started to construct on a 30,700 Square meters land in 1461, which is 45,000 square meters at present and still serving with its 64 streets, 22 gates, more than 4,00 shops, cafes, two quarters with shops selling the antique goods, police and fire departments, open daily from 8:30AM to 7:00 PM except on Sunday and official and religious holidays.

Today starts with a visit to the indoor L shaped shoping mall from 1460, Mısır Carsisi, which reknown as Egyptian Bazaar and famous with its dozens of herbalists, where you can find all kind of herbs and spices from all over the world. Then take a ferry to cruise along the Bosphorus strait, towards north, to Black Sea. While you are cruising you will see the old wooden waterfront chalets, kiosks, imperial palaces, hunting lodges of Sultans, mediaval Ottoman forts, moden villas, woods, gardens on both European and Asian sides. You will disembark at the Sariyer fishermen village. Return your hotel. The balance of the day is leisure. An optional afternoon tour is available: Visit the waterfront imperial Dolmabahce Palace built in 1857, where 13,5 tons of gold used in the construction, which reflects the wealth of Ottoman Empire. Then drive over the suspension bridge linking the Europe and Asia, to the highest hill, Camlica on the Asiatic, to have a panoramic view of the city and for a tea break. Return to your hotel.

Istanbul / USA: Transfer to the Istanbul international airport for your homebound flight.