Itinerary
Full Day Bosphorus Tour in Istanbul
The Bosphorus has long been one of the most important straits of water in the world. Get another perspective on Istanbul as you cruise along it, and see some of Istanbul’s most important monuments.
Our first stop will be at Dolmabahce Palace – Dolmabahçe Sarayı (Closed on Mondays – Thursdays & replaced with Chora Museum). This was the residence of the Ottoman sultans and their court after 1856 until 1923 when the last Ottoman Sultan left the palace after the Republic of Turkey was founded. It was later home to the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who spent his last days here.
Today it serves as a museum, and visitors are amazed by its incredible interior. Boasting decor which is a delightful combination of Art Nouveau and Baroque style, its construction cost 5 million Ottoman gold coins, the equivalent of 40 tonnes of gold today. Its lavish decor includes 14 tons of gold in the form of gold leaf used to gild the ceilings of the palace which cover 45,000 square meters.
We then drive across the Bosphorus Bridge – Boğaziçi Köprüsü – the first bridge of Istanbul which was built in 1973 and connects the continents of Europe and Asia. Once on the Asian side of Istanbul we will visit Camlica Hill – Çamlıca Tepesi – the highest point of Istanbul which offers extensive panoramic views of the city including the Bosphorus.
Other highlights of the day will include:
Golden Horn – Haliç (By Bus) – the Golden Horn is an inlet of the Bosphorus dividing the city of Istanbul. It is called as Golden Horn because of its shape. During Ottoman Empire, lots of non-muslims lived in that area so you can see lots of churches and synagogues over there today.
Fener Greek Patriarchate (Fener Rum Patrikhanesi)
The charming Fener district of Istanbul became home to a large Greek population after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, and subsequently became home to the Patriarchate of Istanbul. This modest church is considered the mother church of most Orthodox churches.
Lunch will be provided in a traditional local restaurant
Bosphorus Cruise
You will have chance to see the gorgeous Bosphorus during your boat journey. The Bosphorus is the unique strategic waterway which connects the two continents -Europe and Asia- so it is a bridge between European and Asian Sides that makes Istanbul unique as well.
Spice Market – Mısır Çarşısı
Located within the complex of the New Mosque (Yeni Camii), the Spice Market hosts 88 shops bursting with colour and the tantalizing smell of exotic herbs and spices. Here you will see more varieties of Turkish delight than you could imagine along with other Turkish sweets such as helvah and baklava and the most incredible array of herbs and spices.
At the end of tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel. Please let your tour guide know if you would prefer to continue exploring and go back to your hotel on your own.
Notes:
- The tour starts at approximately 08:45 and finishes at about 17:00
- The order of the sightseeing may vary slightly on the day as your tour guide and driver may vary the program slightly to make the most of timing / traffic conditions etc.
