Istanbul Exclusive Pre Cruise One Night Hotel with Private Tour

Istanbul Exclusive Pre Cruise One Night Hotel with Private Tour

Today, you will be arriving in one of the most important and beautiful cities of the world’s history: Constantinople!

Meeting your private lecturer/guide at the airport, you will be boarding your luxury minivan, and start your expedition in this fascinating city where the continents meet each other!

Founded in 13th century BC, Greeks, Romans, and the Ottoman Turks left their traces of culture and architecture in Istanbul. Driving into the Old City you will be welcomed by the impressive view of the Roman Walls of Emperor Theodosius and will carry on to your hotel for check in and relaxation. Overnight in Istanbul.

In the morning, you will be met by your lecturer/guide in the lobby of your hotel at 9.00 am to begin your day of exploration of history and architecture.

Your first visit will be to the Blue Mosque. Istanbul boasts its monumental shrines of different faiths and Blue Mosque is probably one of the most famed masterpieces of Ottoman religious architecture. Named after its Turquoise colored tiles made of quartz minerals, the building is also unique for its six minarets. Ottoman Sultans preferred to pray in this timeless shrine due to its incomparable beauty until when the empire collapsed after the World War I.

Continue your morning by visiting the home of the Ottoman sultans: Topkapi Palace! Located on the very cape of the peninsula where Constantinople was founded, Topkapi Palace was built as the center of administration of Ottoman Empire when the city was conquered by Ottoman Turks in 1453 AD.

Today you will be having an intense tour of the palace going through corridors and different sections of the Harem where Sultan lived with his family members. There is strong impact of oriental motives and patterns in the interior décor that is best reflected by the beautiful Iznik Tiles adorning the walls of Harem.

Leaving the Harem through the “Golden Corridor” you will reach the inner courtyard to visit the Treasury that displays exclusive examples of jewelry and accessories which were dressed by the Sultans or were given as gifts to ambassadors.

Leaving the Topkapi Palace, you will be visiting the Basilica of Saint Sophia that was built by Justinian the Great during 6th century. This massive structure will embrace you with surprise with its gigantic dome resting at a height of 176 ft with a diameter of 93 ft. Built in only four and half years, the Basilica served both Christianity and Islam and now is operated a museum displaying Byzantine art and architecture embellished by Ottoman taste. Later in the afternoon, you will be exploring Grand Bazaar and Nuru Osmaniye District. Istanbul has been center of commerce and trade between the Orient and the Occident even before the arrival of Ottomans. Nuru Osmaniye District (Glamour of the Ottomans) was where the Genoese and Venetian merchants had their ware houses where they store their inventory of brass, copper, rugs and tiles before they were loaded on the ships to sail to Venice and Genoa. Today Nuru Osmaniye District is where you can find the most reputable stores with wide collections of jewelry, antiques and oriental rugs.

After enjoying the experience of the Grand Bazaar, you will be transferred to the pier for embarkation to your cruise ship.