Compare Taste of Istanbul by Intrepid Travel vs Magical Istanbul Tour by Ada Vegas Travel

Day 1 Istanbul

Hosgeldinz! Welcome to Istanbul, the only city in the world to straddle two continents. It’s no surprise that this vast metropolis is home to a beguiling mix of different cultures and traditions, blending the influences of both east and west. Your Short Break Adventure starts with a welcome meeting at 5 pm then it will continue with the Home Cooked Istanbul Urban Adventure, spending the evening mingling with the locals and enjoying some delicious food. Wander through the streets in the Sultanahmet district, and en route, meet a local family and sit together for a traditional meal. After you’ve eaten as much as you can handle, head to a local hangout to enjoy some killer views of the Marmara Sea. Find a comfortable spot to watch games of football, strike up conversation with the locals or get involved in a backgammon game. All of that people watching – you must be thirsty. Continue on to a local tea house for a drink and to partake in some nargile (also known as waterpipe or hookah) smoking. Sit back, relax and enjoy – you’ll be puffing like a local in no time. If you’re feeling like kicking on, your group leader will be able to recommend some hidden gems, but after your tea and nargile, you’re free to do as you please, or simply head back to your hotel.

Day 2 Istanbul

Do you think you can conquer Istanbul in one day? Well, wonder no more with an Istanbul Conquered Urban Adventure today. Ready? Let’s go. Begin with a dose of Hagia Sophia. This masterpiece of Byzantine architecture stands tall and proud in downtown Istanbul, holding within its walls more than 1500 years of Turkish history. This beautiful site is also somewhat of a chameleon — it has lived its long life as a church, a mosque, and now as a museum, and you may even recognise it from movies like From Russia With Love or Taken 2. Head across the plaza towards the jewel in the Istanbul crown: Sultan Ahmet I’s Blue Mosque. It is one of the most striking sights in Istanbul, with its blue-tiled walls, 260 windows, and six minarets – don’t forget to ask your guide the significance of those six spires. After checking out the ancient Hippodrome, take a break at a hidden café nearby for lunch, cracking jokes with locals and learn about daily life in Istanbul. Once you’re refuelled, continue on to Topkapi Palace, which overlooks the mighty Bosphorus strait, and gives an insight into the stories of the sultans who have lived here in centuries past. Now, time for a treat – head over to the Grand Bazaar to explore some of the 3000 shops, meeting the local characters and perfecting your haggling game. Stop in for a true Turkish coffee and shop the afternoon away. This evening, continue your own exploration of the city, perhaps heading to a harbourside seafood restaurant.

Day 3 Istanbul

Your Istanbul Short Break will come to end after breakfast this morning, however that doesn’t mean your adventure has to come to an end! If you’d like to continue soaking up all that Istanbul has to offer, why not spend an extra night or two here? If you wish to do so, we’ll be happy to book additional accommodation (subject to availability).

Day 1: Istanbul – Arrival

The tour begins when you are met at istanbul’s ataturk airport by our representative, for the transfer to your hotel.

Day 2: istanbul city tour

After your breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up at 08:30 for a full-day tour of istanbul’s old quarters.

We take you to St. Sophia, also known as Hagia Sophia. The Ancient Basilica was originally built by constantine the great in the 4th-century, and reconstructed by justinian in the 6th-century. One of the architectural marvels of all time, it is the largest byzantine church, and the 4th largest church, in the world.

Next on our agenda is Topkapi Palace where you discover how it was used by the ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th-centuries. See its exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and chinese porcelain, as well as robes worn by the sultans and their families. See also the famous jewels of the imperial treasury, relics of the Prophet Mohammed, and the pavilion of the holy mantle.

We move on to sultanahmet imperial mosque, located opposite st. sophia, and one of the city’s greatest buildings. built in the 16th-century by the architect mehmet, it is more popularly known as the Blue Mosque, due to its magnificent interior of blue iznik tiles.

See the Hippodrome, scene of chariot races in the ancient world, and explore its 3 remaining monuments; the obelisk of theodosius, the bronze serpentine column, and the column of constantine.

Next you will explore the labyrinth of streets at the Grand Bazaar one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, you will discover more than 4,000 shops, with a dedicated area for each trade.

Walk along alleys full of goldsmiths, carpet sellers, and arts and crafts, such as hand painted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx-ware, and meerschaum pipes. Absorb the atmosphere of this authentic bustling bazaar.

Finally after your full day of sightseeing, we transfer you back to your hotel. You may spend the evening at leisure, or decide on an optional Istanbul evening show or a bosphorus dinner cruise, including traditional turkish entertainment.

Day 3: Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping tour

Following your breakfast we pick you up at 08:30. We depart for a full-day istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and shopping tour this commences with a visit to the Spice Bazaar also known as the egyptian bazaar. take in the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme, and every other conceivable herb and spice.

You will then go on a traditional boat cruise along the bosphorus, the waterway that separates europe and asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages, truly a spectacle.

During the excursion, look out for magnificent sights, such as the splendid dolmabahce palace, the imperial pavilions of yildiz palace, and ciragan palace, with its extensive marble façade facing the shore.

At ortakoy, you will see a interesting variety of artists, who gather every sunday to display their work along the street. Throughout the centuries, Ortakoy has been a great symbol of Istanbul’s religious harmony, with a church, mosque, and synagogue all existing side-by-side.

See Rumeli fortress, built by mehmet the conqueror in 1452, prior to the conquest of Istanbul. completed in only 4 months, it was built to control and protect the infamous bosphorus passage, and is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world.

Cruise past Beylerbeyi palace, summer residence of the ottoman sultans, and immaculately preserved, with original antique furniture, sublime gardens, and a harem. step from one continent to another as you pass the bosphorus bridge.

Then we go to Camlica hill, the highest point in Istanbul. at the top, admire the breathtaking panorama of Istanbul and the bosporus from beautiful gardens, landscaped in a traditional turkish ottoman style.

After your relaxing cruise, experience traditional silk weaving skills at one of the carpet weaving courses provided by the ministry of national education. see jewelery, a handcraft centre, and a modern leatherwear show during a shopping tour. explore the world of ancient craftsmen, as a local escort shows you how to haggle for the best bargains.

Return to your hotel, where the rest of the evening is yours to relax and reflect on your day.

Day 4: Istanbul – Departure

After breakfast, check out from your hotel at the end of your tour.