About this experience
You will dive into the atmosphere of Old Istanbul, strolling through colorful streets, admiring ancient monuments, and learning interesting facts about the city. Legends and folklore, iconic landmarks, and the intertwining of two stories: the state and a great love. This route is for fans of the TV series 'Magnificent Century' and connoisseurs of the culture of the Ottoman Empire era!
What to Expect
The Grim Secrets of Topkapi Palace
We will start the tour at the Hippodrome square, part of Sultanahmet, where columns and obelisks preserved from the Byzantine period stand, and the graceful German Fountain rises. You will learn about the origin of the names and the significance of the monuments, and then approach the place where the love story of Sultan Suleiman and Roxolana began. You will see the magnificent Topkapi Palace—a genuine city within a city with its own mosques and baths. Perched on a hill surrounded on all sides by the waters of the Bosphorus and the Marmara Sea, it offers magnificent views from its windows. We will walk through the fabulous imperial chambers, peek into the armory, and the famous treasury where the sultan's treasures are kept: collections of amazing Chinese and Japanese porcelain. You will see rare museum exhibits and hear about the cruelty of rulers who shaped destinies.
Walk along the Bosphorus
Sailing between two continents, you will enjoy the breathtaking panorama of Istanbul and views of its landmarks from the Bosphorus Strait. From an unusual perspective, you will see Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Rumeli Fortress, Dolmabahçe Palace, the first and second Bosphorus Bridges, the Chamlydzha Mosque, and luxurious villas along the waterfront. The guide will tell you a bit of history about each of them. You can also enjoy the sea air and feed the seagulls with a Turkish bagel—simit.
Organizational Details
- Entrance tickets are included in the price
- We will pick you up from any hotel in the Old City (Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Beyoglu, Laleli, Aksaray). If your hotel is outside the Old City, we ask you to come as close as possible to the areas of Laleli or Sultanahmet.
- The tour will be conducted by one of the guides from our professional team
