HALF DAY HIGHLIGHTS OF ISTANBUL WITH TOPKAPI PALACE
HALF DAY HIGHLIGHTS OF ISTANBUL WITH TOPKAPI PALACE
ShoreTrips says...
Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople, is the largest city in Turkey, and considered by some to be the most important. This tour will take you to all of the "must-see" places of the city, introducing you to a fascinating mix of old and new that is modern Istanbul.
Your tour begins by driving along the old city walls to the jewel in Turkey's Byzantine crown--the marvelous Hagia Sophia, a former patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a fascinating museum.
Afterwards, browse the amazing Topkapi Palace, the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Originally a summer residence in the pre-Christian Byzantium era, the palace is home to gorgeous jewels, religious artifacts, silk ceremonial robes, and a manuscript collection.
Next, we will see the Blue Mosque, regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of Islamic architecture. Please keep in mind that if you choose to visit the inside, you will be expected to dress modestly and remove your shoes before entering. Women must cover their heads.
Finally, you'll get a chance to enjoy some time at the Grand Bazaar's more than 4,000 stores before heading back to the pier.
- This tour includes:
- Round trip transportation from the cruise ship pier (or your hotel) in an air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking guide
- Entrance and parking fees to all sites
- Visit/see:
- Hagia Sophia
- Topkapi Palace
- Blue Mosque
- Grand Bazaar
- Additional Languages Available
- Arabic
- French
- German($)
- Italian
- Japanese($)
- Korean($)
- Mandarin($)
- Portuguese($)
- Russian
- Spanish
- *Possible upcharge at checkout for languages denoted with ($) symbol.
Days of Operation
Departures (local time)
- 9:00 AM (4 hrs)
- 2:00 PM (4 hrs)
Transfer / Meeting Instructions
No Taxi Required Specific pick up or taxi instructions will appear on your voucher after you purchase your trip.Special Instructions
• Visitors to the Blue Mosque are expected to dress modestly. Shoes must be removed before entering and women must cover their heads.
• ShoreTrips reserves bypass the line tickets wherever possible, which is not available at the Blue Mosque. On very crowded days, we will discuss the Blue Mosque from the outside and visit the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent (1557), which is Istanbul's largest and grandest of Istanbul’s mosques.