HALF DAY TOUR WITH ST. SOPHIA, AND TRANSFER SHIP - HOTEL
HALF DAY TOUR WITH ST. SOPHIA, AND TRANSFER SHIP - HOTEL
After breakfast, you will meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel. Please have your luggage with you. Your exploration of the history and architecture of these special attractions will begin with the Blue Mosque. It is one of the most famed materpieces of Ottoman religious architecture and is named after its turquoise colored tiles made of quartz minerals.
The Ottoman Sultans preferred to pray in this timeless shrine due to its incomparable beauty until the collapse of the Empire just after World War I.
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 are expected to cover their heads.
Just across from the Blue Mosque stands the Basilica of Saint Sophia, built by Justinian the Great during the 6th century. This massive structure, a jewel in Turkey's Byzantine crown, will amaze you with its gigantic dome. The marvelous Hagia Sophia, a former patriarchal basilica and later a mosque, is now a fascinating museum.
Enjoy some time at the Grand Bazaar for shopping as your last stop. Your guide can direct you and will certainly help you with your bargaining. Surely you will find something here as there are more than 4,000 vendors selling everything from spices to furniture to souvenirs!
- This tour includes:
- Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle between the cruise ship pier and your hotel
- English-speaking guide
- Entrance and parking fees
- St. Sophia
- 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) This departure time can be adjusted by calling ShoreTrips before booking.
Transfer / Meeting Instructions
No Taxi Required Specific pick up or taxi instructions will appear on your voucher after you purchase your trip.Special Instructions
• Guests will be picked up from their hotel at 9 a.m. and, after concluding their half day tour around 1 p.m., will be transferred to the pier at approx. 1:30 p.m. when ships start accepting passengers for embarkation.