This tour lets you explore the highlights of the old quarter of Istanbul "Sultanahmet" on a half day excursion. Maximum duration would be 4 hours. All places mentioned below are within walking distance from each other.

Places to visit on this tour:

-Hagia Sophia (Church of Divine Wisdom)

-Hippodrome (At Meydani)

-Blue Mosque

-Grand Covered Bazaar

The following rates are "flat fee", including the guidance and transportation costs.

GUIDANCE:

*Half Day private guidance service : 90,00 USD per day

TRANSPORTATION: 

*Half Day Minivan with driver : 120 USD including VAT plus 15 USD parking fees = 1 to 6  people / per day

Half day Istanbul private tour cost: 225,00 USD / 09:00am to 01:00pm or afternoon 01:00pm to 05:00pm

Any service in Istanbul which ends after 1:00 pm goes into a FULL DAY charge in terms of guide and transportation.

The above rates include:

INCLUSIONS
Complimentary water on board the van throughout the tour
Local transportation by a private chauffeur driven deluxe van with A/C
Services of professional English-speaking tour guide who licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and expert on Turkey's history and culture.
V.A.T

EXCLUSIONS
Any entrance fees to the sites and museums, lunches and/or dinners, alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, personal expenses and gratuity to guides & drivers.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE OLD DISTICT “SULTANAHMET”
You will be met at the pier by your guide for your half day tour to explore the highlights of the old district of Istanbul. Our first stop is at the Church of Divine Wisdom (Aya Sofya in Turkish, Sancta Sophia in Latin, Hagia Sofia in Greek). Converted into a museum by Ataturk, Aya Sofya was built by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. Also called the Church of Divine Wisdom, it is one of the greatest architectural marvels of all times and a masterpiece of grandeur and proportion. The word “Hagia” in Greek means “Divine” and “Sophia” means “Wisdom”. Divine Wisdom is one of the attributes of Jesus Christ and this church is devoted to his divine wisdom. It played a very important role in the Byzantine Empire as being the grandest church in Christendom until its conversion into a mosque by Sultan Mehmet II just after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. After seeing Aya Sofya, proceed to The Hippodrome which served as the center of Byzantine civic life for 1000 years, including coronations and Roman chariot races. The vast Hippodrome, also known as “At Meydani” or “Plaza of the Horses” stretches between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque with its four monuments, German Fountain of Wilhelm II, the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Across from Hagia Sophia, is the elegant "Blue Mosque" of Sultan Ahmed I, with its six minarets. Built in the early 17th century, Blue Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks of Istanbul. Its popular name is derived from its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. Undoubtedly, it impresses every eye that sees it for the first time with its beautiful interior design, domes and semidomes, nice courtyards and six slender minarets. Our last stop will be at the famous Grand Covered Bazaar; the oldest and the largest covered marketplace in the world. In this reputed bazaar’s more than 4000 shops, any kind of item can be found… jewellery products, carpet sellers, furniture artisans, brassware and trays, meerschaum pipers, hand-honed copperware, hand painted ceramic works, onyxware, souvenir shops and leather goods. At the end of the tour, return your cruise ship.

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) Museum is closed on Mondays.

Grand Covered Bazaar is closed on Sundays.

Note: We do NOT include the costs of lunches in Istanbul programs as there are so many different choices in this enormous city.
You can always discuss lunch & dinner places with your tour guide right on the spot, get free advice depending on your preferences.

If you would be staying in a hotel in Sultanahmet area, this tour can be done as a walking tour, without the necessity of using a vehicle.