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The lit colonnade of the Basilica Cistern receding into the dark.

Türkiye

Christmas Shopping Festival

Istanbul

Heritage

Bhasker Thodla · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

5 days and 4 nights through Istanbul. Takes in Open Air Museum, Hagia Sophia Museum and Blue Mosque. Shaped around your dates, your hotels and your pace — this is the route as it stands, not a fixed departure.

Suits

  • Architecture and history
  • A short break that still goes somewhere

Day by day

Day 01

Arrive — Istanbul

Arrive Istanbul airport, meet and greet by driver. Transfer to hotel. Evening Bosphorus Cruise with Dinner & Folkloric Show (unlimited non-alcoholic local drinks are included) Evening Bosphorus Cruise with Dinner & Folkloric Show is a popular tourist activity in Istanbul, Turkey. It offers an unforgettable experience where you get to explore the beauty of the Bosphorus Strait, a natural waterway that separates Europe and Asia while enjoying a scrumptious dinner on board and being entertained by a traditional Turkish folkloric show. The evening generally starts with hotel pickup and transfer to the cruise departure point. Once aboard the boat, you will be offered a welcome drink to kick off the evening. As the cruise starts, you will have the opportunity to take in the beautiful views of historical landmarks such as Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, Maiden's Tower, and the Bosphorus Bridge, all elegantly lit up at night. The dinner comprises a large selection of Turkish cuisine, including appetizers, main courses, and desserts. Beverages, non-alcoholic. Throughout the evening, you will be entertained by a captivating folkloric show that covers various aspects of Turkish cultures, such as traditional dances, belly dancing, live music, and more. If you're lucky, you might even be invited to participate in some of the dances. Towards the end of the evening, the…

Day 02

Istanbul

Breakfast at Hotel. Guests will be picked up and brought to the Sultanahmet district, the oldest, most historic part of the city. The first stop of the day will be the Hagia Sophia, as our tour guide explains the significance of this massive building that was once a Christian church, then a mosque, then a museum and now a mosque. Afterward, we will pass the Hippodrome of Constantinople, where we will see the sites impressive obelisk, before reaching the Blue Mosque. We should be sure to take pictures of both the interior and exterior of this impressive building. Next, we will continue to the Grand Bazaar, a massive, bustling complex to find clothing, decorative furnishings, food, and more. On the way to the bazaar, we will see other historical monuments, like the Tomb of Sultan Ahmet I, the Firuz Aga Mosque, and the exterior of the Tomb of Mehmed II. After our visit to the Grand Bazaar, we will make a brief stop for lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit Topkapi Palace, the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. Afterward, the guests are returned to their hotels. Important Notices In case the Grand Bazaar is closed, ARASTA bazaar will be given instead. For ladies, they have to wear scarf to be able to visit the mosques.

Day 03

Princess Island Tour

Breakfast at Hotel. Explore Büyükada, the largest of Turkey’s Prince's islands, on this 9-hour excursion from Istanbul. Cruise across the Sea of Marmara, watching the sights of Istanbul slip from view. See the pedestrianized island in the best possible way – by bike (not included) or spend time at leisure, perhaps relaxing on one of its beaches, before returning to Istanbul. Travel from your hotel by air-conditioned coach to the port with your guide, and board the boat that will take you to the Prince's islands. The largest and most interesting of the islands is Büyükada, which is your destination for the day. From the boat, look back on the sights of Istanbul, seeing iconic landmarks such as Topkapi Palace and the pretty Kiz Kulesi (also known as the Maiden’s Tower), which was featured in the James Bond film, The World is Not Enough. Dock in Büyükada and then take a stroll through the streets on your own, soaking up the laid-back atmosphere of island life. Return to the boat and listen as your guide talks about the island’s history during the ride. Learn about its time as a place of exile for banished statesmen and royalty, and of its life as a monastic settlement during Turkey’s Byzantine-Christian period. Pass lovely wooden mansions that are stunning examples of the island’s late Ottoman-era architecture, and look out over the sparkling sea. Seagulls are everywhere in…

Day 04

Shopping Day

Breakfast at Hotel. One of the city's leading malls, City's Nisantasi Shopping Center, is located on Teşvikiye Street in Nişantaşı, a famous center in the heart of the town. The mall has several Turkish boutiques to look out for, convenient underground parking, rooftop restaurants, a food court and a cinema Or Shopping at Kadikoy: It is Considered one of the best shopping places in Istanbul, as it contains a group of luxury brands such as it contains a group of luxury brands such as Vaco, Tommy Hilfiger, and Michael Kors, and local boutiques such as which includes Turkish sellers. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 05

Fly Back Home

Breakfast at Hotel. Free time for shopping at Istiklal street. It is located near Taksim square. Includes many shops, restaurants, cafes and a wide range of the most expensive brands. Afternoon, transfer to the airport.

What the service covers

  • All accommodation as listed, with daily breakfast
  • All ground transport by private, air-conditioned vehicle
  • Meals as named in the day-by-day
  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure
  • Entrance fees for the sightseeing named in the itinerary
  • A single named trip designer, reachable by WhatsApp for the whole journey

Not included

  • International flights, unless the itinerary says otherwise
  • Visa fees, travel insurance and anything a government charges directly
  • Meals other than those named in the day-by-day
  • Anything personal — minibar, laundry, spa, tips and porterage
  • Optional experiences and upgrades offered on the ground

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