Experience Istanbul Tour
A crossroad of food and culture, exotic and familiar, East and West. Istanbul has something for everyone
Summary
No dates available currently. Please contact us for inquiries about Istanbul.
A crossroads of cultures for many centuries, this city that straddles the continents of Europe and Asia offers a mix of exotic and familiar, historic and modern. With incredible architecture, bustling bazaars, and food from across the territories of the former Ottoman Empire, this is a city that has something for every type of traveler.
Tour by:
Photos
Tour Start
Istanbul
Tour Finish
Istanbul
Trip Type
Classic
Physical Level
moderate
Cultural Rating
moderate
Ages
18 must be accompanied by an adult
Group Size
10
Minimum of 4 to run this tour. Please wait for confirmation before booking flights.
Included
Admissions to all included attractions and sights.
Seven (7) nights of accommodations.
All transportation in Istanbul except airport transfer. Airport transfer via public shuttle bus to the guesthouse can be arranged at additional cost.
Large buffet breakfast plus at least one other meal per day.
Not Included
International airfare to/from Istanbul
Compulsory Travel/health insurance (Browse policies at World Nomads, our recommended travel insurance provider.)
You will be responsible for about one meal per day. Budget between $8-10 per meal.
Additional services not mentioned in the program.
Alcoholic drinks at meals
Additional costs due to personal problems (health, loss of luggage, etc.).
Visa (if necessary-details here).
Itinerary
- Day 1Arrival in IstanbulArrive to Istanbul. We'll meet in the lobby of our guesthouse this evening for a welcome dinner and to get acquainted, as well as to discuss in more detail what plans are for the week's adventures.
- Day 2Sultanahmet areaTo get our bearings in the city, we'll start exploring Istanbul in the central Sultanahmet area. The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and Topkapi Palace are all within a few minutes walk of the central Hippodrome plaza. A short distance away the Spice Bazaar, Rustem Pasa mosque, and 'Balik Ekmek' restaurants on the waterfront of the Golden Horn will round out the evening.
- Day 3Grand Bazaar and Buyuk Valide HanWe'll push a little deeper into Istanbul's intercultural past today, into the Grand Bazaar and Buyuk Valide Han (both traditional merchant quarters that have been centers of commerce in the city for hundreds of years). After that we'll push into less touristy neighborhoods, on a walk through the campus of Istanbul University and up to the magnificent Suleymaniye Mosque before finishing off the day in a neighborhood restaurant specializing in absurdly large plates of grilled meat and veggies.
- Day 4Princes' IslandsWe'll ferry out for a day to the Princes' Islands, a collection of small islands in the mouth of the Bosphorus where Istanbullus often spend beautiful summer days. After a bike ride around the island's carless roads (watch out for horse buggies, though) we'll head back to the harbor for a seafood feast looking out towards Istanbul across the water.
- Day 5Today starts off with a trip to the Asian side, and a walk through the markets and neighborhoods of Kadikoy and Moda. After lunch at a traditional Kurdish restaurant we'll head back to European Istanbul to the Taksim area to see one of the focal points of the modern city, and meander down the central shopping and promenade street 'Istiklal Avenue' past the Venetian-era Galata Tower and the restaurants of Karakoy down below.
- Day 6Bosphorus CruiseToday we're out on the water. We'll spend most of the day on a Bosphorus Cruise, stopping at the far end to climb through the Anadolu Forest and up to the Yoros Castle for views out to the Black Sea. On the way back into town, we'll squeeze in another ferry up to the top of the Golden Horn to catch sunset from Pierre Loti cafe.
- Day 7Architecture and HistoryToday is a day for architecture and history. From the former Church of the Holy Savior in Chora (now a museum highlighting the incredible 14th-century mosaics therein) and nearby City Walls, we'll head back up the Bosphorus to the Dolmabahce Palace and Rumeli Hisari Castle.
- Day 8SultanahmetAfter one last breakfast overlooking the Bosphorus, we'll wander around the backstreets of the Sultanahmet area until it's time to head to the airport. If you want to stay in Istanbul longer or explore more of Turkey, we can also offer advice on how to get around and where to go for the remainder of your trip.
More Information
Packing List for Istanbul Tour (recommended)
- Comfortable shoes for walking. We’ll be up, down, and all around the city on this trip so come prepared to spend time on your feet during the day!
- October can be brilliant blue skies and sunshine, or cloudy rainy weather all day long. Bring something to keep you cool, something to keep you warm, and something to keep you dry. Also, parts of Istanbul are still quite traditional, and as we enter mosques and other holy sites all members of the group will be expected to dress conservatively. For everybody, this means to keep your legs and shoulders covered. For women, it also means you’ll be expected to cover your head. Shawls are provided (at no cost) in most of the biggest sites where they’re required, but if you’re concerned about looking good for photos it’s also a good idea to bring a shawl or sarong for this purpose.
- Moneybelt, to keep spare cash safe.
- Backup cash (Credit card use is somewhat common and ATMs are easy to find, but it’s always a good idea to carry a bit of cash as a backup plan.
Useful Information
- Note that many nationalities require a visa to enter Turkey. Please visit the country’s official e-Visa website for more information and to complete the process. Turkish law also requires that your passport is valid for at least 60 days beyond the duration of stay of your visa, which for most of us on this trip will require a passport expiration date of 2nd March 2017 or later.
- We’ve done our best to arrange as diverse an introduction to Turkish cuisine as is possible in one week, with preference to small local restaurants that sometimes have limited menus. As such, it’s essential to inform us ahead of time if you have any dietary restrictions that need to be taken into consideration.
- If you’d like to learn some basic Turkish niceties before you visit Istanbul, online resource Duolingo is a good (and free) resource to start with.
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Accommodation
We’ll be staying at a high-end guesthouse in the Sultanahmet quarter, just downhill from the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque and with a large terrace overlooking the Bosphorus and Istanbul’s Asian side.
*Price based on sharing of twin/double room in a good quality and comfortable guesthouse. Single and/or cost-sensitive travelers may be able to book accommodation in a shared dormitory, please contact us for further details.
Important Notes
Cancellations and Refunds
If you must cancel your reservation for a tour and/or its extension, we will refund your payment, less the following fees per tour and/or extension:
| Days Prior to Trip Start Date | Trip Cancellation Fee Per Person |
| 60+ days | $250 |
| 31 – 60 days | 50% of trip price |
| 0-30 days | 100% of trip price |
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