Highlights
- Rich Historical Insights: Discover the history of the Ottoman Empire through its most iconic landmarks.
- Cultural Highlights: Explore Topkapi Palace and the Sultans’ Tombs, two treasures of Istanbul’s Old Town.
- Convenience: Includes hotel pickup and drop-off for a hassle-free experience.
- Half-Day Schedule: Ideal for those with limited time who want to experience Ottoman Istanbul.
Inclusions
- Hotel Pick up and drop off (From Central Hotels)
- Guiding Service During the Tour
- Transportation by air-conditioned non-smoking tour coaches
- Parking and Road tolls
- Local Taxes
Exclusions
- Topkapi Palace Entrance Fee
- Personal Expenses
- Optional Istanbul Day Tours & Istanbul Night Tours
- Meals
Remarks
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday; replaced with Beylerbeyi Palace.
- Sultans Tombs closed on Monday.
- Exact pickup time will be given at the time of booking.
- You are kindly requested to present yourself at the pickup point 15 minutes prior the pre-advised pickup time.
- Comfortable shoes and a hat is recommended as shade is limited in summer time.
- The order of the tour itinerary may vary in order to avoid congestion.
Istanbul Ottoman Relics Tour: Explore Topkapi Palace & Sultans’ Tombs
Delve into the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire with this Half-Day Ottoman Relics Tour, where you’ll explore the magnificent Topkapi Palace and the Sultans’ Tombs. Discover the history, culture, and artistry of the empire that shaped Istanbul for centuries.
Itinerary: Half-Day Ottoman Relics Tour
13:30 – Hotel Pickup
Begin your journey with a convenient pickup from your hotel. Meet your guide and group as we head to Sultanahmet, the historic heart of Istanbul and the center of the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires.
Highlights of the Tour:
- Sultans’ Tombs
Visit the burial site of five Ottoman sultans, located within the graveyard of Hagia Sophia. Admire the intricate ceramic panels adorned with vibrant colors like purple, green, blue, and red, showcasing exquisite 16th-century artistry. Learn about the history of the Sultans and view unique artifacts, including prince robes and pieces of the Kaaba cover displayed on the sarcophaguses. - Topkapi Palace
Step into the grand residence of Ottoman sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. Explore its opulent halls and collections, including:- Precious gems and jewelry.
- Thrones and robes were worn by the sultans and their families.
- Miniatures, sacred relics, and artifacts belonging to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Learn about the palace’s role as the center of Ottoman power and its significance in world history.
17:00 – Hotel Drop-Off
At the end of the tour, enjoy a comfortable drop-off back at your hotel, carrying memories of Istanbul’s Ottoman heritage.
Emily –
Historicly tour of istanbul that I recommend to every one, once in a life. It needs to be with a professional tour guide that will be informed you about your wonders.
Michael –
In Istanbul, this is an Unfortunately day for The person Who is interest in The history. Do not miss this historical sites when you are in Turkey.
Amrita –
The secret sites of Istanbul. Recommend to every one to discover those places.
Criado Silvia –
Unforgetable day in Istanbul with my family, It was a very nice touring with a very own tour guide that was we wanted to do in Istanbul. Thank you very much Mr. Mehmet.
Frederico –
I checked internet and found the istanbuldaytours.com and started to write for my request of Byzantine and Ottoman Tour. I got the reply from Mr. Senol after 1 hour. He is a person working in istanbuldaytours.com. All details were in the website and to be sure I asked again then yes, I booked the tour with him. Everything were perfect, like pick up, drop off, guiding, lunch. Specially the museum of Topkapi Palace and St. Sophia were important for me. It was very good with a professional tour guide.
Gerry –
The special place and private tour of them with a private tour guide and driver in Istanbul was perfect. Recommend to everyone.
Martin –
Wonderful tour organisation, thank you very much to Mr. Mehmet Fidan.
Thony –
I had done this tour in 22 10. It was excellent tour for me that stisfied me with its historical information given by tour guide and historical site as a touristical activities.
Natalia –
It was an excellent tour in Istanbul, me and my family joined this tour, Firstly I thought that all the place are on the walking distance why need to join because of the seller was saying that you need to join because of history and historical informavite guided service. Thank you very much Mr. Coskun. I understood after the tour,
McCabe –
First of all thank Mr. Mehmet, Everything was nice. I recommend this tour to every one.
Jenny –
It was excellent to experience the museum of St. Sophia and Topkapi Palace with Blue Mosque, I mostly liked St. Sophia Museum. Well organized trip with a professional tour guide (Mr. Mahmut).
Nancey –
It was excellent trip. Especialy, St. Sophia and Topkapi Palace, I recommend to everyone.
Amanda –
I liked the walking in the history. It was excellent trip.
Anto –
The tour was covered the most historical sites that tourists visiting in Istanbul. Everywhere were so busy, I recommend to make a private tour that you will not be waiting the line which you are getting to in. Other wise tour was very nice and well organized trip.
Istanbul Day Tours –
St. Sophia (Basilica) built by constantine the great in the 4th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time.
Sultanahmet mosque (Blue Mosque) built in the 16th century, is known as the blue mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.
Hippodrome (Byzantine Ancient Hippodrome), the obelisk of theodosius, the bronze serpentine column, german fountain and the column of constantine.
Covered bazaar (Grand Bazaar) There are more then 4,000 shops with each trade having its own area: the goldsmiths’ street, the carpet sellers, turkish arts and crafts, such as handpainted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes.
Topkapi palace the great palace of the ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of cyrstal, silver, and chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the imperial treasury, miniatures, the holy mantle; enshrining relics of the prophet mohammed.
Mike –
I liked this trip.
Dorothy –
Very well onganized, very nice day in Istanbul.
Annie & Lindsay –
Tour was a wonderful, taking my husband and me taken from hotel for the tour and then meet with tour guide and other participants. When every one come together, tour started at 09:00 am from meeting point by a short drive. We arrived to first step of tour, Hagia Sophia (Church) Museum, we didnt wait at the line to buy the tickets, It was ready and we quickly enter and then tour guide explained the history and important sites in the Church then gave us time walk in and ask our questions, It was about 30 – 40 minutes visiting with a tour guide.
After St. Sophia, we walked to Old Byzantine Hippodrome, It is about 4-5 minutes to get out from the St. Sophia and arrive to Byzantine Hippodrome. Here tour guide inform us about the Obelisk of Theodosius, the :ronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine, It was about 20 – 30 minutes.
After visiting the Byzantine Hippodrome we went to the Mosque Blue which is known Sultanahmet Mosque as well. It so close to Byzantine Hippodrome but to be in the Mosque taking a minute from Hippodrome. Here, tour guide was explaining about the Mosque and the tiles also with the paint of the mosque, It was very very beautiful symbol of Istanbul. It is beautiful as much as St. Sophia.
After visiting the Blue Mosque, tour was continues. We went to the bigest covered bazaar which was know Kapalı Çarş (Grand Covered Bazaar), Great place for shopping in the history there is no better then the Grand Covered Bazaar, I think. After tour guide explained the history, gave us free time to discover the street of the Bazaar (I need to say here, it is possible to spend a day in the Ground Bazaar) one hour was not enough.
After visiting and comleting our buying of gift for friends and carpet for my house, we went to meeting point and then tour guide and driver took us to local restaurant, I like the turkish foods, I liked the Adana Kebab, it wasvery very very delicious.
After lunch we went to visit the Museum of Topkapi Palace. It was a great place to visit. tour guide was explained the history about the each corner of the palace which was impressive history, We also wanted to see the Harem part of Topkapi Palac (It was extra), For me It was the place which gave the direction to Ottoman that is way I wanted to see. It was good to have the information and histories of it. Toppaki Palace was also very beautiful place which face of Ottoman about the architect.
After we visited the Topkapi Palace, tour was continued to the Little hagia Sophia Mosque which is look like to Hagia Sophia, It was nice discovery that It was used to be houes of GOD and know also it is the same (the prayers are praying with different way). It is a beautiful with its history and also with the architect and painting.
After Little Hagia Sophia Mosque, we returned back to hotel and tour ended. It was a very beautiful day with the history and local meals and I didnt tell anything about the tour guide. He was very nice person and he was knowledgeable guide, his english was perfect and was answering all the questions that we (all group) was asking and trying to learn different things.
Amy –
It was excellent trip that me and my friends we had join in Istanbul. From beginning to end with a professional tour guide. It was a very nice day and trip, recommend to everyone.