2 Days Private Istanbul Tour

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Private Guided Istanbul Tour

Former Roman Empire (330-395), Byzantine Empire (395-1204, 1261-1443), Latin Empire (1204-1261), and Ottoman Empire (1453-1922) capital city. Istanbul was founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, who dubbed the city Constantinople, which means “the city of Constantine,” and then designated it the new capital city of the Roman Empire.

Since Istanbul is positioned between Europe and Asia, it has long been an important metropolis. Featuring Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman relics, Istanbul is a Unesco World Heritage List city because the whole city is like an open-air museum. The mosques, palaces, cathedrals, synagogues, modernity, and history make Istanbul a world civilization metropolis with all these contrasts. We provide a private guided Istanbul trip to observe all this with your own eyes.

On the Istanbul Old City Tour, you are visiting:

The Hippodrome: an ancient chariot racing U-shaped arena with 100,000 spectators. Even after the Hippodrome had lost its seats, walls, and much of the remainings, the three monuments are still standing: the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpent Column, and Constantine Columns.

The Blue Mosque: an Ottoman imperial mosque that Sultan Ahmet erected between 1609 and 1616. Although it is officially called Sultanahmet Mosque, travelers dubbed it the Blue Mosque after witnessing the blue tiles inside.

The Topkapi Palace: Once the heart of the Ottoman Empire as a residential palace and headquarters, Sultan Mehmet II erected the palace in the 15th century, and subsequently, it became the hub of the Ottoman Empire. Since 1924, the Topkapi Palace functions as a museum.

Hagia Sophia was built by the Roman Emperor Justinian between 532 and 537 and became the highest and grandest cathedral globally. The church was transformed into a mosque by the Ottomans in the 15th century and became a museum in 1934. Hagia Sophia lost its museum designation in July 2020 and has become a mosque again. Like the other mosques, Hagia Sophia is available to visitors.

The Basilica Cistern: located by the Hagia Sophia, was erected by the Roman Emperor Justinian in the 6th century as an underground water reservoir. The cistern is 138 meters by 65 meters and around 9,800 square meters in area. It operates as a museum, and the most remarkable themes, rather than columns, are the Medusa heads, which are upside-down and right-side-down as marble bases.

The Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest working market globally; it has approximately 4,000 stores, 61 streets, and is covered. Sultan Mehmet II created the Great Bazaar in the 15th century, and later it was enlarged by successive sultans. Your guide will be more than pleased to help you find your masterpiece of Turkish art upon your request. Day

2: Private Guided Bosphorus Boat Trip

Istanbul is the only city positioned between the continents and two seas; the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. The strait of Istanbul, dubbed the Bosphorus, splits the city into two parts; the Asian and European sides, and spans from the south to the north of Istanbul, about 31 kilometers. There are many historical buildings, palaces, mosques, and churches in the villages of the Bosphorus.

The Bosphorus itself is a feature of Istanbul, where even the residents spend time in cafes, restaurants, or fishing. We propose doing a two-hour Bosphorus tour with the public boat, which sails every hour from the Golden Horn, and following the voyage, you may also visit: The

Bosphorus Cruise: The strait that splits Istanbul into two continents extends around 32 kilometers between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Along the Bosphorus, there are various towns to view, such as famous palaces, hotels, yali (private dwellings), etc. While you are on the boat, you will witness the attractions of the Bosphorus, including the Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Çırağan Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, Rumeli Fortress, Küçüksu Palace, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge ( the second bridge on the Bosphorus), and Maiden’s Tower, to mention a few.

Dolmabahce Palace: constructed by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmejid between 1843 and 1856 as the residential palace for the Ottoman royal family. The palace was designed by the Armenian architects, Garabet Balyan, Nigogayos Balyan, and Evans Kalfa. Dolmabahce Palace comprises 285 rooms, 6 baths, and 46 halls.

Taksim Square-Istiklal Street: for the majority of the population, Taksim Square and Istiklal Street are the centers of Istanbul, where the cafes and restaurants are located along the pedestrianized route. The street spans between Taksim Square and the Galata Tower, which is around 1,4 kilometers (0.87 miles) (0.87 miles).

Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar): constructed by Turhan Hatice, Sultan Mehmed IV’s mother, between 1660 and 1665. The market is the center of the spice trade in Istanbul, where you can even get sweets such as Turkish Delights, Baklava, and souvenirs.