Blue Mosque, facing St. Sophia, famous for its blue İznik tiles and unique with its six minarets, was built for the Sultan Ahmet.

Hippodrome, was the center of sporting (Chariot races, athletics) events and political activities in the old Byzantine city.
Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column and German Fountain of Wilhelm II adorn the Hippodrome.

Lunch Break
Shopping (Grand Bazaar)
Topkapı Palace is the ex-imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Here on display is the Imperial Treasury, Chinese Porcelain Collection, which is the largest in the world, weapons, silk clothes of the Imperial Dynasty, objects of art and pavilions overlooking the whole city from a unique perspective.

Optional sights: Yerebatan Cistern, Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Süleymaniye Mosque, St. Saviour in Chora Monastery, City Walls, Spice Bazaar.

Bosphorus Cruise, through the strait separating Asia from Europe, offers you the chance to take pictures of marble palaces, old wooden seafront villas and pavilions of the Ottoman Era, beside modern residential and luxury apartments and to enjoy the beauty of this waterway between two continents.

Rumeli Fortress, historic castle built by the Conqueror to control and protect the Bosphorus. A unique example of military architecture.

Dolmabahçe Palace, the last residence of the Ottoman Sultans with its 365 rooms and 22 grand halls. Famous for its great collection of european antiquities and the 4.5 tons chandelier.

Bosphorus Bridge; unique chance to step from one continent to the other in two minutes.

Ahrida Synagogue was built in 1460 by Jews who migrated from the town of Ohri in Macedonia. It displays the universality in Jewish art.

Kuzguncuk Synagogue resembles the Ahrida Synagogue in its architectural style.

Jewish Hospital in Balat is the only Jewish medical facility in Istanbul. It has a synagogue and and a kitchen serving kosher food.

Jewish Cemetery in Ulus was erected after the Second World War. Now it houses the monument for 20 people who died at the attack on the Neve Shalom Synagogue in 1986.

You can visit and pray to the martyrs of the synagogues Beth Israel Şişli and Neve Shalom that loose their lives at the bombing attack of El Kaide the 15th November 2003.

After a visit at the Galata Tower, walking at the Pera Street, now officially Beyoğlu or Istiklal (Independence) Street visit of several catholic and orthodox churches with their portraits and ikonas.

Galatasaray Fish Market, Passage of Flowers, where you can taste the turkish “Raki” (The national drink), the main post office, Galatasaray High School and several consulate buildings having 19th Century architechtural styles, for example the British, French, Swedish and Russian Consulates.

Taksim Square with its Independence Monument showing Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkish Republic.

Tour of the island by horse-drawn carriages.

Visit the Byzantine monastery on the island..

One hour drive to Bursa, the former capital city of the Ottoman Empire, before Istanbul was conquered.

Opportunity to see the lovely countryside.

Visit Ulucami, The Green Complex and early Ottoman mosques and eat lunch at a very famous restaurant:

“The Kebab House of Alexander the Great.”

Shopping in “Koza Hanı”, the famous silk bazaar of Bursa.

Return to Istanbul late in the evening.

We can also organize dinner cruises, Turkish cabaret shows with belly dancers and folklore dance groups.

 The museums, churches, palaces, mosques and bazaars and the sights of natural beauty seem inexhaustible. Istanbul is truly one of the most glorious cities in the world.