Private Guided Bosphorus Cruise

Istanbul is the only city situated between the continents and two seas; the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. The strait of Istanbul, called Bosphorus, splits the city into two parts, the Asian and European sides, and stretches from South to North of Istanbul about 31 km. There are many historical buildings, palaces, mosques, churches in the settlements of the Bosphorus. The Bosphorus itself is a highlight of Istanbul, where even the locals spend time in the cafes, restaurants, or fishing. We are recommending doing two hours Bosphorus Cruise with a public boat which departs every hour by the Golden Horn, and after the cruise, you can also visit:

Bosphorus Cruise: The strait divides Istanbul into two continents and stretches about 32 km between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Along the Bosphorus, there are many settlements to see, such as great Palaces, hotels, yali (private houses), etc. While you are on the boat, you will see the highlights 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), Maiden’s Tower to name a few.

Dolmabahce Palace: built by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmejid between 1843-1856 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 contains 285 rooms, 6 baths, 46 halls.

Taksim Square-Istiklal Street: for the majority of the residents, Taksim Square and Istiklal Street are the heart of Istanbul, where the cafes and the restaurants are located along the pedestrianized avenue. The Street stretches between Taksim Square and the Galata Tower, which is 1,4 kilometers (0.87 miles).

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

• Dolmabahçe Palace is closed on Mondays.

The former capital city of the empires; Roman Empire (330-395), Byzantine Empire (395-1204, 1261-1453), Latin Empire (1204-1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922). Istanbul was founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great and named the city Constantinople which means “the city of Constantine,” then declared it as the new capital city of the Roman Empire. Since Istanbul is situated between Europe and Asia, it has always been such an important city. With the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman remainings, Istanbul is in Unesco World Heritage list city that the whole city is like an open-air museum. The mosques, palaces, churches, synagogues, modernity, and history make Istanbul a world civilization city with all these contrasts. We offer a private guided Istanbul tour to witness all these with your own eyes. In Istanbul Old City Tour, you are visiting:

The Hippodrome: an ancient chariot races U-shaped stadium with 100,000 spectators. Even though 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 built between 1609-1616. Even if it is officially called Sultanahmet Mosque, it was named the travelers’ Blue Mosque after seeing the blue tiles inside.

The Topkapi Palace: Once was the heart of the Ottoman Empire as a residential palace and headquarters. Sultan Mehmet II built the palace in the 15th century; then, it became the Ottoman Empire’s center. Since 1924, The Topkapi Palace serves as a museum.

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

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

The Grand Bazaar: the oldest and the largest functioning market globally that it houses over 4,000 stores, 61 streets, and completely covered. Sultan Mehmet II built the Grand Bazaar in the 15th century; then, it was enlarged by the following sultans. Your guide will be more than happy to help you find your masterpiece of Turkish art upon your request.

• The Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
• The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.