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You will be greeted at the airport and taken to your hotel. The remainder of the day/evening may be spent resting or sightseeing the beautiful, ancient city of Istanbul.
Take the ferry from Istanbul to Büyükada, the largest of the Princes' Islands, on a day tour. Relax on a tranquil island where there are no cars and see Büyükada's elegant Ottoman mansions, pine forests, and plum trees from your horse-drawn carriage.
- See Istanbul and the Princes' Islands from the ferry
- Explore the island of Büyükada by horse-drawn carriage
- Check out Büyükada's magnificent Ottoman mansions
Full description
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. At 9:00 am you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the tour of Princess Island.
Escape the bustle of Istanbul for a leisurely cruise across the Sea of Marmara to the unspoiled island of Büyükada, and pass by the smaller Princes' Islands that surround Büyükada along the way.
Riding around the island by horse-drawn carriage will take you back to a more gracious age, when the 19th-century bourgeoisie would stroll down to the waterfront for afternoon promenades.
Lunch will be served at a traditional fish restaurant on the waterfront, where you can see Istanbul's Asian shoreline. Some of the Turkish capital's most popular sights can also be seen from the sea. Check out Topkapi Palace, Leander's Tower, and Uskudar, and then hop back on the ferry to Istanbul, having had a tranquil day that harks back to Turkey's Golden Age.
Additional Information
- Round-trip transfer from Istanbul hotels in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
- Entrance fees
- Transportation, Guiding, Ferry fee, Local Lunch
Admire Istanbul's main attractions on this full-day guided tour. You’ll visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar. From history to shopping, this sightseeing tour offers an authentic Istanbul experience.
- Visit the Blue Mosque, a stunning example of Ottoman architecture
- Feast your eyes on the Hagia Sophia, one of Turkey’s most important museums
- Marvel at the grandeur of Topkapi Palace
- Shop at the massive Grand Bazaar
Full description
This full-day sightseeing tour of Istanbul provides a perfect introduction to the city that straddles Europe and Asia.
When Istanbul was known as Constantinople, it was the capital of the Roman Empire and the wealthiest metropolis in Europe. On this city tour you’ll visit Istanbul’s 4 most important historic sites with a local guide.
The Blue Mosque is an iconic monument in both the Turkish and Islamic worlds. The stunning structure was built in the classical Ottoman style, and features 6 towering minarets and 260 windows that provide illumination for its vast inner chamber that is lined with more than 20,000 Iznik tiles.
In the 6th century, the Hagia Sophia was built by the Emperor Justinian. After the Ottoman conquest, it was converted to a mosque and later converted into a museum, featuring many beautiful Byzantine mosaics.
One of the largest and oldest palaces in the world, Topkapi is the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire. With its treasury and exotic buildings overlooking the Golden Horn, walking Topkapi's grounds offers gorgeous views of the city and the nearby Bosphorus.
You’ll have time to shop at the Grand Bazaar – its 58 streets are lined with more than 4,000 shops. It is one of the world's largest covered markets, and is particularly known for its jewelry, leather, pottery, spices, and carpets.
Additional Information
The local tour provider reserves the right to change the tour itinerary due to unexpected circumstances such as museum closures, holidays, strikes, weather conditions, and other events.
Explore Istanbul and the Bosphorus on a full-day tour and see the main sights, including the Spice Bazaar, Dolmabahce Palace, and Camlica Hill. Then take a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus and ride by cable car to the highest point of the city.
- Enjoy a full-day tour of Istanbul's major attractions by coach, boat, and cable car
- Experience the fragrant atmosphere of the Spice Bazaar
- Drive along the Golden Horn and see the historic port of ancient Istanbul
- Take a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus
- Tour the inside of Dolmabahce Palace, home to the last Ottoman Sultans
- See the Bosphorus Bridge, connecting Europe and Asia
- Take in the best views of the city from the top of Camlica Hill
- Ride the cable car to Pierre Loti Hill
Full Description
Get a comprehensive overview of Istanbul on this full-day tour of the city by coach, boat, and cable car. You will be picked up from your hotel at 9:00 am by bus and driven along the length of the Golden Horn, the historic water that divides Istanbul.
Take in the sites of the historic city center and the main port, dating back to the Ottoman and Byzantine empires. In the district of Eminonu, you will stop to explore the delights of Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, where the air is filled with the aroma of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme, and every other conceivable herb and spice. Marvel at the beauty of the Yeni Mosque, opposite the Bazaar and across a monumental courtyard.
Travel to the top of Pierre Loti Hill by cable car, and admire panoramic views of the city as you drink coffee at the famous Pierre Loti Café, named after the French novelist who spent much of his time there.
Experience the splendor of Istanbul from the water. In the afternoon you will enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus and take in the grand spectacle of the city’s houses and palaces from the river. You will also be taken on a tour of Dolmabahce Palace, home to the last of the Ottoman Sultans. Admire one of the most glamorous palaces in the world, once the administrative heart of the Ottoman Empire.
Your day will be complete with a visit to the Bosphorus Bridge and a trip to the top of Camlica Hill, the highest point of Istanbul. Perfect for those who aim to get a sense for what makes Istanbul unique, this full-day exploration gives a varied tour of the city. It will reveal a mixture of Eastern and European influences that makes the city so unique.
Included
- Transportation by fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
- English-speaking guide
- Entrance fees
- Lunch
- Return transfer to your hotel
Enjoy a full-day trip to Bursa, an Ottoman capital city filled with fascinating relics of the past. Enjoy its many green spaces, visit the ancient Grand Mosque, snack on roasted chestnuts and Turkish sweets, and wander through its silk market.
- Soak in the incredible view as you take the cable car up Mt. Uludağ
- Enjoy a BBQ lunch
- Taste some of the traditional local products, like roasted chestnuts or Turkish sweets
- Pay a visit to the ancient Ulucami (Grand Mosque)
Full description
Departing from your hotel in Istanbul at 08:00, head directly for the port and board a ferry-boat that will take you to the city of Bursa.
The streets of Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, are filled with relics of the past, including historical buildings and artifacts that tell the story of Turkish history, culture and civilization. Often called "Green Bursa," the city is also filled with lush parks and gardens, vast forests, and orchards.
Take the cable car to the Mt. Uludağ, where you will enjoy a BBQ lunch before visiting Ulucami (Grand Mosque). The mosque, built between 1399 and 1400, is still the largest mosque in Bursa. There, you can admire its exquisite calligraphy and the great craftsmanship.
Afterwards, you may enjoy some famous local Turkish products, including roasted chestnuts and Turkish sweets.
Before the day is done, pay a visit to Bursa's silk market and then begin your journey back to Istanbul.
Included
- Car Ferry from Istanbul to Bursa.
- Transportation during the tour in Bursa.
- Live guide (English, Arabic speaking)
- Cable car in Bursa for the mountain.
- Barbecue Lunch on the mountain.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
You will be transferred to the airport for your return home.
Istanbul to Bursa day trips are a popular choice for those making Istanbul a base from which to explore
Turkey. The Bursa Tour is the best way to visit the city of Bursa which was the capital of the Ottoman
Empire.
Ottoman Empire was one of the largest empires in the history. Bursa was its first capital. The city that is
settled on the northwestern slopes of Mount Uludag is known as "Yesil Bursa" (meaning "Green Bursa")
from its beautiful parks and gardens located throughout the city. Bursa offers fresh air from the lush
vegetation and the vast forests as well as all the advantages of a big city, by being one of the
fourth biggest cities in Turkey. It is also known for its peaches, chestnuts, silk industry, its thermal
baths, interesting museums (notably a rich museum of archaeology) as well as its famous ski resort.
Start your one-day trip to Bursa with a pickup from your European-side Istanbul hotel, and travel
to the port where your ferry awaits. You will depart Istanbul by ferry-boat and cruise across the
Sea of Marmara, enjoying a beautiful view. Your drive to Bursa will continue in an air-
conditioned minivan. After just over two hours of traveling, arrive into Bursa, the first capital
city of the Ottoman Empire.
You will experience a magnificent view and clean, fresh air climbing up Uludağ Mountain by
cable car arriving to top of mountain which is 2.486 metres above sea level. Barbeque lunch will
be provided on the mountain. Skiing options are limited to only winter months. Returning to
Istanbul, you will see the famous, old tree which is more than 600 years old!