Excursion 1 day private experience package - 2 guests tour at Istanbul

Visit the main highlights of Istanbul with your exclusive guide on this full day excursion by private vehicle.

Your private tour will involve:

Byzantine Hippodrome, St. Sophia Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar

Free time for lunch at your leisure will be included in the itinerary and your guide will be able to make recommendations based on your requirements.

Detailed Itinerary:

The Hippodrome

Your day will start here, at the Hippodrome, where you can picture yourself an other side of ancient life. Here, Byzantine entertainment took place, including violent gladiator fights, chariot races, and other sporting events. With seating for 100,000, this enormous stadium was at the center of Constantinople's entertainment and political life. Leaving the Hippodrome, you will have chance to view the Blue Mosque before head to your next destination. This incredible monument was completed in 1616 and is a triumph of harmony, proportion and elegance.

Haghia Sophia Mosque

Continue to Haghia Sophia, the 6th-century Byzantine church whose name means "Divine Wisdom", and which has been nominated the 8th wonder of the world by many historians. At one time, it may have been the largest building on the world's entire surface, and as a manmade structure ranked behind only the Great Pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China. For many centuries it stood as the largest church in the world and today remains the 4th largest, behind St. Paul's in London, St. Peter's in Rome and the Duomo in Milan. The minarets that now tower above the gigantic dome were added after the conquest of Istanbul in 1453, when the church was converted into a mosque. As a testament to its grandeur, the greatest Ottoman architect, Mimar Sinan, once attested that he had spent his entire life trying to surpass its technical achievements.

Topkapi Palace

The next visit will be Topkapi Palace, which was the seat of the Ottoman Empire for nearly four centuries, and from where the sultans ruled over large portions of the globe. The palace, completed in 1465 and 1478, has some marvelous views both across the Bosphorus to the Sea of Marmara, and across the Golden Horn to the skyline of Galata and greater Istanbul. The Palace was in effect a self-contained city of its own, with a population of around 4,000 people, and covering an area of 70 hectares. 25 Sultans, from Sultan Mehmet II to Abdulmecit, over the course of 400 years, lived here in opulence. In 1924, only one year after Ataturk proclaimed the Turkish Republic, its official functions ceased and it was converted into a museum. Walk the grounds, explore the gardens once trodden over by Sultans, viziers, guards and women of the harem, and you will have a glimpse into a way of life that no longer exists. On you private tour you will see several sections of the Topkapi Museum's collections, including a Porcelain display containing one of the world's richest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and also features the famous Harem section, the subject of numerous books and movies.

Lunch at Leisure

After completing the visit, free time will be provided to enjoy a local lunch.

The Grand Bazaar

Finally stop at the Grand Bazaar, a massive, historically important covered bazaar (the largest covered shopping space in the world), that can tempt even the thriftiest of shoppers with its unfathomable collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather and souvenirs.

After completing the visits, drive back to the pier.

Points of interests

points of interest seen on this excursion may include: Byzantine Hippodrome, St. Sophia Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar

Note

Please note: This tour is non-refundable if cancelled within 48 hours prior to the cruise start date.  Actual vehicle type varies depending on availability. Participation is limited to the number of guests specified in the tour title. The price, exclusive of meals and gratuities, is per vehicle; therefore, when making your reservation, please indicate the number of vehicles, not the number of guests. Only one person in the party needs to reserve this program and the cost of the tour may be split between suites. Entrance fees mentioned in the tour description are included in the selling price for the number of guests specified in the tour title. Silversea Cruises does not match groups of guests to form a private group for the vehicle. Should your party size differ from the options available, please contact shoreconcierge@silversea.com. We suggest wearing light-weight comfortable clothing and flat walking shoes. Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the mosques and ladies must cover their heads. Visit to St. Sophia Mosque will take place to the upper gallery floor and access via ramp and few steps. Guides’ commentary will be limited inside the mosque regarding to official rules and headsets devices will be used during the visit. As guests make their way back to the exit, they will encounter 30 steps before reaching the ramp, followed by a few steps and cobblestone road just before exit. The mosque is not wheelchair accessible. This tour involves extensive walking. Meals and beverages are not included; your licensed guide will give you suggestion for lunch stop in case of need. Deviations to duration, venue admissions and additional camera or video fees will be charged to your onboard account. The order of sites visited may vary, depending on sites opening times and operational reasons.