From Museums to Mosques, Famous Istanbul Sights Await Discovery

From the soaring grandeur of the Hagia Sophia and exquisite ceramic tiles of the Blue Mosque to the atmospheric ‘sunken palace’ with its mysterious Medusa heads and the world’s largest covered markets, this tour takes place in Istanbul’s biggest sights and goes beyond them to show the participants the bustling energy of the city’s tea gardens, bazaars, and traditional workshops.

Places visited include Blue Mosque, Hippodrome Square, Hagia Sophia Museum, Underground Cistern, Grand Bazaar.

On this specially curated tour, we will pay visit to Fener and Balat neighbourhoods where one can still admire rows of traditional houses painted in a dizzying  array of bright colors, life continuing in a way that hasn’t change for undreds of years,  little known churches, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture, women gathering for tea on their patios, kids kicking balls around the streets, men playing cards in coffee-houses and last but  not least  some of the very best Istanbul views.

This tour is for anyone interested in experiencing the local’s life and culture, everyday life, traditional foods and the multicultural history of the city.

From traditional bakeries to kebap houses, fine dining restaurants to local eateries, the guests are introduced to a wide range of unforgettable culinary experiences. Delicious Istanbul Tour starts with breakfast (around 9am-9.30am), followed by on-the- go bites and drinks and finishes after lunch.

This tour is for foodies who want to get beyond the Turkish restaurants and eat what the locals eat; basically sample the best Turkish food.

The price includes private professional guidance and all the food, bites and drinks on the tour itinerary; meanwhile excludes transportation (unless otherwise mentioned).

We will explore the Ottoman heritage and stories of Istanbul on this exquisite itinerary that involves unique examples of Ottoman architecture such as imperial palaces, mosques, bazaars, tombs, bridges, fountains, hamams, pavilions and even a medieval production facility.

Places visited include Topkapı Palace, Istanbul Library, Süleymaniye Mosque, Spice Bazaar, New Mosque Tombs Section, Tophane Kasrı, Tophane Fountain, Tophane-i Amire. (Some of the monuments are visited from outside)

This tour is for anyone that wants to learn about one of the world’s most intriguing empires. By focusing on one (lengthy) era of Istanbul’s history, we go beyond the sights to introduce you to an important part of Istanbul’s multilayered past.

We start our day at Rahmi Koç Museum, a place full of “boy’s toys” from old submarines, to classic cars, to early aviation; Koc Museum is a very special Istanbul museum. Dedicated to transport, industry and communications and housed in industrial buildings on the banks of Golden Horn, it’s a great option for adults and children alike.

Among the child friendly activities you can do at the museum there is the colorful mathematics world, science and technology workshop, discovery sphere, submarine visit, Golden Horn boat tours, nostalgic railway journey and much more.

Our day continues with a visit to Miniaturk where one can discover Turkey’s most spectacular landmarks and monuments in a small open-air park. From Bosphorus Bridge to the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, historical Turkish baths to famous train stations a huge amount of small replica models are available here. Miniaturk is a fun and educating attraction both for kids and adults.

The day begins with the exploration of the heart of the city: Taksim Square, Gezi Park and İstiklal Avenue. Next, you will see the artsy, bohemian neighborhoods of İstanbul. We will then stroll around the small streets of Karaköy, the new ‘in’ area full of coffeehouses, specialty and design boutiques along with historical buildings. We will take the traditional ferry across the Bosphorus strait to the Asian side of Istanbul.

The residential district of Kadıköy will be our next area of discovery. After a great local lunch, we will take a different ferry route to travel back to the European neighborhood of Beşiktaş, where we will visit local markets and the museum of National Paintings (or alternatively the Maritime Museum).

This is a mainly walking tour with the addition of two ferry rides that cost around 3 Euros/ person. Museum entrance fees cost around 5 Euros / person.

Neighborhoods visited: Taksim, Beyoğlu, Karaköy, Kadıköy, Beşiktaş

First visit will be to the house of the most famous Turkish coffee producer in Eminönü. In this historic district, you will briefly watch how traditional coffee is made and will also visit the mouth - watering sweet shops of the old city. Next stop will be the neighborhood of Fener, where you will sip some great Turkish coffee: traditionally cooked and served.

A stroll around the old coffeehouses of Balat will be of special interest for those interested in backgammon. Our lunch at the local’s favorite family-owned meatball joint will be followed by some tea-tasting. The day will end at the third wave coffee shops of Karaköy, the new ‘in’ neighborhood for the city’s bohemian crowds.

Neighborhoods visited:  Eminönü, Fener, Balat, Karaköy

We will first visit Istanbul Archaeological Museum complex which is one of the most beautiful museums of Istanbul, which actually consists of three museums: the Archaeology Museum, the Ancient Orient Museum, and the Islamic Art Museum (also known as the Tiled Kiosk Museum). From the Assyrian, Hittite, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations. Our second stop will be the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts (Türk ve Islam Eserleri  Müzesi) which provides a fascinating insight into the complexity and depth of these traditional arts. The museum features fine examples of calligraphy in Islamic art, Islamic art paintings, Islamic abstract art and contemporary Islamic art.

In this day, we will be exploring the famous antique quartier of Çukurcuma and the hidden vintage gems of Galatasaray that include old record shops, books, clothing and accessories. We will enrich our day by visiting the contemporary art museums and galleries of Beyoğlu such as Pera Museum and Istanbul Modern.

Neighborhoods visited: Cihangir, Çukurcuma, Galatasaray, Şişhane

On this two hours private cruise, we use a luxury motorboat to take us from the southern part of the Bosphorus Strait all the way to the north, discovering different neighborhoods (that were once former fishing villages) along the way. During the yacht cruise, the private tour guide shows and explains the most interesting landmarks, monuments and neighbourhoods along the Bosphorus shores. The timing of the tour is flexible and can be determined by the hotel guest.

This tour is for anyone that is tired of walking around the city and would like to see it from a new glamorous perspective.

Upon request, food and alcoholic beverages can be served on board for an extra cost - to be paid cash on board. Tea, coffee and water are complimentary.|
 

There are three different variations of Glamorous Bosphorus:

• Turkish Breakfast Cruise (2 hours): Enjoy a delicious Turkish breakfast in between two continents. A typical breakfast menu will be Turkish cheese, olives, tomatoes and cucumber, honey and clotted cream (bal & kaymak), simit, tea and Turkish coffee.


• Sunset Cocktail Cruise (2 hours): Sip your drinks while cruising through the enchanting shores of Bosphorus Strait. Please keep in mind that you can end your cruise in one of those fancy Bosphorus restaurants located by the shores of the water.


• Dinner on-board (2 hours): A great dinner experience on-board while you admire the city from the water. You can choose among the fish or meat menus.

Starting from Istiklal Avenue and going down the hill towards Galata Tower and Karaköy our photography walk lasts about six hours. Strolling through the narrow-side streets off Istiklal Avenue we will be discovering and shooting in the most vibrant and picturesque neighborhoods of Istanbul. Before we start our photo walk we offer a short introduction to basic photography (for beginners only) and a briefing on the photo-walk by your photography guide.

Our photography guides are not only expert photographers but are also incredibly knowledgeable about the city too  and will help you get beyond the image.

The route is decided upon the specific interests of the participants (local portraits, authentic architecture, city views, monuments, etc.

This tour is for anyone who is interested in taking photos in a city like Istanbul and learning new tricks of street photography.

On this tour, we cruise towards Princes’ Islands; an archipelago of nine islands very close to each other. Your local guide will introduce you the islands as you stroll through them. While cruising to the islands, you will watch the minarets of old Ottoman mosques on the historical peninsula shrink into the distance as we glide towards the Princes' Islands. With great views of Istanbul from the water, seagulls, frequent dolphin sightings, the sound of the wind and of course the sunset, this is a truly unique experience.

You’ll also have a chance to see the car-free leafy oases that are the Princes’ Islands, lined with grand Ottoman mansions and stunning architecture - you’ll feel like you’ve sailed back  in time. These beautiful wooded islands are completely car-free, home to a friendly community and steeped in Byzantine and Ottoman history.

You will have amazing photo opportunities in this tour, so make sure to bring your camera.

This tour is for anyone that wants  to make the most of beautiful weather and leave the city behind.