Blue Mosque guided tour
Blue Mosque guided tour
Take a guided tour of the Blue Mosque, perhaps the most photographed site in Istanbul with its distinctive shape dominating the Sultanahmet skyline.
Infused with evocative smells and the sounds of haggling, the narrow streets of the Spice Market are swollen with stalls selling herbs and spices, Turkish delight and tea, the honey-based delicacy baklava, as well as a smattering of stalls selling leather bags and traditional teapots.
The eastern end of the market stretches out of the covered area, and is full of kitchenware, as well as the most famous coffee supplier in Istanbul: Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi. At its height the market was the final resting place for goods that had travelled the Silk Route through China, India, Persia and the Stans.
Located adjacent to the New Mosque, close to the Golden Horn, the Spice Market was originally constructed as part of the New Mosque's buildings, and rent from the shops here paid for the upkeep of the mosque. Its Turkish name Misir Çar艧isi means Egyptian Market, and refers to the taxes, which were imposed on goods imported from Egypt.
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Blue Mosque guided tour
Take a guided tour of the Blue Mosque, perhaps the most photographed site in Istanbul with its distinctive shape dominating the Sultanahmet skyline.
Bosphorus cruise
Starting from the marina just in front of the Spice Market, your cruise will take you out onto the Bosphorus to view many of Istanbul's different architectural styles.
Full day visit to the Gallipoli battlefields and Troy
Travel to the Gallipoli Peninsula, where you'll explore the beach cemeteries of fallen Allied soldiers from World War I and the ancient city of Troy.
Guided tour of Suleymaniye Mosque
This excursion will take you to the Suleymaniye Mosque, which dominates Istanbul's skyline, to see its Iznik tiles, mother of pearl inlays and stained-glass windows.
Guided visit to 脟ukurcuma and the Museum of Innocence
Experience 脟ukurcuma with its tree-lined streets and winding alleys before visiting the Museum of Innocence, a creation of author Orhan Pamuk.
Private excursion to Hagia Sophia
Take a trip to see perhaps the most famous of all Istanbul鈥檚 sites, the Hagia Sophia, which dates back to 537 AD.
Private tour of the Basilica Cistern
Visit the Basilica Cistern鈥檚 underground cavern. Descending beneath the streets, you鈥檒l be met with the sight of hundreds of columns rising from the waters, with towering, arched brick ceilings overhead.
Shared tour of Dolmabahce Palace
Take a guided tour of the interior of the Dolmabahce Palace, which is sumptuously decorated from floor to ceiling with gold and crystal.
Tour of the Grand Bazaar
This privately guided tour will take you beneath the domed roof of the Grand Bazaar to explore its labyrinthine alleys and stalls.
Trip to the Topkapi Palace
Learn about life in the imperial household of the Ottoman sultans with this guided excursion of the Topkapi Palace鈥檚 buildings and Treasury.
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tours below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.