Sultanahmet Square

Romance & Special Occasions

All trips to Istanbul should include a visit to the most famous Christian church in the world, the Hagia Sophia, located in the old town in front of the Sultanahmet Square. Combine this experience with a river cruise on the Bosphorus. From the boat, admire the city's most historic buildings and almost all seven hills. At the entrance of Hürrem Sultan Hamam, meet a local host who will take you through a fast-track line to enter the site, followed by a short security check. Once inside, explore the gardens and admire the monumental architecture of the building which was reinforced during the Ottoman Era. Enter the building through the main gate and marvel at the frescoes in the first hall. Check out the second floor to see the original frescoes of the Orthodox church and even a mark made from a viking intruder on the wall. Begin either with the cruise or from the Hagia Sophia. Your local host will help you get oriented and advise you of the best time to visit both attractions so as to avoid long lines. You may use the same voucher for both experiences, even on two consecutive days. Please note that you can easily walk from the meeting point to the pier.  The cruise lasts a bit less than two hours and takes you along the Bosphorus and inside the Golden Horn. While on the boat, take photos of the whole city and admire important monuments and mosques from a distance. The boat will return to its departure point and then you are free to walk back to the old town center.

The 2-hours Bosphorus and Golden Horn boat tour. The Bosphorus Strait connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara and splits the European and Asian sides of Turkey. This romantic cruise along the Bosphorus will allow you to admire the Dolmabahce Palace, the Beylerbeyi Palace, the Ciragan Palace and Rumeli fortress. See ancient wooden villas and bridges and all the wonderful unique maritime landscapes.

Visit Hagia (St.) Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian. St.Sophia has been the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years. It is considered the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. After having been the Patriarchal basilica of Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet II. the Conqueror and in to a museum by Atataürk in 1935. Explore the Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its blue Iznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet. The last great imperial mosque of the classical period, its name comes from the 20,000 marvelous blue-toned Iznik tiles decorating the interior walls. Discover the Hippodrome, center of sportive (chariot races, athletics) events and political activities of the old city. Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column, German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments decorating Hippodrome. You will also see one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, The Grand Bazaar.

Start your tour of Istanbul at the Hagia Sophia Museum, often referred to as the 8th Wonder of the World. Wander through the building's interior, which has been converted into a museum, and admire its beautiful art pieces including several Byzantine mosaics. Next, head to the Blue Mosque and see the 20,000 magnificent blue-toned tiles that give the mosque its name.  Later, head to the Hippodrome of Constantinople, the former political center of the city, where you can learn more about the city's ancient history and see artifacts from the Constantinople era. Learn more about Turkish culture at the Caferağa Medresseh. In the Egyptian spice market, soak up the sights and smells of this bustling food market. During your cruise along the Bosphorus, admire the Dolmabahçe Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, and the Ciragan Palace Kempinski. Stop for a traditional lunch of meatballs before continuing your cruise, taking in views of ancient wooden villas and bridges and other unique maritime landscapes.

See the main historical sights of Istanbul and take a 2.5-hour luxury cruise along the beautiful shoreline as the sun sets. Visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. Learn about their histories on a guided tour. See the site of the Ancient Roman hippodrome. Transfer to the glass-encased luxury yacht in the evening and enjoy a welcome drink of traditional Turkish demirhindi. Enjoy the sights of the city at dusk with informative commentary. Feel the soothing breeze coming over the Sea of Marmara at dusk on this highlights tour and cruise in Istanbul.