DELICIOUS ISTANBUL
Duration: Full day (08:30 to 19:30)
Price: 95 Euro (per person-min 04)
Run: Everyday (private)
After pick up from hotel or Istanbul port, we will drive to
the old part of Istanbul (historical peninsula). There we will
visit the most prominent landmarks of 3 Empires once hosted by
this city: ancient Roman Hippodrome, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
Basilica.
Roman Hippodrome and Obelisk: The ancient Hippodrome is an enormous
public entertainment arena thatonce seated as many as 100.000
zealous fans witnessing chariot races, executions, and mock battles.
Once the centre of Byzantine civic life, it is still decorated
by the Egyptian Obelisk, the Bronze Serpentine Column, and the
Column of Constantine.
Blue Mosque: Built between 1609 and 1616, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque
is more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque because its interior
gleams with magnificent panels of blue and white 17th Century
Iznik tiles. After visiting Blue Mosque, we will stop for a short
break to taste traditional Turkish tea in a charming garden.
Gourmet Details: Tea consuming is the essential part of daily
life in Turkey. Almost everywhere you go you will beoffered a
glass of tea. Tea is prepared by brewing it in boiling water
and serving it in delicate, small, clear glasses to show the
deep red color and to transmit the heat to the hand. If you wish
you can also taste the most common tea snack – simit. Simit
is a pastry similar to bagel, and covered with sesame seeds.
Turkish people also prefer to eat simit with cream cheese for
breakfast, especially if they have to eat breakfast at working
place.
Hagia Sophia Basilica: Built by Byzantine Emperor Constantine
in the fourth century and reconstructed by Justinian in 537 A.D.,
this was the greatest church in Christendom for a thousand years,
and remains an architectural masterpiece to this day. The Ottomans
converted the basilica to a mosque in the 15th century, but today
the Hagia Sophia serves as a public museum, known for its majestic
serenity and fine Byzantine mosaics. Upon the end of this visit
we will drive to down to the shore of Golden Horn Bay for lunch
at Hamdi Restaurant.
Gourmet Details: Hamdi Restaurant, located on the top floor of
historical building, overlooking Golden Horn Bay, specializes
in kebabs, or charcoal grills, one of the most famous constituents
of Turkish cuisine. Here we will taste special traditional bread,
served as a starter with special "tulum" cheese and
butter; miniature lahmacaun (also known as “Turkish pizza”);
fresh salad and of course tasty kebabs (varieties available).
After we finish our lunch, we will walk to near-by historical
Spice Market. Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar) was built in 1664
as a part of the Yeni Cami complex, which islocated next to it.
Shops sold only spices during Ottoman period. Today, along with
spice shops, there are as well as the ones selling dried fruit,
borek (traditional pastry), basket work, jewelry, haberdashery,
drapery, and suchlike. The bazaar has an “L” shape
and six gates.
In the early afternoon you will leave historical part of the
city and transfer to Taksim – modern city center. Here
you will walk along Istiklal Street, main pedestrian street of
the area. You will head to Fish Market, to participate in tasting
safari.
Gourmet Details: Fish Market is a covered alley, connected to
historical Flower Passage. Before it served as fresh fish market
for residents of the area – here is where the name comes
from. Nowadays you can still find fish stalls towards the end
of the alley, but the Istiklal entrance to the market is occupied
with small fast food shops. We will choose among numerous varieties
of authentic fast food preferred by local residents – midye
tava (fried mussels on a stick), kumpir (oven-baked potatoes
with different fillings), mercimek kofte (mashed red lentil balls
wrapped in a lettuce leaf), and many other types of Turkish appetizers
- meze.
We will also stroll through adjacent Nevizade Street, famous
for its pubs and taverns. In the evening this street is packed
with locals: Istanbul people meet here to chat over a glass of
beer or to enjoy freshly prepared mezes with raki – traditional
Turkish spirit with anise flavor.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to the hotel or
Istanbul cruise port.
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Please take note of the following:
* 30% discount for children below the age 7, free for the ages
0-2
* Hagia Sophia Basilica is closed on Monday, replaced with Galata
Tower
* Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar is closed on Sunday
* Clothing: Entrance to Mosques and Churches visited in our tours
is not allowed to gentlemen and ladies with no proper outfit.
* You are kindly requested to present your self at the pick up
point 15 minutes prior the pre advised pick up time
* Smoking is not permitted but all tours make frequent stops
What's Included:
* Pick up and drop off at your Hotel or Cruise Port
* Transportation by air-conditioned non-smoking tour coaches
* Professional Guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism
* All entrance fees to the archaeological sites and museums,
parking and road tolls
* Lunch at local restaurant (drinks extra)
* Local taxes
