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Discover Istanbul

Activity

Culture

Overview

The treasures of Istanbul shine even brighter when you explore them with a tour leader who knows their secrets

Straddling two continents and hundreds of years of history, Istanbul is a dizzying, dazzling city packed with rich culture, sumptuous food and some of the world’s great monuments. It’d take a lifetime to explore, but you can get straight to its soul on this compact adventure. Our expert local tour leader will show you the things others miss and introduce you to the people who are as integral to the city as the grand mosques, spice markets and stretching Bosphorus strait.

Key Information

Trip Code: ATX
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Turkey
Carbon Footprint: 37.8kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 4 Classic nights (hotels)
All breakfasts, one dinner
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Highlights

Immerse yourself in the wonders of Istanbul with the guidance of a local tour leader
Enjoy expert insight as you marvel at the great landmarks left by empires past
Meet the vendors as you explore the Grand Bazaar and fragrant spice markets
Experience the buzz of the cafes and shops around the Galata Tower area
Cruise between Europe and Asia on a boat ride along the Bosphorus

Itinerary

First Destination: Istanbul
Next Destination: Istanbul

Meals included:None

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Istanbul
Next Destination: Istanbul

Arrive in the transcontinental city of Istanbul, an enthralling cultural powerhouse packed with history, architecture and incredible cuisine.

You’ll get to know its twists, turns and architectural triumphs over the following few days, so tonight you can settle into your hotel and, if you have time after your flight, enjoy some solo exploration.

Want more time in Istanbul? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Say merhaba to your tour leader and fellow travellers this morning, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Then we join our tour leader on an exploration of the Old City, a great introduction to the rich history of Istanbul.

Our tour takes us to some of the great city landmarks, starting at Topkapı Palace. It was the administrative palace of the Ottoman empire between the 15th and 19th century, where sultans and their court lived and governed in an opulent setting.

We also visit the Basilica Cistern, a vast subterranean chamber built in the sixth century with 336 marble columns, atmospheric lighting, and the legendary Medusa heads.

Continue to the neighbouring Hagia Sophia, admiring its immense dome, serenity and fine Byzantine mosaics, before visiting the nearby Blue Mosque (or Sultan Ahmet Mosque). Finally, we stroll around the Ancient Hippodrome, the setting of chariot races and centre of Byzantine civil life.

After a busy day, enjoy a Turkish feast for dinner, a great chance to get to know each other a little better in a relaxed setting.

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Today is dedicated to the Ottoman empire. Our tour starts at the Suleymaniye Mosque, which was built between 1550 and 1557 by Mimar Sinan, known as the greatest Ottoman architect of the classical period. It’s a masterpiece with four minarets rising from each corner of the courtyard; inside, the mihrab (a praying niche showing the direction to Mecca) and mimber (pulpit) are made of finely carved white marble, and there are fine stained-glass windows.

Continue to the Grand Bazaar, the largest covered market in the world – a labyrinth of streets and passages with more than 4,000 shops.

We then hop on a boat to cruise down the Bosphorus, the strait that separates Europe and Asia. On either side of the water stands two medieval Ottoman castles, while the shores offer a delightful mixture of past and present, grand splendour and simple beauty.

Meals included:Breakfast

Immerse yourself in the grandeur of Istanbul today. After breakfast, we take the tram to the 19^th-century Dolmabahce Palace. Its scenic spot on the waterfront is matched by the impressive architecture, which blends baroque, neoclassical and rococo styles.

After, take the funicular to the Taksim district, where we sample street food and stroll along Istiklal Street to admire its historic passages. Then, leave the bustling pedestrian street to explore the shops and restaurants of the Pera and Cihangir neighbourhoods.

Along the way, we see churches on Pera Street and the Galata Tower (entrance not included). Our travels take us across Galata Bridge, which spans the Golden Horn in the heart of Istanbul.

We then visit the Misir Carsısı (Spice Market) next to Yeni Mosque in Eminonu, an evocative marketplace of vivid spices whose scent fills the air.

Meals included:Breakfast

You’ve witnessed the grand landmarks of the Ottoman empire, explored the largest covered market in the world, and experienced the best of Istanbul; but now it’s time for the adventure to end and begin your return journey home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options, which could include joining our Walking in Cappadocia adventure.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Call us on 1 844 260 1517

Book Your Flights With Us

Window or aisle? Premium seat with extra legroom? Adding a stopover en route? We’ll sort the flights that fit your plans. With access to thousands of routes - major airlines and regional gems alike, we’ll help you fly from your preferred airport, at times that suit you. Secure your flights and trip together and enjoy peace of mind knowing everything's organized with one team here to help if plans change.

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Accommodation

Erboy Hotel

Our base for this adventure is the Erboy Hotel, a fixture in the city since 1987. Located in the Sirkeci district, it’s well-located for exploring Istanbul and just a 10-minute walk from Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sofia.

Inside, there are 84 modern rooms, a lobby café-bar and a terrace bar. There are also two restaurants: the rooftop Imbat restaurant and Paşazade, which serves Aegean-Mediterranean cuisine.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we pair solo passengers together in a room. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 1 (Easy). For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Key information

Hotel: Erboy Hotel, Hoca Paşa, Ebussuud Cd. No:18, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul
Phone: +90 212 513 37 50
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today
Airport: Istanbul Airport (IST)

Getting to the start hotel

We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Catching your return flight

There’s one group transfer to the airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

Turkey

Travellers from the UK, US, Canada and most EU states normally do not need a visa to enter Turkey. Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/turkey
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/turkiye
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Turkey.html

Allow about 12,500 Turkish liras (US$450) to cover meals not included. Your tour leader normally assists in organising group meals so you may benefit from better choice and prices. Lunches and dinners are normally taken in local restaurants, known as lokantas.

Temperatures in July and August can reach 40C (104F) during the day and Istanbul can be humid. During increased temperatures, activities are scheduled to be more comfortable in the earlier or later part of the day. Winter is a lot cooler with a high of 11C (52F).

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

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Discover Istanbul

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

The treasures of Istanbul shine even brighter when you explore them with a tour leader who knows their secrets

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Book Your Flights With Us

Accommodation

Erboy Hotel

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Turkey

Reviews

You may also like

Essential Turkey

Highlights of Turkey

Walking in Cappadocia

Discover Istanbul

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

The treasures of Istanbul shine even brighter when you explore them with a tour leader who knows their secrets

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Book Your Flights With Us

Accommodation

Erboy Hotel

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Turkey

Reviews

You may also like

Essential Turkey

Highlights of Turkey

Walking in Cappadocia

The Adventure Begins Here