Istanbul Tour from Side
18 Hours-
Wed / Sat
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18 Hours
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299 €
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Free (Age 0–2)
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On the Day of the Tour
Overview
✈️ Travel Mode: By Plane
🏛️ Destination: Istanbul Day Trip
Embark on a one-day journey of Istanbul Tour from Side, complete with round-trip air travel, guided tours of the city’s premier landmarks, and all essential airport transportation included. Straddling the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul is a magnificent city that bridges two continents. It stands out as one of the world’s pivotal cities, showcasing the seamless blend of an ancient eastern urban landscape alongside a modern western cityscape. From Side, you can take advantage of a comprehensive, guided exploration of Istanbul, complete with domestic flights.
Explore the opulent corridors of Topkapi Palace, where the grandeur of the Ottoman emperors comes alive. Delve into the historical wonders of the old city and master the art of negotiation in the Egyptian Bazaar. This day trip is an economical and convenient option to experience Istanbul while visiting Turkey’s Mediterranean coastline.
Description of Istanbul Tour from Side
In the Old City, prominent landmarks await, many encircling the ancient Hippodrome, a relic of the Byzantine period. This vast space, once a hub for circuses and athletic contests during the era of Constantinople, is now famed for housing Hagia Sophia. When completed in 537 CE, Hagia Sophia was unparalleled in magnitude and remains a celebrated edifice. Not far from the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome continues to stand as a testament to Istanbul’s architectural splendor.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known colloquially as the Blue Mosque, owes its name to the exquisite blue Iznik tiles adorning its interior. Erected in the early 17th century, this mosque stands as a testament to historic architectural achievement. Later, your guide will escort you to the Grand Bazaar, a mammoth enclosed market and one of the oldest of its kind, established in 1455. Covering an area exceeding 333,000 square feet (30,700 square meters) and comprising over 4,000 shops along 61 covered streets, it presents an extensive array of merchandise, from authentic Turkish carpets to imitation branded clothes. Given its vastness, taking breaks at the bazaar’s numerous cafés is advisable.
The Journey Begins with an Early Morning Departure
Your day kicks off with a comfortable ride in a van heading towards Antalya’s airport. A flight spanning one hour and twenty minutes will then take you to Istanbul. Upon arrival, an English-speaking tour guide, well-versed in the area’s history and culture, will meet you. They will accompany you throughout this exciting expedition.
Explore the Historic Landmark of Topkapi Palace
The first point of interest on your itinerary is Topkapi Palace, a pivotal historical site and former abode of Ottoman sultans. It has been transformed into a museum that showcases a vast array of Ottoman-era treasures. Among the exhibits are exquisite jewelry, imperial artefacts, and fine art.
Explore Istanbul’s Splendid Historic Sights
For lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to savor the local cuisine at a nearby eatery, immersing yourself in Istanbul’s rich culinary traditions. Post-lunch, you’ll get some leisure time to discover the Hippodrome in the heart of Istanbul’s ancient city. This site is adorned with various historical monuments and columns. Close to the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque awaits your visit, allowing you to admire its stunning internal architecture. Another highlight is the Hagia Sophia, originally the world’s largest Orthodox cathedral, now serving as a museum. Its massive structure and captivating design are a testament to Byzantine architecture.
Explore Istanbul’s Spectacular Markets
Next on the agenda is the Egyptian Market, famed for its vast assortment of spices. Here, you’ll have the chance to taste local delicacies, shop for unique souvenirs, and engage with the locals. A scenic stroll along the Bosporus Sea will lead up to dinner. The Bosporus strait marks the boundary between Asia and Europe. Dinner will be at a quaint local restaurant. Following the meal, you’ll be transported to the airport for your return flight to Antalya. Upon arrival, a representative will escort you back to your hotel in Side.
It was a very interesting tour, we learned a lot about Istanbul and its history. There were 12 of us in the group and our tour guide, so it was easy to stay together and hear everything he had to tell us. We had to walk a lot and we went in and out of mosques, so women had to cover their heads and everyone had to take their shoes off every time. Everything was great thank you
Really enjoyed! The tour guide (Mr. Murat) was great, had lots of interesting stuff to tell and just a good man. He did more than his best to make us all happy and we had a memorable tour. The pick-up service was also very nice and prompt. Highly recommended, thank you for the great service
The tour was well organized. I was picked up at my hotel (and dropped off again later) so I didn’t have to worry about my own transportation. The tour guide was a certified guide and he was very knowledgeable about the history and facts of the places we visited. There were 5 of us in a group, nice cozy group size. The pace of the Istanbul tour was just right. Would recommend to anyone.
A big thank you to Tour Guide Murat —the tour was a complete success! It was a wonderful day filled with great moments. Our guide brought so much passion and energy; he’s truly an amazing person. We were a small group, and we all got along so well that it felt like a little family exploring Istanbul’s highlights together. I can only recommend the tour with Murat—he’s incredibly knowledgeable about the city. It was an absolute honor!
If you’re visiting Istanbul for the first time, this tour is perfect. We saw all the major landmarks and even had time to shop for some souvenirs. Our guide was very helpful and shared lots of tips. The Bosphorus boat tour was my personal highlight—the views were simply breathtaking.