Istanbul Bus Tour Grand Bazaar Visit in Turkey

Hippodrome Square. The Hippodrome Square - once the sporting and social center of what was then Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire, this circus once hosted chariot races and bore witness to riots during the Roman and Byzantine period. Your guide will give you information about the life and history of the square including the three great monuments; the Egyptian Obelisk (brought to Istanbul in the 4th Century), the Serpentines Column, and the Column of Constantine.

The Hagia Sophia (Church of the Holy Wisdom) - this building started its life as a Christian patriarchal basilica (or church) built by Roman Emperor Justinian I in 532 AD, before becoming an imperial mosque in the 15th Century.

Blue Mosque. The Blue Mosque - this historic place of worship, also known as the Sultanahmet Mosque, is famous for its beautiful blue Iznik tiles. Its cascading domes and slender minarets dominate the Istanbul skyline. This magnificent site is the largest in Istanbul and consists of two square buildings which are side by side. The first square is an open courtyard surrounded by a colonnade and the second is the mosque itself, which is capped in domes.

Topkapi Palace - constructed between 1460 and 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the Conqueror of Constantinople, the palace was not only the residence of the Ottoman sultans but also the administrative and educational center of the state. It now houses large collections of porcelain, Ottoman treasures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts, and more, this truly is a remarkable place to visit.

The Grand Bazaar. Finally, we will continue to the Grand Bazaar. This is one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and over 5000 stalls and shops. Famous for the wide selection of souvenirs and of course the haggling on prices! The Bazaar has been an important trading center for Istanbul since 1461, in 1894 it went through a major restoration after the earthquake.