Istanbul Old City and Grand Bazaar. Morning Half-day Tour

Appreciate the grand architecture, alluring cityscape and oriental flavor of Istanbul that generations of its residents have called the Adobe of Happiness (Der-i Saadet) and the Pure City (Belde-i Tayyibe). Begin your day by covering the top sites of the Ottoman Empire's former capital with a local guide.
Visit the symbol of the city's complex history, Hagia Sophia. The 6th-century Byzantine cathedral, adorned in spectacular gold mosaics and then a mosque, had seen the rule of two great empires and now functions as a museum. It had been destroyed and reconstructed countless times, together with the city itself. Visually resembling the exterior of Hagia Sophia and located next to it, Blue Mosque (or Sultanahmet Mosque) is another iconic part of Istanbul and is still an active place of worship. On the tour, you will understand the origins of its name, as you examine the 20,000 Iznik handmade tiles with red tulip designs, stained-glass windows and calligraphy on its lower and upper floors.
As you move around Istanbul in the morning sun, discover the trace of the Roman Empire that still lives in the form of relics at the Hippodrome of Constantinople. This huge chariot racing and gladiator Roman arena has the oldest historical monuments of the city, the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpent Column and the Masonry Obelisk.
Become one of the 250,000 daily visitors of the Grand Bazaar, also known by locals as Kapali Carsiand. It is one of the most ancient markets in the world, with about 4,000 shops on its 60 covered streets. No matter how demanding your taste is, it has something to offer, selling countless items from leather goods and hand-woven carpets to archaic jewelry and foreign spices.
Highlights: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome of Constantinople, the Grand Bazaar.
Departure: daily. Includes: a local guide, hotel pick-up and drop-off, bus, entrance fee.

Please note:free of charge for children aged 0-3; 30% discount for children aged 4-7; regular price for children 8 years old or older.