Tour overview

Istanbul is one of the world’s most fascinating cities with a colourful and complex history spanning the centuries. Our five night holiday will introduce you to the history and monuments from both the Byzantine and Ottoman periods – spanning 1700 years from AD330 until the early 20th Century. It was during the long period as capital of the vast and sprawling Ottoman Empire that Istanbul took on the appearance visitors today can still enjoy.

During our visit there will be a comprehensive programme of sightseeing with two free afternoons for you to explore the wonderful bazaar and for independent sightseeing.

Tour itinerary

Day 1
We fly to Istanbul and transfer to the 4* boutique Celal Aga Konagi Hotel where we stay for the duration of the tour.

Day 2
We begin our day at the Hippdrome, the most important relic from the city’s Roman period and rebuilt by Constantine in AD330. The remainder of the morning is spent in the Archaeological Museum located in what were once the gardens of the Topkapi Palace. This afternoon Ertan Asar will escort the party through Istanbul’s fabled bazaar, an ideal place for shopping for souvenirs including textiles, food, ceramics and spices.

Day 3
We start with a visit to the Topkapi Palace – the Sultan’s residence and the nerve-centre of the Ottoman Empire. Here we see the dazzling Imperial Treasury and the important collections of ceramics and silver before proceeding to the Blue Mosque. Our day ends at the Islamic Museum where we see unrivalled collections of decorative arts from all periods of Turkish history displayed in the splendid setting of the Palace of Ibrahim Pasha.

Day 4
This morning we visit the vast Dolmabahce Palace which served as the centre for the Sultan’s extended domestic life. We then board a boat for a journey along the Bosphorus and finish with lunch at a local fish restaurant. Later we visit the Sadberk Hanim Museum with its superb collection of decorative arts before returning to the hotel.

Day 5
Today begins with a guided tour of the sprawling city of Istanbul starting at the Haghia Sophia. We then proceed to Fethiye Camil, an ornate mosque which was once the seat of the Orthodox Patriach before continuing to the small but beautiful Church of St Saviour in Chora which dates from 1077 and has some of the finest mosaics and frescoes in Istanbul.

Day 6
This morning is free for independent exploration. We drive to Istanbul airport for the flight back to London.