On this leg of our journey we will see exotic Istanbul’s sights; the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and St. Sophia. Have lunch at the Byzantine Cistern restaurant and then explore this underground wonder of columns.

* Discover this city that is full of history, culture, arts, and exotic beauty as it is also the only city in the world located on two continents.
* You will board your motorcoach and leave the port crossing over the Golden Horn Bridge, here you will get your first view of the Suleymaniye Mosque on your way to the old city center.
* Take a short panoramic drive around the old city and arrive at the ancient Hippodrome, site of once the largest chariot race grounds of the Byzantine Empire.
* Take a short walk to the Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultanahmet Mosque, see this amazing structure that was completed in 1616 and is a triumph to harmony, proportion, and elegance. Inside you will see the blue iznik tiles that cover the walls and have given the mosque its popular name.
* Then walk the short distance to St. Sophia, built as a church during Emperor Justinian’s reign in 537 AD, it remained a the greatest church in Christendom until the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet II who order it converted to a mosque. In 1934 this amazing structure was proclaimed a museum by Ataturk and declared something for all people.
* See the renovated old Ottoman houses along the old city center streets as you make your way to lunch. Have lunch at one of the famous authentic old Byzantine Cistern restaurants located in the old city center. Taste delicious Turkish cuisine prepared in Ottoman and Turkish styles by the famous chef. Enjoy a local belly dancer as she performs a show just for your entertainment.
* After lunch see the underground cistern, also known as the “underground palace”. This 6th century subterranean reservoir features a ceiling supported by 336 Corinthian columns.
* Make your way to the area of the Grand Bazaar, stopping for a short demonstration on the art of carpet weaving. Enter the Bazaar and discover the 92 streets that are filled with 4,000 shops full of handicrafts, souvenirs, jewelry, and so much more.