Istanbul: Best of Istanbul Tour with Lunch and Tickets

Meet your guide next to German Fountain and head first to the Hippodrome where chariot races were held during the Roman Empire. Next, marvel at the Blue Mosque, built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I, this is truly a masterpiece of architecture. The blue shade of the 27,000 pieces of Iznik quart tiles give the mosque it’s popular name and six towering minarets give its uniquely recognizable structure. Continue to Hagia Sophia to see a great blend of Christian and Islamic influences. Built in the 6th century by the emperor Justinian I, the building played a very important role in the Christian and Islamic worlds. After the Ottoman conquest, the bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and many of the mosaics were eventually plastered over to convert the church into a mosque.   The next stop is at the Topkapi Palace, more than just an imperial residence for Ottoman sultans, it was the seat of the supreme executive and judiciary council for almost 400 years. Topkapi Palace is a great monument of Asian architecture which houses exhibits of art, books, jewels, plates, costumes, and the Holy Relics. The tour concludes with a visit to the city’s Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world with over 4,000 shops. It was constructed in the 15th century and became the commercial hub of the trade between Asia and Europe.