Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque & Bosphorus Cruise

Discover the highlights of Istanbul on a full-day tour. Visit the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar. Cruise along the Bosphorus Strait and take a cable car to the Pierre Loti Coffee House. Start your day with a visit to the Hagia Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian. Continue to the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue İznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet. Next, visit the Hippodrome, the center of sportive events and political activities of the old city. See the Serpentine Column, the Obelisk of Theodosius, and the German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Explore the Grand Covered Bazaar, the most attractive shopping center and the biggest "souk" in the world with nearly 4000 shops selling antiques, jewelry, gold, carpets, leatherware, and souvenirs. Enjoy lunch at a typical Turkish restaurant before boarding a boat for a cruise along the Bosphorus Strait. Take in views of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture, and modern residential buildings. Pass by the Rumeli Fortress, a historical armament built by the Conqueror to control and protect the Bosphorus. See the Golden Horn, a natural harbor separating the old and new parts of Istanbul. Drive along the traces of history at Balat, viewing the Metal Church of St. Stephen the Bulgarian, the Jewish Hospital (OrAhayim), the Fener Orthodox Patriarchate, and the 22-kilometer-long Byzantine City Walls, the strongest fortification of the Middle Ages. Take a cable car to the Pierre Loti Coffee House, where you can enjoy a drink with a view of the city.