Imperial City Half-Day Tour

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Duration: 4h
Location: Istanbul, Turkey | Istanbul, Turkey


Category: Tours & Sightseeing

Highlights:
Intriguing history of the imperial capital city of 4 empires
Hagia Sophia—a grand museum filled with ancient treasures
Fascinating Basilica Cistern buried beneath the streets
Vibrant & exotic atmosphere of the vast Grand Bazaar
Insight into the city’s many guises during its complex past

Inclusions:
Guided tour of the imperial sights of Istanbul
Admission fees
Roundtrip transportation to and from your Istanbul city center (European side) hotel
Live tour commentary in English

Description:

In Istanbul uncover vestiges of the city's imperial age on this enlightening tour of its significant sights and landmarks. Visit a vast museum with thousands of artifacts, see the masterful engineering of cisterns underneath the streets, and practice haggling in the colorful Grand Bazaar.

With a strategic location on the Silk Road and as a gateway to the East, Istanbul has been fought over for centuries. Learn from your guide how it has been the capital of 4 significant empires—the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman empires. Delve into the city's history at Hagia Sophia, an impressive museum and once one of the largest basilicas in the world, and admire fantastic Byzantine mosaics.

Descend to the largest of hundreds of ancient cisterns beneath the city—Basilica Cistern—as your guide explains the tank's role in filtering water for the great Palace of Constantinople. At one of the largest markets in the world—the Grand Bazaar—savor exotic sights, smells, and sounds of thousands of traders vying for business. Then practice haggling as you pick a souvenir from a bewildering array of local artisan goods.