Best of Istanbul: 1, 2, or 3-Day Private Guided Tour

Day - 1
Meet your tour guide at your hotel or port and start the tour with the highlights of Istanbul;
Hagia Sophia; Built in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian, played a very important role in the Christian and Islamic World. 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. Hippodrome; where the chariot races were held in the Roman Empire times. Basilica Cistern is a subterranean wonder and one of the greatest of Istanbul’s surviving Byzantine sites, in fact a former water storage chamber. Blue Mosque; Built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I, Blue Mosque is truly a magnificent masterpiece of architecture with amazingly delicate proportions for a building of such massive scale. Grand Bazaar; One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with over 4,000 shops. Topkapı Palace; More than just an Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans, it was the seat of the Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for almost 400 years long.
Day - 2
Spice Market is a colorful indoor bazaar and has lots of shops offering a variety of spices, purses, flavored teas, Turkish delight, nuts, as well as ceramics and small souvenirs. Take the public ferry for Bosphorus Cruise to see both Istanbul’s European and Asian sides, Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, the Rumelian Fortress, old Ottoman villas, Bosphorus bridges, mosques. Dolmabahce Palace; Elegance and beauty with the most luxury decoration,chandeliers,rugs,crystals,ceramic fireplaces. Beautiful palace, right on the Bosphorus with gorgeous furnishings, paintings, porcelains. Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Galata Tower(from outside); A great place defining modern Turkey. Have very good, cafes, shops, bars, night clubs around.
Day - 3
Suleymaniye Mosque is the largest mosque in Istanbul and is as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside. Its terrace offers lovely views of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. Chora Church; considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of a Byzantine church. With its glorious mosaics and frescoes about the scenes of the Holy Bible she holds an important place. Fener District; Explore Istanbul’s rich religious history with a stop at the Church of St. George. Since the 1600s, the church has been the location of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and is recognized as the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Religion. Balat District; lines of drying laundry stretch across steep, winding streets. Century-old Ottoman houses lean against each other in a combination of reds,blues,greens. And art galleries and design shops dot the area along the water. Pierre Loti Hill and Cable Car is one of the most popular sights to visit since it offers great views. Take the cable car to reach to the top and enjoy the beautiful scenery while sipping your Turkish coffee or tea.