Walking Tour of Highlights in Istanbul with Serif Yenen & Team
- See the remnants of the three great empires on the same day.
- Experience the religious, administrative and social aspects of history together.
- Learn about all these places from Serif Yenen or a member of his team, who is accomplished at small-group walking tours. Serif is the author of one of the best cultural guidebooks of Turkey: Turkish Odyssey. He wrote many other books and made films too.
- No crowds, no queues! Authorised professional tour guides have priority ticket booths.
- You can ask all the questions you like.
- In the Grand Bazaar, go to the backstreets and some specialty stores, which you would not find by yourselves easily.
Walking Tour of Highlights in Istanbul with Serif Yenen and Team
Istanbul has such a diverse and rich history. It has been the capital of three great empires; the Roman, Byzantine and the Ottoman. Although it is not the official capital anymore, it is still the cultural capital of the country.
Visitors would normally need more than one day to explore Istanbul.
For those visitors who are coming to Istanbul for the first time and have rather limited time, we would recommend the first day of sightseeing with visits to the highlights of Istanbul as follows:
- Byzantine Hippodrome (15-20 minutes)
- Blue Mosque (45-60 minutes)
- Hagia Sophia-Ayasofya (60-90 minutes)
- Lunch break at a casual restaurant with good local food (45 minutes)
- Topkapi Palace (120 minutes-Not enough time for the Harem section, or very limited time on your own)
- Basilica Cistern (30 minutes. Please note that the cistern is partially under restoration)
- Craft Shows-Carpet demonstration without any obligation to buy (30 minutes)
- Grand Bazaar (60 minutes. You may like to stay there longer on your own)
Note:
- Let us remind you that ladies are required to wear scarves and decent clothing during mosque visits.
- On Tuesdays, Topkapi Palace is closed, therefore it will be replaced by Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum.
- The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays, so it will be replaced by the Spice Bazaar.
