Istanbul City Break

Day 1: UK/Istanbul
Depart on your flight to Istanbul today and transfer to your hotel, which is located in the Laleli district of the city.

Days 2 – 4: Istanbul City Break
Straddling the strait of the Bosphorus, Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents – the main part of the city stands on the south-eastern tip of Europe and its suburbs reside in Asia. Istanbul began its life as Constantinople when Emperor Constantine laid out a vast city in the early 1st century. Today this former capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, is a thriving, vibrant city where modern life contrasts with traditional values, creating a heady cultural mix.

We have included a full-day tour of Istanbul, which begins with a drive to Sultanahmet Square, in the heart of the Old City. You will also visit the Theodosius Obelisk in the Hippodrome and the civic centre where emperors once celebrated their victories and the Romans raced chariots in the arena.

Your tour continues to the Blue Mosque, a stunning monument created in classical Ottoman style decorated with 21,000 blue ceramic tiles. You will then move on to Hagia Sophia, built as a Christian church in the 6th century, later becoming a mosque, and now a fascinating museum housing many Byzantine and Ottoman treasures.

After an included lunch at a typical Turkish restaurant, you will move on to the Roman Underground Cistern, before reaching the covered Grand Bazaar where, among its 58 streets and 4,000 shops, you can bargain for gold, gemstones, spices, leather goods and carpets.

During the rest of your time in Istanbul, you can get to know this fabulous destination further with these optional excursions.

Topkapi Palace & Bosphorus Cruise (optional)
Begin your day with a morning exploration of the hidden gardens and courtyards in the Topkapi Palace, where the Ottoman Sultans kept their overflowing treasure chests and overcrowded harems. In the afternoon you will take a boat trip along the Bosphorus strait to Beylerbeyi, then disembark and drive on to one of the highest points of Istanbul. Admire the wonderful views of the city whilst enjoying a Turkish tea or coffee, before crossing the Bosphorus Bridge back into Europe.

Spice bazaar & Golden Horn (optional)
Enjoy a packed morning which begins with a visit to the Egyptian spice bazaar, where as well as spices you can pick up dried fruits, nuts, seeds and, of course Turkish Delight, as you drink in the heady, exotic fragrances of the east.

Your tour then continues with a drive along the Golden Horn and city walls to the Monastery of Chora where you can admire the beautiful Byzantine mosaics and frescoes in the Kariye Camii church. Next stop is the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, before your tour concludes at the Pierre Loti Café, which affords a fascinating view of the Golden Horn.

You will return to your hotel around midday, so enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, exploring Istanbul at your own pace.

Istanbul by Night
Join us on an atmospheric trip through the illuminated streets of Istanbul before taking your seat for dinner. Your meal includes half a bottle of wine and during the evening you will be entertained by a fabulous traditional Turkish floorshow, which includes folk dancing, belly dancing and singing.

Day 5: Istanbul/UK
Your holiday comes to an end today when you transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.

Please note:
To maximise your enjoyment of this holiday a certain amount of walking is essential.

Accommodation is of a comfortable standard, typical of the hotel you will stay in is:

4-star Klas Hotel in the Laleli district of Istanbul
Just a short drive from the main attractions. Amenities include a bar/lounge, restaurant, roof terrace and outdoor pool (high season only). All bedrooms feature en suite facilities, TV, telephone, mini-bar and hairdryer.

Hotels will be confirmed in your final documents.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

Istanbul tour, including lunch (full day)

Optional excursions

Topkapi Palace and Bosphorus Cruise (full day)
Spice bazaar and Golden Horn (half day)
Istanbul by night including dinner, wine and a traditional Turkish show

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights
Overseas transfers and other transportation
4 nights’ accommodation with breakfasts
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”