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This trip to Istanbul in 5 days, with the Bosphorus and Galata, is probably our best proposal to discover in depth this exciting city.
During this time, we will take you through the most fascinating corners of this iconic city, bridge between Europe and Asia, crossroads of civilizations and vibrant in its day to day life.
And all this, with the best professionals and with services of the highest qualityto enjoy with comfort without missing any detail of interest.
In this program devoted entirely to Istanbul, the old part of the city occupies a prominent place.
It is here that the visitor best understands the rich history that has made this city great, from Greek Byzantium to the Ottoman metropolis, passing through Roman Constantinople and the capital of its ‘heir’, the Byzantine Empire.
Fortunately for the traveler, there are many vestiges of all this that remain, including the imposing mosques promoted by the sultans, but with standing monuments datable to very different periods.
But in this trip to Istanbul in 5 days with the Bosphorus and Galata, we do not stay only in history and its vestiges.
We also take you through other lively and popular corners of this vibrant Turkish city.
Of course, we will take you to see its spectacular bazaarswhere the frenetic commercial activity is still intact, as it was centuries ago.
In addition, we will sail the waters of the Bosphorus to contemplate the beauties that arise on both shores of this strait.
And we will have the opportunity to go into Galataa neighborhood as surprising as it is interesting.
This is the complete itinerary of the trip, lasting 5 days and 4 nights and starting and ending at Istanbul airport (at either airport, depending on your arrival and return flight).
The entire program takes place within the city, with no trips to other cities:
Upon arrival at the Istanbul airport where your flight lands (Istanbul International Airport or Sabiha Gökçen Airport), the staff of our agency will be ready at the foot of the terminal to welcome you and arrange the transfer to your transfer to the hotelin a private vehicle with driver.
The program for this day will depend on the arrival time of your flight, taking into account that the rooms in your centrally located hotel will be ready from 2:00 p.m. onwards.
Depending on this and the corresponding check-in, there may be time left during the remainder of the day for a first contact with the city before returning to the hotel to rest for the night.
On this second day of travel in Istanbul begin the guided tours to discover the rich heritage of the historic center, embraced by the Golden Hornthe Golden Horn, an estuary so called for its particular geographical shape that creates a peninsula where the Bosphorus Strait and the Sea of Marmara meet.
The list of monuments to discover in the old city of Istanbul is very numerous, among which are the stupendous mosques of Hagia Sophia and Sultan Ahmet (Blue Mosque), the Hippodrome of Constantinople Hagia Sophia and Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), the Hippodrome of Constantinople, the Obelisk of Theodosius or the Column of Constantine..
Y por supuesto, el majestuoso Topkapi Palacethe epicenter of the power of the sultans during the Ottoman Empire.
In addition, we will pass through such popular and emblematic places as the Sultanahmet Square or the Grand Bazaar. Sultanahmet Square or the Grand Bazaarconsidered one of the largest in the world, with more than 3,500 stores.
During this intense day of sightseeing in the old city, there will be time to replenish your energy with lunch at a local restaurant.
And at the end of the day, another night’s rest at the hotel in Istanbul.
On this second day of the guided tour of Istanbul, the main protagonist will be the Bosphorus Strait, a waterway that has marked the life of the city since its earliest origins: it is the natural border between the European and Asian continents, and an obligatory navigation route between the Mediterranean Sea (through the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara) and the Black Sea.
And that is precisely what we will do in the morning: sail on a regular liner cruise through this mythical strait.
In this way, we will be able to admire the two banks of Istanbul from a privileged point of view, which is the most suitable to delight with the famous yaliThe most outstanding example of this will undoubtedly be the Turkish high society’s residential and monumental constructions located next to the shore.
The most outstanding example will undoubtedly be the Beylerbeyi Palace (which we will visit inside), former summer residence of the Ottoman sultans and place of reception of the great leaders on official visits to the country.
Another of the great attractions of the day will be to visit the Egyptian Bazaaralso known as the Spice Bazaar.
Como su propio nombre indica, se trata de un mercado tradicional especializado en estos ingredientes que siglos atrás otorgó fama y prestigio a la ciudad.
También es posible encontrar hierbas aromáticas y medicinales, café y té.
If you wish, you can reserve part of the day for a free visit for shopping in this bazaar.
On this day, transfers will be made by private vehicle with driver, to and from the hotel, and between attractions, if necessary.
In addition, you will have lunch at a local restaurant where you will surely be able to taste local dishes seasoned with the aforementioned spices.
And in the evening, a well-deserved rest in a centrally located hotel in Istanbul.
In this circuit to discover Istanbul in 5 days, the fourth day is dedicated to one of the most genuine and interesting neighborhoods of the city: Galata.
We will take you there after having breakfast at the hotel, specifically to the Taksim SquareWe will meet our official guide, with whom we will go on guided tours throughout the day.
The first part of the day will be a walking tour through this populous neighborhood, where you will find the Istiklal StreetThe city is full of stores and entertainment throughout the day.
And we will visit the great monument of the area: the Galata Towerbuilt in the 14th century by the Genoese colony of Constantinople, established here.
Its imposing figure rose above all the surrounding buildings, ideal for surveillance of the territory and, today, perfect for overlooking Istanbul from above.
In this panoramic view, one of the monuments that stands out is the Mosque of Suleiman the MagnificentThe city is located on the other side of the water channel that forms the Golden Horn.
And to it we will go after lunch at a local restaurant, since its architecture and interior decoration are impressive, as well as its privileged location on one of the highest hills of Istanbul.
After this visit, the guided tour will conclude and you will return to the hotel for your last night’s rest in the city.
This is the last day of our trip to Istanbul in 5 days.
And the program will depend on the flight time.
Therefore, after breakfast at the hotel, there may be some free time left for last shopping or photos in the city.
And at the agreed time, we will pick you up at the hotel for the private transfer to the Istanbul airport from where your flight will take off.
It will be time to say goodbye, with total gratitude on our part, and who knows if it will be time to think about the next trip around Turkey to discover the rest of the fascinating destinations in the country.
To discover Istanbul in 5 days, we have included the following services in the travel package:
The services listed below are not included in the travel package and are at the clients’ expense:
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