Overview
Explore Istanbul with the perfect combination of Turkish cuisine, food and history.
While visiting the highlights of Istanbul, you will also delve into the flavorful food culture of the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Gain insight into how people used to prepare, gather, and enjoy meals in one of Turkey's most exciting cities. You'll experience a day in the life, as you learn about new cultures from the pages of history with food habits, daily life and cooking history.
8 Hours
Available on request
Fatih, İstanbul
Highlights
Topkapi Palace:
- The home for 400 years of ruling Sultan’s in Istanbul, this is a not to be missed site. The second palace built in Istanbul after its conquest by the Turks, it served as the center of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries. This palace’s maze of oppulent buildings is where the sultans, their courts, and their harems lived and governed.
Balat :
- Whether it's the Iron Church of Saint Stephens (yes made completely of Iron) and located on the Golden horn or the beauty of the Orthodox Churches or the numerous Synagogues located here- a visit to Balat is a step back in time, but with a very current even progressive vibe.
Chora Church :
- Located in the area of Balat - this is a one of a kind place -with gold frescoes that go on and on and on all showing the life of Christ.
Itinerary
- Your private guide will meet you at your hotel to begin your tour.
- Your tour will begin with a visit to the Topkapı Palace. As we visit this incredible landmark, we'll focus some of our attention towards the kitchens. You will also explore the breathtaking Mosaic Museum to talk about the Byzantine Palace.
- After spending a half day in the Sultanahmet area, we will go to Chora Church and Blacherna area of the city where the Byzantine palace life continued and the latest ruins are located.
- Following an authentic Turkish lunch you will journey on to Tekfur Palace.
- Your afternoon will continue your walking tour through the narrow streets of Balat with its Greek Orthodox church, the oldest synagogue in the city, along with a few historic Ottoman mosques. The Balat neighborhood is considered a cultural heritage area as announced by Unesco and symbolizes the coexistence of Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities in the city throughout history.
- No food tour of Turkey could be complete without authentic Turkish coffee, so as you enjoy walking along wooden homes, which used to belong to wealthy Greek citizens in the city, you'll stop for a coffee break before heading back to your hotel.
Inclusions/Exclusions
What is included in the tour
- Lunch on Full Day tour
- Private Tours with licensed professional English speaking guides
- Admission tickets to sites and museums
- Private VIP transportation per tour itinerary
- Parking, portage, toll roads
- Coordination and attentive customer service throughout the tour by Sojourn staff
- Required Association ofTurkish Travel Agencies Foreign Visitors Insurance (a basic mandatory policy and not an adequate replacement for purchasing your own travel insurance.)
- Optional Domestic flights with extra cost, you may add during the booking process
What is not included in the tour
- Drinks at lunch and dinner Sodas or alcohol
- Optional gratuities to guides, drivers, etc.
- Entry Visa to Turkey
- Travel insurance
- Laundry, and personal items
- International flight tickets
- Optional programs listed in the itinerary
Price
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Participants
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Price per participant
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1
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$320
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2
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$185
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3 to 5
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$120
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6 +
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$100
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8 +
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$85
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10 +
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$80
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Single Supplement
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$NA
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Map
Cankurtaran, Topkapı Palace No:34093, Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
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