Istanbul

24 September 2022

6 days from £2,150pp

Istanbul is home to some of the world’s most breathtaking monuments, which you’ll discover on this spectacular tour led by Sue Rollins. Explore Haghia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace and the iconic Blue Mosque and enjoy a private boat ride along the Bosphorus.

Discover some of Istanbul’s monuments - The Haghia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace, the Suleymaniye mosque, the iconic Blue Mosque, the Dolmabahce Palace
Explore centuries-old Ottoman wooden houses, walk through colourful markets and relax in one of the many cafés or tea houses
Witness the exquisite Late Byzantine mosaics in the small church of St. Saviour in Chora
Enjoy a private boat trip along the Bosphorus followed by lunch by the waterside

Constantinople and Istanbul, two names for one city, capital of the mighty Byzantine and Ottoman empires, a city where East meets West, astride two continents, Europe and Asia. The shores of Istanbul are lapped by the Sea of Marmara, the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus, and its monuments are ranged over seven hills. Minarets and domes dominate the famous skyline and a stroll through the streets reveals the city's diverse and magnificent heritage. Hagia Sophia, great cathedral of Byzantium, with magnificent marbles and mosaics vies with Ottoman mosques clad in beautiful Iznik tiles, the Topkapi palace, luxurious residence of the sultans, elegant fountains, bathhouses and bustling covered markets. Every visit to Istanbul is a pleasure, for it is one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

Day 1:
Morning flight from London Heathrow to Istanbul. Transfer by private coach to our five star hotel. Before a group dinner, we take a short stroll around the Hippodrome, once Constantinople's great arena for chariot races and other public entertainment.
Day 2:
A day spent exploring the Byzantine monuments, beginning with the majestic 6th century cathedral of Hagia Sophia, a remarkable testament to Byzantine architectural geometry. Continue to the Yerebetan Sarayi, an extraordinary underground cistern with a forest of over 300 columns. In the afternoon, we visit the Mosaic Museum which houses original ornamental pavements from the Great Palace of the Byzantine emperors, we then visit the little church of St. Saviour in Chora, a jewel of a house with late Byzantine mosaics and frescoes.
Day 3:
We begin our exploration of the Ottoman city with a morning visit to the Topkapi Palace, opulent residence of the Ottoman sultans and political centre of the empire. We see the magnificent collection of Chinese porcelain and Ottoman textiles, as well as the Imperial Treasury with its wealth of gold and jewels. Afternoon visit to the Süleymaniye mosque complex, masterpiece of the great Ottoman architect Sinan, followed by a walk through the Covered Bazaar. Afterwards there will be some free time for independent exploration of Istanbul.
Day 4:
A special treat this morning will be a private boat trip along the Bosphorus, the straits separating Europe and Asia, past castles and ornate Ottoman mansions and palaces. We visit the Sadberk Hanim museum, which displays both a fine archaeological collection spanning the Anatolian Neolithic to Byzantium and a magnificent range of Ottoman textiles, ceramics, calligraphy and metalwork. After lunch by the Bosphorus we return to the Golden Horn and see the mosque of Rüstem Pasha, Süleyman the Magnificent's grand vizier. The interior of the building is covered from floor to ceiling in high-quality Iznik tiles. Finally, we walk through the colourful Spice Market, with some time to stroll around the bustling market area.
Day 5:
Morning visit to the Dolmabahce Palace to see the opulent state rooms and ostentatious ceremonial hall. The palace’s extravagant 4.5 ton chandelier was a present from Queen Victoria to the sultan. Return to the Hippodrome area to see the mosque of Sultanahmet, also known as the 'Blue Mosque', unique in Turkey with its six elegant minarets. Visit the Palace of Ibrahim Pasha, another grand vizier of Süleyman the Magnificent, which now houses the excellent Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. The rest of the afternoon is yours for further exploration or relaxation. In the evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner together.
Day 6:
Drive beside the majestic Land Walls of Constantinople to Yedikule, the 'Fortress of the Seven Towers', built by Mehmet the Conqueror and used as a notorious prison. The Ottoman fortress contains a section of the Byzantine walls, which includes the famous Golden Gate. Drive across the Golden Horn and walk from Taksim Square to the Pera Palas hotel along the former Grande Rue de Pera, the height of fashion among 19th century European residents and still lined with the imposing façades of their former embassies. Our final visit will be to the Pera Museum, a private museum which houses an interesting collection of Orientalist painting. In the afternoon we transfer to the airport for our late afternoon return flight to London Heathrow.

Sue Rollin

Sue Rollin specialises in the ancient and Islamic Middle East, India and the Mediterranean. An archaeologist, historian and linguist by training, Sue lectures for the Arts society and the V&A and has led Study Tours in Spain, Sicily, Morocco, the Middle East, Central Asia and India. Sue speaks Spanish, Italian, French and German. She is co-author of two travel guides: the Blue Guide to Jordan and Istanbul: A Traveller’s Guide.

Fly from London Heathrow

Return flights from London Heathrow are included in our package on our specific arrival and departure dates plus one item of checked in luggage, per person.

Transfers will also be included on our specific arrival and departure dates to take you to your holiday destination. If you choose to arrive or depart on a different day, there may be an additional supplement charged to cover your transfer costs.

Overview

The five star Eresin Hotel Sultanahmet is located near the main sites in Istanbul, including the Haghia Sophia and Topkapi Palace and is close to the Sea of Marmara. The hotel displays many historic artefacts from mosaics to ceramics and sections of ancient column decorate the bar area. The hotel features a restaurant and rooftop terrace with city views.