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Your driver and licensed guide will meet you in front of Istanbul's port Passenger Terminal. You drive over the Galata Bridge to the heart of the old city. Your first stop is the Topkapi Palace Museum. The Palace was the seat of the Ottoman Empire for almost four centuries. Walk thru the courtyards of the Palace, view the Chimneys of the Royal kitchens, the Ceremonial Halls, Throne Room, see the Costumes of the Sultans, the Treasury of the Ottoman Empire, the Library, Pavilions and more.
* After lunch proceed to the Grand Bazaar, where handicrafts from all over Turkey is displayed in 4.000 shops and stores. Enjoy shopping within this bustling maze of glittering jewels, sweet scents, radiant carpets and shining brass and copper.
* Later today you drive to Taksim, a modern area of Istanbul. You'll walk the main pedestrian street of Istiklal Caddesi and see the 19th century buildings, consulates, Designer Shops, restaurants, small snack bars, cinemas and even Starbucks. End your tour at Pera Palas Hotel, a late 19th century hotel built for the use of Orient Express passengers. Pera Palas is legendary and has been frequented by well-known highly placed figures of the world such as: Agatha Christie, Edward VIII of England, Ataturk, Yehudi Menuhin, Marie Bell, Jacqueline Kennedy, Mata Hari, Cicero,...
Tour Breakdown:
1- Depart pier and drive to Topkapi Palace - 30 Minutes
2- Tour the Topkapi Palace - 1.5 Hours
3- Lunch Break - 1.5 Hours
4- Drive to Grand Bazaar - 10 Minutes
5- Enjoy Shopping - 1.5 Hours
6- Drive to Taksim Square - 20 Minutes
7- Walk on Istiklal Street - 2 Hours
6- Return to pier - 20 Minutes
* Total tour time is approximately 8 hours. Please note that this itinerary requires walking and includes uneven surfaces. It is not wheelchair accessible. The tour prices listed below are for your entire private group. They are NOT per person prices! Entrance fees are per person and are added to the tour price.
Tuesday Notes: The Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. If your tour is on Tuesday you will instead be taken to the Ottoman Dolmabahce Palace decorated with priceless carpets, chandeliers and paintings.
* Note on visiting Mosques- Shoes must be removed to enter a Mosque, and you may be required to carry them with you in a plastic bag during your visit. We suggest bringing socks to slip on if you are not wearing them. Women should carry a scarf because they may be asked to cover their heads. Bare shoulders, shorts, and dresses above the knee are not allowed. Please come prepared, or you may be turned away.
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