This full-day tour starts out first thing in the morning as a local guide picks you up at your hotel or a designated meeting spot and takes you on a journeythrough Istanbul's historic peninsula. Visit Topkapi Palace, the imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries; Hagia Sofia, the marvelous6th century Byzantine basilica that marks the beginning of the golden age of Roman Emperor Justinianus; the Hippodrome, a center for sports, entertainment, and politics in Old Constantinople; the stunning Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), which was built as the dying wish of Sultan Ahmet; the Grand Bazaar, which has remained a central shopping and cultural hub for centuries; and theRustem Pasha Mosque, a16th century Ottoman Mosque, which was built in the name of the treasurer and the son-in-law of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
The tour also includes a short demonstration of Turkish rugs in the Grand Bazaar, as well asan authentic Turkish lunch. Though there is a moderate amount of walking, the tour is wheelchair accessible. Because you will be entering places of worship, dress modestly.