In a nutshell

A tour that takes us to see the most popular and characteristic sights of Istanbul ending with a lovely cruise along the Bosphorus among breathtaking landscapes and testimonies of its age-old history.

Main stops

Spice Bazaar
Yeni Camii
Mini-cruise along the Bosphorus

The programme

The peak moment of this pleasant excursion is a marvellous mini-cruise along the Bosphorus on a characteristic boat. Before setting sail, however, there are two stops that are just as interesting and that introduce us to the characteristic traits of the Turkish metropolis.
The first stop on our itinerary takes us to the Spize Bazaar where we feel as if we have travelled back to Ottoman times surrounded by the exotic smells, noises and aromas of mystical Istanbul and remain enthralled in the customs and traditions of everyday life.
A short stroll leads us to the Yeni Camii or New Mosque - this Ottoman Imperial mosque is one of the most important in the city and was built on the Golden Horn right in front of the Galata bridge between 1597 and 1663 at the request of Sultan Safiye, the consort of Murad III. This amazing building, one of the most popular in Istanbul, is easily recognizable because of the two minarets found at the corners of the avlu, the vast closed porticoed courtyard.
The time has come to board our motorboat and set sail on a pleasant thrilling cruise along the Bosphorus Strait.
Lulled by the lapping waters, we admire the unique landscape that passes before our eyes. This narrow canal connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara winds for over 30 km among lush hills, beaches, trendy bars, imperial palaces with lovely gardens and mosques as well as simple wooden houses.
We admire the strait in all its glory as our guide illustrates the commercial and strategic relevance that has always characterised its history.
Just consider the numerous bastions built on the surrounding hills and, most of all, the two Ottoman fortresses that still tower the two banks where the Bosphorus narrows: the Rumeli Hisari European fortress and the Anadolu Hisari Asian fortress.

Good to know

Dress code that is appropriate for the places of worship to be visited is recommended.
To enter the mosque, it is mandatory to cover your shoulders and legs (down to the knees) and remove your shoes.
In the event of adverse weather conditions the boat excursion may be cancelled.
Local boats are standard non-luxury boats and are used daily to help visitors get to know more about the Bosphorus.
The Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque and New Mosque are closed Friday mornings until 2.30 pm.
The Grand Bazaar and Spice Markets are closed on national holidays, on Sundays and during religious festivities.