Delights of Turkish Cooking Excursion Options
All excursion options include transportation where necessary.
(Full Day) – After your breakfast, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby for your full-day sightseeing in Istanbul. Your private tour of Istanbul starts with a visit to the Hippodrome, which was one of the largest chariot race grounds of the Byzantine Empire. You will take a short walk to the Blue Mosque, completed in 1616, ıt is a triumph of harmony, proportion and elegance. The mosque was a part of a complex, including tombs, fountains, kitchens, and a bath. Its colorful 260 windows enable the sunlight to reach inside. This makes the interior unusually light. The blue Iznik Tiles covering the walls have given the mosque its popular name, Blue Mosque. Then, you will visit St. Sophia, the church of the Divine Wisdom. The architectural marvel of all time. It was built during Emperor Justinian’s reign (AD 537 ) and it remained the greatest church in Christendom until the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet II, who ordered the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque. Lastly, before lunch you will visit the Underground Cistern. It was built by Justinian in the 6th century. It is 70 meters wide and 140 meters long, with a capacity of 80,000 m³ of water. It has 336 beautiful columns that support the cistern, two of which are carved with the head of Medusa on the plinth.
Lunch will be served at a restaurant located on the Golden Horn. You will taste delicious Turkish kebabs. They specialize in dishes from the Gaziantep region in South-East Turkey, synonymous with kebabs, and you will also try cig kofte, Turkey's answer to steak tartare (lamb kneaded with spice and herbs).
After lunch you will visit the magnificent Topkapı Palace, the residence of the sultans for almost three centuries. It is located on the promontory jutting out between the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. This setting provides a magnificent view. The construction of the Topkapı Palace was completed between 1465 and 1478. Being the imperial residence of the sultan, his court and harem, the palace was also the seat of government for the Ottoman Empire. In the Treasury section, you will see the 7th biggest diamond in the world, the “Spoonmaker’s Diamond”. Last, you will continue to explore ninety-two streets of the famous Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is the largest and oldest covered Bazaar in Turkey with more than 4,000 shops. A variety of Turkish handicrafts, Oriental carpets, rare jewels and inexpensive souvenirs are all sold in small shops next to each other. The streets are named according to the trades, such as gold and silver sellers, carpet sellers, booksellers, etc. The most oriental atmosphere in Istanbul is found in the bazaar. Minimum of 2 people.
Price: $397.00(Full Day) -- Take a ferry to the largest of the Princes’ Islands (Principio -Büyükada). Büyükada is a beautiful summer resort with ancient style wooden houses and old summer residences. There are no museums, no cars even, just horses and carriages to get around (the alternative is riding a donkey), grand houses and mansions wreathed with wisteria, bougainvillea, pine forests, and cliffs. On the island you will stroll through the pier to visit the island's local market and stop at food shops. After your tour in the market you will stop to have a succulent lunch by the sea. After lunch, a horse -drawn carriage will drive you throughout the pine woods taking approx 1 hour. You will taste a delicious ice cream before your cruise back to town.
(Full Day) -- This excursion will introduce you to the beauties of the Bosphorus, the picturesque waterway separating Asia from Europe. Embarking on the ferry from European Shore at 10:35, you will cruise by the baroque 19th century palaces, the beautiful old wooden houses, Rumeli Hisar and Anadolu Hisar fortresses, and sailing under the Bosphorus Bridge. During the sail you can taste the famous natural yoghurt of Kanlıca. After you disembark in Sarıyer at 11:45 am visit the private Museum of Sadberk Hanim, also belonging to the Koç family, consisting of two wooden houses at the end of the Bosphorus. One of the buildings contains a collection of antiquities and the other ethnographical objects depicting life in Istanbul in the 19th century. This museum obtained an award from the Council of Europe. Continue to Sariyer and visit the fish market, the famous sweet & savory pastry shop and famous pudding shop. Then proceed to Ortaköy, one of the most charming sea-shore villages of Istanbul, where you can stroll the narrow streets and stop for a glass of Turkish tea. This little corner of Istanbul is very popular among Turkish youth, street-food sellers, artisans and tourists all over the world with its numerous “cafes”, small restaurants and souvenir shops.
Price: $328.00(Half Day) -- After lunch you can visit the Istanbul Modern Art Museum and then stop at the most famous baklava shop in Istanbul to sample varieties of Baklava, accompanied by Turkish tea. This establishment has used only the finest, natural Turkish ingredients to develop its unique flavors since 1871.
Price: $138.00(Half Day) -- We will take a ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side of Istanbul from Beşiktaş and walk through the Kadıköy market where there is plenty to discover for the "foodie. This market is one of Istanbul's most colorful, vibrant and accessible shopping spots. Many traders have been in business since the early to mid 1900s and the more famous ones really need no introduction.
Price: $120.00
