Short breaks to Istanbul
| country: | Turkey |
| location: | Istanbul |
| departures: | This trip is available all year round, on a tailormade basis |
| price: | From £319 (4 days) ex flights. 3 night package: £319pp based on twin share or £539 single. 4 night package: £349 pp based on twin share or £609 single. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 9 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Istanbul City Break
Istanbul offers a multitude of attractions, exquisite Ottoman architecture, grand palaces, mosques, churches, hamams and oriental bazaars. It is full of energy and colour, from its up market sea front districts to its run down shanty towns.
It offers world class cuisine, music, bars, clubs, theatres, museums and art galleries. Ultimately, however, as this magnificent city grasps the shores of the sublime Bosphorus, one senses a most magical atmosphere, an abundance of it, a look, a feel, a taste and a sound like no other place on earth.
Istanbul offers a multitude of attractions, exquisite Ottoman architecture, grand palaces, mosques, churches, hamams and oriental bazaars. It is full of energy and colour, from its up market sea front districts to its run down shanty towns.
It offers world class cuisine, music, bars, clubs, theatres, museums and art galleries. Ultimately, however, as this magnificent city grasps the shores of the sublime Bosphorus, one senses a most magical atmosphere, an abundance of it, a look, a feel, a taste and a sound like no other place on earth.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Upon arrival in Istanbul you will be collected from the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure as you begin to soak in the atmosphere of this amazing city. If you arrive early, then we can arrange a brief orientation tour. |
| Day 2: | A fully guided walking tour of old Istanbul. We start with Haghia Sophia, the most influential church of Byzantium. Originally built by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century and converted into a mosque by the Ottomans in the 15th century. It stands today as one of the world's greatest architectural marvels, the magnificent interior testament to the unique east-west synthesis that is manifest in Istanbul. Shimmering biblical mosaics juxtapose huge plaques bearing the names of Islamic caliphs. Next we visit the Blue Mosque, another of the world's most important religious buildings. Built in the 16th century the mosque is unique for it's 6 minarets and it's celestial domed interior decorated with the famous blue Iznik tiles. We then visit the Hippodrome, scene of Roman chariot races. Although little remains of the great stadium which, in its hey day, is thought to have held 100'000 people, the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine are highlights. From here explore the Basilica Cistern, a vast underground water depot constructed to meet the needs of the Palace of Constantinople. After lunch visit the grand Topkapi Palace, residence of Ottoman Sultan's from the 15th to the 19th century. With its impressive treasury, exquisite harem, attractive courtyards and pavilions housing huge collections of antiquities, Topkapi Palace offers a true insight into the heart of the Ottoman Empire. |
| Day 3: | We start the day with a visit to the colourful 17th century Spice Bazaar and its surroundings. The narrow streets lined with shops here beautifully emphasise the atmosphere of old Istanbul. What a joy it is to smell the fresh coffee, herbs and spices, to see the dazzling mixture of nuts, dried fruits, a thousand varieties of Turkish delights and all being sold as they have been for hundreds of years. From here visit the delightful Rustem Pasha Mosque built by master architect Sinan in the 16th century. Its tiled interior, lavishly decorated with the finest Iznik tiles, is perhaps the best example in the city. Walking through the main Eminonu square you pass the prominent New Mosque, although completed in 1663, it is newer than the other major mosques, hence the name. We then embark on a boat tour along the Bosphorus waterway separating Europe and Asia. This is a relaxing way to take in some major landmarks including the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, the Bosphorus Suspension Bridge and the imposing waterfront villas of Istanbul. We disembark to visit the Rumeli Fortress, built by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Constantinople. After lunch in a local seafood restaurant we finish the day off at the mind boggling grand covered bazaar. This legendary mother of all bazaars is a maze of over 4000 shops that will make you wish you had brought a bigger suitcase! The rest of the evening is at your leisure, time perhaps, for a relaxing Turkish bath and massage. |
| Day 4: | Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your outbound flight. |
travellers' tales
The Aya Sofia was breathtaking and the Topkapi Palace was also very atmospheric. The hamam (turkish baths) were brilliant... (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
 These breaks utilise independent boutique hotels that maintain high standards of responsibility with regards to their architectural design, and those that celebrate the cultural traditions and heritage of Istanbul. The guided tours use only local guides who are passionate about the city and its remarkable history. We aim to introduce travellers to the quirky soul of the city, not just the glossy highlights. Since our launch we have been striving to present an authentic and uncommercial vision of Turkey with independently minded travellers from across the globe. Whole-heartedly opposed to the usual tours on offer, where hundreds of tourists are bundled on coaches, whizzed around the obvious sites, then herded into carpet, leather and jewellery shops, our tours offer the traveller a much more subtle, personal and intimate way to discover the country. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |