Turkey
Istanbul
Day 1: Your tour of this incredible city that straddles Europe and Asia begins after checking into your hotel (where you will stay for the entire tour). Then, scout out a good local place for some amazing Turkish cuisine and, if you have time, find a good vantage point to take in the beautiful night lights of this jewel of the Bosphorus. Day 2: Your sightseeing begins with an excursion under the many domes of the extraordinary Blue Mosque. If it is Friday, you may want to postpone your visit to another day as mosques can generally be quite busy for the midday service. Unlike most mosques, the Blue Mosque has six minarets, which stand like sentinels guarding the holy edifice. Tour the outer courtyard and then step into the mosque, which is lavishly decorated in fine İznik tiles, geometric shapes, and calligraphy. Next, walk a short distance to the site of the former hippodrome, where chariot races were held in ancient times. While in the vicinity, take a look at the eclectic group of other monuments including an Egyptian obelisk, the Column of Constantine, the Greek Column of the Serpent, and the German Fountain, before making your way to the nearby Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, which is housed in a former Ottoman palace. The museum is home to many interesting and valuable artifacts, including carpets, tiles, and ceramics from Turkey and Persia. After a late lunch, spend the rest of your day strolling underneath the city in the dark and cavernous Underground Cistern. The cistern was built over 1,500 years ago using more than 300 hundred Roman columns to provide a water source for the growing populace. Day 3: Get an early start today and be at the venerated Hagia Sophia when it opens. First a church, then a mosque, and now a museum, there aren’t many structures still standing that are almost 1,500 years old and none that are this beautiful or that have made such an impact on the world. Afterwards, walk over to the archaeological museum, which has an incredible collection of Greek, Roman, Hittite, Lycian, and Babylonian artifacts in three separate buildings. After getting a quick bite to eat, spend the rest of your day at the fabulous Topkapi Palace. The sprawling palace was the residence of the sultans and includes sumptuous gardens, pavilions, a treasury, an armory, and a look into life in the harem. Day 4: This morning, take a break from heavy sightseeing with a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus. You can take the public ferry or use a private operator, but either way, a cruise will give you a better understanding of the size of the city and its unique geography. The public ferry will even take you within sight of the Black Sea. After your cruise, cross the Galata Bridge and visit the Galata Tower for some amazing vistas of the city. If you could use a snack before dinner, consider getting a fish sandwich at the bobbing boats near the bridge. Day 5: Today, start with a visit to the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent (Süleymaniye Mosque), the refined, near-equal to the Blue Mosque. Afterwards, wind your way through the Grand Bazaar, the oldest shopping mall in the world, which makes an interesting stop even if you don’t intend to buy souvenirs. Then, indulge your senses at the colorful Spice Market. Sample Turkish Delight in its many varieties and then buy some of your favorites to snack on later. Day 6: On your last day in spectacular Istanbul, take an entertaining tour of the European-styled Dolmabahçe Palace and then visit the Military Museum. The museum has a wonderful gun collection and also has a live cultural exhibition with a colorfully costumed Turkish band. Day 7: Return to the airport for your flight home, having learned more about this culturally diverse European capital than you could have learned from any class or book. |