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Istanbul

Situated on the banks of the Bosphorus and suspended between Europe and Asia, it is one of the most extraordinary cities in the world, a place unlike any other due to its perfect blend of European and Middle Eastern culture. Capital of three empires (Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman) and important crossroads of peoples, histories and religions, this crossroads of cultures causes enchanting disorder in Istanbul. Formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople, the Istanbul map is filled with treasures and riches, visible remnants of its former historical splendor. It has a history of more than 2,500 years, from which it has inherited its air of grandeur and splendor, also knowing how to adapt to the future, becoming today a dynamic, modern and continuously growing city. The European zone is divided into the old part (where "old Istanbul" is with the main tourist attractions such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace) and the modern part, on the other side of the Golden Horn.

The Asian side of Istanbul, located on the Anatolian peninsula, is less touristy, however, it has very old and more traditional neighborhoods such as Üsküdar that are well worth a visit. Facing the strait are many sights such as the ornate Beylerbeyi Palace and the 16th-century Şemsi Paşa Mosque. The picturesque Maiden's Tower, located on a tiny island in the middle of the Bosphorus and offering beautiful panoramic views of the city. And the Kadıköy neighborhood, famous for its striking farmer's market and the murals that adorn its winding streets. In any case, if there is something worth visiting the Asian side, it is the views towards the European side, from there you can see the silhouette of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Galata Tower and other huge mosques that form the typical image of Istanbul.

Programs at Istanbul

Getaway to istanbul

3 nights€650per person

Istanbul and Magical Cappadocia

Departures: Saturdays in the autumn-winter season, and Wednesdays and Saturdays in the spring-summer season.
7 nights€898per person

Türkiye in full

Departures: Saturdays in the autumn-winter season, and Wednesdays and Saturdays in the spring-summer season.
7 nights€948per person

Istanbul and Cappadocia Express

Departures: Saturdays in the autumn-winter season, and Wednesdays and Saturdays in the spring-summer season.
5 nights€1,017per person

Türkiye in complete comfort

Departures: Saturdays in the autumn-winter season, and Wednesdays and Saturdays in the spring-summer season.
7 nights€1,020per person

Istanbul and Antalya beaches

7 nights€1,119per person

Istanbul and Kusadasi beaches

7 nights€1,427per person

Magical Türkiye

Departure: Saturday.
8 nights€1,483per person

Istanbul and Bodrum beaches

7 nights€1,577per person

Istanbul and Cappadocia with Antalya beaches

9 nights€1,622per person

Istanbul and Cappadocia with Kusadasi beaches

9 nights€1,731per person

Complete Türkiye with Antalya beaches

10 nights€1,853per person

Istanbul and Cappadocia with Antalya beaches

9 nights€1,938per person

Complete Türkiye with Maldives (departures Monday and Thursday)

11 nights€2,862per person

Complete Türkiye with Bodrum beaches

9 nights

Complete Türkiye with Kusadasi beaches

9 nights

Istanbul and Cappadocia with Maldives (Tuesday and Friday)

9 nights

What to see in Istanbul?

Topkapi palace

Located in the Sultanhamet district, it was the grand palace of the sultans in Constantinople, the largest and most important monument of Ottoman civil architecture. Of enormous dimensions, it consists of different buildings set in perfectly maintained gardens. The most visited areas are the Treasury, which has high-value objects, such as the Topkapi dagger, the most expensive weapon in the world; and the Harem, the residence of the Sultan, his family and, as its name suggests, the Sultan's harem.

Istanbul Grand Bazaar

Located very close to Sultanhamet, a must-see for any tourist who loves shopping and the art of haggling. Covered and tidy, it has 64 streets full of shops where you can find all kinds of jewellery and traditional crafts. Without a doubt, it is the best place to buy all kinds of gifts and souvenirs before returning home. For more than five centuries, it has been one of the most important social institutions in the city and embodies the commercial character of Istanbul.

Egyptian bazaar

The Spice Bazaar, also called the Egyptian Bazaar, is one of the oldest markets in Istanbul and one of the best places in the city to buy typical products. It is made up of two aisles flanked by an infinity of shops, among which there are many spice shops, but also sweets, dried fruits, soaps, fabrics, perfumes and teas.Currently, despite that many of the spice stalls have been replaced by another type of business, the bazaar, still continues to give us the smells and flavors with which the delicious Turkish gastronomy is created. The variety of products is immense, you will find pots full of spices, dehydrated fruits, nuts, Turkish delight, baklavas and a wide variety of desserts that cause a visual and olfactory impact difficult to forget.

Rustem Pasha Mosque

The Rüstem Pasha Mosque is located in the area of what was once the Eminönü market and is one of Istanbul's best kept jewels. It is not one of the best-known monuments, because one of its particularities is that it is built on the arcades of what were the market stalls, so it is not easily seen walking through the network of small streets that make up this neighborhood. It is an Ottoman mosque, built between 1550 and 1561 by the well-known architect of the time Mimar Sinan in honor of the Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha, son-in-law of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.The mosque It's not very big and the first thing that surprises you is finding it on the roof of the building you just entered. From here, you will see its beautiful entrance arch, forming a beautiful portico, the central dome, surrounded by semi-domes and its elegant minaret. The surprise awaits you in the calm interior because its tiled walls are a true wonder. These tile mosaics (originating from Iznik) create harmonious floral and abstract decorations that make the mosque dazzling. The small pieces are distributed throughout the venue, forming surprising combinations of colors and designs in which the blue color predominates, but full of nuances.

Ancient Hippodrome of Istanbul

The Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Meydanı) was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire and the largest city in the world in the 5th century. Today it is a square called Sultanahmet Meydanı (Sultan Ahmet Square) in Istanbul, with only fragments of the original structure surviving.Horse racing and chariot racing were popular pastimes in the ancient world, and racecourses were common in Greek cities during the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.The Hippodrome is often associated with the glory days of Constantinople when it was the imperial capital, but the monument predates that date. The first hippodrome was built when the city was still called Byzantium, a provincial town of moderate importance. In 203, Emperor Septimius Severus rebuilt the city, increased its walls and provided it with a hippodrome. In 324, Emperor Constantine the Great decided to move government from Rome to Byzantium, renaming the city Nova Roma. The name did not impress, so it became known as Constantinople, the city of Constantine. Constantine greatly expanded the city, with the renovation of the hippodrome being one of his most important goals. The hippodrome is estimated to have been about 450 metres long and 130 metres wide, and had a capacity of one hundred thousand spectators.
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