08:30-18:00

DAILY (except Tuesday)

TOPKAPY PALACE HAREM OF TOPKAPY PALACE CHURCH OF HAINTY IRENE, BLUE MOSQUE, HAGA SOPHIA (external view) Hippodrome SQUARE, IBRAHIM PASHA PALACE (external view), HAMAM HURREM SULTAN (external view), LUNCH (in a Turkish restaurant), PRO BOOM ON THE SHIP, GOLDEN HORN BAY, BOSPHOROUS STRAIT, RUMELI HISAR FORTRESS (external view), MAIDEN TOWER (external view), BEYLERBEY PARK (observation deck in the Asian part)

Topkapi Palace is a majestic testimony to the history of the Ottoman Empire. Built by order of Sultan Mehmed II in 1478, it was the residence of 25 sultans over a period of 400 years. Among its two main parts, "6erun" and "enderun", one can find pavilions, a harem, a library, an armory and treasury, as well as a rich collection of relics, making it one of the greatest museums in the world. At least 2 million people visit the Topkapi Museum every year.

Located in the historical center of Istanbul, in the first courtyard of the Topkapi Palace, the Church of Hagia Irene is one of the earliest surviving churches of Constantinople. The structure, created in the shape of a cross, is decorated with mosaics from the time of Justinian, and inside is a sarcophagus in which, according to legend, the remains of Constantine the Great rest.

Hagia Sophia, originally built in the 4th century on the site of an ancient acropolis, is the greatest example of Byzantine culture. Today it is an active mosque that attracts approximately 9 million visitors annually. Inside the cathedral you can see the baptismal font, ancient mosaics and the sacred column. Although Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum in 1935, today it is a working mosque that continues to attract people from all over the world.

The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sinan Agha Mosque, is a unique example of architecture, striking in its grandeur and sophistication. Built by order of Sultan Ahmed I at the beginning of the 17th century, its construction took 7 years. The Blue Mosque combines the best elements of Byzantine and Ottoman styles, and its decoration includes exquisite examples of Iznik ceramics, painted in blue and green colors. Today it is one of the most majestic and beautifully decorated mosques in the world, attracting more than 5 million visitors annually.

Hippodrome Square is a unique monument of the Byzantine period, erected in 203. In the past, horse racing was held in this square. In the 15th and 16th centuries it was gradually expanded to accommodate the construction of the Topkapi and Ibrahim Pasha palaces, as well as the foundation of the Sultanahmet Mosque. Today it is a square where columns, obelisks and the German Fountain, donated to the city by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, have been preserved.

Ibrahim Pasha Palace, built in honor of the Ottoman Grand Vizier Pargala Ibrahim Pasha, is home to the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. Opened in 1938, the museum presents the richness of Eastern culture through jewelry, weapons, household items, ceramic jewelry, ancient manuscripts and books. The museum was awarded the Council of Europe Prize in 1984 and the UNESCO Prize in 1985.

Hurrem Sultan Hammam is a historical baths towering in the heart of Istanbul. Built in the 16th century by order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, these baths are not only an architectural monument, but also part of the legendary Sultanahmet Square.

The boat tour will begin from the Golden Horn, on the banks of which the buildings of the Byzantine and Ottoman eras of the city are located. You will learn about the life of Greek regions and the monuments of the bygone Constantinople. It was here, on the southern bank of the mouth of the Golden Horn, in the 7th century BC. e. The city of Byzantium was founded, which later, in 330, by the decision of Constantine the Great, became the capital of the Roman Empire under the name New Rome. About 6,000 years ago, at the confluence of the Kyagythane and Ali-su river waterways with the waters of the famous Bosphorus Strait, a natural bay was formed, later called the Golden Horn.

This name was given to it for two reasons: “horn” - because of its shape, and “golden” - because of its strategically convenient trading location. The Golden Horn backwater is located in the place where the Bosporus Strait flows into the Sea of Marmara. Along the shores of the bay are the ancient districts of Galata, Balat, Fatih, etc., adjacent to important historical monuments.

Both shores of the bay are connected by 5 bridges, 3 of which are drawbridges. Istanbul stretches across two continents, and the Golden Horn Bay divides the European half of the city into two more parts. When the sun sets, the waters of the Golden Horn Bay are colorful and shimmer with many shades of gold!

The Bosphorus Strait is the very breath of Istanbul, filled with the cries of seagulls, the sound of waves and calls to prayer heard from the minarets. These are ancient villas, Ottoman palaces, fortresses and gigantic bridges that amaze with their beauty. The Bosphorus is the narrowest intercontinental strait in the world. The largest Turkish city, Istanbul, is located on both sides of the strait. The length of the strait is 30 kilometers, and in the most