Türkiye, Istanbul

Weekend in Istanbul 4^*

Upon your arrival in Istanbul, you’ll be greeted and then transferred to your hotel.
Get settled and start soaking up the unique atmosphere of this ancient city.

Dinner is not included. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the reception for a day full of discoveries.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight in Istanbul.

In the morning, enjoy an unmissable experience: a cruise on the Bosphorus. It separates Asia from Europe and links the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea. As you travel along the strait and past both banks, you’ll discover the marble palaces of Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi, the beautiful Ottoman wooden villas known as ‘yali’ (waterfront residences), and medieval fortresses.

The day begins with a visit to the Golden Horn, a magnificent natural estuary that served as the harbour for the ancient city of Byzantium. Developed by Greek settlers, it played a strategic role throughout the history of Constantinople. During the Byzantine era, shipyards were established there and a mighty rampart ran along its banks to protect the city from attacks from the sea.

Our first visit will be to the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam. As a major place of pilgrimage, it holds a special place in the hearts of the faithful, second only to Mecca and Jerusalem.

We will then head to Pierre Loti Hill, which offers a superb panoramic view of the Golden Horn. We’ll stop for a photo opportunity to take in this exceptional view. According to tradition, the French writer Pierre Loti (1850–1923) was a regular visitor to the tea house situated at the top of the hill, amongst the plane trees and cypresses of Eyüp Cemetery. Still open today, it is the ideal place to enjoy a cup of Turkish tea or, for an extra charge, a traditional shisha whilst admiring the scenery.

We continue our tour of Istanbul’s bohemian neighbourhoods with a visit to the Bulgarian Church of Saint Stephen (Saint Stefan), a remarkable building constructed entirely of cast iron and a symbol of the city’s Bulgarian community.

The tour proceeds to the picturesque neighbourhood of Balat, famous for its wooden houses with colourful façades, its authentic cafés, its antique shops and vintage boutiques, as well as its many churches and synagogues, which bear witness to its rich multicultural past.

During this walk, we will visit the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople and St George’s Church, the spiritual seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch and one of the highest religious authorities in the Orthodox Church, to which hundreds of millions of faithful around the world belong.

Return to the hotel for the evening.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide in the lobby and begin a day dedicated to exploring Istanbul's historical treasures. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight in Istanbul.

This day-trip invites you to follow in the footsteps of ancient Byzantium, as you explore the historic route that once linked the Milion to the majestic Hagia Sophia.

The Milion, an iconic monument of Constantinople, marked the starting point of all the roads in the Byzantine Empire, much like Rome’s Golden Milestone. As you take this walk, you will discover the ruins and monuments that bear witness to the city’s rich history: the Ibrahim Pasha Palace, the Chalké (the former monumental gate of the Great Palace), the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, the Hippodrome, the Basilica Cistern, the Sphendone, and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, nicknamed the ‘Little Hagia Sophia’.

You will then admire, from the outside, the magnificent Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and the former spiritual heart of the Byzantine Empire. For nearly a millennium, it was the largest church in the world and remains one of Istanbul’s most iconic monuments today.

Continue with a visit to the Blue Mosque, famous for its sumptuous Iznik faience tiles in shades of blue and its six elegant minarets which dominate the Old City skyline. You will also discover the Hippodrome of Constantinople, the former centre of Byzantine public life, where Theodosius’s obelisk, the Serpentine Column and the German Fountain still stand.

An exterior tour of the famous Topkapi Palace, the first residence of the Ottoman sultans. More than just a palace, it is a vast complex comprising pavilions, gardens, courtyards and kiosks, ideally situated at the tip of the historic peninsula, between the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn.

The day will continue with a stroll through the Arasta Bazaar, a charming traditional market lined with stalls selling spices, ceramics, carpets and local crafts. Visits to shops specialising in leather goods and the famous Turkish sweets, loukoums, will round off this exploration.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Breakfast, check-out, then transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule.

End of your stay in Istanbul, rich in history, mystery, and emotions.

Upon your arrival at Istanbul Airport, after collecting your luggage, an assistant will be waiting for you at one of the designated gates (no. 8 or no. 15). Two days before your departure, you will receive confirmation of the exact gate where you will be met.

Note: The itinerary of this programme may be subject to change due to technical requirements or reasons related to weather conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances affecting the organisation of the trip.

Maximum group size: 42 people