Istanbul Short Breaks

DAY 1 : Istanbul - Arrival Transfer

Description : You will meet with staff of Celsus Travel at the Ataturk Airport (or SAW Airport) and then transfer to your hotel in Istanbul. Today, you will have free day. Overnight Istanbul.

DAY 2 : Istanbul - Old City Tour

Description : Your tour guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel and you will drive to historical peninsula. Your tour will start with Hippodrome Square where used to take place for chariot races and the Byzantine riots during Roman & Byzantine period. Only a short walk away, reaches Hagia Sophia built in 532 AD by Roman Emperor Justinian I. and Blue Mosque, has its fame from its beautiful blue Iznik tiles. You will continue walking to Topkapi Palace, was not only the residence of the Ottoman sultans, but also the administrative and educational center of the state. It was constructed between 1460 and 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople. You will visit the Topkapi Palace including treasury and weapons section. After that, You will visit Grand Bazaar where is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 1,200 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. Opened in 1461, it is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. Afterwards you drive back to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul. (B - L)

DAY 3 : Istanbul - Best Museums of Istanbul Tour

Description : Picking up about from your hotel, you will visit first Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum This museum located in Sultanahmet Square in Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey. Constructed in 1524, the building was formerly the palace of Pargali Ibrahim Pasha, who was the second grand vizier to Suleiman the Magnificent, and husband of the Sultan's sister, Hatice Sultan. The collection includes notable examples of Islamic calligraphy, tiles, and rugs as well as ethnographic displays on various cultures in Turkey, particularly nomad groups. These displays recreate rooms or dwellings from different time periods and regions. After visited this museum, you will continue to Buyuk Saray Mozaikleri Muzesi (The Great Palace Mosaic Museum). The museum located close to Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, Turkey, at Arasta Bazaar. The museum houses mosaics from the Byzantine period, unearthed at the site of the Great Palace of Constantinople. The last visit of tour will be to the Istanbul Archeology Museum. There is a group of three archeological museums located in the Eminonu district of Istanbul. It houses over one million objects that represent almost all of the eras and civilizations in world history. Afterwards you drive back to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul. (B - L)

Turkish Night & Belly Dance Show
Pick up from your hotel about 19:30pm for a lovely evening. Drive to old part of the Istanbul and you have a dinner at a first class restaurant. We provide two type of menus as fix menu or deluxe menu. Watching spectacular, Floorshow of famous Belly Dancers, typical Anatolian Folklore Groups featuring popular musical enstruments and Turkish Singer. Been in an Oriental atmosphere, enjoy the "Kanun", a typical musical instrument; discover the delights of a typical "Fasil" orchestra; then a programme extravaganza to experience the flavour of words and customsof our folklore and belly dancing. Have Turkish Coffee in a Turkish home furnished with lacework all around. And as a finale, enjoy a nostalgic journey into the very heart of entertainment. A unique environment, good taste and first class service - just for you. End of the entertainment at about midnight, transfer to your hotel. (D)

DAY 4 : Istanbul - Bosphorus Cruise, Two Continents Tour

Description : Your private tour guide will pick you up from your lodging in the morning with a luxury van. The tour starts with visiting Dolmabahce Palace located on the European coastline of Bosphorus. The palace was built in the 2nd. Half of 19th century with spending of about five million Ottoman mecidiye gold coins, the equivalent of 35tonnes of gold. Fourteen tonnes of gold in the form of gold leaf were used to gild the ceilings of the 45,000 square metre monoblock palace. Dolmabahce has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world, and one of the great staircases hasbannisters of Baccarat crystal. The tour in the palace taking about 1 hour. After Dolmabahce Palace, you will embark a Turyol boat / ferry from Kabatas Port for Bosphorus Cruise. The cruise taking about 2 hours and you will see Ciragan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosphorus Bridges, Maiden’s Tower and fabalous Ottoman Yalis (sea-side Mansions) during your tour. Your guide will be with you on the boat to give you information about the places you see on the tour. The tour ends with embarking to Kabatas on noon time. Your luxury van will be waiting you on the port to take to you to the Asian Side of the city by driver over Bosphorus Bridge (Bogazici Koprusu) connecting Europe to Asia. Lunch will be served at a first class local restaurant located on Salacak-Uskudar with a beatiful view of Maiden’s Tower and Sarayburnu. You can enjoy soap, starters plate, meal course (beef, meatballs or chicken), seasonal salad and desert on the lunch. After the lunch, you will visit Beylerbeyi Palace located on the Asian coastline of Bosphorus right under the bridge. It was built as a summer residance of Ottoman Sultans in 1860s, with the characteristic architectural features of her time. Your visit to Beylerbeyi Palace will take about 45 minutes. Following the visit to the Palace, you will drive to Nakkastape which is one of the best spots in the city overlooking the Bosphorus and European side. The Hill has a pleasent coffee house where you will be offered a Turkish Coffee as complimentary. You will drive back to European Side over the 2nd. Bosphorus Bridge (Mehmet The Conquerer Bridge) close by the Black Sea. You will be transferred back to your lodging at the end of the day with your private van again. Overnight Istanbul. (B - L)

DAY 5 : Istanbul - Airport Transfer

Description : The team of Celsus Travel will pick you up from your hotel and transfer to the Ataturk Airport or SAW Airport. (B) - END OF SERVICES