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 - 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 4 : Istanbul - Gallipoli Tour - Canakkale

Description : Depart early morning from your hotel in the old city of Istanbul for afternoon tour of Gallipoli. The World War I battlefields of Gallipoli are now a serene site. Visit the Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, ANZAC Cove, Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, Ari Burnu Cemetery, Johnston's Jolly (where you'll visit original Allied and Turkish trenches and tunnels), 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial and The Nek. Afterwards you drive back to your hotel. Overnight Gallipoli. (B - L - D)

DAY 5 : Canakkale - Troia Tour - Istanbul

Description : After breakfast you will departure for the Troia tour. If your hotel is at the Gallipoli peninsula, you take a ferry across the Dardanelles and drive to Troy which is famous with the legendary Trojan Horse from the times of Beautiful Helen, the Queen of Sparta, and Paris, the Trojan Prince. After the tour, you will return back to ferry port to take a ferry across the Dardanelles. Overnight Istanbul. (B - L)

DAY 6 : 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