Istanbul Day Tours

1. Topkapi Palace: A day tour Istanbul Turkey will include a visit to the world’s largest surviving palaces, the Topkapi Palace where you can marvel at its prime attractions such as the Spoonmaker’s Diamond, the Topkapi Dagger, porcelain artefacts and arms and weapons.
2. Hagia Sophia: Built in the 6th century as a cathedral and later on converted to a mosque, the place is still a place of worship today. Visit the mosque to take a look at the iconic melting pot of a myriad of cultures and to dwell on its rich history.
3. The Blue Mosque: The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mosque is famed for being the only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets and is also well acclaimed for its mesmerising hand-painted blue tiles that are a combination of Turkish (Ottoman), traditional Islamic as well as Byzantine architecture.

It will take around 10 hours to complete the Istanbul day tours consisting of visiting major attractions of the city along with a sunset cruise and lavish lunch. The top attractions you will be covering in 10 hours include Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Blue Mosque.

Some of the top things to explore inside the Topkapi Palace are:

1. Imperial Treasury: The Imperial Treasury is the treasure house of artwork, pieces of jewellery and more and has some of the highlights of the palace, making it a must-visit place. Look out for the astounding Spoonmaker’s Diamond, the Topkapi Dagger and the armour of Mustafa III while exploring this section of the palace.
2. European Porcelains: The Topkapi Palace has around 5,000 beautiful porcelain artefacts from Europe. These artefacts are believed to be there as a result of the exchange of gifts between royal clans of the Ottoman Empire and ranked officers of Europe.
3. Arms and Weapons: Stroll into the Arms and Weapons section of the palace, where the Ottoman weapons from the 7th century are on display. Take a glimpse at the Umayyad and Abbasid swords, helmets and Persian armour, amongst the 400+ weapons on display there.
4. Palace Kitchens: Get a glimpse into royal kitchens by visiting the biggest kitchens in the Ottoman Empire. The kitchens are divided into 10 different buildings and could serve 4000 people food cooked by 800 people.

You can book the Istanbul day tours online. By booking this tour, you will be able to visit all the prime attractions of the city such as Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque at a go. You will also be able to enjoy skip-the-line entry at all these places and will additionally enjoy a sunset cruise with a lavish lunch spread.

Hagia Sophia is a mosque which had initially been built 1500 years ago in the 6th century to serve as a cathedral. The place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for being the melting point of two religions. The Hagia Sophia mosque is also famed for its stunning architecture, with artwork from the Ottoman and Byzantine eras. Apart from this, the old mosque still holds significance to worshippers who flock every day to offer their prayers.

The best time to visit the Blue Mosque is in the mid-morning, when there is no prayer going on. This is because non-prayers are not allowed to visit the mosque during daily prayers. Also, avoid visiting on Friday noon as the mosque is crowded due to the important time of worship. 

Since the tickets for the Istanbul day tours include Round-trip hotel transfers, you will need to meet your guide at the hotel itself. Just ensure that you arrive at the hotel lobby at least 10 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.

The best way to reach Topkapi Palace is by tram as Gülhane istasyonu, the nearest tram station, is just a 10-minute walk from the palace. Alternatively, you can also take a taxi and get down right in front of the palace. You can also travel by buses that will drop you either at Akbıyık, 10 mins walk away or Sarayburnu,20-minute walk from the palace. If you opt to travel by train, you will need to get down at Marmaray Sirkeci İstasyonu station, which is a 15 minute walk away from the palace. 

Here is the list of best restaurants near Topkapi Palace:

1. Pleasure Terrace Restaurant, Cafe: One of the best restaurants near Topkapi Palace where you can enjoy an excellent ambience, mouth-watering wood and exceptional service is Pleasure Terrace Restaurant. Unwind with your family and friends and join a culinary adventure of savouring the taste of their delectable cuisine.
2. Olive Anatolian Restaurant: Delight in tasting the rich flavours of Turkey in the warm and inviting atmosphere of the Olive Anatolian Restaurant. Feast on succulent kebabs, tasty seafood and more and pair them with a soothing wine from their extensive wine list.
3. Gulhane Sark SofrasI: Enjoy traditional and authentic Turkish dishes at Gulhane Sark SofrasI. Delight in tasting creamy hummus to juicy kebabs, while sitting in stylish and inviting settings. The restaurant is ideal for a night out with friends or for a romantic dinner.
4. Matbah Restaurant: Indulge in a unique dining experience of tasting traditional Ottoman dishes at Matbah Restaurant. Dive deep into the authentic taste of Istanbul in well crafted dishes, seating in the midst of elegant decor and attentive service.

Here are the different Topkapi Palace Tours:

• Topkapi Palace Skip the Line Tickets
• Hagia Sophia & Topkapi Palace Combo Tour 
• Istanbul Day Tour with Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace
• Topkapi Palace Museum English Guided Tour, Istanbul