Our tour kicks off at the heart of the old city, the Hippodrome of Constantinople. This place was once the center of sports and social life. We'll explore major monuments like the Obelisk from Egypt, the Serpentine Column from Delphi, and the Fountain of Willhelm II.

Next, we continue to the Blue Mosque, the signature of the Istanbul skyline with its 6 minarets. Right after, we visit Topkapi Palace (extra fee), which was home to the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. You'll be amazed by the treasury filled with jewels, the imperial collections, and the priceless displays of porcelain. (Note: If the Palace is closed on your travel date, you will visit the Nakkas Cistern instead.)

We don't stop; the next stop is the Hagia Sophia Mosque (extra fee), a monument of equal importance to both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Your breath will be taken away under its massive dome and stunning mosaics as your guide explains its turbulent history. We won't forget our lunch during this busy pace; a delicious break awaits us. To finish the tour, we enter the Grand Bazaar, with its more than 3,000 shops. Carpets, jewelry, ceramics... everything you're looking for is here. Enjoy the stroll accompanied by the aromas of different spices and lokum (Turkish Delights). Our tour ends at the Grand Bazaar.

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