Old City of Istanbul Private Tour

It was a basilica-plan patriarchal cathedral built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I between 532 and 537. After the conquest of Istanbul by the Ottomans in 1453, it was converted into a mosque by Mehmed II.

The Sultan Ahmet Mosque was commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I in the 17th century by Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa, one of Mimar Sinan's students. The mosque is also known as the Blue Mosque because of the dense blue İznik tiles on its walls.

The Byzantine-era open-air stadium now borders the Sultanahmet Mosque. The arena, where the emperor watched matches from his private lodge, the Kathisma, witnessed not only passionate fan cheers but also riots that changed the course of history. This is a story spanning nearly 2,000 years. History was written in this square, which witnessed first the excitement of the races, then the horrors of executions.

During the transition from Byzantium to the Ottoman Empire, master architects of the time respected this square while making their mark on history, demonstrating this respect by preserving the monuments of the past. During Ottoman rule, the Hippodrome, known as the Horse Square, witnessed festivities and parades.

Topkapı Palace was the residence of the Ottoman Sultans and the state's administrative and educational center. Built between 1460 and 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople, and with several additions made over time, the palace remained inhabited by Ottoman sultans and members of the palace until the mid-19th century.

Construction began in 1461 after the conquest of Constantinople. Located in the heart of Istanbul, between the Beyazıt, Nuruosmaniye, and Mercan districts, the Grand Bazaar is one of the world's largest and oldest covered bazaars. The Grand Bazaar houses approximately 4,000 shops and employs approximately 25,000 people.