Taste of Istanbul

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3 Days From

~~$600~~

$572

Taste of Istanbul

3 Days Starting and ending in Istanbul

Visiting: Istanbul

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

ERZI

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

15-99 years

Tour operated in:

English

Interests:

Cultural

From: $600 $572 Travel Club discount: -$29

NB: Prices correct on 21-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Get a true taste of Istanbul – a city forging itself as the world’s most spectacular intersection of cultures, cuisine and continents. Embark on a three-day Short Break Adventure to get an essential Istanbul experience, whether you’re adding it onto an exisiting trip or taking a weekend away. Explore the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar. You’ll also get under the skin of the place, eating with a local family, sharing tea and nargile (shisha) and finding hidden spots away from the tourist eye.

Highlights

Most tours will leave you lost trying to explore the Hagia Sophia on your own – here you’ll take a guided tour through the hidden tales of this magnificent one-of-a-kind monument.
Get lost in the labyrinth of the Grand Bazaar, passing by the myriad traders who sell their wares in this expansive space. How good are your haggling skills?
Join a home cooked experience in Istanbul, discovering some simple local food with your hosts and spending some time in a tea house – just like the locals do.
By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, CYDD (Cagdas Yasami Destekleme Dernegi). Donations help them provide scholarships and educational programs for economically disadvantaged youth in Turkey.
Take a guided tour through the Hagia Sophia and learn the hidden tales of this magnificent one-of-a-kind monument with a local expert.
Join a home cooking experience, discovering some simple local food with your hosts and spending some time in a tea house – just like the locals do!
Gain a close insight into the lives of past Sultans at Topkapi Palace.
Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the great city of Istanbul and rub shoulders with the locals.

Places You'll See

cherryontheworld

Istanbul

Itinerary

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Day 1: Istanbul

cherryontheworld

maja.stanko

Location: Istanbul

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: dinner

Hosgeldinz! Welcome to Istanbul, the only city in the world to straddle two continents. It’s no surprise that this vast metropolis is home to a mix of different cultures and traditions, blending the influences of both east and west. Your Short Break Adventure starts with a welcome meeting at 5 pm, then you’ll immediately head out for some truly amazing street food. Wander through the streets in the Sultanahmet District and head to a local hangout to enjoy the views of the Marmara Sea. Later, continue to a local tea house for a drink and to partake in some nargile (also known as a waterpipe, shisha or hookah) smoking.

Optional Activities:
-Istanbul - Blue Mosque Visit - Free
-Istanbul - Bosphorus Boat Cruise (Public Boat)
-Istanbul - Turkish Hamam (inc. massage)
-Istanbul - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
-Istanbul - Galata Tower
-Istanbul - Archaeology Museum

Day 2: Istanbul

cherryontheworld

maja.stanko

Location: Istanbul

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

This morning, head out on the Istanbul Conquered Urban Adventure. Begin with a dose of Hagia Sophia. This masterpiece of Byzantine architecture stands tall and proud in downtown Istanbul, holding more than 1500 years of Turkish history. This site has lived its long life as a church, a mosque and now as a museum, and you may even recognise it from movies like From Russia With Love or Taken 2. Head across the plaza to the Sultan Ahmet I’s Blue Mosque – one of the most striking sights in Istanbul, with its blue-tiled walls, 260 windows and six minarets. After checking out the ancient Hippodrome, take a break at a hidden café nearby for lunch, cracking jokes with the locals and learning about daily life in Istanbul. Visit Topkapi Palace, which overlooks the mighty Bosphorus Strait and gives an insight into the stories of the sultans who lived here. Head over to the Grand Bazaar to explore some of the 3000 shops and maybe stop for a true Turkish coffee along the way. Tonight you’re free, so maybe head to a harbourside seafood restaurant for dinner.

Included Activities:
-Istanbul - Hagia Sophia
-Istanbul - Grand Bazaar
-Istanbul - Istanbul Conquered Urban Adventure

Optional Activities:
-Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem)

Day 3: Istanbul

cherryontheworld

maja.stanko

Location: Istanbul

Meals Included: breaksfast

Your mini adventure will come to end after breakfast this morning, however that doesn’t mean your journey has to come to an end! If you’d like to continue soaking up all that Istanbul has to offer, why not spend an extra night or two here? If you wish to do so, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

What's Included

Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights)
Istanbul - Home Cooked Istanbul Urban Adventure
Istanbul - Hagia Sophia
Istanbul - Grand Bazaar
Istanbul - Topkapi Palace
Istanbul - Istanbul Conquered Urban Adventure
Meals

2 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 1 dinners

What's Not Included

Tipping and Gratuities
International Travel

Included Activities

Istanbul - Home Cooked Istanbul
Istanbul - Hagia Sophia
Grand Bazaar
Istanbul - Topkapi Palace

Transport

Local Transport

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

Important Information

1. This Short Break Adventure is a ‘join in’ group departure, which means you are not accompanied by an Intrepid group leader or local representative for the duration of the tour. This trip will run with a minimum of one person, so you may be joined by other travelers booked on the same date as you, or you may be on your own.
2. This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 5 pm on Day 1 in Istanbul.
3. This adventure includes a visit to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. The Bazaar is closed on Sunday should you choose a Saturday departure for this product your visit to the Grand Bazaar on day 2 will be substituted with the Spice Market.

Mode of Transport

Local Transport

Check out our Q&As

Is this trip right for you

On Short Breaks, you maintain a good level of independence and freedom, with the added bonus of having the details sorted out for you. You’ll have lots of free time and you won’t be accompanied by a Trip Leader. This means that all included activities and tours will be run by different local Intrepid partners, and these may operate independently from each other. The included activities and transfers will operate on a join-in basis, which means that you could have your Adventure all to yourself, or others may join you along the way. If you would prefer to travel in a group with a dedicated Trip Leader, just get in touch with your booking agent and they will take you through some alternatives.
What policies are in place for Covid-19?

Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
How long has the tour company been trading?

Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

Yes
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

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Wednesday - Friday

Nov 27, 2024 - Nov 29, 2024

~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

Thursday - Saturday

Nov 28, 2024 - Nov 30, 2024

~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

Friday - Sunday

Nov 29, 2024 - Dec 01, 2024

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~~$600~~ $572

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Travel Club discount: -$29

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~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

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~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

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~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

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~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

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~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

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~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

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~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

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~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

Thursday - Saturday

Dec 19, 2024 - Dec 21, 2024

~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

Friday - Sunday

Dec 20, 2024 - Dec 22, 2024

~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

Saturday - Monday

Dec 21, 2024 - Dec 23, 2024

~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

Sunday - Tuesday

Dec 22, 2024 - Dec 24, 2024

~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

Tuesday - Thursday

Dec 24, 2024 - Dec 26, 2024

~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

Wednesday - Friday

Dec 25, 2024 - Dec 27, 2024

~~$600~~ $572

Travel Club discount: -$29

Thursday - Saturday

Dec 26, 2024 - Dec 28, 2024

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Travel Club discount: -$29

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