イスタンブールのランドマーク

Visit several iconic landmarks recognized by UNESCO as pearls of Istanbul’s World Heritage site designation and roam a bustling bazaar on this arresting tour. Travel to the early 17th-century Blue Mosque, the world’s only mosque featuring six minarets, and whose colorful moniker derives from the 21,000 blue-green Iznik tiles that adorn the interior. Nearby, you’ll notice the remains of the city’s ancient hippodrome, once a popular circus for entertainment and sporting events, especially chariot racing, during the glory days of Constantinople. Visit remarkable Hagia Sophia, first erected by Emperor Constantine in AD 325 as a Greek Orthodox Christian basilica, later converted to an Ottoman imperial mosque and now a museum, a storied sanctuary nominated by many historians to be the 8th Wonder of the World. Gaze at the sculptural minarets towering above the dome and learn they were added in 1453 after Istanbul’s conquest. Next you will see at an enormous ancient cistern that was built to store water for the palace. You’ll enjoy an approximately one-hour stroll through the spectacular Grand Bazaar, Turkey’s oldest and largest covered marketplace, and find a staggering wealth of merchandise in its more than 4,000 shops, a delightful end to your illuminating excursion.

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Dress appropriately for a mosque visit; men should wear long trousers and women should cover their hair, arms and knees.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.