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Experience the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Istanbul and feel the magic of this city by joining a Side Istanbul Day Trip there. Holidays in Side are all about relaxing in beautiful bays and enjoying the Mediterranean sun. If you are looking for a way to experience from first-hand the real vibes of the country, then this trip is probably the best option for you. Learn the history and unfold the culture, visit notable sites, and get charmed by Istanbul’s atmosphere.
This full day excursion begins with an early morning flight from Antalya airport to Istanbul. The flight has an approximate duration of 1 hour and 20 minutes. Upon landing, a professional tour guide will welcome and explain to you the final details of this tour. For the purposes of your exploration in Istanbul, all the transfers are made with a comfortable and fully air conditioned bus.
The first stop of the schedule takes place at Topkapi Palace, one of the country’s most popular and important sites. Topkapi used to be the house of several sultans during the Ottoman era and the main administrative quarters of the empire. Inside, you may observe multiple halls that are characterized by upgraded aesthetics. Today Topkapi hosts an interesting collection of items, including objects of everyday life and jewelleries.
During your free time, you will also have the opportunity to visit the infamous Hagia Sophia. This world-known imposing site was constructed during the Byzantine period and is one of the most iconic buildings in the city. An interesting highlight is that until today, Hagia Sophia is the largest Christian Orthodox church in the world. (Please remember this is an optional visit.)
After spending some time in this majestic site, the tour guide will take you towards a local restaurant in order to enjoy a delicious lunch with typical recipes of the city. Right after the lunch, you will be transferred to the Hippodrome, which forms the heart of the city’s historical centre. The square has many monuments to observe and visit, such as the Blue Mosque, Byzantine obelisk and columns.
In order to explore the culture and feel the real vibes of the city, you will also visit the Egyptian bazaar. During your time there, you can observe the various spices, taste some local delicacies, purchase souvenirs, and exercise your bargaining skills.
The last activity listed in the schedule is an idyllic and atmospheric walk along Bosporus so that you can have some great views. After a dinner, the bus will transfer you to the airport in order to fly back to Antalya. This excursion finishes when you return back to your hotel in Side during the evening.
Side Hotels – 04:00
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Grab the opportunity to visit Istanbul during your holidays in Side and spend a day full of sightseeing and excitement. This full day Side Istanbul Day Trip enables you to visit some of the most iconic sites of Istanbul and learn some key information about the history and the city’s culture. Feel the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city and interact with the local people in an incredibly fascinating excursion. Monuments, great views, charming atmosphere and lot of history are some of the things you should except when joining this tour.
Flight to Istanbul: The trip begins during the early morning hours, when a comfortable vehicle drives you to the airport in Antalya. From there, with a 1-hour and 20-minute flight, you will arrive to Istanbul. A professional and English speaking tour guide will welcome you there and accompany you for the whole duration of the excursion.
Topkapi Palace: The first stop takes place at Topkapi Palace. It forms one of the country’s most important sites as it used to be the palace of many Ottoman sultans. Nowadays, it hosts a museum with various items from the Ottoman times. Among others, there are jewelleries, items of the palace and paintings.
Lunch: At a local restaurant you can have a freshly made and delicious lunch. The lunch break is an opportunity for you to explore the flavour of Istanbul’s culinary tradition.
Hippodrome square: After the lunch, you will have some time to explore the Hippodrome. This square is found in the heart of the historical city centre of Istanbul and has many interesting monuments, such as columns. Right next to the Hippodrome, you can also visit the Blue Mosque and admire its exquisite interior design.
Hagia Sophia: During your free time in midday, you will have an opportunity to visit Hagia Sophia, the largest Orthodox Church in the world. It was constructed during the Byzantine period and now serves as a museum. Hagia Sophia has an imposing size with an interesting architectural style. (Please remember that this is an optional visit)
Egyptian bazaar: The next stop of this excursion takes place to the Egyptian bazaar which is famous for showcasing an incredible variety of spices. There, you will have some time to taste and observe the various local delicacies, purchase some souvenirs and interact with the locals.
Dinner: Before going for a dinner, you will enjoy an amazing walk along Bosporus Sea. It must be noted that this sea divides the city into two continents, Asia and Europe. The dinner will be offered at a cosy local restaurant.
Flight to Antalya: After the dinner, a bus will transfer you to the airport in order to fly back to Antalya. Upon landing, members of our team will drive you back to your hotel in Side.
This was our second time in Side and we had 4 more days there. A trip to Istanbul was very tempting. Flights, transfers were comfortable. Everything arranged properly. Our guide in Istanbul was a really polite guy. He knew everything about the history of the city. We tour around the most famous sights of the city but in general you need more days to see everything. I really liked that the city has sites and monuments from different periods of history. It was a very interesting day! I recommend to join the tour if you have some days in Side, it’s really incredible.
That was my first time in Istanbul. After this tour I can call it the absolute sightseeing destination. Wow! The city has a unique aura and everything coexist perfectly. We saw some very interesting things. Museums, palaces, mosques. I knew Istanbul had a long history but I wasn’t expecting this. The visit at the bazaar was just exceptional. I bought many souvenirs from there. The guide arranged for us a cool cruise in Bosporus. It wasn’t included in the price but worth every cent!! I truly loved the city and the tour. We returned to Side at night I was still thinking about it.