Join your personal guide for an illuminating tour of Istanbul from the historic palaces to the hip new quarter. Your day of discovery will take you from the opulence of the Topkapi and Dolmabachce palaces to the fashionable Nisantasi district home to upmarket boutiques and restaurants.
Once the court of the Ottoman Empire, the 15th-century Topkapi Palace is filled with magnificent pavilions and historical artefacts. Your expert English-speaking guide will bring its rich history to life. You’ll have plenty of time to stroll around the eclectic buildings set around beautiful garden courtyards. The palace reflects the more decadent times of sultans and concubines. You can view everything from the famous Topkapı Dagger to a tooth of the prophet Mohamed. Fast-forward four centuries for a tour the Dolmabachce Palace. Learn how the sultan Sultan Abdül Mecit decided to move his imperial court from Topkapi to this architectural wonder on the banks of the Bosphorous.
Round off your day exploring the exclusive Nisantasi quarter which lies on the European side of the river. Regarded as Istanbul’s most prestigious neighbourhood you can browse the chic boutiques before relaxing among the cool crowd with a plate of meze and glass of raki.
Additional notes about the tour
This experience is only available to book as part of an A&K tailor-made holiday.