This 2-day Istanbul tour from Ankara flies you to Turkey's largest city for a guided overview of the Old City, a Bosphorus cruise and its two great bazaars, with an overnight stay and all transfers in both cities arranged for you. After an early pickup from your hotel in Ankara city centre and a short domestic flight, our representative meets you at Istanbul Airport and you head straight to Sultanahmet, the historic heart of a city that was capital first of the Byzantine Empire and, from 1453, of the Ottoman Empire. On the site of the ancient Hippodrome you see the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, the Column of Constantine and the German Fountain, then step inside the 17th-century Blue Mosque, named for its blue tiles, and view Hagia Sophia from outside.
The first day continues at Topkapi Palace, built on the orders of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror and home to the Ottoman dynasty for more than four centuries. After lunch you walk to the Grand Bazaar, a labyrinth of over 4,000 shops where goldsmiths, carpet dealers and craftsmen selling ceramics, copperware, onyx and meerschaum pipes each have their own lanes. Dinner is served at your hotel. On day two you visit the Spice Bazaar, fragrant with cinnamon, saffron, mint and thyme, and then board a boat for a Bosphorus cruise between Europe and Asia, passing Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace and the Bosphorus Bridge with Camlica Hill rising behind.
After lunch, a shopping tour introduces traditional Turkish carpet weaving at a centre supported by the Ministry of National Education, together with a jewellery and handicrafts centre and a modern leather fashion show. You are then taken to the airport for your evening flight back to Ankara and driven to your hotel on arrival. With one night of hotel accommodation, one breakfast, two lunches, one dinner, professional English-speaking guiding, entrance fees and every transfer included, this private short break is ideal for visitors based in Ankara who want to see the essential sights of Istanbul without the hassle of planning.
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
Between 05:00 and 06:00, depending on your flight time, you are picked up from your hotel in Ankara city centre and taken to Ankara Airport, where you complete the self check-in for your domestic flight to Istanbul. Our representative greets you at Istanbul Airport with a name sign and you drive to Sultanahmet, the Old City. On the site of the ancient Hippodrome you see the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, the Column of Constantine and the German Fountain. You then visit the 17th-century Sultanahmet Mosque, called the Blue Mosque after the blue tiles that decorate its interior, and view Hagia Sophia from outside across the square. A short walk brings you to Topkapi Palace, built for Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror after 1453 and home to the Ottoman dynasty for more than 400 years. After lunch you explore the Grand Bazaar with its more than 4,000 shops. You are then transferred to your hotel for check-in and dinner. Please note that Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays and the Grand Bazaar on Sundays. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast you are picked up from your hotel for the Bosphorus and shopping tour. First you visit the Spice Bazaar, where the air is filled with the aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and countless other herbs and spices. You then board a boat for a traditional cruise along the Bosphorus, the waterway that divides Europe and Asia and is lined with wooden mansions, marble palaces, fortresses and fishing villages. From the deck you see Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, the neo-baroque Ortakoy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452, Beylerbeyi Palace, the Bosphorus Bridge and Camlica Hill, the highest point of the city. After lunch, a shopping tour shows you traditional carpet weaving at a centre run with the Ministry of National Education, a jewellery and handicrafts centre and a modern leather fashion show. Finally you are taken to the airport for your flight back to Ankara, met on arrival and driven to your hotel. End of our services.
Handpicked 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels along your route. Choose your category — the price adapts.
Exact hotels are confirmed on booking based on availability and your chosen category; equivalent alternatives may be offered.
Istanbul
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!