Daily Islamic Heritage Tour of Istanbul – Topkapi, Blue Mosque & Eyup

Daily Islamic Heritage Tour of Istanbul – Topkapi, Blue Mosque & Eyup

This daily Islamic tour of Istanbul follows the story of Islam in the city, from Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque to Eyup Sultan Mosque. Hotel pick-up and an English-speaking guide are included, and the route also visits the earliest Ottoman mosques on both continents. From the first mosque built in Kadikoy on the Asian side to the imperial mosques that crown the historic peninsula, you see how Ottoman rule shaped the faith, architecture and spiritual life of Istanbul over five centuries.

Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers in Istanbul

Arriving in Istanbul on a cruise ship? The Islamic Heritage Tour of Istanbul is one of the shore excursions we regularly arrange for cruise guests calling at the port of Istanbul. Because it runs as a private tour, we plan the timing around your ship: your guide and driver meet you at the cruise terminal, and the programme is adjusted to your all-aboard time. Tell us how many hours your ship stays in port and we will confirm that the full programme fits comfortably. Send us your ship name and the date of your call in Istanbul and we will confirm availability.

At Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th century, you view the Imperial Treasury, collections of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain, imperial robes, miniatures and the Holy Mantle, which preserves sacred relics of the Prophet Mohammed, and learn how the palace combined religious and political authority. The Blue Mosque, built by the architect Mehmet Aga opposite Hagia Sophia, impresses with its blue Iznik tiles, cascading domes and six minarets. The route continues to the first mosque on the European shore inside Rumeli Fortress, completed in 1452, and to the Fatih Mosque, the first imperial mosque within the city walls, raised in 1470 on the site of the Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles, where the tomb of the Conqueror rests.

The spiritual high point is Eyup Sultan Mosque, built in 1458 beside the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, the companion of the Prophet, together with its historic cemetery; the programme also includes the Underground Mosque (Yeralti Camii) and the tombs of other companions honoured in the city, such as Abu Darda. This day tour in Istanbul includes hotel transfers, air-conditioned transport and entrance fees, and is offered as a private daily Islamic excursion in Istanbul for Muslim travellers and anyone interested in Ottoman religious heritage.