This daily Istanbul Old City tour from Cesme by plane makes it possible to see the historic heart of Istanbul in a single day while based on the Aegean coast. After an early transfer to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport and a short domestic flight, a professional English-speaking guide meets you in Istanbul and leads a full day tour through Sultanahmet, the old imperial quarter where Byzantine and Ottoman history stand side by side.
The Istanbul Old City Tour is also arranged for visitors coming over from Chios for the day. Catch the early ferry to Çeşme (from Chios the ferry takes 20 minutes) and you will be back on the island the same evening. Our team welcomes you at the Çeşme ferry port and makes sure the day ends in time for your return crossing. For longer itineraries we check the ferry timetable first and confirm that the full programme fits your day. Please bring your passport and check the Turkish entry requirements for your nationality before travelling.
The Hippodrome was the sporting and social centre of Byzantine Constantinople, where chariot races were held; today its monuments include an Egyptian obelisk re-erected by Emperor Theodosius, the bronze Serpent Column brought from Delphi and the fountain presented by Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Blue Mosque, completed in the early 17th century, is celebrated for its cascading domes and tiled interior. Topkapi Palace served as the residence of the Ottoman rulers from the 15th to the 19th century, and its Treasury and porcelain collections are among the richest in the world. Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century, was the greatest church of Byzantium before becoming an imperial mosque.
Please note that flights are not included in the tour and must be arranged separately, as are lunch and the Harem section of Topkapi Palace; entrance fees for the sites in the programme are included. Ladies should bring a headscarf for the mosque visits, and modest clothing is recommended. This long daily excursion returns to Cesme by an evening domestic flight and hotel transfer, making it an efficient Istanbul day trip for travellers holidaying on the Aegean.
Your full day programme — click to see every stop.
Istanbul Old City Programme Early in the morning a driver collects you at your Cesme hotel and takes you to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport for the domestic flight to Istanbul. On arrival our team meets you at Istanbul Airport and drives you to the Old City. The tour begins at the Hippodrome, once the stage for chariot races and public life in Constantinople, where you see the Obelisk of Theodosius from Egypt, the Serpent Column from Delphi and the German Fountain given by Wilhelm II. Next comes the Blue Mosque, whose six minarets and rare blue tiles define the skyline. You then visit Topkapi Palace, seat of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries, admiring the jewel-studded Treasury, imperial collections and Chinese porcelain; on Tuesdays, when the palace is closed, the Basilica Cistern is visited instead. At Hagia Sophia your guide tells the eventful story of this building, important to both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, as you look up at its dome and mosaics. The day ends with free time in the bazaar, browsing carpets, jewellery, ceramics, leather, spices, dried fruit and Turkish delight, before the transfer to the airport for your evening flight to Izmir and the drive back to your hotel in Cesme.
Cesme → Istanbul → Topkapi
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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!