Daily Istanbul Tour from Cesme by Flight – Old City & Bosphorus Cruise

Fly from Izmir to Istanbul for Sultanahmet, Topkapi Palace and a Bosphorus Cruise

This daily Istanbul tour from Cesme by air, covering the old city and a Bosphorus cruise, makes it possible to see the former imperial capital without spending a night there. Early in the morning a driver collects you in Cesme and brings you to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport for a short domestic flight; you then explore the historic peninsula and the Bosphorus with an English-speaking guide, and fly back to Izmir in the evening for your transfer to Cesme. It is a long but rewarding day tour of around fifteen hours.

Day Trip to Çeşme from the Greek Islands (Chios)

Holidaying on Chios? The Istanbul Tour is an easy day trip from the Greek islands: take the morning ferry to Çeşme, join the tour, and sail back in the evening (from Chios the ferry takes 20 minutes). We meet you at the Çeşme ferry port with your private guide and vehicle and time the programme to the ferry schedule. 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.

• Hippodrome: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column and the Walled Obelisk
• Blue Mosque: the six-minaret Sultanahmet Mosque with its Iznik tiles
• Hagia Sophia: a photo stop at the great domed building from outside
• Topkapi Palace: the residence of the Ottoman sultans and its treasures
• Bosphorus cruise: palaces, fortresses and waterside villages between Europe and Asia

Istanbul, known in the past as Byzantium and Constantinople, was the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires and is the only great city spread across two continents. The Hippodrome was once the scene of chariot races, and its monuments include an Egyptian obelisk brought by Emperor Theodosius. The Blue Mosque, completed in the early 17th century, takes its nickname from the blue Iznik tiles of its interior. Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century, served as a cathedral, a mosque and a museum over its long history. Topkapi Palace was the seat of the sultans for nearly four centuries; its clock collection, arms and armour, pavilions, sacred relics and the view from the fourth courtyard are the highlights.

On the Bosphorus you pass Dolmabahce, Yildiz and Ciragan palaces, the mosque, church and synagogue of Ortakoy, Rumeli Fortress built in 1452, and Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian shore. Please note that flights are not included in this Istanbul day trip and must be booked separately. Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays, the Harem section is not included, and the old city part of this daily excursion is on foot, so wear comfortable shoes.