Old City Shore Excursion from Istanbul Port – Chora & Blue Mosque

Istanbul Old City Shore Excursion – Eyup, Chora, Hippodrome and the Spice Market

This Istanbul Old City shore excursion is a guided day tour designed around a cruise call, starting and finishing at Karakoy so you are back on board in good time. In roughly five to six hours, this daily Istanbul tour links the spiritual quarter of Eyup, a panoramic hilltop, Byzantine mosaics and the great monuments of Sultanahmet, all at a relaxed pace with a licensed local guide.

Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers in Istanbul

Arriving in Istanbul on a cruise ship? The Old City Shore Excursion 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.

• Eyup Mosque: one of the most revered places of pilgrimage in the Islamic world
• Pierre Loti Hill: sweeping views across the Golden Horn and the historic peninsula
• Chora (Kariye Mosque): celebrated late Byzantine mosaics and frescoes
• Hippodrome and Blue Mosque: the ancient chariot arena and the six-minaret Sultanahmet Mosque
• Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace: exterior visit and first courtyard, with optional entry
• Spice Market: a colourful finale among spices, sweets and local produce

The route traces fifteen centuries of history. Eyup grew around the tomb of a companion of the Prophet, while the hill named after the French writer Pierre Loti looks down on the Golden Horn. On the drive you follow the Theodosian land walls that guarded Constantinople for a thousand years. The Chora church holds some of the finest Byzantine mosaics anywhere, and Little Hagia Sophia, a sixth-century church, is often seen as a rehearsal for its famous neighbour.

In Sultanahmet you stand on the site of the Hippodrome, the political and sporting heart of the Byzantine capital, then visit the Blue Mosque with its Iznik tiles. Later come the Caferaga Madrasah, a sixteenth-century school by the architect Sinan, and Nuruosmaniye, an early example of Ottoman Baroque. As an Istanbul day trip for cruise guests, this daily excursion from Istanbul port keeps transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle. Entrance fees are paid on site, and modest clothing is advised for mosque visits.