Daily Istanbul Tour by Flight from Selcuk – Topkapi Palace & Blue Mosque

Istanbul Day Trip by Flight from Selcuk: Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome & Spice Bazaar

This daily Istanbul tour by flight from Selcuk lets you swap the Aegean coast for the old imperial capital in a single, well-planned day. After an early hotel pickup and a short drive to Izmir Airport, you fly to Istanbul and spend the day in the historic Sultanahmet district with a professional English-speaking guide, exploring the landmarks that shaped both the Byzantine and Ottoman worlds.

Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers in Kuşadası

Arriving in Kuşadası on a cruise ship? The Istanbul Tour by Flight is one of the shore excursions we regularly arrange for cruise guests calling at the port of Kuşadası. 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 Kuşadası and we will confirm availability.

Day Trip to Kuşadası from the Greek Islands (Samos and Patmos)

Holidaying on Samos or Patmos? The Istanbul Tour by Flight is an easy day trip from the Greek islands: take the morning ferry to Kuşadası, join the tour, and sail back in the evening (from Samos the ferry takes 45 minutes; from Patmos the ferry takes about 3 hours). We meet you at the Kuşadası 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.

• Topkapi Palace – the Ottoman sultans' residence, with the Imperial Treasury and the Holy Relics
• Blue Mosque – the Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque and its celebrated blue Iznik tiles
• Hippodrome – the Egyptian obelisk raised by Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the walled Column of Constantine
• Lunch in the Sultanahmet area, included in the day
• Spice Bazaar – spices, Turkish delight, baklava and handmade souvenirs
• Transfers from your hotel to Izmir Airport and between the Istanbul airport, the old city and your hotel

Topkapi Palace served as the seat of Ottoman power from the 15th to the 19th century. Its courtyards and chambers now display crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain, ceremonial robes, Ottoman miniatures, the jewels of the Imperial Treasury and sacred relics associated with the Prophet Mohammed. Nearby, the Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque earned its popular name from the thousands of blue Iznik tiles that cover its interior. Opposite stands the Hippodrome, once the stage for chariot races and public ceremonies in Byzantine Constantinople, where three ancient monuments still mark the line of the old racetrack.

After lunch, the Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, fills the senses with herbs, dried fruit, nuts, Turkish coffee, evil eye charms, ceramics and olive oil soaps; browsing is part of the visit and there is no obligation to buy. This full day tour and daily excursion ends with a transfer to your hotel and an overnight in Istanbul. Please note that domestic flight tickets are not included, Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays (Hagia Sophia is visited instead), and modest clothing is required in the mosque, with a headscarf for women.

Photo credits: Acediscovery (CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Joseolgon (CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Jorge Láscar from Australia (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); Mustang Joe (CC0, Wikimedia Commons); Moonik (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Sourabh.biswas003 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Moonik (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)