A Walk On Two Continents

  • galata tower in Istanbul
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

A Walk On Two Continents

On this Istanbul Day Tour, you will explore sections of Istanbul up close and personal, by walking rather than just driving through them.   In addition to walking, you will travel like a local, taking two ferry rides across the Bosphorus and the Finikular up to Taksim. Yes, you will go to the Spice Market, but you will also walk through the area behind and around it, where the locals shop, and visit the incomparable Rustem Pasa Mosque known for its Iznik tiles and many windows.  Its tile work is truly extraordinary.  The Spice Market, built in the early 17th century, specialized in spices from the Orient and has been selling spices, nuts, and honey tourists and Istanbulites for centuries.

A ferry ride will take you to the Asian side of Istanbul where you will explore Kadikoy, a lovely neighborhood with its local fish market and bustling restaurants, in one of which you will have lunch.

Another ferry ride will take you to Kabatas on the European side.  You will tour Dolmabahce Palace, with its crystal staircase and chandelier, supposedly the heaviest in the world.  Ataturk died in Dolmabahce Palace and all the clocks have been stopped at the hour of his death, 9:05AM, on November 10, 1938.   Taking the Finikular to Taksim, you will walk down Istiklal Street, a pedestrian thoroughfare lined with shops, cafes and restaurants – more than 3,000 at last count – stopping to see Galata Tower, followed by a walk across Galata Bridge which is usually lined with locals fishing off it.

A Walk On Two Continents

Route:  Spice Market, Dolmabahce Palace, Kadikoy, Taksim, Galata Tower & Bridge
Tour Type: Private Tour
Duration: Full Day

INCLUDED

  • English speaking professional tour guide
  • Entrance fees for sites and museums
  • Public transportation

EXCLUDED

  • Lunch
  • Personal expenses
  • Optional programs
  • Tips – driver and guide
  • Any other meals or services not specified in ‘Prices Included’

We suggest to explore more of the diversified cities of Turkey if you are staying longer. Check our Two Wonders: Ephesus and Pamukkale package.

This tour will take you to a number of places that are usually not included in most tours. We will pick you up from your hotel at 9 AM. We will start with a walk around the area of the Spice Market, a popular shopping area for locals with its wholesale prices for almost everything. Our next destination will be the Spice Market itself, otherwise known as the Egyptian Bazaar, where people have been buying herbs and spices for hundreds of years. You will have free time to explore the Spice Market on your own, before we visit the Rustem Pasa Mosque. Suleiman the Magnificent built the Rustem Pasa Mosque for his grand Vizier Rustem Pasa. It was constructed by Sinan, the great Ottoman architect. Rustem Pasa is famous for its Iznik tiles.

We will take a ferry to Kadikoy, a large residential area on the Asian side of Istanbul. In Kadikoy, you will get to see how the local people live and visit Kadikoy’s famous fish market.

After lunch in Kadikoy, we will take the ferry to Kabatas on the European side and walk to Dolmabace Palace, where Ataturk died in 1938. We will take the Finicular up to Taksim, also known as Pera. Taksim Square is one of the main centres of Istanbul. We will walk down Istiklal Street, a pedestrian thoroughfare, lined with many famous clothing shops, such as Mango and Topshop, as well as several Starbucks and more than 3,000 street cafes, pubs and restaurants. Taksim is also one of the centers of nightlife in Istanbul.

Further down Istiklal we will get to Galata Tower, one of the first towers built in the world (6th century). You get a 360 degree view of Istanbul from the top of the tower – if you stand in the elevator queue, which we won’t be doing. We will continue down to Karakoy and cross the Galata Bridge, where you will see locals fishing, ending up in Eminonu, where we have started. From Eminonu your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “A Walk On Two Continents”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

twenty + 7 =

Price:130.00

Book the tour

 Number ticket  × 130.00
Total = 130.00

Or

    Fill up the form below to tell us what you're looking for