PANORAMIC ISTANBUL P-3

08:30-18:00

DAILY (except Monday)

BASILICA OF YEREBATAN

GALATA TOWER (external view), BALAT DISTRICT, PIERRE LOTI HILL, CABLE CAR, TAXIM AND BEYOGLU AREAS, SAN ANTOINE CHURCH, GALATA BRIDGE, LUNCH (in a Turkish restaurant), SHIP TOUR, GOLDEN HORN BAY, BOSPORUS STRAIT, FORTRESS RUMELI HISAR (external view), Maiden's Tower (external view), BEYLERBEYI PARK (observation deck in the Asian part)

The Yerebatan Basilica, also known as the Basilica Cistern, is a mysterious underground reservoir that has become one of the most mystical attractions of the city. Built in 532, it served as a storage facility for drinking water supplies for many centuries. Today it amazes visitors with its twilight, the play of light and shadows among the pillars and the head of the Gorgon Medusa, creating a unique atmosphere of mystery and grandeur.

The Galata Tower is one of the oldest monuments in Istanbul, built back in 507 AD. on the orders of Emperor Justinian. Having various functions over the centuries, from a lookout to a prison, it provides a unique opportunity to admire panoramic views of the city.

The Balat district is a traditional Jewish quarter that retains the spirit of the great city and the diversity of cultures that have lived here for centuries. Today it attracts tourists with its ancient colorful houses, narrow streets and authentic cafes that create a unique atmosphere.

Pierre Loti Hill is one of the city's best viewpoints, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Golden Horn and surrounding areas. This place inspired the French writer's novel "The Asian Games", and visiting it will allow you to enjoy the atmosphere of old Istanbul and stunning views of the city.

The boat tour will begin from the Golden Horn, on the banks of which the buildings of the Byzantine and Ottoman eras of the city are located. You will learn about the life of Greek regions and the monuments of the bygone Constantinople. It was here, on the southern bank of the mouth of the Golden Horn, in the 7th century BC. e. The city of Byzantium was founded, which later, in 330, by the decision of Constantine the Great, became the capital of the Roman Empire under the name New Rome. About 6,000 years ago, at the confluence of the Kyagythane and Ali-su river waterways with the waters of the famous Bosphorus Strait, a natural bay was formed, later called the Golden Horn.

This name was given to it for two reasons: “horn” because of its shape, and “golden” because of its strategically convenient trading location. The Golden Horn backwater is located in the place where the Bosphorus Strait flows into the Sea of Marmara. Along the shores of the bay are the ancient districts of Galata, Balat, Fatih, etc., adjacent to important historical monuments.

Both shores of the bay are connected by 5 bridges, 3 of which are drawbridges. Istanbul stretches across two continents, and the Golden Horn Bay divides the European half of the city into two more parts. When the sun sets, the waters of the Golden Horn Bay are colorful and shimmer with many shades of gold!

The Bosphorus Strait is the very breath of Istanbul, filled with the cries of seagulls, the sound of waves and calls to prayer heard from the minarets. These are ancient villas, Ottoman palaces, fortresses and gigantic bridges that amaze with their beauty. The Bosphorus is the narrowest intercontinental strait in the world. The largest Turkish city, Istanbul, is located on both sides of the strait. The length of the strait is 30 kilometers, and in the widest part the distance between the banks is 3500 meters. In the narrow “throat” of the Bosphorus between the shores of Europe and Asia, three suspension bridges have been built and operate - the 1st Bosphorus Bridge, the Sultan Mehmed Fatih Bridge and the Sultan Baha Selim Bridge.

During a boat trip along the Bosphorus, you will sail between two continents, enjoy views of the shores of the European and Asian parts, look at the ancient fortress of Rumeli Hissar (external view) and the legendary Maiden Tower (external view). The fortress played a historical role in the storming of Constantinople in 1453, cutting off the city from the Black Sea, and the Maiden Tower over the centuries of its existence served as a lighthouse, a prison, a place of pilgrimage and an isolation ward during cholera.

At the end of the tour, you will visit one of the best observation platforms in the Asian part, Beylerbeyi Palace Park (the summer residence of the sultans). You will enjoy the most beautiful panoramic views of the city and the Bosphorus Strait.

The price of the excursion includes: 6 entrance tickets, 6 meals, transfer, boat trip, services of a licensed English-speaking guide.