Exclusive Classical Istanbul

Discover the highlights of this fascinating city in the company of a small group. In this exclusive tour, you’ll experience the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, Turkish food… all musts when you visit Istanbul. Start with a visit to one of the most recognized landmarks in the world, the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, better known as the Blue Mosque because of the blue-green Iznik tiles used for its interior decoration. The six minarets and the layout of the domes and semi-domes create a unique exterior. From here, continue to the Hippodrome, to see the remains of what was once the center of Byzantine Constantinople’s political and sporting life. Walk and visit Hagia Sophia, now the St. Sophia Museum, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, considered as the most important Byzantine monument in the world. Also visit Topkapi Palace, a great walled complex, once the residence of the Ottoman Sultans, hugging the shores of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn. You’ll admire many of the treasures housed here. Another stop is the Grand Bazaar. The covered part is a whole quarter on its own and is surrounded by a wall which can be entered through several gates. The maze of streets and lanes are one of the greatest sights in the city, where various trades such as carpets, jewelry, leather, silver, souvenirs, antiques and textiles are segregated into particular sections of the bazaar. You’ll have the chance to explore the exotic atmosphere of the covered part for a brief period of time. You’ll also visit the open and modern section of the Grand Bazaar with many modern stores and reliable shopping. During your time around the Grand Bazaar, you’ll have a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets with time to shop. Enjoy complimentary refreshments while you shop and stroll in the handicraft store. A lunch of typical Turkish specialties is yours to enjoy during the tour. Note: This tour is not available for Norwegian Spirit's August 3, 2013 sailing. Tour is conducted in small groups and requires a minimum number of participants to operate. Expect differences in tour durations due to traffic conditions. Participants are required to remove their shoes in order to enter the mosque and are provided with an environmentally friendly bag to store them. As this tour visits a place of worship, please dress respectfully: no bare shoulders or exposed knees. Should the Mosque be closed to visitors due to religious festivities, you’ll visit another historical mosque. On Sundays, the Grand Bazaar closes and only the shops of the outer bazaar remain open, therefore the visit to the Grand Bazaar may be replaced with the Spice Bazaar. The "Gallery" section of St. Sophia and "Harem" section of Topkapı Palace are not included. There is approximately 2 miles of walking over uneven surfaces and some inclines and steps on this tour. Your Turkish lunch includes water, a soft drink, glass of beer, or wine and tea or coffee. This tour will be subject to national and religious festive days due to the closure of the sites and venues during the month of Ramadan from July 9, 2013 through August 7, 2013 including the Festival Period of Ramadan from August 8, 2013 to August 10, 2013.