Istanbul: Byzantines and Ottomans

Fly to Istanbul

Fly from London Heathrow to Istanbul. Transfer to the Levni Hotel (or similar) for 6 nights. Evening welcome dinner. (D)

Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Istanbul

Morning visit to Zoodochos Pigi (Silivri Kapi cemetery), the Church of Theotokos Kyriotissa (Kalenderhane Camii), Suleymaniye Mosque complex, and the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum. In the afternoon, continue to the Theodosian city walls at Edirne Kapi, the Porphyrogenitus Palace (Tekfur Sarayı), then conclude with a stop at the garden of the sacred shrine and spring, Ayazma Blachernae, dating back to 451AD. (B)

The Princes’ Islands

Take the early morning public ferry to the Princes’ Islands, a nine-island archipelago in the Sea of Marmara, passing Leander’s Tower, ancient Chalcedon and Antigone. Stop at Chalki to visit the Church of St Nikolaos and the Greek Orthodox seminary. Continue to the isle of Prinkipo for an optional visit to the Monastery of St George. (B)

Istanbul

Enjoy a morning tour of the Beyoglu district, known historically in Greek as Pera or "beyond" given the area lies across the water from the ancient centre of Constantinople. Highlights include the Galata Tower, which was famously garrisoned by Genoese troops during the capture of the city by the Ottomans in 1453 and dates from 1348. The final visit of the day will be to the Crimea Memorial Church, built in the mid-19th century in memory of fallen British soldiers, where a special drinks reception has been arranged. (B)

Istanbul

Take a morning walking tour of Sultanahmet, including Topkapi Palace and the superb collections of the archaeological museum. In the afternoon, view the remains of the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Mosaics Museum and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Kucuk Hagia Sofia). Conclude the day with a visit to the lively Grand Bazaar. (B)

Istanbul

Morning visit to the Church of St Saviour in Chora (Kariye Camii), famous for its rich 14th-century mosaics and frescoes. Continue to Theotokos Pammakaristos (Fethiye Camii) for an external visit, and then to Theotokos Panaghiotissa (Mouchliotissa), the only Byzantine church still belonging to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. Walk through the historic Fener district to see the cast iron Church of St Stephen of the Bulgars. In the afternoon, visit the Basilica Cistern (Sunken Palace) and conclude at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. Evening farewell dinner in the historic Eminönü district. (B, D)

Fly to London

Morning walking tour of Beyazit, the Third Hill and the old city centre. Fly from Istanbul to London Heathrow with British Airways. (B)

Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals

Fly to Istanbul

Fly from London Heathrow to Istanbul. Transfer to the Levni Hotel (or similar) for 6 nights. Evening welcome dinner. (D)

Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Istanbul

Morning visit to Zoodochos Pigi (Silivri Kapi cemetery), the Church of Theotokos Kyriotissa (Kalenderhane Camii), Suleymaniye Mosque complex, and the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum. In the afternoon, continue to the Theodosian city walls at Edirne Kapi, the Porphyrogenitus Palace (Tekfur Sarayı), then conclude with a stop at the garden of the sacred shrine and spring, Ayazma Blachernae, dating back to 451AD. (B)

The Princes’ Islands

Take the early morning public ferry to the Princes’ Islands, a nine-island archipelago in the Sea of Marmara, passing Leander’s Tower, ancient Chalcedon and Antigone. Stop at Chalki to visit the Church of St Nikolaos and the Greek Orthodox seminary. Continue to the isle of Prinkipo for an optional visit to the Monastery of St George. (B)

Istanbul

Enjoy a morning tour of the Beyoglu district, known historically in Greek as Pera or "beyond" given the area lies across the water from the ancient centre of Constantinople. Highlights include the Galata Tower, which was famously garrisoned by Genoese troops during the capture of the city by the Ottomans in 1453 and dates from 1348.  The final visit of the day will be to the Crimea Memorial Church, built in the mid-19th century in memory of fallen British soldiers, where a special drinks reception has been arranged. (B)

Istanbul

Take a morning walking tour of Sultanahmet, including Topkapi Palace and the superb collections of the archaeological museum. In the afternoon, view the remains of the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Mosaics Museum and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Kucuk Hagia Sofia). Conclude the day with a visit to the lively Grand Bazaar. (B)

Istanbul

Morning visit to the Church of St Saviour in Chora (Kariye Camii), famous for its rich 14th-century mosaics and frescoes. Continue to Theotokos Pammakaristos (Fethiye Camii) for an external visit, and then to Theotokos Panaghiotissa (Mouchliotissa), the only Byzantine church still belonging to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. Walk through the historic Fener district to see the cast iron Church of St Stephen of the Bulgars. In the afternoon, visit the Basilica Cistern (Sunken Palace) and conclude at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. Evening farewell dinner in the historic Eminönü district. (B, D)

Fly to London

Morning walking tour of Beyazit, the Third Hill and the old city centre. Fly from Istanbul to London Heathrow with British Airways. (B)

Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals