Essentials of Istanbul For A First Timer

The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. These are just some of the places you will have heard of when you start researching Istanbul. These legendary sites certainly live up to their reputation. However, there are several other sights in Istanbul that will astonish you with their history and architecture, or simply because of their unique stories.

This “Essentials of Istanbul For A First-Timer” walking route will give you the chance to explore amazing places such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the ancient Hippodrome, the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar.

This fully personalisable route also includes several delightful food stops. Turkish delights, baklava and special meatballs, which have been a local favourite since the 1920s, are just a few of the delicious treats you can sample.

As a keen amateur photographer, I will also provide you with the best spots for taking a photograph to immortalise your visit.

Important Points Regarding This Route:

• This route requires a certain level of fitness. It is not suitable for visitors with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
• This route is not wheelchair accessible.
• This route only includes the professional guidance service.
• Tickets for Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern are not included in the price, which will cost around 40 Euros in total.
• Modest clothing is required for religious sites (such as mosques, churches or tombs). Headscarves are available at the entrances of mosques, but not in tombs.
• A small bag (like a shopping bag) is recommended to keep your shoes with you while visiting the interior of mosques or tombs.
• As the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays, we will visit another major sight instead.

Meeting Point:

We can meet in your hotel’s lobby. If that is not convenient for any reason, we can discuss the most suitable alternative. During our meeting, you will see my official tourist guidance licence hanging around my neck. If you cannot find the meeting point, please don’t hesitate to call or WhatsApp me.

Duration:

This route will take 7-8 hours. However, as all routes can be customised, it is possible to shorten or lengthen this one.

Availability:

This route is available every day, except Friday. Please email me to find out about availability.

Contact with me via WhatsApp, if you are interested in this route:

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