DAY 1: ISTANBUL
Upon arrival to Istanbul, you will be transferred to the hotel.
DAY 2: ISTANBUL
After breakfast in the hotel, we will visit Blue Mosque, admired as the perfect mosque style by the Turks. Then we will visit Saint Sophia. This monument was built as a church in 6th century and converted to a mosque in 15th century. It served as a royal mosque for Friday praying of the Sultans for centuries. Then we will visit the Cistern Basilica. This great atmospheric place was used as cistern for long centuries. Finally, we will visit centre of Ottoman rule, Topkapi Palace.
We will have dinner in the hotel.
DAY 3: ISTANBUL
After breakfast in the hotel, we visit Suleymaniye Mosque. It was built in the reign of the most powerful Ottoman Sultan ever, Suleyman the Magnificent. Then we will visit Chora. This once church, then mosque structure has unique Byzantine mosaics and frescoes. Then we will head for Eyup Mosque. This is the most religious site in Istanbul. It will be the best opportunity to see the Muslim character of the town. Finally, we will visit the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. This structure was the centre for the Greek Orthodox population of the Empire and it is still the centre for the Greek Orthodox population of the world.
We will have dinner in the hotel.
DAY 4: ISTANBUL
After breakfast in the hotel, we visit Dolmabahce Palace. This white palace by the brilliant Bosphorus is best to understand artistic and cultural values of the late Ottoman period. In the afternoon, we will have a cruise on the Bosphorus to see the real beauty of the great city.
We will have dinner in the hotel.
DAY 5: ISTANBUL / EDIRNE / ISTANBUL
After breakfast in the hotel, we drive to Edirne. It boasts some beautiful Ottoman monuments including Selimiye Mosque, master mason work of Sinan the architect, the best Ottoman architect ever. As well as visiting this 16th century masterpiece, we will visit Uc Serefeli (Three Balconied) Mosque, Beyazıt Complex and Caravanserai. We return back to Istanbul.
We will have dinner in the hotel.
DAY 6: ISTANBUL
This will be a shopping day. After breakfast in the hotel, we will visit a carpet producer company to listen a tremendous lecture on carpet art. Then we will visit Grand Bazaar with more than 4000 shops. We will also visit Egyptian Bazaar that is Spice Market. Finally we can take you to Istiklal Street. If you are not shop out yet we even can take you to a shopping mall to see contemporary shopping style.
We will have dinner in the hotel.
DAY 7: ISTANBUL / BURSA
After breakfast in the hotel, we drive to Bursa. This early Ottoman capital boasts early Ottoman monuments. We will visit Tombs of Osman Gazi founder of the Ottoman dynasty and Orhan Gazi first Ottoman ruler in Bursa. Then we will visit Grand Mosque and Cocoon Market in the middle of the town. We will also visit Green Mosque and Green Tomb to see early 15th century tile art.
We will have dinner in the hotel. You may prefer bathing in a 16th century Turkish bath that is a joint building to our hotel.
DAY 8: BURSA / ISTANBUL
After breakfast in the hotel, we will return to Istanbul and you will be transferred to the airport.
[According to flight time, we may visit Iznik on the way. As well as being an Ottoman capital for a short while, it was a Selcuk and Byzantine capital too. It has a religious importance too that Nicaean Creed named in this town.
According to time, we will visit Hagia Sophia, Istanbul Gate and Green Mosque.]