Highlights | Overview

• The Golden Horn (by bus)
• The ancient city walls (by bus)
• Spice bazaar (Egyptian bazaar)
• Bosphorus cruise
• Rumeli Fortress (view from the boat)

Full Description

Half day Istanbul city tour: The Golden Horn, City walls, Spice bazaar and Bosphorus cruise

(Morning or Afternoon)

The Spanish tour guide is only available on the morning tour. The morning tour ends in Taksim square. There is no drop off service to hotels.

On this half day Istanbul city tour you will experience an amazing Istanbul day with the Golden Horn, the stunning ancient city walls, The egyptian spice bazaar with every corner filled of exquisite spice fragrances, and a fantastic boat trip along the Bosphorus Istanbul.

Ancient City walls
The total length of the Istanbul walls is approximately 22 - 23 kilometers. It is around 8 km on the land side, 6 km on the Golden Horn side and 9 km on the sea side. The biggest difference of Istanbul walls from classical medieval walls is that it was built with aesthetic concerns. Rome is an enormous example of collaboration between military and urban engineering.

The Golden Horn
In the Golden Horn, the sea stretched into the land, creating a natural harbor, and it became the place where Byzantine and Ottoman ships gathered for centuries. The port divides the european side of Istanbul into two parts. It is about 8 km long and its widest part is the entrance part from the Bosphorus side (1100 mt). The Golden Horn, one of the oldest settlements in the world, is known as the Golden Horn (Khrysokeras) in antiquity. The name of the region was Keras in the Byzantine period, Haliç-i Konstantiniyye in the Ottoman period and Haliç which was used today.

Throughout history, the Golden Horn, which is a natural and very safe harbor as well as its geographical location, has played an active role in the development of Istanbul.

From the bird's eye view of the Golden Horn, the waters of Kağıthane and Alibeyköy give the appearance of a deer antler. When the waters were clean and clear, when the evening sun hit, their waters turned golden. Therefore, it was named “Golden Horn".

Spice bazaar (Closed on Sundays) 
Behind the New Mosque in Eminönü and next to the Flower Bazaar. One of the oldest bazaars in Istanbul, the Spice Bazaar was built by Turhan Sultan in 1660. The architect was Kazim Aga. The bazaar was restored by the Istanbul Municipality between 1940-1943. In this bazaar, which is famous for its products, there are still natural medicines, spices, flower seeds, rare plant roots and shells in addition to the old tradition, as well as nuts, delicatessen products and different foodstuffs are sold.

It is one of the oldest covered bazaars in Istanbul which exudes the eastern side of Istanbul in the most exotic way. In the period it was founded, thousands of spices and herbal herbs from the far east countries from India to Arabia were sold especially in this unique market. Since most of the goods came from Egypt, it was called as Egyptian Bazaar. There are a total of 86 shops in the bazaar, which is accessed through six different gates.

Bosphorus cruise
After our visit to the Egyptian bazaar, we will go to the pier for a Bosphorus boat tour and take a boat for a wonderful Bosphorus tour.

On the Bosphorus boat trip we will see the Ciragan palace, Ortakoy mosque, Kuleli military high school, Rumeli fortress and Beylerbeyi palace from the boat with a 90-minute Bosphorus boat tour in the magnificent Istanbul Bosphorus that separates Asia and Europe from each other. We will also pass under the first suspension bridge of the Bosphorus.

Price included

Pick Up Place

All the centrally located Istanbul hotels. Hotels in European side of Istanbul and not too far from centrum. For hotels far from center: Pick up is not available, or subject to extra charged.

Pick up Point

Hotels lobby. End of the tour Drop off will be not at the hotels but in Grand Bazaar or Sultanahmet area.

Details to know

Bosphorus Cruise & Spice Bazaar Istanbul Tour – Half Day (Morning)

The tour is also held in the afternoon. The Spanish guide is only available on the morning tour.

Hotel pick-up time for the afternoon tour is between 12:30 and 13:00. Pick-up time varies depending on the location of the hotels.

Hotel pickup is only possible from centrally located hotels. Pick-up and drop-off from hotels far from the center and from the airport are subject to additional charges.

Pick-up from hotels where it is difficult or impossible for the tour vehicle to enter and exit will be made from the closest point to the hotel.

In the morning tour, there is no drop off service to the hotels at the end of the tour. The tour ends in Taksim square. In the afternoon tour, participants can get off the bus in the city if they wish.

Additional information

Tour program for Bosphorus Cruise & Spice Bazaar Istanbul Guided Tour – Half Day

Admire majestic city Istanbul by boat during a Bosphorus cruise across the water connecting Europe and Asia. Visit the spectacular Spice Bazaar, dating back to 1664, and pick up fragrant souvenirs including saffron, tea and dried fruits. See top attractions of Istanbul and pick up information from your friendly tour guide.

• Pick up from centrally located hotels of Istanbul
• Transfer through Istanbul City walls and the Golden Horn
• Transfer to Spice bazaar, and free time
• Transfer to the pier for the Bosphorus cruise
• Bosphorus boat cruise
• End of the tour
• There is no drop off service to the hotels at the end of the morning tour. The tour ends in Taksim square. On the afternoon tour, participants can get off the bus in the city after the tour.

Period & Price

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