Sultanahmet Departure (Route)

Operating Schedule: Departure from Sultanahmet at (10:00 - 11:00 - 12:00 - 13:00 - 14:00 - 15:00 - 16:00 - 17:00)

1. Sultanahmet
Sultanahmet is renowned for the iconic Hagia Sophia mosque adorned with mosaics, and the grand Blue Mosque with its striking minarets. The area also features the Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius and the 4th-century Stone of Million pillar ruin. Sultanahmet Square boasts a park, gardens, and fountains, with streets lined with shops, hotels, and traditional eateries.

2. Eminönü
Eminönü is a bustling area where ferries dock near the city’s bazaars. The Egyptian Bazaar, or Spice Bazaar, is a vibrant mix of carpets, textiles, lamps, and jewelry, with stalls selling fruits, teas, and spices. The Grand Bazaar is a maze of similar goods. The Süleymaniye Mosque is a prominent feature, and the 16th-century Rustem Pasha Mosque is noted for its Iznik tiles.

3. Karaköy
Karaköy is a lively waterfront district with hip cafes and late-night bars alongside local bakeries and family businesses. Ottoman-era buildings decorated with street art house young fashion designers’ studios and boutiques, and the area has a thriving modern art gallery scene. The 16th-century Klç Ali Paşa complex includes a mosque and baths.

4. Galataport Istanbul
Galataport is a cruise ship port and mixed-use development in Istanbul’s Galata neighborhood, located on the European side of the Bosporus where it meets the Golden Horn.

5. Dolmabahçe, Beşiktaş
Dolmabahçe Palace served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1887 and from 1909 to 1922. It is situated in the Beşiktaş district on the European coast of the Bosporus.

6. Naval Museum
The Istanbul Naval Museum, established in 1897 by Ottoman Minister of Navy Bozcaadalı Hasan Hüsnü Pasha, is located in the Beşiktaş district. It houses a significant collection of military artifacts related to the Ottoman Navy.

7. Beylerbeyi Palace
Beylerbeyi Palace, meaning “Lord of Lords,” is in the Beylerbeyi neighborhood of Üsküdar on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. Built between 1861 and 1865 as an Imperial Ottoman summer residence, it is now located just north of the First Bosphorus Bridge.

8. Büyük Beşiktaş Çarşısı
The Beşiktaş Bazaar is a popular Sunday market in the Beşiktaş district, offering a wide range of goods from tomatoes to exclusive jewelry, with a welcoming atmosphere of vibrant colors and friendly faces.

9. Taksim Square
Taksim Square, with its Republic Monument, is a hub for nightlife, shopping, and dining. Vintage trams run along Istiklal Caddesi, a main pedestrian street lined with 19th-century buildings housing international shops, cinemas, and cafes. The side streets are filled with bars, antique shops, and rooftop restaurants with views of the Bosphorus.

10. Şişhane Sokak
Once known for its lighting shops and heavy traffic, Şişhane Sokak is now transforming with beautiful fin-de-siècle buildings and a new metro station. The name originates from the 6th Office (Şeş in old Turkish), the headquarters of Istanbul’s first modern municipality.

11. Egyptian Bazaar
The Spice Bazaar, located in the Eminönü quarter of the Fatih district, is one of Istanbul’s largest and most famous covered shopping complexes, second only to the Grand Bazaar.

12. Sultanahmet
The journey concludes back at Sultanahmet.

Points of Interest

• Blue Mosque
• Eminonu Pier
• Karakoy
• Galata Tower
• Dolmabahce Palace
• Naval Museum
• Beylerbeyi Palace
• Besiktas
• Taksim Square
• Beyoglu
• Misir Carsisi (Spice Market)

• Professional licensed driver
• Internet access
• A day-long valid ticket
• Multilingual audio-guide available in 8 languages