5 Days Istanbul & Ankara by Speed Train Tour

Welcome to Turkey Istanbul Airport. Meet with TravelShop Booking staff and transfer to your hotel & check in. You will be given your room key and the rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast between 08:00 am and 09:30 am pick up from hotel. Final timing one day before will be given you by your tour consultant.

Today you will depart for the Istanbul City Tour. "TOPKAPI PALACE" The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The palace houses an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain. Robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, and the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. Next on the list is the "SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE" Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the "BLUE MOSQUE" because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. Outside the Blue Mosque we find the "HIPPODROME". The Ancient Hippodrome was the scene of chariot races and entertainment. The Hippodrome comprises of three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. After a short enjoyable lunch break we head to the Grand Spice Bazaar for shopping. After the shopping tour come back to Hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast included)

Pick up at 08:30am from the hotel and depart for the Istanbul Tram & Bosphorus Cruise Tour. AFirst we wwill have a short drive to Eminonu from where we will take the tram to pier for Bosphorus Cruise, a traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will see the magnificent sights of the following attractions from your boat. See Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of its marble facade faces the shore. At Ortakoy a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries.

RUMELI FORTRESS Built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Istanbul was completed in only four months to control and protect the infamous Bosphorus passage. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world. BEYLERBEYI PALAS (PALACE) The summer residence of Ottoman sultans exists in its original renovated glory featuring original antique furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian side of Istanbul. Next we will go for shopping and visit places as per your shopping interests. After the tour drop back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast pick up from your hotel and transfer to Istanbul train station from where you will take the high speed train to Ankara. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Ankara.

(Breakfast and Lunch included)

After breakfast, pick up from your hotel and depart for Ankara City Tour. First stop is Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. With your guide, explore the museum’s exhibits which pay close attention to Anatolia’s past rulers. Next head to the most recognizable landmark in the city, the impressive Citadel of Ankara, set on a hilltop overlooking the city below. Continue to the Mausoleum of Ataturk and see the grave of modern Turkey’s first president and national hero. Learn about this great leader and courageous soldier who revolutionized Turkey. Stroll through the Mausoleum, constructed in 1953, and observe statues, reliefs and embellishments conceived by Turkey’s art community. Next we will have free time in famous Kizilay Square. After the tour transfer to Ankara Airport for your flight back home. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in the future in one of our tours again. Have a nice trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Booking.