ISTANBUL

GREAT CITY WALKING TOUR

They say Napoleon once said: "If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital."

So, when Culture Trip recently identified their 10 Most Historically Significant Cities in the World, it was no surprise that Istanbul make the list. As the largest city in Europe and also the place where Europe and Asia come together, Istanbul has an amazing wealth of cultural and historic sights. The food is great too!

In many ways, this tour is a perfect example of TravelMaven's "Great Cities Walking Tours" concept where we take a small group (max 12) to a great city for a week and walk around. This unhurried approach allows us to dive deeper into one special place, and experience things that a shorter visit would surely miss.

Our base in Istanbul (aka Constantinople or Byzantium) is Sultanahmet, the historical heart of this ancient city. As a result, almost all of Istanbul'smost famous sites are within an easy 10 minute walk of our hotel. These include the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Roman Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern and Istanbul Spice Market.

Beyond the core of the city, we will also spend time exploring the outer reaches of the city using water taxis and ferries on the Bosphorus Straight. This includes a day trip to the nearby Princes Islands and a glimpse of the Black Sea.

So, if you've always wanted to explore one of the world's great cities by foot, maybe you should join us!

DETAILS

LAND PACKAGE: C$2,980 (US$2,235)

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: C$720 (US$540)

DEPARTS: TORONTO Sun Sep 14, 2025

TOUR STARTS: ISTANBUL Mon Sep 15, 2025

TOUR ENDS: ISTANBUL Sun Sep 21 , 2025

ARRIVES: TORONTO Sun Sep 21, 2025

LAND PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Sultanahmet Palace Hotel (or similar) 6 nts

Breakfast daily

Lunches (x)

Dinners (x)

All tours & activities listed

Local guides & ground transportation

All taxes and fees

This tour is guaranteed to depart with 4 guests. The Land Package price is in Canadian dollars, based on double occupancy, and guaranteed after the 20% deposit is received.

MORE INFO

Istanbul

Day 0 (Sun Sep 14) Depart Toronto

There are many ways to fly from Toronto to Istanbul, but the most convenient is with Turkish Airlines, which departs Pearson Airport at 21:05.

Day 1 (Mon Sep 15) Arrive in Istanbul (D)

Turkish Airlines flight TK018 arrives at 14:10. (Other flights arrive throughout the day.) Barry will be at the airport to meet TK018, and will make arrangements for those arriving on other flights. After check-in at our downtown hotel, we will enjoy our Welcome Dinner together.

Blue Mosque

Day 2 (Tue Sep 16) Historic Istanbul Walking Tour (B,L)

On his day, our private guide will take us on a walking tour through the highlights of Sultanahmet, Istanbul's most famous quarter. After returning to our hotel in the late afternoon, guests will some free time before we gather for dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Day 3 (Wed Sep 17) Boat tour to Princes Islands (B,L)

We will leave the centre of Istanbul and take a passenger ferry to the nearby Princes Islands for a walk and casual lunch. After returning to our hotel in the late afternoon, guests will have a free evening.

Hagia Sophia interior

Day 4 (Thu Sep 18) Markets & Hidden Gems Walking Tour (B,L)

On his day, our private guide will continue with our walking tour of Sultanahmet, including the Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar and Spice Market. Guests will have a free evening.

Day 5 (Fri Sep 19) Bosphorus Boat Cruise (B,L)

We will catch a passenger ferry up the Bosphorus, exploring some Istanbul sites outside the centre of the city, including some of the Asia side. After returning to our hotel late afternoon, guests will have a free evening.

Basilica Cistern