7 Days Istanbul and Bursa Tour

7 Days Istanbul and Bursa Tour

Day 1- Istanbul

After arrival at Istanbul Airport, we will pick you up from airport and transfer you to your hotel, free time and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2- Istanbul –Walking City Tour ( B / L )

Breakfast & Lunch

After breakfast we will pick you up from hotel and start a full day guided tour of old city in historical peninsula beginning with great museum Hagia Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture built in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian. Converted into a mosque in 1453 by Conqueror Mehmet, it is now one of the world’s greatest museums. Its massive dome still dominates the skyline of Istanbul.
The Blue Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks of the city. It takes its name from the exquisite blue Iznik tiles which decorate the interior, and it is the only imperial mosque with six minarets, built in honour of Sultan Ahmet.
Hippodrome was the centre of sporting and social events during the Byzantine Empire. The Serpentine Column, the Obelisk of Theodosius and the German Fountain are note-worthy monuments in the vicinity of the arena.
The Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest covered market in Turkey, situated in the centre of the old city. It has 4,000 shops full of souvenirs and crafts, including carpets, leather, icons, ceramics and jewellery.
Topkapi Palace was the principal residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Now it houses a fabulous collection of crystal, silver, Chinese porcelain, jewels and costumes and showcases the imperial treasury as well as the sacred Islamic relics of Prophet Mohammed. The armory and royal Harem are particularly worth seeing. (Entry to the Harem is not included in the tour).

End of the tour transfer to your hotel.

Day 3- Istanbul- Bosphorus Cruise & Two Continents Tour (B / L )

Breakfast & Lunch

Breakfast at your hotel then we pick you up from your hotel and we will see; City Walls, Golden Horn, Spice Market, Bosphorus Cruise by Boat, Rumeli Fortress ( from the sea )Lunch at a local restaurant, Bosphorus Bridge, Beylerbeyi Palace, Camlica Hill for a panoromic view, end of the tour transfer to your hotel and overnight in Istanbul.

Beylerbeyi Palace closed on Monday and Thursday replaced with Chora Museum.

Spice Bazaar closed on Sunday replaced with Golden Horn.

Day 4- Istanbul- Princes’ Islands Tour ( B / L ) 

Breakfast & Lunch

We pick you up from your hotel then, cruise in the Marmara Sea to Princes’ Island by Maritime lines boat, cruising round these beautiful unspoiled islands. On our way to Buyukada, the largest island in the chain, we pass four smaller ones. All of them are famous for their mild climate, lush vegetation and ornate Ottoman houses, and on all of them cars are banned. They take their name from the princes who used the islands as a summer retreat in Ottoman times.
As cars are forbidden on the islands you will enjoy a tour of the island by horse-drawn carriage known as a “phaeton” and discover the elegant mansions draped in brilliant purple bougainvillea.

Lunch will be at one of the many excellent traditional fish-restaurants on the waterfront, gazing across the water at the Asian shore of Istanbul.

Buyukada is an excellent place both for swimming and relaxing.

Evening return to Istanbul and transfer to your hotel.

Day 5- Istanbul to Bursa  ( B  )

Breakfast 

Breakfast at your hotel in Istanbul then it will be your free day to discover the historical peninsula at your leisure. According to the ferry departure times we will transfer you to the harbour then ferry to Bursa which takes almost one and a half hour, arrival and you will be transferred to your hotel in Bursa. Overnight in Bursa.

Day 6- Bursa – City  & Uludag Tour ( B / L)

Breakfast & Lunch

Bursa is the first capital city of Ottomans where the Ottoman Empire was born. The city is known as ” Yesil Bursa” (meaning “Green Bursa”) from its beautiful parks and gardens located throughout the city. The city is famous for its ski resorts (on the mountain of Uladag), the mausoleums of Ottoman sultans, the surrounding fertile plain, thermal baths and Karagöz & Hacivat shadow puppets. It is also the home of some famous Turkish foods, especially chestnut candy, peaches, and a meat dish called Iskender kebap.

We will pick you up from your hotel at about 09:30 then our daily Bursa Tour. We will visit the Grand Mosque and the Green Mausoleum, famous for its exclusive Iznik tiles. Lunch will be served in a special ‘Iskender Kebap’ restaurant. We will visit the historical Covered Bazaar and the old Silk Market, then climb by Cable Car to Uludag (Mount Olympos) overlooking to Bursa for a magnificent panoramic view. End of the tour , we will transfer you to the ferry harbour then arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 7 – Istanbul ( B )

Breakfast

Depending on the schedule of your flight home, you can discover more of Istanbul or do some last minute shopping at the Grand Bazaar or the Spice Market. We will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport where we say, “good-bye, hope to see you again soon,” to our new friends.