Dinner and boat tour in the Bosphorus as the sun sets, Istanbul is truly beautiful! Shop at the Grand Bazaar, admire the grandeur of the Sultanahmet Mosque, trace history at Hippodrome Square, be enchanted by Hagia Sophia, and complete your tour with a delightful dinner to discover the city's sparkling atmosphere.
The Sultanahmet neighborhood forms the cultural center of the Historical Peninsula. In addition to numerous Ottoman and Roman heritage sites, the area houses the German Fountain, various obelisks, and the Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque because of its beautiful, blue-hued interior tiles.
The Hippodrome, where horse races were held during the Roman period, was one of the most important social spaces of the era. Today, the area extending from the German Fountain to the Obelisk, Serpent Column, and Woven Column forms the center of the Historical Peninsula.
Carved from granite, the Obelisk was brought from Egypt to Istanbul during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I. Located in Sultanahmet Square, this magnificent monument, whose sides are adorned with hieroglyphics, is one of the oldest monuments in Istanbul with a history of approximately 3,500 years.
Originally built as a victory monument in Ancient Greece, the Serpent Column was brought to Istanbul during the Byzantine era. The column, the largest surviving monument from the Classical period, is said to have once protected the city from insects and reptiles.
Located in Sultanahmet Square and also known as Constantine’s Obelisk, this monument served as a gathering spot for Janissaries during the Ottoman period. While the obelisk’s bronze cladding has been lost over time, it still attracts attention with its original stone structure.
Built in the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, the name means “Holy Wisdom” in Ancient Greek. Hagia Sophia, the most impressive example of Byzantine architecture and the largest domed structure of its time, continues to serve as a mosque today, as it did during the Ottoman period.