Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and guide you through the city to explore the following places in depth: First you will visit Hagia Sophia.This ancient Basilica was built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinin in the 6th century. It is one of the architectural marvels of all time. The Blue Mosque is one of the best examples of Ottoman and Turkish art, built between 1609 and 1616 by the Architect Mehmet Aga. The mosque takes its name from the blue Iznik tiles which decorate its walls spelndidly. The ancient Hippodrome, where chariot races took place in the center of Byzantine political life, stands in the open space in front of the Blue Mosque. This area, now called Sultanahmet, was once home to a series of historic monuments. Of the monuments which once stood only three remain, the Obelisk of the Theodosius, the Serpentine Column and the Column on Constantine. Look forward to experiencing the bustling atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar. In this labyrinth of streets and passages there are more than 4000 shops with each trade having its own area, selling mostly gold, silver and Turkish handicrafts. Afterwards you will see Topkapi Palace, the great palace of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. It houses an exqusite collection of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain, and the Holy Mantle containing relics of the Prophet Mohammed. We will have a stop for lunch around midday and the tour will finish with a drop-off at your hotel. Hotel pick-up service is available only from the hotels located in the city centre.