Asian Discovery – Istanbul

Pick up from your hotel or your cruise ship. Visit the exotic Egyptian Spice Market on the Golden Horn, then cross the bridge over the Bosphorus to Camlica Hill for a magnificent view of Istanbul. We visit Beylerbeyi Palace, which was the summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans and Kuzguncuk; one of the most beautiful of the old neighborhoods in Asian Istanbul, with its quaint wooden houses. You can see tailors, shoemakers, small farms etc. Drive through Uskudar town and take a short boat ride to the Maiden’s Tower on an island in the Bosphorus. We then follow the coast to Kadikoy, which was known as Chalcedon in ancient times. Here are very colorful flower shops, antique dealers, delicatessens, and herb and spice sellers. You may visit some old Armenian or Greek Orthodox churches such as the Holy Trinity Church and the fashionable district of Moda, with its pedestrian zone. You will see a mix of old and new where old Ottoman houses and modern architecture stand side by side. We may also take a walk near the Bosphorus and stop in a teahouse, visit the historical Moda wharf and an underground holy spring dedicated to St. Catherine, visit the beautiful bays of Kalamis and Fenerbahce. You will have wonderful views of the Princess Islands and Bosphorus. We will also stop at the historic Haydarpasa Train Station and return to the European side by ferry. Drop off to the hotel or cruise ship port.