Imperial & Jewish Relics (Full day tour)

Our tour begins with a visit to the ancient Hippodrome, an area that was once the center of Byzantine civic life. We continue to Sultan Ahmet Mosque, more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque because its interior gleams with a magnificent paneling of blue and white 17th century Iznik tiles.

Galata Tower

Kamondo Stairs - Galata

Neve Shalom Synagogue

Zulfaris Synagogue Museum

Grand Bazaar

Hagia Sophia - Sultan Ahmet - Istanbul

Next we visit Hagia Sophia, often described as the greatest work of Byzantine architecture. The forth largest building in the world that was made as a church, is now a museum that glitters with mosaics and art treasures that fill every corner. We continue the tour at the famous Grand Bazaar. This bazaar will tempt even non-shoppers as we explore a labyrinth of streets and passages housing nearly 4,000 shops exhibiting a rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather, antiques, and souvenirs. Next we drive to the Galata quarter of Istanbul.

The history of Jewish life in Galata began in Byzantine times when this was a walled city separated from Constantinople. From the 1500s onward, Galata was mostly Jewish. Here we visit Galata Tower. The tower was originally the high-point in the Genoese fortifications which protected the town of Galata during Byzantine and early Ottoman times. From Galata Tower, we walk to the Neve Shalom Synagogue. This is one of the largest synagogues in the city, designed and decorated in a modern style. We also see a graceful curved double staircase, known as Kamondo Staircase. The staircase was built in the 19th century on the order of the Kamondos, the Jewish community's most prosperous family. Our final stop is to the Zulfaris Synagogue which was restored to become a museum of Turkish Jewish life.

Note: Minimum three days advance reservation is needed as special permission is required at some of these sites. We will ask copies of your passports to obtain permission. Due to possible security reasons, some of the sites may be closed to public admission on the day of the visit.

The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday, Hagia Sofia is closed on Monday, Neve Shalom Synagogue is closed on Saturday, and the Museum Turkish Jewish Life is closed on Saturday.