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Map of Taste of Istanbul including Turkey

Experience Istanbul at its very best.

Get a true taste of Istanbul – a city resplendent, enduring and diverse, truly forging itself as the world’s most spectacular intersection of cultures, cuisine and continents. Embark on a Short Break Adventure to get an essential Istanbul experience – exploring the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar. You’ll also get under the skin of the place, eating with a local family, sharing tea and nargile and finding spots hidden from the tourist eye.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Istanbul, Turkey
Finish
Istanbul, Turkey
Destination
Turkey
Style
Original
Theme
Short Breaks
Code
ERZI
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Most tours will leave you lost trying to explore the Hagia Sophia on your own – here you’ll take a guided tour through the hidden tales of this magnificent one-of-a-kind monument.

  • Get lost in the labyrinth of the Grand Bazaar, passing by the myriad traders who sell their wares in this expansive space. How good are your haggling skills?

  • Join a home cooked experience in Istanbul, discovering some simple local food with your hosts and spending some time in a tea house – just like the locals do.

Is this trip right for you?

  • With a duration of 2-3 days, Intrepid’s Short Break Adventures are the ideal add-on to a longer holiday or a mini adventure of their own! Departures are frequent and usually guaranteed.

  • Short Breaks are slightly different to our group tours, with the idea being that you maintain a level of independence in your free time. You’ll have a leader for included activities only, but there is always support if you need it – simply call the number in the Essential Trip Information if you have any problems.

  • Activities and tours are on a join-in basis, which means other travellers may join you at these times. You may also have different guides throughout the tour, in order to give you the best experience of each activity.

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Itinerary
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Hosgeldinz! Welcome to Istanbul, the only city in the world to straddle two continents. It’s no surprise that this vast metropolis is home to a beguiling mix of different cultures and traditions, blending the influences of both east and west. Your Short Break Adventure starts with a welcome meeting at 5 pm then it will continue with the Home Cooked Istanbul Urban Adventure, spending the evening mingling with the locals and enjoying some delicious food. Wander through the streets in the Sultanahmet district, and en route, meet a local family and sit together for a traditional meal. After you’ve eaten as much as you can handle, head to a local hangout to enjoy some killer views of the Marmara Sea. Find a comfortable spot to watch games of football, strike up conversation with the locals or get involved in a backgammon game. All of that people watching – you must be thirsty. Continue on to a local tea house for a drink and to partake in some nargile (also known as waterpipe or hookah) smoking. Sit back, relax and enjoy – you’ll be puffing like a local in no time. If you’re feeling like kicking on, your group leader will be able to recommend some hidden gems, but after your tea and nargile, you’re free to do as you please, or simply head back to your hotel.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Istanbul - Home Cooked Istanbul Urban Adventure
Optional Activities
  • Istanbul - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - TRY100
  • Istanbul - Blue Mosque Visit - Free
  • Istanbul - Galata Tower - TRY175
  • Istanbul - Bosphorus Boat Cruise (Public Boat) - TRY50
  • Istanbul - Archaeology Museum - TRY100
  • Istanbul - Turkish Hamam (incl. massage) - EUR70
Meals Included
  • Dinner

Do you think you can conquer Istanbul in one day? Well, wonder no more with an Istanbul Conquered Urban Adventure today. Ready? Let’s go. Begin with a dose of Hagia Sophia. This masterpiece of Byzantine architecture stands tall and proud in downtown Istanbul, holding within its walls more than 1500 years of Turkish history. This beautiful site is also somewhat of a chameleon — it has lived its long life as a church, a mosque, and now as a museum, and you may even recognise it from movies like From Russia With Love or Taken 2. Head across the plaza towards the jewel in the Istanbul crown: Sultan Ahmet I’s Blue Mosque. It is one of the most striking sights in Istanbul, with its blue-tiled walls, 260 windows, and six minarets – don’t forget to ask your guide the significance of those six spires. After checking out the ancient Hippodrome, take a break at a hidden café nearby for lunch, cracking jokes with locals and learn about daily life in Istanbul. Once you’re refuelled, continue on to Topkapi Palace, which overlooks the mighty Bosphorus strait, and gives an insight into the stories of the sultans who have lived here in centuries past. Now, time for a treat – head over to the Grand Bazaar to explore some of the 3000 shops, meeting the local characters and perfecting your haggling game. Stop in for a true Turkish coffee and shop the afternoon away. This evening, continue your own exploration of the city, perhaps heading to a harbourside seafood restaurant.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Istanbul - Hagia Sophia
  • Istanbul - Grand Bazaar
  • Istanbul - Topkapi Palace
  • Istanbul - Istanbul Conquered Urban Adventure
Optional Activities
  • Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Harem Entry - TRY85
  • Istanbul - Hagia Irene - TRY80
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Your Istanbul Short Break will come to end after breakfast this morning, however that doesn’t mean your adventure has to come to an end! If you’d like to continue soaking up all that Istanbul has to offer, why not spend an extra night or two here? If you wish to do so, we’ll be happy to book additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Transport

Local Transport

Accommodation

Hotel (2 nights)

Included activities

  • Istanbul - Home Cooked Istanbul Urban Adventure
  • Istanbul - Hagia Sophia
  • Istanbul - Grand Bazaar
  • Istanbul - Topkapi Palace
  • Istanbul - Istanbul Conquered Urban Adventure

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Taste of Istanbul trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. This Short Break Adventure is a ‘join in’ group departure, which means you are not accompanied by an Intrepid group leader for the duration of the tour. This trip will run with a minimum of one person, so you may be joined by other travelers booked on the same date as you, or you may be on your own.
2. This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 5 pm on Day 1 in Istanbul.
3. This adventure includes a visit to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. The Bazaar is closed on Sunday should you choose a Saturday departure for this product your visit to the Grand Bazaar on day 2 will be substituted with the Spice Market.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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