Welcome to Istanbul! After transferring to our hotel, we’ll have time to freshen up before joining other Solos guests for an evening welcome drink and dinner at the hotel. Overnight Istanbul
Today we will go on a walking full day tour of Istanbul - a spectacular city, filled with history, culture and incredible food. Our tour begins at Hagia Sophia; built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, the now-musuem reigned as the grandest church in Christendom until its conversion into a mosque by Sultan Mehmet II just after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Our next stop is The Hippodrome, which served as the centre of Byzantine civic life for 1,000 years, hosting coronations, Roman chariot races and more than one royal execution. Next we will proceed to the elegant Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmed I with its six minarets. Built in the early 17th century, its name is derived from the 20,000 predominately blue Iznik tiles that line the interior walls. The Topkapı Palace is next on our list, residence of the Ottoman Sultans for four centuries, followed by the Underground Cistern - one of the most popular tourist attractions and the largest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul. Our last stop for the day will be the Grand Bazaar, the oldest and largest covered market in the world with 64 streets and 4,000 stores. Overnight Istanbul
Our third day is free for you to relax or discover Istanbul some more. Overnight Istanbul
After breakfast we will check out from our hotel. In the afternoon, we’ll transfer to the airport for our return flight back to the UK.
Our hotel is within walking distance to all the city’s historical sights in the Sultanahmet area, as well as the Eminönü seaports, Sirkeci Railway station, Tramway station and bus stops. We’re also conveniently close to the shopping centres, while the old city centre, St. Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Covered Bazaar are all within walking distance. There’s also a rooftop overlooking the Bosphorus, the perfect place to relax after a long day.
Every room has a minibar, air conditioning, heating, a flat screen television with satellite TV channels, bath or shower and a hairdryer.
Try local and international dishes in the hotel’s Eugenius restaurant, or tuck into steak dishes and pizza in the Rocket Cafe Bar underneath a covered area. The swimming pool will also be open for you to use, depending on weather conditions.
Average Daily Maximum
3 hours 30 minutes
GMT + 2 hours
All bookings featuring flights with British Airways are part of a group allocation which unfortunately means you will be unable to manage your reservation directly with BA online; The following actions can only be carried out on check in at the airport.
VisaBritish citizens need a visa to travel to Turkey. You can apply for a visa online at www.evisa.gov.tr before you go. It costs US$20, payable by VISA/Mastercard debit or credit card only. More info
Your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements are your sole responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates of the countries in which you are planning to travel.
Passport RequirementsYour passport will need to be valid for at least 6 months after the date you arrive in Turkey and at least 3 months after the date you leave the country. Your passport must also be valid for 60 days beyond the expiry date of your Turkish visa.
Transfer timeThe transfer time from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Orka Royal Hotel is approximately 50 minutes depending on traffic.
Currency
Turkish lira
GratuitiesWe suggest a Group Collection to cover guides, transfer drivers, and hotel staff of minimum £15.00 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % to add on.
Included programmeA sightseeing programme is included in your touring package. Optional tours are available. The details and exact cost will be given at your Information meeting.
Dress codeComfortable shoes for walking and sightseeing are recommended. On some occasions, when entering places of worship for example, it will be necessary to wear clothing covering one’s shoulders and knees and women may be required to wear a scarf. The dress code during the day is casual. For the evenings smart casual is required.
Please note:A reasonable level of fitness/ mobility is required as we have a full day walking tour of Istanbul.
Please contact us for further information 0208 951 2800.
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