Tour of Istanbul's Two Continents with Lunch Included

The magnificent Bosphorus Strait is the meeting point of continents, separating Istanbul into Europe and Asia and giving this city its distinct energy. Crossing the Bosphorus takes you from the bustling historic shores of the Europe, with its bazaars and mosques, to the calmer palace-dotted Asian shores.

Your private climate-controlled car will collect you from your hotel for a 7-hour 9am tour. Accompanied by a helpful and informative guide, discover the fragrant shops in the Spice Bazaar, where vendors sell smoky pepper and cinnamon alongside flowering teas and sugary Turkish Delight.

Winding through the bustling backstreets of the bazaar, arrive at the oasis of the Rustem Pasha Mosque. Take a quiet moment to take in the intricate red and blue tiles that decorate the interior of the mosque. Designed by world-famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, this is one of the loveliest mosques in Istanbul.

Continue on to Asia by boat, crossing the strait by a Bosphorus Cruise. With the salty breeze blowing in your hair, enjoy a Turkish lunch as you pass the Bosphorus Bridge, also known as the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, built in 1973.

Admire Beylerbeyi Palace, an Asian-side residence of Ottoman sultans with opulent decorations and a prime location on the waterfront. (The palace is closed on Mondays and Thursdays, and is replaced with the Imperial Yildiz Park and Yildiz Porcelain Factory.)

Explore Camlica Hill, with its sweeping views of the Istanbul skyline, and soak in the scope of this city on the Bosphorus. Your tour concludes at 4:00pm, when you will be transferred back to you hotel.