Meet your guide at your centrally located Istanbul hotel, then hop aboard your air-conditioned coach and cruise to Dolmabahçe Palace. During your drive, learn how this palace was one of the final palaces constructed by the Ottoman Empire. Arrive and admire this ornate blend of European and Ottoman architecture that rests along the banks overlooking the Bosphorus Strait.
Step into the palace and discover eye-popping rooms that once hosted sultans and their royal guests. Alongside your guide, stroll into pristine marble rooms and gaze up at twinkling crystal chandeliers.
As you wander down the Medhal Hall, gain insight about Mustafa Atatürk, the first president of the Republic of Turkey. Hear how all the clocks in the palace were set at 9:05am, the approximate time the exalted Atatürk passed away. Then, see the Crystal Staircase and imagine the aristocrats that once sauntered along its red carpets.
Following the palace tour, pop back into your coach and voyage across the iconic Bosphorus Bridge that connects Europe to Asia. Then, depending on traffic on the day of your tour, cruise up to either Yeditepe or Çamlıca Hill. At either location, enjoy marvelous views of the cityscape and gather friends and family to snap photos. Finally, cruise back to your hotel, on the European side, where your tour ends.
Special note: On Mondays and Thursdays Dolmabahçe Palace is closed and will be swapped with Eyüp, Miniatürk and Pierre Loti Coffee House.
