Istanbul Tours

Marmara Tours presents absolute professionalism where quality matters to discerning traveler. With the expertise and in-depth knowledge of Turkey, our objective is giving you a flawless arrangement so that you will freely spread the word around we shall deserve.

In the end, being a specialist means to be devoted and fully committed, which is what we have been with Travel in Turkey since 2007 as DMC, built on 32+ years and continuing field experience as licensed, professional guide. 

 Our team is capable of designing unique itineraries that suits your needs and expectations the best and create once in a lifetime experience with everlasting memories...

“If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul...” 

                              Alphonse de Lamartine 

Hippodrome
Begin your tour at a giant racetrack – the Hippodrome. Stand where the horses ran, a large open square with a long oval of golden sand, the center of the socio-political world in ancient Byzantium. The historic center of the old city, the stadium held a hundred thousand cheering spectators and its drivers and horses were legendary. A monumental obelisk from Egypt and Apollo’s pillar from Delphi stand at its center.

St/Hagia/Aya Sophia
St. Sophia, one of the most extraordinary buildings in the history of architecture. When a previous church on the site was burned in 532, Justinian ordered to build a structure worthy of his empire. The building inspired countless generations by its colossal definition of what the interior space in a domed basilica was to be and by its innovations in weight-support and construction techniques - and what a dome it was: the popular belief was that; ‘The dome was suspended from Heaven by an invisible golden chain’. In reality it was work of men, but a worldly simulator of the Heavens…

Blue Mosque
Step into the Blue Mosque and you’ll see why it carries the name. Inside are 21.000 shimmering blue tiles broken by 260 stained-glass windows. The light-filled mosque is an elegant tribute to Ottoman genius of the 17th century. With six graceful minarets adorning the imperial building, this masterpiece is one of the city’s most recognized landmarks.

Topkapi Palace

Was the center of Ottoman government and the court, the Turks ruled most of Europe and the Middle East from here. Covering the prime property on the peninsula, the court-defined grounds of the Palace express in the architectural sense the Ottoman ideal of the perfect life balanced between its formative components. Explore breath-taking grounds, domes, porticos, terraces, halls of the Palace.  

Grand Bazaar
One of the most dazzling of all the bazaars, the Grand Covered Bazaar; built in 1461, and in service ever since…Along with magnificent mosques and complexes, undoubtedly, the mother of all bazaars was a monument of rise of Istanbul. It contains more than 3.500 shops and employing more than 20.000 people under same roof. Everything imaginable: gold & silver jewels, old & new rugs, antiques, tiles, leather & souvenirs. Just seeing and experiencing her is worth the trip... 

Wander the fabled city of Istanbul...Immerse yourself in a magical mosaic of history, culture and elegance as you capture the glories of the ages. Marvel at both the antiquities of Byzantium and the modern energy of Istanbul. Linger over a cup of rich Turkish coffee and then take a fascinating walk with us into the past. 

Rustem Pasha Mosque
Through a warren of small streets, we will explore this small and beautifully exquisite mosque which is seen by few foreign visitors. One of the city’s architectural jewels, it was designed by the brilliant Ottoman imperial architect Sinan and its interior is covered with lovely brilliantly colored Iznik tiles.

Spice Bazaar
Browse the wonderfully aromatic Spice Market with its ancient scents of cloves, cinnamon, frankincense and myrrh. An “L”- shaped market originally built in 1664 and has been the center of spice trade ever since. There are nearly 200 shops selling a practically infinite supply of spices and dried fruits. You will also discover herbal medicines, exotic teas, caviars and nuts arrayed in barrels and baskets in fascinating colors.

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
Housed in the lavish and opulent 16th century Palace of Ibrahim Pasha, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts is a treasure-chest of stunning objects from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods. The collection exceeds 40,000 pieces and contains outstanding examples of calligraphy, miniatures, woodwork, ceramics and antique Turkish carpets. 

Basilica Cistern
Perhaps the most unusual structure in Istanbul, exhibiting the engineering marvels that solved water supply problems. This vast underground reservoir built by Justinian in the 6th century features a vaulted brick roof supported by 336 beautiful Corinthian, Ionic & Doric columns. Forest of marble pillars rise up, two incised with the head of Medusa as your guide escorts you through this illuminated Underground Cistern.

Explore even more of Istanbul, once the center of the world. The monuments of the sultans who ruled here since 1453 dominated the skyline and laid it underneath the golden memories of Byzantium.

Dolmabahce Palace
This Bosphorus-shore imperial palace was built between 1843 and 1856 under the Ottoman Empire’s thirty-first sultan at a cost of 35 tons of gold. Opulent and official residence of the last six sultans, the architecture is Western blended with traditional Ottoman design. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding leader of this modern republic, used the palace as a presidential house in summers and enacted some of his most important works here. Exquisite artifacts such as carpets, porcelain vases, skillfully crafted furniture and priceless paintings ornament Dolmabahce Palace.

Pera District
The Pera District is living proof that Istanbul is not resting on its golden past. Drawing together the wealthy and the artistic, it is a cosmopolitan shopping area by day and a glittering club scene at night. Across the Golden Horn from the Old City (Pera is Greek for “beyond”), the area was the City’s foreign quarter where Greeks, Russians, Italians and Jews lived together. Today that fascinating blend is still very much alive. We will stroll down Istiklal Street, a pedestrian street and the heart of the city’s cultural life with cafés, restaurants, shops, churches, mosques and consulates.

Suleymaniye Mosque and complex

Architecturally the most prestigious of all Imperial Mosques! The complex is built between 1550 to 1556 by architect Sinan the Great who is considered as father of many who followed him. Also visit the tomb/mausoleum of Suleyman and his beloved wife Roxelana who has politically been very influential in the court of Topkapi. 

Istanbul Modern 

Situated at the shores of the Bosphorus, facing the historical peninsula with Topkapi Palace & Hagia Sophia across the Golden Horn and leans back to Pera. This 8.000 square meter building has been transformed into a fully functional Modern Art Museum and has permanent and temporary collection galleries exhibiting contemporary & modern works of leading Turkish artists. 

  JEWISH HARITAGE

Discover Istanbul’s Jewish Past

The history of the Jews in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey covers the 2,400 years that Jews have lived in what is now Turkey. There have been Jewish communities in Asia Minor since 4th century BCE and many Spanish & Portuguese Jews expelled from Spain were welcomed to the Ottoman Empire in the late 15th century. Despite emigration during the 20th century, modern day Turkey continues to have Jewish population.

Begin your day at Beyoglu and explore on foot the district of Pera; the present-day heart of Istanbul, where the cosmopolitan energy of the city is concentrated.

Our walk will take us to Galata Tower and district; one of the city’s most striking landmarks whose huge, conic roof dominates the skyline. Originally known as the Tower of Christ, it was built in 1348 in connection with the first expansion of the Genoese colony. 

Nearby Galata Tower, step in Neve Shalom, the largest Sephardic Synagogue in Istanbul and was completed in 1951 due to rapid expansion of Jewish population in the Pera and Galata areas. You'll also visit Jewish Museum that is administrated by Quincentennial Foundation and familiarize with the story of 700 years of amity between Turks and Jews.

Continue to Ashkenaz Synagogue, which is located near the Galata Tower, the facade of the building is especially imposing, with three oriental arches and octagonal rosette windows. Inside, the floors are of marble, the lofty dome is painted with stars, and the elaborately worked ark, of dark wood, blends eastern European and Arabesque styles. It is the only active Ashkenazi Synagogue open to visits and prayers.

Drive through Jewish quarter of Balat, where many Jewish immigrants settled to help repopulate the city under Sultan Beyazit II. Today the Star of David can be seen on the facades of some buildings. Also in this colorful area, we visit the Ottoman Baroque style Ahrida Synagogue, with beautiful furnishings, including the bema (pulpit) shaped as Ark of Noah.

Please note: You MUST have your passports with you.

 “Some people like their own company; others prefer to travel in company. Whichever your preferred travel style may be, we are here and ready to assist…”

‘New Rome’, as Constantine the Great meant to name her, Constantinople was the greatest political power of the ancient and medieval world. In the grounds of the city Roman builders exhibited the best of their talents, and their efforts were reflected in monumental achievements during the long saga of the creation of a new world religion and its imperial capital. Constantinople was not at all less impressive than Rome, and due to its unequaled natural setting, even more fascinating to the visitors.

Hippodrome
Begin your tour at a giant racetrack – the Hippodrome. Stand where the horses ran, a large open square with a long oval of golden sand, the center of the socio-political world in ancient Byzantium. The historic center of the old city, the stadium held a hundred thousand cheering spectators, and its drivers and horses were legendary. A magnificent Egyptian obelisk and Apollo’s pillar from Delphi stand at its center.

Blue Mosque
Step into the Blue Mosque and you’ll see why it carries the name. Inside are 21.000 shimmering blue tiles broken by 260 stained-glass windows. The light-filled mosque is an elegant tribute to Ottoman genius of the 17th century. With six graceful minarets adorning the imperial building, this masterpiece is one of the city’s most recognized landmarks.

St. Sophia
Continue to “The Church of the Divine Wisdom” (Hagia Sophia in Greek) was the greatest church in Christendom until the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome 1000 years later. This legendary and magnificent example of Byzantine architecture boasts an enormous, gilded dome, a vast and lengthy nave, and an interior decorated with glowing marble and precious stones. Its exquisite and radiant mosaics reflect the many faces of ancient Byzantium. This timeless building is 1,500 years old, and it still has the power to astound as you enter.

Topkapi Palace
Next, we will visit vast and exotic Topkapi Palace. Situated on one of the seven hills of Istanbul, where the Acropolis of Byzantium once stood, this breathtaking sultan’s palace features four courtyards and spacious grounds. For 400 years it was home to the Ottoman sultans, their wives, concubines, children, and servants who all lived in this vast complex. During your walking tour, you will explore incredibly elaborate pavilions, mosques, fountains, and reflecting pools, an outstanding Treasury filled with magnificent jewels and the Porcelain Rooms, which house one of the world’s richest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain.

Grand Bazaar
Browse exotic treasures in Istanbul’s bustling Grand Bazaar. Wandering through its maze of winding streets and passages and its labyrinth of 4000 shops, you will discover a staggering wealth of merchandise. The Grand Bazaar was first established in the 15th century and shops are organized by the wares they sell. In the arcaded market, you will find narrow alleyways filled with shops offering jewelry, carpets, leather ware, copper goods and more.

What is Included?
* Licensed professional guide in English/Spanish or other preferred language
* A/C deluxe Mercedes-Benz or similar minivan with chauffeur
* Direct admittance to museums and sites
* Bottled water throughout the tour

What is Not Included?
* Customary gratuities to guide and driver
* Items of a personal nature
* Any items unless specified in itinerary 

Ephesus with Terrace Houses

Meet your ‘private’ guide and vehicle at the port at 09:00am and enjoy a day of visiting Ephesus that will feature the remains of the best-preserved Ionian site in Roman times in Eastern Mediterranean. Besides being the leading trading city, was also a center for the cult of Cybele/Artemis. Itinerary today will also feature the spectacular Terrace Houses located on the ramp of Ephesus where the wealthy Ephesians lived and decorated with spectacular mosaics and frescoes. These houses were brought to light after completion of excavations in 1980s constituting the best-preserved examples of domestic architecture ever found. 

House of the Virgin Mary. 

Third Ecumenical Council met in the "Church of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus" in 431 AD to establish in writing some of the major principles of Christianity - also providing the first written record that Mary had lived the last years of her life in Ephesus. The house is recognized as one of the most sacred shrines by Catholic Church! 

Make a short stop to see foundations of one of the Seven Wonders of the World: The Artemission – Temple of Artemis/Diana and visit Ephesus Museum before returning to port.

What is Included?
* Licensed professional guide in English/Spanish or other preferred language
* A/C deluxe Mercedes-Benz or similar minivan with chauffeur
* Direct admittance to museums and sites
* Bottled water throughout the tour

What is Not Included?
* Customary gratuities to guide and driver

* Lunch
* Items of a personal nature
* Any items unless specified in itinerary

Bodrum, on a peninsula on southern Aegean across from the Island of Kos – home of the famous Greek historian Herodotus, is in our last decades a popular holiday resort. Enchanting villages of houses of white and trimmed with purple bougainvillea together with miles of sandy beaches and ideal locations for water and wind sports.

Meet with your guide at the port and visit Bodrum Castle, known as the Castle of St. John, it sits high on a rocky peninsula on the site of the original Carian settlement. Its towers rise majestically, dominating the harbor front. Built of green stones, masonry and marble slabs from the Mausoleum, the castle offers magnificent views from the ramparts to the town and its picturesque harbor, as well as your anchored Ship.

The Castle complex houses an excellent Museum of Underwater Archaeology where you will see the displays of findings from the world’s oldest known shipwrecks’ along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast.

See the superb expositions in various sections of the Castle. Walk through the castle and see the displays of artifacts such as the Glass Wreck Hall, Late Bronze Age Shipwrecks, The Carian Princess Hall and the amphoras. In ancient times amphoras were used for transporting and storing wine and Olive Oil. 

Before returning your boat, browse around downtown Bodrum and marketplace. 

At Marmara Tours, we strongly believe that professionally designed incentive itineraries are the best motivational tools for employees, clients, and top-level executives. Highly professional consulting and expertise is provided to design your incentive program with the most unique ideas. We organize special incentives with our successful background and innovative concept; each fully integrated program specifically designed to our client’s objectives, budget, and desires in order to produce a successful event.

Our belief is that; any corporate event must be specifically tailored and targeting your goals. Every incentive we manage is custom created, and your program manager is dedicated to providing expert assistance at each step along the way, from budgeting to completion. Just tell us what you need, and we will save you time – and your resources – in making your project viable, in finding the right venues, organizing it down to the minute details, in assisting your staff and guests till the completion of the event.

We manage the logistics, offer our professionalism and expertise, employ our knowledge and our creativity to translate your brief and budget into a feasible event…

We Provide
* Comprehensive Tailored Event Design,
* Detailed Proposal and Budget Development – Concept to Completion,
* Identification and reservation of the Destination, the Hotel, Congress Center, Event Location/s,
* Inspection trips to proposed meeting venues,
* Customized VIP and Spouse Activities – Pre and Post Tours,
* Creative Team Building Programs,
* Local and International Entertainment,
* Modern audio-visual equipment (Speakers, MC, Translators),
* Conference Packets, Materials and Tags,
* Recording of the sessions and the activities,
* Printing and business services,
* Production, Staging, Lighting, Sound, Pyrotechnics, Special Effects,
* Venue Design, Décor, Floral Design,
* Catering & Dining arrangements at unique, up market or luxury venues or restaurants,
* Hospitality, Staffing and Security,
* Innovative Branding Solutions – Graphic Design and Production,
* Meet & Greet Hospitality Service,
* Complete Transportation Management from Coaches, Vans, Luxury Vehicles to Boats and Helicopters,
* Organization of social programs and arrangements for accompanying guests,
* Public relations,
* Research and contacting sponsors,
* Provision of Pre and Post event support,
* 24-hour during event support,
* Gifts and souvenirs,
* Turkey Visa assistance and support,

Other Conference Locations Offered in Turkey:
* Istanbul
* Bodrum
* Izmir
* Antalya
* Ankara

Other Turkey-wide destinations available upon request.

 Travel is different and a unique experience for every individual. We want to make sure that you are getting the most from your trip by crafting the dream trips that suits you perfect.  You can select any of museums, sites, attractions and/or activities mentioned in the tours and create your personalized tour in the city.
 

Marmara Tours presents absolute professionalism where quality matters to discerning traveler. With the expertise and in-depth knowledge of Turkey, our objective is giving you a flawless arrangement so that you will freely spread the word around we shall deserve. 

 Travel is different and a unique experience for every individual. We want to make sure that you are getting the most from your trip by crafting the dream trips that suits you perfect.  You can select any of museums, sites, attractions and/or activities mentioned in the tours and create your personalized tour in the city.
 

Marmara Tours presents absolute professionalism where quality matters to discerning traveler. With the expertise and in-depth knowledge of Turkey, our objective is giving you a flawless arrangement so that you will freely spread the word around we shall deserve.