Turkey

Signature City Istanbul

Program No. 18720RJ
From Byzantine art to ancient Greek architecture, from medieval knights to Ottoman Sultans, discover the many wonders of Istanbul as you explore 17-centuries of history with scholars.

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At a Glance

Istanbul is the only place on earth where you can experience two continents, 17 centuries and the customs of dozens of ethnic groups within the confines of a single city. Discover the magical and legendary in Istanbul through presentations on Byzantine history and art, Ottoman architecture and the evolution of the bazaars, along with visits to its great monuments: Hagia Sophia — the grand former cathedral of the Byzantine Empire — the Roman Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace, seat of the Ottoman Sultans for over 400 years. Further immerse yourself in history and cultural grandeur as you spend six nights at the elegant Pera Palace Hotel, an accommodation for passengers on the Orient Express and iconic figures such as Agatha Christie, Queen Elizabeth and Ernest Hemingway.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to four hours on crowded city streets and bazaars. Stairs in some buildings and on motorcoaches.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Visit and learn about the world famous Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque.
  • Enjoy a private study cruise on the Bosphorus and marvel at the waterfront palaces, mansions and fortresses.
  • Experience the grand property of the Pera Palace Hotel, whose history goes back to the reigns of the Ottoman sultans.

General Notes

Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Zeynep Kuban
Dr. Zeynep Kuban is an assistant professor of architecture at Istanbul Technical University, one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey. Her special area of interest is architectural history. Dr. Kuban’s lectures to Road Scholar participants share her wonderful insights on the creation of one of the world’s most architecturally fascinating cities from early Roman times to the 21st century.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Zeynep Kuban
Zeynep Kuban View biography
Dr. Zeynep Kuban is an assistant professor of architecture at Istanbul Technical University, one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey. Her special area of interest is architectural history. Dr. Kuban’s lectures to Road Scholar participants share her wonderful insights on the creation of one of the world’s most architecturally fascinating cities from early Roman times to the 21st century.
Profile Image of Vehbi Baysan
Vehbi Baysan View biography
Vehbi Baysan earned a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Manchester — Institute of Science and Technology in 2004. An instructor at Koc University from 2004-06, he is now director of the international office and a lecturer at Yeditepe University. Dr. Baysan has been teaching courses on contemporary Middle East and late-Ottoman history.
Profile Image of Aysegul Vaizoglu
Aysegul Vaizoglu View biography
Born in Istanbul, Aysegul Vaizoglu left a successful career in the export business to pursue her interests in travel, archaeology and her “urge” to work outdoors. With a proficiency in English and German, she began leading educational excursions for visitors around the world, and enjoys sharing the treasures of Turkey with others. Aysegul has degrees in business administration from Bosphorus University in Istanbul and Michigan State University. In her free time, she enjoys Cuban-style salsa dancing.
Profile Image of Mahir Pasha
Mahir Ali Pasha View biography
Mahir has been a certified group leader for over 25 years, and is also an English and tourism administration teacher at the university level. He has degrees in tourism management and teaching. He loves to walk, exercise and watch basketball; he coaches for his son's basketball team.
Profile Image of Kazim Uzunoglu
Kazim Uzunoglu View biography
Kazim Uzunoglu started his travel career as a licensed national guide in Turkey in 1987. He studied economics at the University of Virginia but decided to stick to the travel business. After many years of leading educational programs around Turkey, he switched to the organizational side of the operation in 2004 and started running Baltac Tourism and Travel, the program provider for Road Scholar in Turkey. His hobbies include riding motorcycles around the world, vintage cars and motorcycles, photography, and rock and roll music.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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8 days
7 nights
15 meals
6 B 5 L 4 D
DAY
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Activity note: Transatlantic flights, possible changing of flights at various airports and walking between terminals during connections.

DAY
2
Arrive Istanbul, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Istanbul
D
Pera Palace Hotel

Activity note: Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, clear passport control, claim your bags, go through customs and the sliding doors, turn left, exit the terminal from Gate #8. If you are entitled to a transfer, look for a representative with a sign with your name on it. If you are an independent traveler, please take a taxi to the hotel. Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m.

Afternoon: After arriving at the hotel, checking in, and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation meeting. Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The time of our meeting will be based on arrival times of Road Scholars. In our meeting room at the hotel, the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to applicable requirements and guidelines throughout the program. The Group Leaders for our Road Scholar programs in Turkey serve as Study Leaders as well as managers of logistics. They are licensed and certified by the Ministry of Tourism for proficiency in Turkish history, culture, archeology, mythology, current affairs, and more. In addition to lectures and field trips, they will often give presentations on topics such as these during long transfers. Program-related travel and transfers will be via comfortable, air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz buses. Meals will generally offer foods representative of their regions. Depending on the accommodations, some will be multi-course plated meals while others will be buffets with numerous choices. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
3
Architecture, Hagia Sophia, Underground Cisterns, Hippodrome
Istanbul
B,L,D
Pera Palace Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 6 miles, approximately 45 minutes riding time in total. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day and standing during field trips; cobblestone streets, two flights of stairs in/out of Underground Cisterns. At mosques, all participants will need to take off shoes, ladies will need to cover heads with a headscarf.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will be joined by a professor from the Istanbul Technical University School of Architecture who will give us a presentation on urban development of Istanbul from an architectural perspective. We will board the bus and ride to the old city, then set out on a walking field trip to explore extraordinary Hagia Sophia, once the greatest church in Byzantium — built in 537 CE — and a great mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. We will learn about the unique architecture as we stand in awe at its size and dazzling beauty.

Lunch: At a restaurant in the old city.

Afternoon: Next, will explore the Underground Cisterns built in 532 by Emperor Justinian to provide water for the city. The cistern is built using 336 recycled columns and could hold up to 100,000 tons of water. We will also walk through the remains of the ancient Hippodrome and learn about the existing monuments from Byzantine times including the obelisk brought from Egypt and the Serpentine Column brought from the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. We’ll ride back to the hotel after our field trips.

Dinner: At a restaurant in walking distance from the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
Great Architect Sinan, Istanbul Mosques, Whirling Dervishes
Istanbul
B,L,D
Pera Palace Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time on the motorcoach. Walking about 3 miles throughout the day and standing during field trips; cobblestone streets. At mosques, all participants will need to take off shoes, ladies will need to cover heads with a headscarf.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Mimar Sinan (c. 1488-1588) is regarded as the greatest architect of the Ottoman Empire. He is credited as chief architect of hundreds of mosques, madrasahs, baths, tombs, palaces, bridges, and more. We will ride to an unloading zone near the mosque and then begin out field trip to explore Süleymaniye Mosque, built by Sinan for the sultan known as Suleiman the Magnificent. It is the second-largest mosque in Istanbul. For our next field trip, we will go to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known worldwide as the Blue Mosque for its exquisite Iznik tiles. Inaugurated in 1617, this spacious mosque has dominated the Istanbul skyline for 400 years.

Lunch: At a restaurant in the old city.

Afternoon: We will continue to explore some of Istanbul’s most notable mosques. The lovely Rustem Pasha Mosque, often described as a miniature Blue Mosque, was designed by Sinan who passed away before it was completed in 1563. It is covered in splendid Iznik tiles in beautiful patterns.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: We will ride to attend a Whirling Dervish ceremony and witness the rituals of the more moderate Sufi sect of Islam.

DAY
5
Topkapi & Dolmabahce Palaces
Istanbul
B,L
Pera Palace Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 6 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 4 miles throughout the day and standing for extended periods (up to 90 minutes in total) during field trips; generally even terrain, occasional stairs in palaces.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will begin our day with a field trip to the Topkapi Palace, primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years of their 600-year reign, from 1465 to 1853. At the height of its existence as a royal residence, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people. The palace collections include Ottoman treasure, jewelry, and the most holy relics of the Muslim world. We will also visit the Harem to gain insights into the daily life of this forbidden section of the palace. No one was permitted to enter except the Sultan, his female family members, the concubines themselves, and the harem guards who were eunuchs.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Next, we will ride to the Dolmabahce Palace, the second palace of the Ottoman Sultans, situated on the Bosphorus. Here we will gain a sense of the socio-economic and cultural changes the Ottoman Empire was experiencing in the 19th century through the eclectic mixture of European architectural styles.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: We will gather at the hotel for a lecture by a notable professor from a local university to learn about contemporary Turkey and its issues.

DAY
6
City Walls, Eyup Mosque, Greek Orthodox Church
Istanbul
B,L
Pera Palace Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 15 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 3 miles throughout the day and standing during field trips; generally even terrain, occasional stairs. At mosques, all participants will need to take off shoes, ladies will need to cover heads with a headscarf.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will set out on the bus for a field trip to the city walls. We will walk a short distance along these walls and learn about the conquest/fall of the city in 1453. Later on in the morning, we will enjoy a neighborhood walk in Balat and Fener districts that were once the Jewish and Greek quarters of Constantinople. These neighborhoods still retain their colorful and diverse character.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in the old city

Afternoon: We will ride to the Eyup Mosque on the Golden Horn. It is a holy place for Muslims because the standard bearer of Prophet Muhammed is buried here. We will move on to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George, one of the most important churches of the Greek Orthodox faith. Before returning to the hotel, we will explore the stunning Museum of Modern Art, located on the shores of the Bosphorus, to gain a deeper understanding of the contemporary art scene in Turkey.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy the cuisine of your choice. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
7
Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Study Cruise
Istanbul
B,L,D
Pera Palace Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a privately chartered boat requiring going up/down a few steps and taking care embarking and disembarking. Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day; generally even terrain. Crowded conditions, especially at bazaars. Steep flight of stairs to reach the lunch restaurant located on the first floor of the Spice Bazaar.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will take the bus to the amazing Grand Bazaar and stroll through its maze-like streets dating back to the 15th century. There are now about 4,000 small shops and vendors for all kinds of crafts, textiles, hand-made arts, and jewelry. There will be an opportunity to attend a lecture on the history of hand made Turkish carpets and kilims.

Lunch: At a restaurant in the Spice Bazaar.

Afternoon: Next we will explore the Spice Bazaar — in Turkish, the “Egyptian” bazaar — constructed in 1663 and second in fame only to the Grand Bazaar. The scents and aromas will enliven our senses immediately. We will end the day with a study cruise on the Bosphorus, the natural waterway that separates Istanbul, linking the Black Sea of Europe with the Sea of Marmara of Asia. We will see opulent palaces, mansions, ancient fortresses, and modern suspension bridges. We’ll hear expert commentary as we go.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
8
Program Concludes, In Transit From Program
Istanbul
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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