Small-Group Topkapi Palace, Underground Cistern, St. Sophia

Explore the best of Istanbul in a single day. Visit Topkapi Palace, discover the Blue Mosque, wander through the Cistern Basilica, stop at Hagia Sophia, indulge in a traditional Turkish meal, and end at the Grand Bazaar.

Drive toward the UNESCO-listed Topkapi Palace and pay it a visit. The palace used to be the primary residence of Ottoman sultans for 400 years. Continue to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque thanks to its blue Iznik ceramic tiles. Follow your guide to see its 6 famous minarets, the main dome, as well as the Byzantine Christian elements.

Carry on to Hagia Sophia, an impressive basilica from the 5th century, and see its interior with its stunning Shrine of Holy Wisdom of God and large Byzantine dome. Break for lunch at an authentic Turkish restaurant to indulge in a local dish before continuing to the Basilica Cistern.

(Might be replaced with Serefiye Cistern) Your guide tells you about the history of the Basilica Cistern, how it is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns in Istanbul. Wander through this exquisite site and admire some of its 336 Ionic and Corinthian marble columns that hold the ceiling. See the famous Hen's Eye engraved in one of them, as well as the head of a Medusa.

Then drive through the city, passing by the Hippodrome and Obelisk before ending your tour at the Grand Bazaar, where you can bargain for goods or simply stroll through the various shops.