What to expect
Central four-star hotel
Cruise the Bosphorus
With one foot in Asia and the other in Europe, any visit to Turkey’s most happening city is sure to be a sensory delight. Our four night city break to Istanbul shows you the treasures this city has to offer, all in the company of your fellow Solos travellers!
Extras
Welcome to Turkey! Upon arrival in Istanbul, we transfer to our hotel to catch the first glimpses of this fascinating city where the continents meet.
After check-in, we meet for our welcome drink. In the evening, we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
After breakfast, we start exploring Istanbul, visiting the Egyptian Spice Bazaar which dates back to the 17th century. It is still the most popular bazaar visited by locals to shop for fresh ingredients to spice up the dishes prepared in the kitchens of Istanbul.
From here, we continue to Eminonu Pier and board a private boat for a Bosphorus Cruise. We travel through the waterway separating Asia and Europe, seeing the old Ottoman wooden mansions, marble palaces, foreign embassy estates and small fishery villages all located along both the Asian and European sides of this famous river.
In the afternoon, we visit the Underground Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi), the major water reservoir of ancient Constantinople.
After breakfast, we begin our day exploring the fascinating city of Istanbul.
We begin at the remains of the Hippodrome, once decorated with marble statuary and columns. In its heyday, it was the site of chariot races and the focal point of the city’s civic life. The remains of some of its walls are still visible as is an obelisk brought from Egypt in 390 AD by Theodosius I.
Next we visit the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. Built during the period of 1609-1617, it is also known as the ‘Blue Mosque’ thanks to the light that shines through over 2,500 stained glass windows and reflects onto the dark blue Iznik tiles within. The final stop today will be the breathtaking ‘Hagia Sophia’ – one of the largest historical Christian shrines ever built with its rich mosaic murals, colossal columns and exposition of divine serenity.
Today we explore the Topkapi Palace where, in the 15th Century, Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror started the first stages of its construction. The famous Topkapi is built around four inter-connecting courtyards. We view the many treasures of the Ottoman sultans, including fine porcelains, gem encrusted objects d’art, traditional armour and imperial costumes, stunning tile work and sacred relics of the Christian and Islamic faiths.
Afterwards, explore the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi), one of the world’s oldest shopping malls. To this day, it maintains its charm and bustle, with its indoor and outdoor sections. We can breathe in the vivacious atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar with a sip of Turkish coffee whilst checking the exciting variety of handcrafted souvenirs!
After breakfast, we have further free time to explore before our transfer back to the airport for our flight home.
Kent Hotel has a great location in the heart of the old city, just a 15 minute walk from all the main sights of Istanbul such as the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar.
Hotel facilities include a restaurant, a bar/lounge and a snack bar/deli. WiFi is available thoughout.
All single rooms are equipped with one French bed, air conditioning, direct call facilities, LCD television with local and international satellite channels, minibar and hairdryer, WI-FI and safe box.
Frequently Asked Questions
The transfer time from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Kent Hotel is approximately 30 minutes.
Dressing in layers is recommended. Casual evening wear is recommended and comfortable shoes for sightseeing.
Please note ladies are required to have a head scarf for the Blue Mosque & St.Sophia visit. Men should cover knees if wearing a shorts – long trousers recommended. Additionally, as shoes need to be removed for this it it would be handy to bring a bag to carry your shoes whilst you are inside the mosque.
We suggest a Group Collection to cover guides, transfer drivers, and hotel staff of minimum £15.00 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % to add on.
Please note
A reasonable level of fitness/mobility is required for sightseeing.
Average Temperatures
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | 12 °C | 8 °C |
| February | 13 °C | 9 °C |
| March | 16 °C | 10 °C |
| April | 19 °C | 13 °C |
| May | 23 °C | 16 °C |
| June | 28 °C | 21 °C |
| July | 31 °C | 23 °C |
| August | 32 °C | 24 °C |
| September | 29 °C | 21 °C |
| October | 24 °C | 18 °C |
| November | 19 °C | 13 °C |
| December | 14 °C | 10 °C |
“I’m sure you will enjoy it, I have been on three solos holidays to date and the people I’ve met have been great.”
“I’ve been travelling with Solos for nearly 20 years, on and off. The reason is for exactly what you want – you meet like minded people… and have loads of fun!”
“I’ve been on loads of trips with Solos over the years and can honestly say you will not regret booking your 1st one!”
“The feeling you have once you go away on your own is worth all the nerves before! I was so very anxious the first time but now having done it 4 times, I love it!”
