After you are picked up at your hotel, there’s a stop at the “Spice Bazaar”, where the air is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice. From there, you continue past Istanbul’s ancient city walls to the “Golden Horn”, an inlet of the Bosphorus that divides Istanbul between the European and Asian Continents, and forms the natural harbor that has sheltered Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other ships for thousands of years. Here, you embark on your Bosporus cruise and enjoy panoramic views of the city’s Asian and European shorelines lined with palaces, centuries-old wooden villas, mansions, and ultra-modern high rise apartments and hotels. You’ll also see the imposing Rumeli Fortress, Dolmabahce Palace, and the Bosporus Bridge connecting the two Continents.

After disembarking from the cruise, you will have lunch on the Asian side, then visit Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer residence of Istanbul’s Ottoman Sultans, which still has its original furniture, Harem, and magnificent gardens. Then you proceed to the top Camlica Hill, one of Istanbul’s highest points. From its beautiful gardens, you’ll have a spectacular view of Istanbul and the Bosphorus.

Note: Beylerbeyi Palace is closed on Mondays and Thursdays, and is replaced by a tour of the Chora Museum.