The same week we touched down in Istanbul, so did history.  The Pope chose Istanbul for his first official international trip!  The city was buzzing with excitement and the crowds were expected to be large.  We did not panic though!  That was the beauty of having a Rick Steves guide and tour.  Our tour guide, Mert, knew the Pope's itinerary, anticipated the crowds, and rearranged the sites slightly to avoid crowds, and more importantly, traffic!  To see the official Rick Steve Itinerary, go to:

www.ricksteves.com/tours/greece-turkey/istanbul

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Anna with our Rick Steves Guide, Mert. He may know EVERYONE in Istanbul.

TOUR DAY 1-Welcome Day:  The Haggia Sofia and a group dinner*
​TOUR DAY 2-Ottoman Istanbul:  The Topkapi Palace with Harem, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar 
TOUR DAY 3-Nooks and Crannies of Poli:  The Suleymaniye Mosque, the Chora Church, and a carpet demonstration 
TOUR DAY 4-Spice Up and Modern Life:  The Spice Market, sites of modern life, and a food tour 
Tour Day 5-Bosphorus & Asian Istanbul:  A cruise on the Bosphorus, a visit to the fish market, and an optional Whirling Dervishes experience
Tour Day 6-Archeology:  The Archeology Museum and an optional Turkish bath (Hammam) experience
​Tour Day 7- Farewell
*Note that the we recommend arriving at least one day early.  On our first night, we had a quiet dinner on top of the hotel while listening to the call to prayer and enjoying the night skyline.  On the next morning, we took a train to the Dolmabahce Palace and explored the city before meeting the group in the afternoon.