Tour the Greek Islands

Today, our Local guide shows you one of the city’s major draw cards, the stunning Blue Mosque. It’s an amazing building with a series of domes and minarets dominating the skyline, complete with a breathtaking interior of tens of thousands of blue tiles.

After that, we head right into the heart of the city and plunge into several kilometres of shops at the Grand Baazar. It’s an unforgettable shopping experience. Our Local Guide gives plenty of pointers and will lead you through a maze of lanes, where tacky trinkets and authentic treasures are sold side by side. With carpets, jewellery, spices, music, electronics and more, the place is buzzing, so make sure you’ve got your haggling hat on.

There are heaps of options for your time here. Monument-wise there’s Topkapi Palace for a look into the sultan’s lifestyle and Hagia Sofia church to give you a feel for Constantine’s empire.

Otherwise, live a bit of Istanbul’s daily life. Try your hand at backgammon in a sidewalk cafe and watch the crowds go by as you sip on Turkish coffee. Chill out in a tea garden, or take to the time-honoured tradition of the hammam (steam bath house) and get scrubbed down on heated marble stones.

Opt for a dinner complete with belly dancers and watch some top dancers perform this famous Eastern art.

Day 2: Hotel Breakfast

• The Blue Mosque, the Galata Bridge, the Spice Markets - discover Istanbul with our expert local guide