Istanbul, Turkey
Things to do & places to see
Here the cultures of east and west didn't clash; instead they created something uniquely beautiful. Istanbul brings the world together in one city, with the most astonishing collection of mosques, churches and palaces. The Grand Bazaar is where you'll pick up exotic antiques, carpets and atmosphere.
Located on the Bosphorus the city straddles two continents, the western side in Europe while the eastern side is in Asia.
The ship is moored in port.
Example shore excursions
When you hit dry land, you can trust us to offer a choice of experiences that really gives you a close-up view. See some featured excursions at this port below.
See all shore excursions from Istanbul
East meets West
Fancy a visit to Asia? Then join this excursion, which includes a cruise along the Bosphorus and a short stop on the Asian side of Istanbul. The morning includes a visit to the St Sophie Museum after crossing the Bosphorus Bridge by coach. Enjoy lunchtime on your cruise ship before visiting the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar in the afternoon.
Highlights of Istanbul
Istanbul is an astonishing place to visit with its strong connections to the Roman, Byzantium and Ottoman Empires. Visit the Topkapi Palace, once the imperial residence of the Ottoman sultans, the Agia Sophia Church and the Blue Mosque, built at the beginning ofthe 17th century. We also include a visit to the Hippodrome where chariot racing took place. Your day would not be complete without browsing the world famous Grand Bazaar, selling everything from antiques to carpets. This tour covers the main attractions and is the best way to get the most out of your stay in this beautiful city. A light lunch is included.
Our cruises to Istanbul
Search & book all our cruises calling at Istanbul.
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Ancient Odyssey
Travel through 3,000 years of history in 14 days as the past meets the present on the Island Escape or Island Star with our Ancient Odyssey cruise.
Fully Protected Holidays — The air holidays and flights shown are ATOL protected by the CAA. Our ATOL number is 5726.
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