The Day Trips from Istanbul through the Eyes of Local Guides

To explore the majestic city of Istanbul and the surrounding cities, the day trips from Istanbul that we organize are only as good as the tour guides. We at Turkey Tours By Local Guides offer you the chance to explore the cities through the eyes of a local. With us, you will get the chance to explore the tradition, history, streets, nooks, crannies, and culture of the beautiful Istanbul and other places of tourist interest when you book your place in the full day trips from Istanbul. You will get an real taste of Turkey without the need to travel too far.

 

The places you need to be to 

 

You can start your day trips from Istanbul with a stroll through the largest city of Turkey to explore the spectacular former church of the Hagia Sophia; an immense architectural beauty & a historic monument at some point during the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires. You can pay a visit to the Blue Mosque and admire its exceptional blue tiles that make it one of the most iconic landmarks of Istanbul.

 

Our full day trips from Istanbul is the perfect way to discover what has made the city such a majestic & historically important destination by hitting most of the prominent landmarks the city has to offer. If you have limited time in Turkey, but you want to explore most of the major attractions of Istanbul, our best day trips from Istanbul are tailor-made for you.

Hagia Sophia: It is open every day except Monday, from 9 AM to 4 PM and the entrance fee is 40 Turkish Lira. They do not accept any other currency but the credit card is okay. The present building is mostly original and in extremely good condition. At the inside of the building, it is possible to see some Christian icons, Islamic additions made by the Ottomans.

Blue Mosque: Our day trips from Istanbul will take you to Blue Mosque. Once you get in, you will be amazed with the Iznik tiles in different colors but mostly blue. We have 21046 pieces of them. In Turkish tiles, you will see some certain things such as tulips, roses, plum trees, and some other flowers, mostly floral designs. Tulip represents God''Allah'', Rose represents ''Mohammad'' the prophet of Islam, and the other flowers and trees represent Heaven.

Topkapi Palace: One of the most popular attractions and most visited museum in Turkey is Topkapi Palace. This is one of the destinations that our day trips from Istanbul will take you to. Sultan Mehmed II built it in 1478 as the seat of government and the original name is Saray-I Cedid that means the New Palace.

Feel free to contact us at Turkey Tours By Local Guides dialing +90-538-4397811 when you desire to have such day trips in Istanbul.

Taking Private Excursions from Istanbul

Istanbul is simply amazing. It’s one of the most awe-inspiring Turkish cities around the world. Standing out as the home to breathtaking architecture, delicious food and some of the warmest, most genuinely hospitable people, it’s a city that you would love to visit again and again.

 

Istanbul is steeped in culture and history; so there is much to see and do. From the Byzantine churches adorned with frescoes and mosaics to the magnificent mosques decorated by beautiful sky high minarets, the city will mesmerize you at every turn.

Riding a hot air balloon in Cappadocia 

Cappadocia located in Central Anatolia is well-known for its exceptional moon-like landscape dotted with strange rock formations well-known as fairy chimneys. It’s a spectacular sight to behold from the ground, but even more beautiful when seen from a hot air balloon.

Cappadocia is a favorite destination in Turkey; so it’s well worth spending a few days there. Don’t forget to book a Cappadocia hot air balloon ride beforehand.

Exploring the ancient city of Ephesus 

Ephesus is one of the most visited sightseeing attractions in Turkey. Built in the 10^th Century BC, this ancient city was a major seaport which was once the focal point of commerce and trade in the ancient world as well as being a paradise for early Christianity. You might have visited several ruins throughout Turkey; but Ephesus is the biggest and the most impressive one to appeal you.

Walking on the calcium travertines of Pamukkale 

One of the things most loved about Turkey is the diversity of its landscape. The moonscape of Cappadocia is the most beautiful sight to behold and also the calcium travertines of Pamukkale. The ancient spa city is famed for its white terraces made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by water from the seventeen naturally occurring hot springs throughout the area.

What makes this place more interesting is that the travertines are not the only attraction. Enjoy walking to the top of the plateau to discover the ruins of Hierapolis then swim in the mineral rich waters of Cleopatra’s Pool. When you go to the bottom of the spectacular tree-lined pool, you will find Roman marble columns that date back to 2^nd century BC.

Visit Sultanahmet’s Sightseeing Attractions 

Sultanahmet is the home to the most important sightseeing attractions like Ayasofya, Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cistern, the Blue Mosque, Meydani Ibrahim Pasa Palace, and Istanbul Archaeology Museums. No first visit to Istanbul is complete without exploring all these sightings.

Shop like a sultan at the Grand and Egyptian Spice Bazaars 

The Grand and Egyptian Spice Bazaars are the most popular bazaars in Istanbul. One of the oldest and largest covered markers around the world with over 3000 shops, you can buy all sorts of things at the Grand Bazaar like leather goods, carpets, ceramics, furniture, clothing, jewelry and souvenirs.

Considerably smaller than the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar is the home around a hundred shops which sell dried fruits, nuts, spices, tea, and other goodies. Enjoy walking to Istanbul’s bazaars and Rustem Pasha Mosque – a small but beautiful mosque located near the Spice Bazaar.

Final consideration –

 

Are you excited to take excursions from Istanbul? Book private Istanbul tour through Turkey Tours by Local Guides and make the most out of your Istanbul getaway. For immediate help, please visit the website at https://www.constantinopleguide.com/private-istanbul-tour.php.

Excursions from Istanbul: Enjoying a Remarkable Vacation

Are you a travel enthusiast and you want to explore a remarkable place for your next vacation? Istanbul is one of the best cities on this planet you should consider visiting. Interestingly, the economic atmosphere currently supports tourism. Therefore, you can use that opportunity to enjoy excursions from Istanbul. Moreover, you can take your family along to see what Istanbul has to offer to her visitors. For every minute of your traveling experience, you rest assured of getting the best services from professional tour guides.

There are many benefits that come with visiting Istanbul as travel enthusiasts, during your vacation. Here is a look at some of the benefits.

1.    Visiting Turkish baths

Perhaps you have heard many stories about Turkish baths. You can get a chance to experience one of the best skin treatments by visiting Istanbul. There are several bath spots in which professionals tour guides can lead you to in order to cool off. Within weeks of stay in Istanbul, you will experience a quick skin transformation. The reason is that these baths treat you with the best natural cosmetics, exfoliating dead skin cells. Therefore, you can expect to have a new look after having spent a long vacation in Istanbul.

2.    Tasting the local food

If you want to derive pleasing taste from locally made food, excursions from Istanbul can provide platforms for such. For tourists, you can spot local restaurants around the city in which local food are on display. The interesting part is that you can become attractive to the local food, after you first tasting experience. Sometimes, the appearance of this local food may belle the taste. Therefore, excursions from Istanbul can make you see thing differently by tasting the local food of the people. After your experience, you will begin to appreciate local food cultures. This way, you will not embrace judging local food by appearance.

3.    Sight-seeing ancient relics

Istanbul is one of the cities in Turkey that is rich in history. There are exhibition centers in which you can witness the remarkable side of the people’s culture. With a professional tour guide, you can be sent into an imaginative world, previewing the ancient activities of the people. You experience can become pleasurable when you tour around Istanbul, sight-seeing ancients relics at a museum or exhibition centers.

Are you due for your next vacation? If you haven’t tried out visiting a place like Istanbul, you should try paying a visit as soon as possible. The reason is that there are a whole lot of things you can experience as a tourist in Istanbul. Your first travel for excursions from Istanbul will allow you to become addicted to making frequent visits for all vacations.
Read more what's the Reasons to Visit Istanbul

10 Interesting Facts about Cappadocia You Should Know

Are you planning to visit Cappadocia? Want to book Cappadocia tours from Istanbul? Please check out all the details about Cappadocia before moving ahead:

Introducing Cappadocia –

The otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia are famous for their exceptional rock formations and incredible hot air ballooning opportunities. It’s one of the most popular natural wonders throughout Turkey. The unusual honeycombed boulders emerge from the Central Anatolia plateau, are served as the spectacular backdrop for fascination and history.

Here are few interesting facts you should know before taking Cappadocia tours from Istanbul:

1. The landscapes of Cappadocia were formed by volcanic erosion. The thick ash solidified into a soft rock known as tuff. Over the time the soft rocks eroded with water and wind have created the iconic fairy chimneys you see today.

2. Cappadocia spans a distance of 5,000 kilometres. It sits on an altitude of over 1,000 metres, cutting through the Anatolian provinces like Nevsehir, Nigde, and Keyseri.

3. Around three to four million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions shook the Central Anatolian area, forming what you know as the Cappadocia fairies or “Cotton Castles”.

4. There are extensive numbers of underground cities in Cappadocia; some are connected by a great network of tunnels. These subterranean settlements were made possible for the pliability of the soft rocks. Many of them remain open to visitors while a lot of the lands in the area are the private properties.

5. The name “Cappadocia” is derived from the Persian word – Katpaktukya that means “the land of beautiful horses”. In the ancient times, the region was known for its equine offering. Horses are still important reasons for the locals who call Cappadocia their home. They offer an alternative mode of transportation for visitors.

6. The Goreme village serves as the main tourist centre in the region and is one of the few settlements in Cappadocia still inhabited today. Earlier, Christians gave Goreme its name which means “you can’t see here” as they hid in the area during the Arab invasion.

7. Music concerts are hosted in the surrounding cave buildings throughout Cappadocia, including the week-long Cappadocia Music Festival showcasing orchestras and choirs.

8. There are 600 churches carved from the soft Cappadocian rock and many more that have not yet been discovered. They date back to Medieval times and display striking painted frescoes that have retained an incredible amount of color and detail over the centuries.

9. The Goreme Open Air Museum encompasses the well-known religious complexes throughout the area. Alongside the other rock sites of Cappadocia, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

10. Cappadocia is a large grape producer. It’s believed that wine making has a long history here. There are huge numbers of wine tasting shops where visitors can sample the gods and wines from the region have awarded by international awards in the recent years.

Booking Cappadocia Tours from Istanbul –

It’s time to book Cappadocia tours from Istanbul through Turkey Tours by Local Guides and enjoy the most out of Cappadocian delights. There’s no way we can explain completely that how beautiful Cappadocia is. You should come and see yourself. Please check out our Cappadocia tours from Istanbul at http://www.constantinopleguide.com/.

4 Amazing Things to Enjoy At Cappadocia

Some region in the world is full of beautiful yet amazing facts those are stilling unbelievable. Beating the science, people in several centuries back had created a different type of monuments those are still very hard to believe. Cappadocia is one of them that still stand as a wonderland. Having a bright signature in history, it is still showing its majestic architecture. According to historians, it was being feasible by humans approximately ten thousands of years ago. From that time, it was being ruled by different rulers those have still some influence in this region. After the end of the royal rule, it has become the main attractive point of modern Turkey and now attracting millions of tourists around the world.

Here are several musts to do things while you are in Cappadocia

1. Goreme

If you want to have the most beautiful village in the world, come to Goreme! This is one of the most popular villages and has voted as the most beautiful villages in the world. Here you will experience the amazing ancient architecture and all this thing will keep you speechless. Its stone houses are something those looks like cave rooms and almost half of them are buried in the mountain. This is one of the classic places where you can enjoy the hot-air balloon tours. If you are new for the hot-air balloon, come early morning and look towards the sky, you will experience hundreds of hot-air balloons are floating in the open sky. Apart from them, Evil Eye Church and Hidden Church those have a significant role in history; you can pay a visit to these places within short period of time. 

2. Goreme Open-Air Museum

The most amazing part of your Cappadocia tours from Istanbul will start while you are encountered with Goreme open-air museum. This is the major place where you will experience the most amazing monastery of rock-cut churches. All these churches have specially designed monk-cells those are holding fantastic paintings. According to historians, this complex had built approximately between ten to twelve centuries. On that time, Cappadocia was known as the vital religious center. You can see hundreds of churches and chapels in this compound but Apple Church is the most important Church to visit. Apart from them, there is Chapel of St. Barbara and Snake Church also famous for their amazing ancient painting.  All these churches are the treasure of ancient civilization and they do add more worth to Cappadocia.

3. Derinkuyu Underground City

Cappadocia is full of extraordinary things which are almost impossible to find in other places in the world. Derinkuyu Underground City is known as the deepest underground shelter in Cappadocia and these shelters were used by Christians missionaries in order to keep themselves safe from lethal attack by the native people. The tunnels are going deeper and in some places there getting down to very deep into the ground which is astonishing to imagine. Here you will experience the jaw-dropping technique they had used at that time in order to keep outsiders away. On those chambers, they were creating ingenious ventilation shaft system to ensure, gentle flow of outside air. These type of underground cities are almost impossible to be seen in other places in the world.

4. Soganli

Soganli is studded with rock pinnacles those are mainly built by Romanian. While there was Byzantines were ruling this region, Soganli became top of the popularity and it had bloomed as the major monastic center. All these rock pinnacles were the home of chapels and monk cells. Here you will experience the amazing view of Black hat Church, Hidden Church,and Snake Church. Accumulating all these things, your tour to Cappadocia will be load with fun and you will surely experience the refresh which was the main reason to come here.

5 Incredible Things to Experience on Cappadocia Tours

The graceful yet picturesque landscape of Cappadocia in Turkey is the beautiful result of volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. The end result is magical and utterly captivating environment of striking rock formations, labyrinth underground cities, rose-coloured ravines, ancient cave dwellings, and castles perched above rocky outcrops.

 

There are certain things you shouldn’t miss out in Cappadocia. Here are some of them discussed below:

1. The Glittering Dawn –

When you’re in Cappadocia, especially in Goreme, getting up early is compulsory and you’ll feel happy to do it. The sparkling dawn in the National Park of Goreme appeals thousands of visitors that gather together to watch this impressive scene.

The protagonist is the color, when the sun rises, it paints the sky with greyish pink, and blue hues. Taking a hot-air balloon ride can help you unveil the winding landscape of Cappadocia.

2. The Lunar Landscapes –

Cappadocia seems the perfect place to land on the moon. The rocky formations scatter over cliffs and valleys of incredible shapes and colors. A great example of it is Gullu Dere Valley – well-known as the Pink Valley because of the color scheme of the rocks that form it.

3. The Cities Enclosed by Rocks

Nature is a good mother and Cappadocia confirms this fact. From the above, you’ll see the cities like Goreme and Urgup where rocky formations combined with modern buildings creating a unique surrounding.

When you get back on the ground, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to spend a night in one of the cave houses that have been made into hotels.

4. The Magnificence of the Fortresses –

Uchisar is located on the highest point of the entire region and has a beautiful fortress from where you can look at the horizon. The fortress is a whole labyrinth of alleys and halls dug into the rock.

From the hot air balloon, you will see a fantastic panoramic view of a city with full of history and culture surrounded by a striking landscape that is second to none.

5. The Snowy Season –

Most of the travelers opt for summer to visit Cappadocia as it’s the best season to do so. However, balloon rides can be chosen almost all year round with perfect wind conditions.

But visiting Cappadocia in the winter has some benefits like lower prices and fewer visitors.  Flying over snowy Cappadocia is one of the must-have experiences you shouldn’t miss out.

If you’ll see the road that leaves Goreme towards the north, you’ll see a beautiful valley with full of vineyards and pasture fields – which offers stunning scenery covered with snow and full of charm.

Conclusion –

Planning for your next getaway to Cappadocia? Take Cappadocia tours from Istanbul through Turkey Tours by Local Guides and make the most out of your vacation. Please check out the available packages for your Cappadocia tour to make a perfect selection for your travel needs. Please feel free to stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ social networks!

Explore the Fun Side of Istanbul

Indeed, Istanbul is filled with cultural and historical sites like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and much more but there are other fun things to do as well! One needs to try out everything that the beautiful Istanbul offers! Let’s find out what Istanbul has beyond the cultural heritages!

• Basilica Cistern:

An underground cistern locally known as Yerebatan Sarayi (Sunken Palace) also as Yerebatan Sarnici (Sunken Cistern) was once the main water reservoir of Constantinople built in the sixth century. It is filled with centuries old columns. The ambience inside is dimmed orange shades where you need to walk over the wooden planks to get around. You can see Koi fish swimming in the standing water, and there are two mysterious statues with the head of Medusa and you can also hear the drips echoing creating a scary movie atmosphere. Isn’t it a mysteriously fun place to make a visit!

• Real Hammam:

Taking a bath in any of the real hammams (Turkish Baths) in Istanbul is a must! As the ones at the hotels are made for westerners that are not a real deal! Real hammams are a part of the Turkish tradition since thousands of years and served as a place to cleanse as well as to socialize. Most hammams are separated gender wise. Traditionally, the Turkish baths followed a three step process i.e. a sauna and steam followed with a full body wash and finished off with a massage. Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam, Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamami, Cemberlitas Hamami are few of the currently used hammams.

Other fun activities include exploring the Asian side, taking a ferry passing Topkapi Palace, the Bosphorus Bridge, other castles and palaces, and more.

Conclusion:

Istanbul is a place full of cultural as well as fun activities but to enjoy and explore the city to the fullest hiring a knowledgeable and reliable Istanbul tour guide is mandatory who can make you acquainted with the culture and tradition of the place really well and hence making your trip an exciting one. Turkey Tours by Local Guides aim to provide you the best touring experience in Istanbul. Please feel free to stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ social networks!