Touristanbul is giving passengers who transiting through İstanbul with a waiting time of at least 6 hours, an opportunity to discover the city of Istanbul in a new way.

After you arrive at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, you will be picked up by Touristanbul. Then you will be taken to the historical places and beautiful restaurants. You will enjoy İstanbul’s historical and natural beauties rather than wasting your time waiting at the airport.

During the tour, you will be able to see the most significant historical sights of a city that has hosted major civilizations of the world. After a marvelous tour, you will be taken back to the Istanbul Atatürk Airport for your connecting flight.

If the waiting time between your connecting flights in Istanbul allows, you shouldn’t miss this experience. The following historical places are available to be explored:

Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul, Turkey.

One of the magnificent historical monuments of İstanbul, The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city.

The cistern is located near South West of the Hagia Sophia. It was founded in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. The cistern began to be called by the public ‘the Sinking Palace’.

Blue Mosque

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, is the most important historical sights of Istanbul. For the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior, it is called Blue Mosque.

The mosque is considered to be the last example of Ottoman classical architecture. It is a masterwork of Sedefkar Mehmet Aga, apprentice under Mimar Sinan.

The Hippodrome of Constantinople

The Hippodrome of Constantinople was built as a horse-racing track in about 200 AD.by the Romans.

It was originally used for chariot racing and other public events, and the stadium surrounding the track held over 100,000 people. The Hippodrome was the center of life in Byzantine Constantinople for over 1,000 years and of Ottoman life in Istanbul for over 400 years.

There are spectacular monuments set on this area representing the glamour of the Hippodrome such as The Serpent Column, The Obelisk of Thutmose III, The Walled Obelisk, The Statues of Porphyrios and the Spina.

The Topkapı Palace

The Topkapı Palace constructed by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the Conqueror in 1478, was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years,from 1465 to 1856. The palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. It is containing the most holy relics of the Muslim world such as the prophet Muhammed's cloak and sword.

Topkapı Palace became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, as "the best example of ensembles of palaces of the Ottoman period.

Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. It has İstanbul's most attractive sites with more than 58 covered streets and over 1,200 shops. The Grand Bazaar is famous for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. [BR/] The bazaar is grouped by the type of goods, with special areas for leather coats, copper stills, prayer beads, silver and gold jewelry.

Hagia Sophia Museum

Hagia Sophia ''Holy Wisdom" is considered as one of the eight wonders of the world and is former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, now a museum.

Well known in particular for its gigantic dome, it is considered a symbol of Byzantine architecture and to have "an evolution in the history of architecture." It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years and beceause its dimensions people believed that supernature powers helped to construction.

Eyüp Square

Eyüp Square, is the holiest site in Istanbul as well as one of the most sacred places in the Islamic world, the Eyüp Sultan Mosque was erected by Mehmet the Conqueror over the tomb of Halid bin Zeyd Ebu Eyyûb (known as Eyüp Sultan), the standard-bearer for the Prophet Mohammed as well as the last survivor of his inner circle of trusted companions.

Eyüp is a popular spot animated by the small bazaar nearby, parcs and fountains.

Galata Tower

The Galata Tower is a medieval stone tower in the Galata just to the north of the Golden Horn. Built in 1348 as the "Christea Turris" (Tower of Christ) by Genoese colonists at the highest point of the citadel of Galata - which was then a Genoese colony independent from Constantinople.

According to the Seyahatname of Ottoman historian and traveller Evliya Çelebi, In 1638 Hezarfen Ahmed Celebi glided on artificial wings from the top of the tower to the slopes of Chrysopolis on the Asian side - becoming one of the first men in history to fly.

Istiklal Avenue

İstiklal Avenue, is one of the most famous avenues in Istanbul, visited by nearly 3 million people in a single day.

Located in the historic Beyoğlu district, it is an gallant pedestrian street, approximately three kilometers long, that houses tens of boutiques, music stores, bookstores, coffehouses, cinemas, theaters, art galleries, libraries, pubs, night clubs with live music, historical patisseries, chocolateries and restaurants all are integrated into the elegant 19th century Turkish architecture.

Dolmabahce Palace

The Dolmabahçe Palace built in 19 th century is one of the most glamorous palaces of the world. It is located at the European side of the Bosphorus, served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922.

The Dolmabahçe Palace, a blend of various European architectural styles, was built between 1843-1856 by Karabet Balyan, the court architect of Sultan Abdulmecid, at a cost of five million Ottoman gold pounds, the equivalent of 35 tonnes of gold. Fourteen tonnes of gold in the form of gold leaf.

Ortaköy Seaside

Located at the seaside, Ortaköy is an attractive spot for tourists with its art galleries, night clubs, cafés, bars, and restaurants. In the history, Ortaköy has an important place in both the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. It is a cosmopolitan quarter populated by different religious societies such as Muslims, Jews, Greeks and Armenians.

From Ortaköy, you can contemplate the Bosphorus Bridge and the waters of the Bosphorus, in the same time.

Pierre Loti Caffee House

At the top of Eyup Sultan Cemetery you can find one of the best places to look at the famous Golden Horn of Istanbul.

Whether you are searching for someplace to get a little sustenance for your own explorations of where the night will lead or you are hoping to regale others with your stories of worldly adventures over a glass of wine and a bite as M. Loti was known to do, Pierre Loti provides the ideal backdrop to do so.

Miniaturk

Miniatürk is a miniature park situated at the north-eastern shore of Golden Horn in Istanbul.

The park contains 105 models done in 1/25th scale. 45 of the structures are from Istanbul, 45 are from Anatolia, and 15 are from the Ottoman territories that today lie outside of Turkey. Also featured are historic structures like the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus (now Bodrum).

To enjoy these sites and more during your layover, please visit http://www.istanbulinhours.com/how-to-apply