Unpack the exquisite layers of history, architecture and culture that combine to create Modern Istanbul: from its days as Constantinople, as Ottoman Turkey, as Sinan's Istanbul and more. 7 days/6 nights in world-class 5-star gay friendly accommodations.

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. Istanbul is a transcontinental city in Eurasia, straddling the Bosphorus strait between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its commercial and historical centre lies on the European side and about a third of its population lives on the Asian side of Eurasia. With a population of 14.4 million, the city forms the largest European urban agglomeration as well as the largest in the Middle East, and the fifth-largest city proper in the world.

A Week In Istanbul Gay Tour Itinerary

Day 0 - Saturday, April 16, 2016
Depart the USA, Canada
Depart the USA on any regularly scheduled flight to Istanbul, Turkey.

Day 1 - Sunday, April 17, 2016
Arrive Istanbul, Turkey
Welcome to Istanbul! You will be met by our staff and transferred to the The Celine Hotel for check in – a beautifully renovated `18th Century mansion on a tranquil, Old Istanbul street, just steps away from major attractions such as the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace. Located in Istanbul's historic district, this grand hotel is noted for its courteous and friendly staff, 24-hour concierge services, air-conditioned rooms with mini-bars, a bar/lounge, a coffee shop/café, and free WiFi in public areas. Nestled among fine shops and restaurants, "The Celine" offers luxurious accommodations with traditional Turkish hospitality.

Take time to rest from your flight, then, if you wish, explore the surroundings of the hotel. This evening we will depart for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals: Welcome Dinner
Hotel: Celine Hotel, Istanbul, 5*
Room: Standard Room

Day 2 - Monday, April 18, 2016
Istanbul - First Touch With The Capital Of Two Empires
After breakfast at the hotel, we will enjoy an introductory lecture on the history of Istanbul, before setting out to discover its many wonderful sites. We begin the day with a private cruise on the Bosphorus, the 32 km (20-mile)-long north-south strait that joins the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea, and separates the continents of Europe and Asia. After a leisurely tour sailing the Bosphorous, disembark in Sariyer, noted for its many large and luxurious 18th and 19th Century villas, its beautiful coastline and the lush forests beyond.

Lunch will be served at a local fish restaurant.

Visit the Sadberk Hanim Museum, a private museum combining two separate buildings of quaint 19th Century wooden villas. One of the most interesting mansions/museums in Sariyer, it contains a rare collection of objects – expressly costumes and artifacts reflecting Turkish lifestyles of past centuries. Next we drive to The Old Peninsula, where you will see many historical gems, mostly consisting of Byzantine and Ottoman monuments, and view what is now the new business section of Istanbul.

Return to hotel. Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Celine Hotel, Istanbul, 5*
Room: Standard Room

Day 3 - Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Byzantium To Constantinople
After breakfast, we begin our tour of historically rich Istanbul. The "Byzantine Era" was born with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th Century AD, then prospered for an additional 1,000 years. The now re-named capital ("Bysantium" to "Constantinople") became the most important and richest city in Europe/Asia, and was noted for its great art and architecture. Noteworthy attractions are: The Hippodrome, a circus/sporting arena used expressly for chariot racing, the 6th-century Haghia Sofia ("Holy Wisdom") – with its stunning arches, domes and inlaid tiles, and The Basilica Cistern built in 532AD, one of the largest of many colonnaded cisterns lying beneath Istanbul.

Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

The Theodosian Walls – an excellent example of military might artfully combined with Byzantine architecture – were erected around Constantinople to further protect the city from foreign invasion; due to their enormity, they were breached only twice in 1600 years. Intact portions of the walls can be seen today when combined with a visit to Chora Church ("Church of the Country" – originally located outside the city walls), considered to be one of the most beautiful surviving examples of Byzantine frescoes and mosaics, with most dating from 1312AD. The Palace of the Porphyrogenitus ("Palace of the Sovereign"), dating from the late 13th Century, is one of the best preserved and intact examples of late Byzantine secular architecture in the world.

The dinner is on your own to choose among many fine restaurants in the city. We will be on hand to make recommendations.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Celine Hotel, Istanbul, 5*
Room: Standard Room

Day 4 - Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Ottoman Konstantiniye
After breakfast in the hotel, a guest lecturer will give a talk on the Ottoman Empire and the Topkapi Palace. From its sight on a high promontory, with commanding views of the countryside, the city and The Golden Horn, Topkapi Palace, commissioned in 1459 by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople, is one of the most exotic splendors of Old and New Istanbul. This palace complex was the official seat of power and royal residence of Turkey's sultans for over 400 years – known as "…the best example of palaces of the Ottoman period", it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Adjoining the palace, the Archaeological Museum, erected in 1891, is home to an outstanding collection of ancient art and artifacts, Hellenistic and Roman sculpture, and sarcophagi.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

The site of Dolmabahçe Palace was originally a bay on the Bosphorus, yet the area was reclaimed in the 18th century to construct an imperial garden and palace. Ordered by Sultan Abdülmecid I, and built between the years 1843 and 1856, it has 285 rooms, most extensively decorated with gold and crystal, making it one of the most truly opulent and majestic palaces of The Ottoman Empire Continuing, we will travel across The First Bridge (one of two major suspension bridges) spanning the Bosphorous, linking both European and Asian Istanbul, ultimately arriving at Uskudar (one of Istanbul's oldest-established residential areas), with its old historic center (merkez), centered on the ferry docks. After visiting the lively markets, shops and tea-houses lining its cobblestone streets, walk Üsküdar's long promenade, dotted with cafes and restaurants.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Celine Hotel, Istanbul, 5*
Room: Standard Room

Day 5 - Thursday, April 21, 2016
Sinan's Istanbul
After breakfast we will see the wonders of Mimar Sinan's Istanbul. Mimar Sinan ("…the greatest architect of classical Ottoman architecture."), is best known for his design and execution (1550-1558) of The Suleymaniye Mosque, one of the largest and best known sights in Istanbul, and, on a smaller scale, The Sehzade Mosque (the "Prince's Mosque"), commissioned in the 16th-century by Suelyman the Magnificent as a memorial to his son. Both are excellent examples of the inlaid "Iznik" tile work, bas- reliefs, arched domes and vaulted interiors. The Mihrimah ("The Sun and the Moon") Mosque, built for Suelyman's beautiful daughter, Princess Mihrimah, purported to be secretly loved by Sinan, is the site of one of his most famous domes, with more stained glass windows installed than any architect had ever dared use before – combined with immense arches, inlaid tiles, and flowing calligraphy, it is one of the most impressive of his designs.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Viewing the next mosque, see how Sinan, In opting not for size and grandeur, yet rather exquisite artistic refinement, masterfully achieves his goal in the small, beautifully proportioned, Rustem Pasha Mosque, with its large quantities of faience (colored tiles), set in a wide variety of floral and geometric designs. Next we visit The Spice Market, constructed in the 1660's at the last stop for camel caravans traveling the Silk Routes from China, India and Persia. Today it is one of Istanbul's most famous covered shopping complexes selling spices to aromatic coffees and, of course, "lokum" (Turkish delight). The largest shopping area of Istanbul is the Kapali Çarsi ("Covered Market" – The Grand Bazaar) erected (1455-1461) to consolidate all the varied merchants into one designated area of the city. Housing in excess of 4,000 shops, this emporium delights with exotic, hand-made Turkish gifts and souvenirs.

We now check into our hotel in the vibrant Beyoglu District, The Pera Palace Hotel Jumeriah. Opened in 1892, this elegantly designed hotel has drawn visitors to Istanbul from all over the world. As the original embarkation point of "The Orient Express rail", it has had such impressive guests as Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock, to mention only a few. Overlooking the magnificent Golden Horn and the historical old city, within walking distance to the Bosphorus, Galata Tower and the famous shopping street of Istiklal, The Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah boasts the best location in Istanbul. Today, the well-appointed rooms and suites retain the classic characteristics of the 19th century, offering air-conditioning throughout, a full-service spa/health club, indoor pool, bar/lounge, café and restaurant – it is, indeed, "…an Istanbul gem dripping with history and elegance."

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah, Istanbul, 5*
Room: Standard Room

Day 6 - Friday, April 22, 2016
Modern Istanbul
Today, after breakfast in the hotel, we will discover Pera, a residential/business area and home to many historic and cultural sights. There are beautiful old houses and building, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, a colorful atmosphere and a vibrant night life, all taking place on the pedestrian mall of Istikal Caddesi ("Independence Avenue"), Galatasky Square, and The Cicek Passage ("Flower Passage" ) in the neighborhood of "Bohemian" Beyoglu. End our visit at Taksim Square, considered the heart of modern Istanbul. We will then take Istanbul's "Tunel" (the world's second-oldest subway line after London's Underground) to Nisantasi, famed for its trendy shops and stores, cafes and restaurants frequented by the city's "trendy" set.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Return to the hotel with afternoon free. This evening we gather for a Farewell Dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner
Hotel: Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah, Istanbul, 5*
Room: Standard Room

Day 7 - Saturday, April 23, 2016
Istanbul To Home, or Ankara
Breakfast in the hotel, transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight home, or Ankara to joinn our Treasures Of Southeast Turkey Gay Tour.

Meals: Breakfast

Extend your Turkey Vacation!
Enjoy our post-trip - Treasures Of Southeast Turkey Gay Tour, April 23 - May 4, 2016