Breakfast in Europe & Lunch in Asia

Today we recommend light breakfast, since this tour includes some sampling of Turkish specials, topped by a lunch in an extremely good indigenous Turkish restaurant in Asian Istanbul. We will begin our day with a stroll on New towns historical Istiklal Street. Our half hour experience will introduce the highlights of the street, with local fish and vegetable street market, famous pastry & Turkish bagel (Simit) shops, borek( Turkish flaky pasty ) places.

We will continue by exploring Spice Market and its environs. Some rare or famous Turkish specials will be available: classical Turkish delight with roasted pistachio, mastic Turkish delight, apple tea will be among our early morning experiences. Various Ottoman paste and fig & nut combinations bare a sign on the stands reading Turkish Viagra. All sorts of spices including Saffron is also available; there will be a session of smelling: Turkish rose oil is exported to France for the famous perfumes.. You will also see a number of special ingredients to Turkish meals like pepper paste, dried Eggplant-tomato-pepper skin, and at lunch time you will experience the cooked version of these ingredients. After Spice Market we will proceed to the Archaeological Museum. The museum is rather famous for its Sarcophagus collection; and our highlights tour is limited to 1.5 hour. Then we will cross to Asia for lunch: Lunch is at a relatively famous restaurant catering mainly the residents of Asia district of Istanbul; the restaurant is highly regarded by the members of Turkish media who dine here in their articles; yet it is not discovered by tour groups; so you would be the only foreign visitors there. The restaurant cooks homemade vegetable dishes daily; (30 to 40 cold served starters and 15 warm courses to choose from; but each is cooked to the exact high quality taste requirements of the Turks dining here) and these are displayed at warm and cold sections accordingly; and before giving your order a presentation on the selections will also be possible. After lunch we are scheduled to be on time for a half hour concert of Mehter Band - Ottoman Military Band with their 50 performers in their Original Ottoman costumes with native Ottoman instruments at 3 oclock; the band influenced composers like Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, or Mozart: The music called A la Turca originates from their music. The concert is in the Military Museum of the New Town, which houses superb collection of Ottoman arms, flags, banners, helmets, models and miniatures; after the concert before heading back to hotel, brief stop to see the artefacts will also be available.

Things To Know

Archeology Museum is closed on Mondays

Military Museum is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays – Band performs in alternative spot

Closed museums will be replaced with a substitute