Turkey
Signature City Istanbul
Program No. 18720RJ
From Byzantine art to ancient Greek architecture, from medieval knights to Ottoman sultans, discover the many wonders of Istanbul as you explore 17 centuries of history with scholars.
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DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Apr 19 - Apr 26, 2025
Starting at
3,549Filling Fast!
Oct 25 - Nov 1, 2025
Starting at
3,549DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Apr 19 - Apr 26, 2025
Starting at
4,599May 3 - May 10, 2025
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4,269Filling Fast!
Oct 25 - Nov 1, 2025
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8 days
7 nights
15 meals
6B 5L 4D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
5
Topkapi & Dolmabahce Palaces
Istanbul
At a Glance
Istanbul is the only place on earth where you can experience two continents, 17 centuries and the customs of dozens of ethnic groups within the confines of a single city. Discover the magical and legendary in Istanbul through presentations on Byzantine history and art, Ottoman architecture and the evolution of the bazaars, along with visits to its great monuments: Hagia Sophia — the grand former cathedral of the Byzantine Empire — the Roman Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace, seat of the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years. Further immerse yourself in history and cultural grandeur as you spend six nights at the elegant Pera Palace Hotel, an accommodation for passengers on the Orient Express and iconic figures such as Agatha Christie, Queen Elizabeth and Ernest Hemingway.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to four hours on crowded city streets and bazaars. Stairs in some buildings and on motorcoaches.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Visit and learn about the world-famous Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque.
- Enjoy a private study cruise on the Bosphorus and marvel at the waterfront palaces, mansions and fortresses.
- Experience the grand property of the Pera Palace Hotel, whose history goes back to the reigns of the Ottoman sultans.
General Notes
Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Zeynep Kuban
Dr. Zeynep Kuban is an assistant professor of architecture at Istanbul Technical University, one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey. Her special area of interest is architectural history. Dr. Kuban’s lectures to Road Scholar participants share her wonderful insights on the creation of one of the world’s most architecturally fascinating cities from early Roman times to the 21st century.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Zeynep Kuban
View biography
Dr. Zeynep Kuban is an assistant professor of architecture at Istanbul Technical University, one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey. Her special area of interest is architectural history. Dr. Kuban’s lectures to Road Scholar participants share her wonderful insights on the creation of one of the world’s most architecturally fascinating cities from early Roman times to the 21st century.
Vehbi Baysan
View biography
Vehbi Baysan earned a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Manchester — Institute of Science and Technology in 2004. An instructor at Koc University from 2004-06, he is now director of the international office and a lecturer at Yeditepe University. Dr. Baysan has been teaching courses on contemporary Middle East and late-Ottoman history.
Aysegul Vaizoglu
View biography
Born in Istanbul, Aysegul Vaizoglu left a successful career in the export business to pursue her interests in travel, archaeology and her “urge” to work outdoors. With a proficiency in English and German, she began leading educational excursions for visitors around the world, and enjoys sharing the treasures of Turkey with others. Aysegul has degrees in business administration from Bosphorus University in Istanbul and Michigan State University. In her free time, she enjoys Cuban-style salsa dancing.
Mahir Ali Pasha
View biography
Mahir has been a certified group leader for over 25 years, and is also an English and tourism administration teacher at the university level. He has degrees in tourism management and teaching. He loves to walk, exercise and watch basketball; he coaches for his son's basketball team.
Kazim Uzunoglu
View biography
Kazim Uzunoglu started his travel career as a licensed national guide in Turkey in 1987. He studied economics at the University of Virginia but decided to stick to the travel business. After many years of leading educational programs around Turkey, he switched to the organizational side of the operation in 2004 and started running Baltac Tourism and Travel, the program provider for Road Scholar in Turkey. His hobbies include riding motorcycles around the world, vintage cars and motorcycles, photography, and rock and roll music.
Suggested Reading List
(12 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Signature City Istanbul
Program Number: 18720
Tales from the Expat Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey
As the Western world struggles to comprehend the paradoxes of modern Turkey, Tales from the Expat Harem reveals its most personal nuances. This illuminating anthology provides a window into the country from the perspective of thirty-two expatriates from seven different nations—artists, entrepreneurs, Peace Corps volunteers, archaeologists, missionaries, and others—who established lives in Turkey for work, love, or adventure. Through narrative essays covering the last four decades, these diverse women unveil the mystique of the “Orient,” describe religious conflict, embrace cultural discovery, and maneuver familial traditions, customs, and responsibilities. Poignant, humorous, and transcendent, the essays take readers to weddings and workplaces, down cobbled Byzantine streets, into boisterous bazaars along the Silk Road, and deep into the feminine stronghold of steamy Ottoman bathhouses. The outcome is a stunning collection of voices from women suspended between two homes as they redefine their identities and reshape their world views.
The Bastard of Istanbul
In her second novel written in English (The Saint of Incipient Insanities was the first), Turkish novelist Shafak tackles Turkish national identity and the Armenian "question" in her signature style. In a novel that overflows with a kitchen sink's worth of zany characters, women are front and center: Asya Kazanci, an angst-ridden 19-year-old Istanbulite is the bastard of the title; her beautiful, rebellious mother, Zeliha (who intended to have an abortion), has raised Asya among three generations of complicated and colorful female relations (including religious clairvoyant Auntie Banu and bar-brawl widow, Auntie Cevriye). The Kazanci men either die young or take a permanent hike like Mustafa, Zeliha's beloved brother who immigrated to America years ago. Mustafa's Armenian-American stepdaughter, Armanoush, who grew up on her family's stories of the 1915 genocide, shows up in Istanbul looking for her roots and for vindication from her new Turkish family. The Kazanci women lament Armanoush's family's suffering, but have no sense of Turkish responsibility for it; Asya's boho cohorts insist there was no genocide at all. As the debate escalates, Mustafa arrives in Istanbul, and a long-hidden secret connecting the histories of the two families is revealed. Shafak was charged with "public denigration of Turkishness" when the novel was published in Turkey earlier this year (the charges were later dropped). She incorporates a political taboo into an entertaining and insightful ensemble novel, one that posits the universality of family, culture and coincidence.
Constantinople; City of the World’s Desire, 1453-1924
Mansel is a noted historian and author of several works about the Sultans and the Ottoman World. This book focuses on the political and architectural history of the capital Constantinople (modern day Istanbul) and covers the span of the Ottoman empire. The book ends on November 17, 1922 when the last Sultan and a small party slipped out of Palace at 8 AM and scrambled aboard a British naval ship that hauled anchor for Malta at 8:43 AM. A fine work, lots of detail, very readable and helpful in sorting out the complexities of 600 years of Ottoman power.
Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds
A passionate love for the Turkish people and an optimism that its ruling class can complete Turkey's transformation into a Western-style democracy mark Kinzer's reflections on a country that sits geographically and culturally at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. Kinzer, the former New York Times Istanbul bureau chief, gives a concise introduction to Turkey: Kemal Ataterk's post-WWI establishment of the modern secular Turkish state; the odd makeup of contemporary society, in which the military enforces Ataterk's reforms. In stylized but substantive prose, he devotes chapters to the problems he sees plaguing Turkish society: Islamic fundamentalism, frictions regarding the large Kurdish minority and the lack of democratic freedoms. Kinzer's commonsense, if naeve, solution: the ruling military elite, which takes power when it feels Turkey is threatened, must follow the modernizing path of Ataterk whom Kinzer obviously admires a step further and increase human rights and press freedoms. Kinzer's journalistic eye serves him well as he goes beyond the political, vividly describing, for instance, the importance and allure of the narghile salon, where Turks smoke water pipes. Here, as elsewhere, Kinzer drops his journalist veneer and gets personal, explaining that he enjoys the salons in part "because the sensation of smoking a water pipe is so seductive and satisfying." Readers who want a one-volume guide to this fascinating country need look no further.
The Turkish Letters of Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq, Imperial Ambassador at Constantinople, 1554-1562
The Flemish nobleman wrote his Letters while on an ambassadorial mission to Istanbul between 1554 and 1562, making him a brilliant eye-witness of the Ottoman state at its height, under Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. Busbecq was a botanist, linguist, antiquarian, scholar and zoologist; he brought back lilac and the tulip.
A Short History Of Byzantium
No time to wade, albeit enjoyably, through his three volume Byzantium series? This recent edition is based on his Byzantium trilogy and is equally as intelligent and inspired. Norwich is, as always, ever entertaining and engaging about this subject. An efficient read without loss of style or spirit. If you can’t manage three volumes right now, this one is for you.
Istanbul: Memories and the City
Turkish novelist Pamuk (Snow) presents a breathtaking portrait of a city, an elegy for a dead civilization and a meditation on life's complicated intimacies. The author, born in 1952 into a rapidly fading bourgeois family in Istanbul, spins a masterful tale, moving from his fractured extended family, all living in a communal apartment building, out into the city and encompassing the entire Ottoman Empire. Pamuk sees the slow collapse of the once powerful empire hanging like a pall over the city and its citizens. Central to many Istanbul residents' character is the concept of hüzün (melancholy). Istanbul's hüzün, Pamuk writes, "is a way of looking at life that... is ultimately as life affirming as it is negating." His world apparently in permanent decline, Pamuk revels in the darkness and decay manifest around him. He minutely describes horrific accidents on the Bosphorus Strait and his own recurring fantasies of murder and mayhem. Throughout, Pamuk details the breakdown of his family: elders die, his parents fight and grow apart, and he must find his way in the world. This is a powerful, sometimes disturbing literary journey through the soul of a great city told by one of its great writers.
Istanbul (Poetry of Place)
Istanbul, capital of two great empires, confluence of Asia and Europe, has called forth poetry throughout her long history, from paupers and sultans, natives and visitors alike. When Mehmed the Conqueror first wandered through the ruins of the Byzantine palace, it was with the words of the Persian poet Ferdowsi on his lips: "The spider spins his web in the Palace of the Caesars/An owl hoots in the towers of Afrasiyab". Since then the silhouette of thousand-year-old domes and tapering minarets, the sunsets reflected nightly in a thousand palace windows and the bustle of her markets have inspired Sultan Suleyman, W B Yeats and Nazim Hikmet, amongst others, to salute one of the world's most remarkable cities.
Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities
From the Koran to Shakespeare, this city with three names--Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul--resonates as an idea and a place, real and imagined. Standing as the gateway between East and West, North and South, it has been the capital city of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. For much of its history it was the very center of the world, known simply as "The City," but, as Bettany Hughes reveals, Istanbul is not just a city, but a global story.
In this epic new biography, Hughes takes us on a dazzling historical journey from the Neolithic to the present, through the many incarnations of one of the world's greatest cities--exploring the ways that Istanbul's influence has spun out to shape the wider world. Hughes investigates what it takes to make a city and tells the story not just of emperors, viziers, caliphs, and sultans, but of the poor and the voiceless, of the women and men whose aspirations and dreams have continuously reinvented Istanbul.
Written with energy and animation, award-winning historian Bettany Hughes deftly guides readers through Istanbul's rich layers of history. Based on meticulous research and new archaeological evidence, this captivating portrait of the momentous life of Istanbul is visceral, immediate, and authoritative--narrative history at its finest.
Harem - The World Behind the Veil
The author left Turkey at age 18 for the US, returning 15 years later to visit her birthplace and family. Intrigued upon learning that her grandmother had lived in a harem, she interviewed aunts and other family members about their recollections. About that same time (mid 1970’s) the Harem of Topkapi Palace was opened to visitors. With thoughtful research and richly illustrated, Croutier pieces together a realistic description of daily life in the Sultan’s Harem. Her fascinating insights into customs, food and ceremony of the Palace through 450 hundred years, make this an enjoyable read. The addition of family photographs and an amusing chapter about Western misconceptions of the term “harem” sets this work apart from all other books of its kind.
Birds Without Wings
In his first novel since Corelli’s Mandolin, Louis de Bernières creates a world, populates it with characters as real as our best friends, and launches it into the maelstrom of twentieth-century history. The setting is a small village in southwestern Anatolia in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. Everyone there speaks Turkish, though they write it in Greek letters. It’s a place that has room for a professional blasphemer; where a brokenhearted aga finds solace in the arms of a Circassian courtesan who isn’t Circassian at all; where a beautiful Christian girl named Philothei is engaged to a Muslim boy named Ibrahim. But all of this will change when Turkey enters the modern world. Epic in sweep, intoxicating in its sensual detail, Birds Without Wings is an enchantment.
Istanbul: The Imperial City
Whether you call it Byzantium, Constantinople, or Istanbul, the “old Turkish hand” John Freely tells the story of each creation and decline up to today’s Istanbul under the Turkish Republic. Spirited and colorful, Freely gives his readers a lively account of the turmoil each incarnation brought. In addition to “page turning history”, Freely gives a complete listing of monuments & museums in the city - he has lived there for decades. This is the one to read on Istanbul if you have a short list of books and limited time to get into its history.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
8 days
Program Begins
Istanbul
Program Concludes
Istanbul
Meals
15
| 6B |
5L |
4D |
Activity Level
Istanbul is the only place on earth where you can experience two continents, 17 centuries and the customs of dozens of ethnic groups within the confines of a single city. Discover the magical and legendary in Istanbul through presentations on Byzantine history and art, Ottoman architecture and the evolution of the bazaars, along with visits to its great monuments: Hagia Sophia — the grand former cathedral of the Byzantine Empire — the Roman Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace, seat of the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years. Further immerse yourself in history and cultural grandeur as you spend six nights at the elegant Pera Palace Hotel, an accommodation for passengers on the Orient Express and iconic figures such as Agatha Christie, Queen Elizabeth and Ernest Hemingway.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Visit and learn about the world-famous Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque.
- Enjoy a private study cruise on the Bosphorus and marvel at the waterfront palaces, mansions and fortresses.
- Experience the grand property of the Pera Palace Hotel, whose history goes back to the reigns of the Ottoman sultans.
General Notes
Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials.
Featured Expert
Zeynep Kuban
Dr. Zeynep Kuban is an assistant professor of architecture at Istanbul Technical University, one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey. Her special area of interest is architectural history. Dr. Kuban’s lectures to Road Scholar participants share her wonderful insights on the creation of one of the world’s most architecturally fascinating cities from early Roman times to the 21st century.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Vehbi Baysan
Vehbi Baysan earned a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Manchester — Institute of Science and Technology in 2004. An instructor at Koc University from 2004-06, he is now director of the international office and a lecturer at Yeditepe University. Dr. Baysan has been teaching courses on contemporary Middle East and late-Ottoman history.
Aysegul Vaizoglu
Born in Istanbul, Aysegul Vaizoglu left a successful career in the export business to pursue her interests in travel, archaeology and her “urge” to work outdoors. With a proficiency in English and German, she began leading educational excursions for visitors around the world, and enjoys sharing the treasures of Turkey with others. Aysegul has degrees in business administration from Bosphorus University in Istanbul and Michigan State University. In her free time, she enjoys Cuban-style salsa dancing.
Mahir Ali Pasha
Mahir has been a certified group leader for over 25 years, and is also an English and tourism administration teacher at the university level. He has degrees in tourism management and teaching. He loves to walk, exercise and watch basketball; he coaches for his son's basketball team.
Kazim Uzunoglu
Kazim Uzunoglu started his travel career as a licensed national guide in Turkey in 1987. He studied economics at the University of Virginia but decided to stick to the travel business. After many years of leading educational programs around Turkey, he switched to the organizational side of the operation in 2004 and started running Baltac Tourism and Travel, the program provider for Road Scholar in Turkey. His hobbies include riding motorcycles around the world, vintage cars and motorcycles, photography, and rock and roll music.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to four hours on crowded city streets and bazaars. Stairs in some buildings and on motorcoaches.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(12 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
Year
- 2025
Date
- Feb 15 - Feb 22
- Mar 08 - Mar 15
- Apr 12 - Apr 19
- Apr 19 - Apr 26
- May 03 - May 10
- May 10 - May 17
- May 17 - May 24
- Sep 06 - Sep 13
- Sep 13 - Sep 20
- Sep 20 - Sep 27
- Sep 27 - Oct 04
- Oct 04 - Oct 11
- Oct 11 - Oct 18
- Oct 18 - Oct 25
- Oct 25 - Nov 01
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Oct 25 - Nov 1, 2025 Itinerary Differences: GROUP - Marks and Company
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
- 2025
- Feb 15 - Feb 22
- Mar 08 - Mar 15
- Apr 12 - Apr 19
- Apr 19 - Apr 26
- May 03 - May 10
- May 10 - May 17
- May 17 - May 24
- Sep 06 - Sep 13
- Sep 13 - Sep 20
- Sep 20 - Sep 27
- Sep 27 - Oct 04
- Oct 04 - Oct 11
- Oct 11 - Oct 18
- Oct 18 - Oct 25
- Oct 25 - Nov 01
Oct 25 - Nov 1, 2025 Itinerary Differences: GROUP - Marks and Company
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
15 meals | 6B | 5L | 4D |
3 expert-led lectures
18 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
In Transit to Program
Location:
In Flight
Activity Note
Transatlantic flights, possible changing of flights at various airports and walking between terminals during connections.
Day
2
Arrive Istanbul, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Istanbul
Meals:
D
Stay:
Pera Palace Hotel
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
After arriving at the hotel, checking in, and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation meeting. Orientation: 6:00 p.m. In our meeting room at the hotel, the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. The Group Leaders for our Road Scholar programs in Turkey serve as Study Leaders as well as managers of logistics. They are licensed and certified by the Ministry of Tourism for proficiency in Turkish history, culture, archeology, mythology, current affairs, and more. In addition to lectures and field trips, they will often give presentations on topics such as these during long transfers. Program-related travel and transfers will be via comfortable, air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz buses. Meals will generally offer foods representative of their regions. Depending on the accommodations, some will be multi-course plated meals while others will be buffets with numerous choices. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
3
Architecture, Hagia Sophia, Underground Cisterns, Hippodrome
Location:
Istanbul
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Pera Palace Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 6 miles, under 1 hour total riding time. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day and standing during field trips; cobblestone streets, two flights of stairs in/out of Underground Cisterns. At mosques, all participants will need to take off shoes; ladies will need to cover heads with a headscarf.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will be joined by a professor from the Istanbul Technical University School of Architecture who will give us a presentation on urban development of Istanbul from an architectural perspective. We will board the bus and ride to the old city, then set out on a walking field trip to explore extraordinary Hagia Sophia, once the greatest church in Byzantium — built in 537 CE — and a great mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. We will learn from our Group Leader about the unique architecture as we stand in awe at its size and dazzling beauty.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in the old city.
Afternoon:
Next, with the Group Leader, we will explore the Underground Cisterns built in 532 by Emperor Justinian to provide water for the city. The cistern was built using 336 recycled columns and could hold up to 100,000 tons of water. We will also walk through the remains of the ancient Hippodrome and learn about the existing monuments from Byzantine times including the obelisk brought from Egypt and the Serpentine Column brought from the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. We’ll ride back to the hotel after our field trips.
Dinner:
At a restaurant in walking distance from the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Great Architect Sinan, Istanbul Mosques, Whirling Dervishes
Location:
Istanbul
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Pera Palace Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time on the motorcoach. Walking about 3 miles throughout the day and standing during field trips; cobblestone streets. At mosques, all participants will need to take off shoes, ladies will need to cover heads with a headscarf.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Mimar Sinan (c. 1488-1588) is regarded as the greatest architect of the Ottoman Empire. He is credited as chief architect of hundreds of mosques, madrasahs, baths, tombs, palaces, bridges, and more. We will ride to an unloading zone near the mosque and then begin out field trip to explore Süleymaniye Mosque, built by Sinan for the sultan known as Suleiman the Magnificent. It is the second-largest mosque in Istanbul. For our next field trip, we will go to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known worldwide as the Blue Mosque for its exquisite Iznik tiles. Inaugurated in 1617, this spacious mosque has dominated the Istanbul skyline for 400 years.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in the old city.
Afternoon:
We will continue to explore some of Istanbul’s most notable mosques. The lovely Rustem Pasha Mosque, often described as a miniature Blue Mosque, was designed by Sinan who passed away before it was completed in 1563. It is covered in splendid Iznik tiles in beautiful patterns.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We will ride to attend a Whirling Dervish ceremony and witness the rituals of the more moderate Sufi sect of Islam.
Day
5
Topkapi & Dolmabahce Palaces
Location:
Istanbul
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Pera Palace Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 6 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 4 miles throughout the day and standing for extended periods (up to 90 minutes in total) during field trips; generally even terrain, occasional stairs in palaces.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Led by our Group Leader, we will begin our day with a field trip by bus to the Topkapi Palace, primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years of their 600-year reign, from 1465 to 1853. At the height of its existence as a royal residence, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people. The palace collections include Ottoman treasure, jewelry, and the most holy relics of the Muslim world. We will also visit the Harem to gain insights into the daily life of this forbidden section of the palace. No one was permitted to enter except the Sultan, his female family members, the concubines themselves, and the harem guards who were eunuchs.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Next, we will ride to the Dolmabahce Palace, the second palace of the Ottoman Sultans, situated on the Bosphorus. Here we will gain a sense of the socioeconomic and cultural changes the Ottoman Empire was experiencing in the 19th century through the eclectic mixture of European architectural styles.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
We will gather at the hotel for a lecture by a notable professor from a local university to learn about contemporary Turkey and its issues.
Day
6
City Walls, Eyup Mosque, Greek Orthodox Church
Location:
Istanbul
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Pera Palace Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 15 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 3 miles throughout the day and standing during field trips; generally even terrain, occasional stairs. At mosques, all participants will need to take off shoes, ladies will need to cover heads with a headscarf.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will set out on the bus for a field trip to the city walls. We will walk a short distance along these walls and learn about the conquest/fall of the city in 1453. Later on in the morning, we will enjoy a neighborhood walk in Balat and Fener districts that were once the Jewish and Greek quarters of Constantinople. These neighborhoods still retain their colorful and diverse character.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant in the old city.
Afternoon:
With our Group Loader, we will ride to the Eyup Mosque on the Golden Horn. It is a holy place for Muslims because the standard bearer of the Prophet Muhammed is buried here. We will move on to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George, one of the most important churches of the Greek Orthodox faith. Before returning to the hotel, we will explore the stunning Museum of Modern Art, located on the shores of the Bosphorus, to gain a deeper understanding of the contemporary art scene in Turkey.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy the cuisine of your choice. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
7
Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Study Cruise
Location:
Istanbul
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Pera Palace Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a privately chartered boat requiring going up/down a few steps and taking care embarking and disembarking. Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day; generally even terrain. Crowded conditions, especially at bazaars. Steep flight of stairs to reach the lunch restaurant located on the first floor of the Spice Bazaar.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will take the bus to the amazing Grand Bazaar and stroll with the Group Leader through its maze-like streets dating back to the 15th century. There are now about 4,000 small shops and vendors for all kinds of crafts, textiles, handmade arts, and jewelry. There will be an opportunity to attend a lecture by an expert instructor on the history of handmade Turkish carpets and kilims.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in the Spice Bazaar.
Afternoon:
Next, with the Group Leader, we will explore the Spice Bazaar — in Turkish, the “Egyptian” bazaar — constructed in 1663 and second in fame only to the Grand Bazaar. The scents and aromas will enliven our senses immediately. We will end the day with a study cruise on the Bosphorus, the natural waterway that separates Istanbul, linking the Black Sea of Europe with the Sea of Marmara of Asia. We will see opulent palaces, mansions, ancient fortresses, and modern suspension bridges. We’ll hear expert commentary as we go.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
8
Program Concludes, In Transit From Program
Location:
Istanbul
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
15 Meals
6 Breakfasts
5 Lunches
4 Dinners
LODGING
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- Oct 25, 2025 - Nov 01, 2025
- Feb 15, 2025 - Feb 22, 2025
- Mar 08, 2025 - Mar 15, 2025
- Apr 12, 2025 - Apr 19, 2025
- Apr 19, 2025 - Apr 26, 2025
- May 03, 2025 - May 10, 2025
- May 10, 2025 - May 17, 2025
- May 17, 2025 - May 24, 2025
- Sep 06, 2025 - Sep 13, 2025
- Sep 13, 2025 - Sep 20, 2025
- Sep 20, 2025 - Sep 27, 2025
- Sep 27, 2025 - Oct 04, 2025
- Oct 04, 2025 - Oct 11, 2025
- Oct 11, 2025 - Oct 18, 2025
- Oct 18, 2025 - Oct 25, 2025
- Oct 25, 2025 - Nov 01, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 27 Reviews
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An absolute five days of non stop learning in the city of Istanbul!!! Highly recommended!!
— Review left October 27, 2024
Signature City Istanbul is a terrific program, full of interesting sights and activities, and is complemented by excellent restaurant and food choices, as well as a lovely hotel. Ali Pasha, our guide, was outstanding. Our mini group was just 11 participants and was a perfect size for seeing the city comfortably. I hope Road Scholar schedules more mini groups on other programs.
— Review left October 24, 2024
This trip was fantastic
Very well laid out. Pace was perfect.
Timing of events was thought through so we were at sites when they were not crowded.
Restaurants were great. Every one.
Hotel had a lot of charm.
The tour guide (Sammy) was great. Very knowledgeable, very fun
— Review left October 23, 2024
Fantastic Signature City Trip! I enjoyed exploring Istanbul much more than I had imagined. The hotel, leader, food, sites visited and experiences were all top notch.
— Review left October 21, 2024
Thorough small group tour of the best sites in Istanbul with one of the most knowledgeable guides ever. Elegant old-world hotel accommodations coupled with a variety of great restaurants. Seamless in-city transportation and pre-arranged "skip the line" tickets at every venue!
— Review left October 20, 2024
An outstanding tour in every way. It taught me much about present day Istanbul, as well as its very long, fascinating history.
— Review left October 18, 2024
I fulfilled a life long dream to visit Istanbul - a bustling city filled with history, religion, and architecture. I was not disappointed.
— Review left October 13, 2024
I always wanted to see this historical city that occupies two continents. Kazim did a great job of introduction and history of the city. Sami was wonderful as a group leader. It was a fantastic trip and I highly recommend this program to anyone who enjoys historical places and old exotic cities - Firoz
— Review left October 9, 2024
My wife and I had a wonderful experience via our first Road Scholar program, Istanbul Signature City. The overall organization of the trip was very well done and the daily guided programming was excellent. Our guide was most knowledgeable about the history of the city and also about its current state. We will definitely recommend the Road Scholar program to others and certainly consider future trips with the organization.
— Review left September 25, 2024
This Istanbul program is wonderful and eye-opening. Reading the recommended reading ahead of time, enhanced the trip for me. Ali was a wonderful, kind, patient and knowledgeable guide. This is a keep up the pace activity level, which is accurate. Stairs without handrails, hills and uneven surfaces. Road Scholar takes good care of you. You feel safe, included, educated, and yet still independent with the allotted free time on these tours. My third Road Scholar trip and each has been terrific.
— Review left May 29, 2024
A good program that takes you into the past and present of one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
— Review left May 22, 2024
An excellent program featuring great tours and very good food, lodging and transportation. As good an educational experience as could be packaged in a vacation.
— Review left May 19, 2024
One of the most fascinating cities in the world, the program is varied and comprehensive and the food so good I would move there just for that.
— Review left May 19, 2024
Long flight (grinnn). Excellent accommodations. Great tour guide, extremely interesting city very well presented. I missed seeing archeological activity. While the Ottoman empire began in the late 1200's and there were plenty of cut block walls to look at, I would have liked Roman ruins, perhaps even Greek. Not to be on this City Tour. The mosques and palaces were spectacular.
— Review left May 7, 2024
Our trip to Istanbul was phenomenal, our guide's knowledge of the area and history was commendable. The educational speakers were interesting and the rug making demonstration was great. The accommodations were nice and the restaurant choices were spot on.
— Review left October 25, 2023
This trip to Istanbul was fantastic! Our leader/guide Mahir Pasha was a big reason for my enjoyment because he is so knowledgeable, fun and chill. Istanbul itself is a fascinating city with so much to learn and discover that I was constantly amazed by everything I saw!
— Review left October 18, 2023
This was a wonderful opportunity to experience & learn about a country & culture that doesn't get a lot of coverage in our part of the world. It's a great place to visit now before it becomes a huge tourist mecca.
— Review left October 15, 2023
An excellent introduction to a beautiful and fascinating city with a complex history. Our small group were all terrific traveling companions. Our tour leader, Ali Pasha, was very knowledgeable and attentive to the individual interests of the group members. This was our first Road Scholar trip, but certain not to be our last.
— Review left October 4, 2023
Instanbul is an amazing place. A must visit for the architecture, cultur and food. I highly recommend this Road Scholar adventure to all. Our guide, Mahir Pasha, made our trip extra special.
— Review left September 29, 2023
The hotel was well located and the local guide, Ali Pasha, was incredibly knowledgeable and personable. This was a wonderful trip except for two things. Please do not let the local trip planner schedule another dinner at the restaurant we went to on the final night. What was expected to be another wonderful meal was the most disappointing of them all. The wait staff brought several appetizers and, after a bit, some small, bony fried fish. That was the last we saw of the wait staff or any other food. All of the other restaurants, in contrast, were very good and the food was plentiful. The other disappointing thing was the one stall in the Spice Bazaar that we were brought to. The men working there did not listen to what several of us asked for (a few items, small in quantity). Instead, huge scoops were used and, when multiplied by the high cost per item, some of us ended up with bills in the US $150 range for some nuts and candy. I and another lady returned our items once we realized how expensive the items were. For the most part, I was once again very pleased with a RoadScholar trip and look forward to my next one.
— Review left May 22, 2023
I would encourage anyone with a love of history from prehistoric to the current times to take this course to grasp how the nomadic cultures impacted our current world today.
— Review left May 21, 2023
Wonderful time in Istanbul! Our guide, Bourjou, was terrific. She has so much love, knowledge and passion for her city and she definitely imparted that to us. Restaurant choices were excellent! The subject matter experts who spoke with us were interesting and so knowledgeable as well. Wish this trip could have been longer. Istanbul is such a large city and by the time we saw the "must see" places, I wish there had been more time to see more of the "not in every guide book" places - however Bourjou did take us to some very interesting, off the beaten track locales. I look forward to going back to Turkey and seeing/learning about more areas of this historic, fascinating country.
— Review left November 2, 2022
Our tour guide was the best and this is probably the most lovely group of people I have ever traveled with. The Blue Mosque was closed as was the palace and this made this an expensive trip for what we saw. As one person mentioned why not substitute what was closed with the archeological museum? (I did another signature city trip and this did not measure up to that standard.) As is, the trip was overpriced and I would suggest the tour of Turkey and not this one. And I hope to never see rice pudding again as it was served at almost every meal despite the delicious Turkish desserts we saw all the time. I would still say our tour guide was wonderful and this is a group I feel privileged to travel with.
— Review left October 19, 2022
The week long immersion tour in the city of Istanbul is 5 stars all the way! (I would actually give it 10 stars if it were possible!) The churches, mosques, palaces and Archeological Museum will leave you astounded by and enthralled with the history, art and culture of this mystical ancient city. Wonderful experience!
— Review left October 7, 2022
One of the best I have done! the Liders were exceptional! even from the preparation. They did two zoom chats to prepare us to the program and also to answer questions. And they were in touch through emails for every detail. Made me feel very confident and save during a difficult time during my traveling time and during the time in Istanbul. The program covers everything needs to be done, known and visit in the city. With great lectures and knowledge of our guide. Very interesting program with a lot of history to learn and appreciate, plus exquisite cousin. The Liders chooses the best restaurants! a great hotel with perfect location plus great costumer services. I can't say enough how much I enjoy the trip! we were a small group that share very well and remain friends. Totally recommend it
— Review left January 10, 2022
Fantastic busy trip! You'll see many of the most important sites from ancient times to the present and hear about major figures in Istanbyl *and Tirkish history). Well worth attending ... though you may want to consider arriving a few days early to explore on your own - that is what we did.
— Review left October 26, 2021
Turkey, and especially Istanbul, is a strategically important location that has been and is an important crossroads for culture and influence. I've long been curious about this city that spans continents. The Road Scholar tour greatly enhanced my understanding and appreciation for the arts and history of this fascinating land--as well as providing numerous opportunities to enjoy its varied and delicious cuisine.
— Review left October 17, 2021
