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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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Itinerary

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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

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Day

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

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

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

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 and begin our 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 learn about Sufism.

Day

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

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 the 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

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

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 Like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

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Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.

Oct 25 - Nov 1, 2025 Itinerary Differences: GROUP - Marks and Company

Signature City Istanbul

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