Tour of The Ottoman Court From Istanbul: Topkapi Palace and Rustem Pasha Mosque

The tour begins around 1-1:30pm, depending on pickup location: you'll drive in climate-controlled comfort to the ancient Sultanahmet district for your first stop, the Topkapi Palace.

Explore the glorious grounds, with views across the Bosphorus Strait to Asia, serene pavilions, and commanding halls and courts. Admire collections of porcelain, costumes, and weaponry, and marvel at the Imperial Treasury, home to a wealth of gold and jewelry. As you wander, your guide will explain the history of the empire, and the lives of the sultans who occupied this grand palace.

Next, hop back in the vehicle to drive to the 16th-century Rustem Pasha Mosque. This small but perfectly formed religious monument is one of the great achievements of the architect Mimar Sinan, and was built in honor of Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha. As you admire the hand-crafted Iznik tiles, learn how Rustem Pasha rose from humble beginnings to achieve great power, marry the sultan's daughter, and conspire with her to have her brother murdered.