Istanbul: Jewish Heritage and Museum Full-Day Tour
ID: GYG49350-66568
Category:
Country: Turkey
Duration:
07:00 hours
Description
Explore the Jewish heritage of Istanbul on a 7-hour sightseeing tour, with round-trip transfers from Istanbul Port. Visit the Jewish Museum of Turkey to learn about the Sephardic Jews of the Ottoman Empire, marvel at the Hagia Sophia church, and more.
Explore the Jewish history of Istanbul on a full-day private tour with multilingual guide. You will be met off your cruise ship in Istanbul Port (or from your hotel on request), and transferred by Mercedes vehicle to the heart of the city.
Go to the Balat district to see the Ahrida Synagogue, one of the oldest and most prominent of Istanbul’s synagogues. Visit the Neve Shalom Synagogue in Karaköy, built in response to an increase in the Jewish population in the Galata neighborhood. Continue to Ashkenazi Synagogue, the only active Ashkenazi synagogue in Istanbul open to visits.
At the heart of Jewish Istanbul, in the old Galata district, you will visit the Jewish Museum, established in 2001 on the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Sephardic Jews to the Ottoman Empire. Remodeled in the former Zülfaris Synagogue, the museum features artifacts, relics, letters and torah scrolls that tell the story of the Jews in Istanbul and Anatolia.
There will also be time to see the former mosque and Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia, now considered one of the world’s architectural masterpieces. End in the Grand Bazaar, and bargain for handmade carpets, jewelry and leather souvenirs before your transfer back to the port (or your hotel on request).
Highlights
- Explore the Jewish heritage of Istanbul
- Visit the Jewish Museum of Turkey and learn more about the Jews of Istanbul and Anatolia
- Bargain for souvenirs in one of the oldest covered markets in the world
- See a masterpiece of architecture at the Hagia Sophia
- Discover some of the most prominent synagogues of Istanbul, such as the Ashkenazi Synagogue
Guiding languages
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
• The synagogues and the Jewish museum are under control of the Jewish community in Istanbul. To visit these places you must reserve a place. At the time of booking you must provide passport copies to the service provider
• Please note, the Jewish community allows museum and synagogue visits, by donation. Donation fees are not included in tour price
All required protective equipment is provided
You must keep social distance while in vehicles
All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
You will receive a mandatory temperature check
Pick-up from your hotel in Istanbul available on request
When should I book?
To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.
Cancellations
This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 48 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 48 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.
