"On a cruise trip from Venice to Istanbul" Istanbul by nyperose

Istanbul - the highlight of the cruise - where we had around 8 hours and time for a real sightseeing- tour in the city with visits to the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, the St.Sophia Church, the Grand Bazaar and many other things.

We also had time for a Turkish meal at a restaurant and had a couple of hours to stroll around the city on our own.

The Blue Mosque - Sultan Ahmet Camii

The Blue Mosque also known as Sultan Ahmet Mosque is the only mosque in Turkey with six minarets and it is a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. Its name is derived from the magnificent blue and white tiles that decorate the interior walls.

The Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar is a labyrinth of streets with over 4000 shops selling Turkish crafts, carpets, ceramics, leather, gold, antiques and an incredible variety of herbs and spices.

With more than 10 different entrances it's easy to get lost, so it's better not to be in a hurry......yes, yes, it happened to me......and I was glad I finally made it back to the ship before it left for Dubrovnik.

• Pros:An incredibly interesting and beautiful city