After a brief visit to the 17th century Spice Bazaar*, we embark on an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the beautiful strait that divides Europe from Asia. Winding between wooded hills, it is lined with mosques, castles, 19th century mansions, picturesque villages and the extravagant baroque places of the late Ottoman sultans. Our tour concludes with a drive along the Bosphorus to visit the Sadberk Hanim Museum**, Istanbul's best ethnological museum. Lunch at a restaurant on Bosphorus. After lunch, we continue driving across the first Bosphorus Bridge and head for the summit of Camlica Hill, which affords panoramic views of Istanbul, the Sea of Marmara and the Princes Islands. From here a short brings us to the Palace of Beylerbeyi on the shore of the Bosphorus. Perhaps the most elegant of the late Ottoman palaces, Beylerbeyi boasts six sumptuously furnished reception halls. After the tour, transfer back to the hotel.

**The Sadberk Hanim Museum is closed on Wednesdays.