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Roman Era Istanbul Tour

A Walking Tour Through the City’s Imperial Bones

Soner Dursun by Soner Dursun
April 26, 2025
in Istanbul Daily Tours, Istanbul Tours, Istanbul Travel Blog
Reading Time: 6 mins read
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Walk the streets where Roman emperors ruled, Byzantine monks prayed, and Ottoman sultans reimagined the city. This one-day tour peels back the modern layers of Istanbul to reveal the imperial foundations beneath. It’s immersive, architectural, and slightly offbeat — the kind of day that changes how you see the city forever.

Table of Contents

Highlights & Itinerary

🔹 This walking tour offers maximum flexibility. We provide expert guiding, but we can also arrange everything from museum entries to lunch and transportation — or keep it simple and let the day flow naturally. Your pace, your preferences.

🔹 You’ll be picked up from your hotel and begin the day in Sultanahmet, tracing the Roman heart of the city before moving northward through hidden hills, aqueducts, palaces, and ending at the mighty city walls. We’ll drop you back at your hotel once your journey through time is complete.

🔹 This tour is perfect for history buffs, Byzantinophiles, architectural lovers, and travelers looking to escape the crowds and dig deeper.

Obelisk of Theodosius in Hippodrome - November 15th 2024 - Professional Tour Guide Ömer Çelik

Hippodrome of Constantinople

Once the roaring centerpiece of Byzantine public life, the Hippodrome was more than a stadium — it was a stage for revolts, triumphs, and ceremony.

🔹 Obelisks, columns, and ancient echoes.
🔹 Site of the infamous Nika Riots.
🔹 Still a beating heart, now quieted by centuries.

Hagia Sophia

A marvel of world architecture, theology, and endurance. 1,500 years and still standing — layered with stories, scars, and divine geometry.

🔹 Gold mosaics, Islamic calligraphy, and hidden angel wings.
🔹 Once the largest dome in the world.
🔹 A space that feels both earthly and cosmic.

Çemberlitaş – The Forum of Constantine

Where Constantinople officially began. Erected in 330 AD, this column marks the founding of the city as the New Rome.

🔹 Emperor Constantine’s symbolic spine.
🔹 Burned, scarred, yet standing defiantly.

Valens Aqueduct

Roman infrastructure that shaped urban life for over a millennium. Today, it slices across Istanbul‘s skyline like a whisper from the past.

🔹 Built in the 4th century under Emperor Valens.
🔹 A working part of the city long into the Ottoman era.
🔹 Still functional (in spirit, at least).

Zeyrek – Church of the Pantokrator (Molla Zeyrek Mosque)

One of the most important surviving Byzantine structures in Istanbul — an ancient monastic complex turned neighborhood mosque.

🔹 A hidden gem with layered brickwork and soul.
🔹 Its view over the Golden Horn is reason enough to come.

Tekfur Palace

The last remaining Byzantine palace in the city, standing in silence near the walls it once guarded.

🔹 Reconstructed but still resonant.
🔹 A peek into the lives of late emperors.

Theodosian Walls

Istanbul‘s ancient fortress line, built in the 5th century and battered ever since — but still a powerful sight.

🔹 Triple walls that held off invaders for 1,000 years.
🔹 You can see where Mehmet the Conqueror finally broke through.
🔹 End the day in the presence of true endurance.

Visitor Information

Start: Hotel pickup (anywhere in central Istanbul)
End: Hotel drop-off
Duration: 7–8 hours total
Walking Level: Moderate (some stairs and uphill sections)

Tour Type: Private – this experience is designed exclusively for you and your group.

Standard Service: Expert guiding throughout the day

Flexibility Level: Maximum — fully guided, semi-guided, or all-inclusive based on your preferences.

Tips: Comfortable walking shoes, hat, water, and curiosity are musts.

Optional Add-ons:
🔹Entrance tickets (Hagia Sophia, Tekfur Palace)
🔹Transportation between sites (if preferred)
🔹Lunch at a traditional restaurant

Come Walk Through the Empire

This isn’t just a tour. It’s a journey through the architecture, theology, and ambition that built one of the greatest cities in history. If you want to feel the stones beneath your feet and the stories behind the ruins — walk with us through Roman Era Istanbul.

Contact us today to reserve or customize your walk through imperial time.

Tags: ArchitectureByzantine LegacyHistoric LandmarksIstanbulIstanbul ToursReligionThe Romans
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Soner Dursun

Soner Dursun

Soner Dursun, co-founder of The Other Tour, has been shaping its unique approach since 2011. With a strong background in hotel management, he ensures seamless operations and top-tier hospitality, bringing a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of guest satisfaction. Born and raised in the Black Sea region, he carries its renowned resourcefulness and charm, making every experience with The Other Tour feel warm and welcoming. A lifelong football enthusiast, Soner’s passion for the game matches his energy for crafting meaningful connections. Whether on the pitch or sharing stories over tea, his competitive spirit and love for teamwork shine through. His lifelong friendship with Fethi, built since childhood, is the foundation of their collaboration. Together, they have grown The Other Tour into a travel agency known for organizing unique tours in Istanbul and across Turkey, driven by authenticity, adventure, and Soner’s vibrant leadership.

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