Photos: Till Niermann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Chris06, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Till Niermann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Chris06, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Chora mosaics and the Theodosian walls
Your local guide
Zeynep Kaya
View profile
Highlights
- Chora's exterior, and its mosaics described in detail
- The Anastasis fresco, described from photographs
- The Theodosian walls, standing for over a thousand years
- Tekfur Palace, the last Byzantine palace standing
- The Mihrimah Sultan mosque near Edirnekapı
About this tour
This session follows the old land walls out to Chora and the district around Edirnekapı. The camera takes in the exterior of Chora, its mosaics and the Anastasis fresco described in detail, then a stretch of the Theodosian walls and the ruins of Tekfur Palace nearby. It traces the edge of the Byzantine city rather than its centre.
A sound check starts the call, then the walk follows the walls stop by stop, with the guide taking questions as the route continues. A short list of what was covered is sent once the session ends.
This suits anyone interested in Byzantine history or old fortifications, or anyone who wants to see a part of Istanbul away from the main squares. It also suits art history enthusiasts curious about the mosaics even without seeing them directly.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
-
Welcome and sound check 7 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Istanbul before heading out.
-
Chora church exterior 21 min
Outside Chora, now reopened as a mosque, the camera takes in the exterior of the building, and the guide describes the Byzantine mosaics and the Anastasis fresco in the side chapel from photographs, since visitor access to view them can be limited.
-
Theodosian walls 21 min
Walking along a stretch of the Theodosian land walls, the camera follows the weathered towers and breaches, and the guide explains how these fortifications kept the city standing for over a thousand years.
-
Tekfur Palace and Mihrimah mosque 21 min
Near Edirnekapı, the camera takes in the ruined facade of Tekfur Palace, the last surviving Byzantine palace, and then the Mihrimah Sultan mosque nearby, and the guide explains how the two buildings sit almost side by side from very different centuries.
-
Your questions 14 min
Time to ask anything about Istanbul: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
-
A short list to keep 6 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Meze and Kadıköy, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Istanbul time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 8 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Istanbul, showing you Grand Bazaar and Basilica Cistern live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need any background in art?
No. The guide explains what matters as you go, whatever you already know or do not.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk Istanbul live with my phone and you ask anything as we go.
Times shown in Istanbul time (GMT+3)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Reviews appear here after travellers have completed this tour.
How reviews work
Only travellers who booked and paid through Locals Guide and whose tour took place can leave a review, within 60 days of the tour. Every review is marked "Verified booking". We check reviews before they appear and publish positive and negative ones alike; we remove only reviews that break our rules (insults, personal data, unrelated content). Guides cannot pay for, edit or hide reviews, and ratings are the plain average of all published reviews.
Next: Sat 31 Oct · 8 seats left From 29,00 €
Book