Delve into Istanbul's oldest areas for a look at Turkey's vibrant Jewish heritage. Leaving behind the city's grand mosque's and the Orthodox churches, peek into a breathtaking Byzantine synagogue and learn about the Ottoman Sultan who welcomed Spain's deported Jews more than 500 years ago.

After you're picked up from your hotel, start your exploration in the old area of Galata. Here, you visit 1 of 2 busy synagogues from the 20th century—the 1900 Ashkenazi Synagogue or the 1930 Neve Shalom Synagogue. Learn about the city's modern Jewish community, and then continue on into the oldest Jewish settlement in Istanbul in the colourful district of Balat.

Pass by brightly-hued buildings packed along narrow, cobbled lanes as you make your way to the Ahrida Synagogue, a gem of Byzantine architecture that dates to the 1430s, before the Ottoman conquest. Enjoy the rare opportunity to step inside this serene place of worship, and hear about the migration of Turkish Jews from Spain in 1492 before you're dropped back at your hotel.