Home / Europe, Turkey Tours / City Sightseeing
10 day(s)
Private
1-40 people
easy
Discover Turkey’s rich history and stunning landscapes with our 10-day guided tour. From Istanbul’s iconic landmarks and Bosphorus cruise to ancient cities like Ephesus, Pergamum, and Pamukkale’s famous travertine terraces, experience the perfect blend of culture, archaeology, and natural beauty. Perfect for history lovers and adventure seekers!
Duration
10 day(s)
Max Group Size
1-40 people
Tour Code
10DDGTTD
Departure Type
scheduled
Tour Category
City Sightseeing
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Operated In
Age Requirement
11 - 99

İstanbul
İstanbul
(Dinner included)
Welcome to Turkey Istanbul
Airport. Meet with TravelShop Booking staff and transfer to your hotel,
Transfer from airport & check in to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul
(Breakfast,
Lunch and Dinner included)
After
breakfast, we have Istanbul City Tour. Our first visit will be HIPPODROME. Ancient Hippodrome was the scene
of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the
bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Than we will visit SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE. Across
from Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, it was built in the 16th century by the
architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent
interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. Our next see will be HAGIA SOPHIA GRAND MOSQUE. The Hagia
Sophia Grand Mosque, previously known as the Church of Divine Wisdom, is simply
the best of its kind! Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque is the greatest surviving
example of Byzantine Architecture. For 1000 years, it was once the largest
church in the world, decorated with stunning 6th century golden mosaics. Today
it is a mosque. You can see it from
outside. After
that see TOPKAPI PALACE, the great
palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an
exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by
the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury,
miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. You can
see it from outside. The
Basilica Cistern Museum is one
of the most important cultural assets where we can trace the traces of glorious
Istanbul history. With its 80,000-ton water storage capacity, Yerebatan
Cistern is the largest covered cistern in the city and stands out with more
reclaimed supporting elements compared to other covered cisterns. Covering an
area of approximately 10,000 square meters, this colossal structure has a
rectangular shape with a length of 140 meters and a width of 70 meters. You
can see it from outside. After the tour, transfer back to your hotel. Dinner at Indian restaurant and
Overnight in Istanbul.
If you would like to visit with entrance below sites;
Topkapi
Palace Museum Entrance Fee. You pay the door price.
The Basilica Cistern Museum Entrance You
pay the door price.
Please Note: Please do not forget to carry Scarf with you because of visiting to Blue Mosque & Haghia Sophia Mosque.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
included)
Pick up at 08:30am from the hotel and depart for the
Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping Tour. BOSPHORUS BY BOAT a traditional
excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is
lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing
villages. During the excursion you will see the magnificent sights of the
following attractions from your boat. See Dolmabahce Palace, and further along,
the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this
park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of its marble facade faces the shore. At
Ortakoy a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work
along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and
a synagogue existing side by side for centuries.
RUMELI FORTRESS Built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of
Istanbul was completed in only four months to control and protect the infamous
Bosphorus passage. It is one of the most beautiful works of military
architecture anywhere in the world. BEYLERBEYI PALAS (PALACE) The summer
residence of Ottoman sultans exists in its original renovated glory featuring
original antique furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian
side of Istanbul.
BOSPHORUS BRIDGE enjoy a unique chance to step from one continent (Asia) to
another (Europe)
CAMLICA HILL the highest point in Istanbul. At the top of it you can rest and
admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the Bosphorus from the
beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional Turkish Ottoman style. SHOPPING
TOUR (after cruise) Experience the traditional silk weaving skills of Turkish
women at the carpet weaving courses provided by The Ministry of National
Education. You will get the opportunity to see jewellery, handcrafts centre and
a modern leatherwear show. Enjoy the experience of shopping whilst gaining the
knowledge of the ancient craftsmen, with Murti's Tour's local escort full of
knowledge about how to haggle the streets of Istanbul. The rest of the evening
is yours to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
Transfer from hotel to Istanbul Airport for flight to Izmir. Upon
arrival in Izmir, we proceed to Thyatira,
now called Akhisar, another one of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev.
1:11; 2:18 - 24; Acts 16:14]. It was a city famous for purple dyes. We visit
the remains of a basilica and some architectural fragments from the Roman
period. Lydia, the seller of purple in Philippi, was from Thyatira. In the afternoon, we enjoy a panoramic ride of Smyrna, the third largest city in
Turkey and second one of the seven Christian churches in Asia Minor to which
St. John the Divine wrote (Revelation l - 11). Smyrna is a city scarred with a bloody history of trade and warfare. We
ascend to Mount Pagus where we visit the Citadel
of Lysimachus, commander of Alexander the Great, erected in the 4th century
BC. We will also see the Clock Tower.
Check in at the hotel for dinner and overnight in Izmir.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
After breakfast we drive to Pergamum, actually called Bergama. It is one
of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:12]. Here, we explore
the impressive Acropolis, the
steepest theatre in the world. Then the Asklepion,
famous medical center of classical times, see the Altar of Zeus, which mentioned, as the «Throne of Satan» in the
book of Revelation, the marble columns of the Temple of Trajan. Moreover, The
Library, which was foremost in the world and was long a rival of the
equally famous Library of Alexandria in Egypt. Its wealth of volumes was
estimated at over 200,000. It inspired the invention of parchment. Overnight in Izmir.
(Breakfast,
Lunch and Dinner included)
Today we depart early in the morning to visit one of the most picturesque areas of any of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:1 - 4]. Sardis, presently Sart. This was the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC, portrayed as a dying church. We visit the great Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Cybele, which became a Byzantine Church. We will also visit the restored gymnasium and reconstructed Synagogue. We also see the last several meters of the royal Persian Road from Susa to Sardis built by Cyrus the Great and the «golden» river Pactolus. Lunch break will be given en route.Then we continue our journey to Philadelphia, nowadays called Alasehir, another church of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:7], and the only church not censured. There we see the remains of a Byzantine basilica built of brick, with a bit of high arch and some 11th century frescoes. We drive to the healing city of Hierapolis, actually Pamukkale, the white «cotton fortress» where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. The therapeutic waters were known to the founders of Hierapolis and of Laodicea in 190 BC. In Hierapolis [Col. 4:13], we visit the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip where he martyred during the persecutions ordered by Domitian. Watch the sunset over the petrified waterfalls. Check in at hotel for dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
(Breakfast,Llunch and Dinner
included)
Today we depart early in the morning to visit Laodicea before continuing to Ephesus. Laodicea (present name Denizli) yet
another of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor [Rev. 1:11; 3:14; Col. 2:1; 4:13 -
16]. We see the ancient theatre, the remains of basilica and ancient stone
water pipes.
We visit
the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian
Way, the 2nd century AD Theatre, the Nymphaeum, the Temple of Apollo, the
Plutonium and the Necropolis. After that drive to Ephesus to visit the ancient
city of Ephesus. The Apostle Paul
preached to the Ephesians and lived here for three years. This church also
received an epistle from him. We tour the spectacular ruins where excavations
are still continue in this once great and important city, which was founded in
the 10th century BC. Temple of Artemis, Ephesus ancient sites and Virgin Mary.
Walk
through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings,
among them the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of
Hadrian and the Theatre. The Temple of Diana of the Ephesians, another of the
seven wonders of the ancient world, was built in this city. We visit The House of Virgin Mary where she spent her
latest years. Overnight in Kusadasi.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
After breakfast between
08:30 am, departure from hotel for Full day tour of
Priene, Miletus & Didim. First you will see Priene which in its time was
one of the most spectacular of all the ancient Ionians cities. Then we will
lead our way to Miletus to see Miletus with its magnificent theatre and the
Byzantine fortress on the acropolis above. Our last stop will be Didyma. Here
you will find the largest Ionic Temple in the world, that of Apollo. Also in
Didyma lies the huge, cracked head of Medusa which long ago fell from the
freeze. After the tour we
will drive you to the hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.
(Breakfast included)
Transfer to the Izmir airport for the flight to
Istanbul. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Free time at leisure. Overnight in
Istanbul.
(Breakfast included)
After breakfast check out from the hotel. We
hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the
future on another TravelShop Turkey Tour. Have a safe trip back home and thanks
for choosing TravelShop Turkey.
4 nights hotel in Istanbul
2 nights hotel in Izmir
1 nights hotel in Pamukkale
2 nights hotel in Kusadasi
Professional English - speaking tour guides
9
open buffet breakfasts
7 Local Lunch
8 local dinners at the hotels
All Tour Airport
Transfers in the Program
Transportation in a
fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach All parking, highway, bridge fees
Guided Istanbul Ottoman
Empire and Byzantine Relics
Guided Ephesus – House of the Virgin Mary
Guided Pamukkale – Hierapolis
Guided Priene, Miletus, Didyma Tour
Guided Bosphorus Cruise, Egypt Bazaar, Golden Horn
Hotel service fees and city taxes
VAT - City Tax
Domestic Ticket from
Istanbul to Izmir
Domestic Ticket from Izmir to Istanbul
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Other expenses not specified
Tips for the driver and guide