8 Days Best of Turkey Istanbul Cappadocia Ephesus and Pamukkale

Day 1: Welcome to Istanbul/Turkey

1. Istanbul
   2h
   Welcome to Istanbul/Turkey. When you arrive to the Istanbul Airport, we transfer you to your hotel and you stay overnight.

Day 2: Istanbul Tour - Kusadasi

1. Hippodrome
   30m
   First visit is Hippodrome. It was the center of sport activities of Constantinople. Famous with 4 monuments; The German Fountain of Wilhelm II, Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column and Column of Constantine.
2. Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
   1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   Haghia Sophia, is the most famous museum in Turkey and one of the greatest marvels of architecture. Haghia Sophia was built as a church in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian then in 1453 renovated into a mosque by Ottoman Emperor Fatih Sultan Mehmet. It was converted into a museum in 1935 and welcoming both local and foreign visitors.
3. Blue Mosque
   45m
   Blue Mosque, as known as the Sultanahmet Mosque, this breath-taking building is one of the most majestic Ottoman Mosques in all of Turkey. Also it was built with unique 6 minarets. (Closed on Friday)
4. TopkapI Palace
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   Topkapi Palace, which has been home to the Ottoman dynasty for many years, was used for administrative and as the art center of the state. Get knowledge about the imperial treasury sacred islamic relics, palace kitchens and weapons. (Closed on Tuesday)
5. Grand Bazaar
   2h
   Grand Bazaar, is the biggest market and the most attractive shopping center of Istanbul which has lots of shopping opportunities with carpets, leather, jewellery, turkish delight, gold, antique tiles etc.. (Closed on Sunday)
6. Hagia Irene Museum
   45m · Admission ticket not included
   Hagia Irene also called as “St. Eirene” or “St.Irene’s” Church. It is one of the oldest Byzantium churches in Istanbul, was the 2nd largest church of the Eastern Roman Empire after Hagia Sophia. (Closed on Tuesday)
7. Izmir
   1h
   After tour, you will be picked up from your hotel and drive to the airport. Then, you fly to Izmir and meet with our tour guide when you land to the Izmir Airport.

Day 3: Pamukkale

1. Pamukkale
   4h
   After breakfast depart to Pamukkale. Pamukkale is in Aegean Turkey and it is also called the “Cotton Castle”, because of the white cotton appearance of the mineral bath spas that abound the province, which is rich in calcium. Known as a “spa town” since the Roman era, tourists travel to Pamukkale to relax in warm, soothing and therapeutic waters in the myriad spas.
2. Hierapolis & Pamukkale
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   Hierapolis or “Holy City” evangelized by Paul and Epaphras. Also the Apostle Philip lived and burried here. What makes Hierapolis different from most places on Earth is that it is not built on land, neither on water, but on limestone deposits above the mineral springs in the area. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the ruins that are littered all over the city, including the necropolis that houses the sarcophagi of important ancient figures like Marcus Aurelius.
   
   After the tour, you go to Kusadasi and stay overnight.

Day 4: Ephesus- Cappadocia

1. Ephesus Ancient City
   3h · Admission ticket not included
   And then, we reach to Ephesus. Ephesus, was the second largest city in the Roman Empire over 250.000 people in the 1st BC. Ranking only behind Rome it was the second largest city in the world. Ephesus was also a harbour city. Also, this giant city was built only with marbel. Did you know Ephesus had a largest amphitheater in the ancient world over 25.000 seats? Also see Goddess Nike, Local pharmacy, Hadrian Gate, Library of Celcius (the third largest library), Marbel Street and Harbour Street.
2. The Temple of Artemis
   15m
   Temple of Artemis is located near Ephesus and was built in 6th century. It was one of the seven wonders of the world.
3. The House of the Virgin Mary
   45m · Admission ticket not included
   The House of Virgin Mary is located top of the Ephesus and 9 kms far away. The places where Virgin Mary has spent her last days and the Shrine of Virgin Mary pleasures wonderful atmosphere latent in the green.
   
   After the tour, you will go back to your hotel and you stay overnight in Kusadasi.
4. 45m
   We leave from Ephesus and drive to the Izmir Airport and you fly to Kayseri.
5. Goreme
   1h
   Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Day 5: Cappadocia

1. Devrent Valley
   1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   Meet with our tour guide and start Cappadocia full-day tour. Day will begin with an exploration of Cappadocia with Devrent Valley (also known as Imagination Valley), where we will see the different types of Fairy Chimney formations, which formed almost 30 million years ago.
2. Goreme National Park
   2h · Admission ticket not included
   We will then stop in Pasabag, where we will see the most interesting fairy chimneys, resembling those seen in the Hobbit and Smurfs.
3. Avanos
   30m
   This trip offers the opportunity to stop by a local pottery shop, where details are shared of how people survived and created beautiful art dating back to the Hittite period.
4. Uchisar Castle
   15m
   We will stop at Uchisar Castle and Pigeon Valley, two of the best spots for photography and photo opportunities in the world.

Day 6: Cappadocia - Istanbul

1. Ozkonak Underground City
   2h · Admission ticket not included
   After breakfast, you will be picked up by our guide from your hotel. First thing in the morning we drive to Kaymakli Underground City to see how Christians protect and defended themselves from the persecutions and invasions for centuries.
2. Cappadocia
   20m
   We will stop in Sarihan Caravanserai to visit the 13th century residence for the merchants and their camels.
3. Goreme Panorama
   1h · Admission ticket included
   First, we visit Goreme Panorama, best is for the photoshoot in the region and getting information about Cappadocia. There are amazing churches and remnants of Christian history.
4. Pigeon Valley
   45m
   We visit Panoramic Pigeon Valley where pigeons contributed to the lives of locals with their manure to fertilize the vineyards.
5. Kayseri
   1h
   We transfer you to the Kayseri airport and you fly back to Istanbul.
6. Istanbul
   1h
   Overnight stay in Istanbul

Day 7: Istanbul

1. Istanbul
   2h
   We transfer you to the airport and you fly back to Istanbul in the morning.
2. Bosphorus Bridge
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   Bosphorus by shared boat and an amazing cruise between two continents Europe and Asia through out the Bosphorus by Dolmabahce Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace.
3. Misir Carsisi
   1h
   Upon entering the L-shaped market, your nostrils will immediately pick up the overwhelming scent coming from the hundreds of spices on sale. Where the stalls in the bazaar originally only stocked spices (baharat) and herbs, over the years other edibles were added, such as nuts (kuruyemiş), honeycomb (petekbal), Turkish delight (lokum), dried fruit and vegetables (kuru meyve ve sebze), mature hard Turkish cheese (eski kaşar), caviar (make sure you get the Iranian variety) and smoked or dried beef (pastırma).
4. Istanbul
   45m
   In the end of the tour, you go back to the hotel and stay overnight in Istanbul.

Day 8: Istanbul

1. Istanbul
   2h
   You have free time untill flight departure time. You will be transferred to the Istanbul Airport and you fly back to your home.

Pickup details

We will pick you up from your hotel in central Istanbul at the start of the tour and drop you off the same hotel at the end of the tour.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Itinerary might change depends on direct flights.
• Hagia Sophia entrance fee is 25 €. You need to bring your own headset/scarf for covering your head.
• Topkapi Palace entrance fee is 2750 TRY. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
• Ephesus entrance fee is 40 €. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
• Pamukkale entrance fee is 30 €. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
• Goreme Open-Air Museum entrance fee is 20 €. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
• Pasabag entrance fee is 12 €. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
• Kaymakli Underground City entrance fee is 13 €. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
• House of Virgin Mary entrance fee is 700 TRY. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
• Istanbul tours will be walking tour. Please choose comfortable shoes.
• Be mindful of local customs and dress modestly, especially in religious sites.
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
• Hagia Sophia entrance is restricted during praying time.
• Annual Closing Dates of museums and bazaars in Istanbul are; January 1-New Year April 9, 10 and 11, 2024, • Ramadan Celebrations (Eid Al Fitr 2024) June 16, 17, 18 and 19, 2024, Eid Celebrations (Eid AL Adha 2024)
• Stores to visit: Carpet weaving village, leather factory, onyx & pottery demonstration.