Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 15 travelers
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below
Overview
Discover Iznik, ancient Nicaea, on a shared day trip from Istanbul focused on its early Christian and Byzantine heritage.
Visit Hagia Sophia in Iznik, Lefke Gate and the ancient Roman theatre, and see local tile-making traditions at an Iznik workshop. An English-speaking guide, lunch, bottled water and air-conditioned transport are included.
Hotel pickup and drop-off are available within the designated Istanbul area. We confirm pickup arrangements before the tour. Allow approximately 10–11 hours for the full trip. Personal expenses are excluded.
What's included
Professional English-speaking guide
Bottled water
Lunch
Air-conditioned vehicle
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Personal expenses
What to expect
Istanbul
1h
After being picked up from Istanbul hotel or meeting at the meeting point, your approximately 2-hour journey to Iznik begins by ferry.
Hagia Sophia
1h
The highlight of the tour.
The exact location of the First Council of Nicaea
Where the Nicene Creed was formulated
Basilica structure from the 4th–8th century
Iconoclasm-era frescoes and surviving architectural elements
Time for photos and quiet reflection
Although the building is now a mosque, its historical layout and council significance are fully visible and explained.
Lefke KapI
1h
Guided walk along:
Lefke Gate (most impressive Roman gate)
Istanbul Gate
Southern defensive walls
Explanation of Nicaea’s strategic importance to Romans, Byzantines, and early Christians.
Iznik
2h
Arrival at İznik (Ancient Nicaea)
A short introduction to the town’s sacred history:
Capital city of the Byzantine Bithynia
One of Christianity’s most important centers
Location of the First Ecumenical Council (325 AD)
Surrounded by ancient Roman-Byzantine walls
Panoramic stop by İznik Lake.
Antik Roma Tiyatrosu
1h
Built in the 2nd century under Emperor Trajan.
15,000-seat Roman amphitheater
Used during Roman and early Byzantine periods
Understanding daily life in ancient Nicaea
Iznik Cini Esref Eroglu Atolyesi
1h
Visit a traditional İznik ceramics atelier:
Famous blue-white Ottoman-era tiles
Demonstration of pottery-making
Optional shopping opportunity
Iznik
1h
Archaeological area of an early Byzantine church destroyed by earthquakes.
4th–8th century Christian architecture
Virgin Mary (Dormition) traditions
Excavation details and photo opportunities
2h
After your tour ends, we return to your hotels after a journey that lasts approximately 1.5 or 2 hours.
Meeting and pickup
Pickup details
We usually contact our guests 1 day before our tour. If there are guests we cannot reach, please be present in the lobby of your hotel 30 minutes before the departure time.
Additional information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
