Spend a week exploring some of Turkey’s most significant historical sites, including the fantastic city of Istanbul, which you can tour on foot while also taking a cruise over the Bosphorus Strait and visiting its Old Town, mosques, and palaces. Then travel to the renowned Gallipoli battlefields and visit the ancient city of Troy, the site of the Trojan War. Visit the ancient city of Pergamum, the ruins of Ephesus, and the Orthodox village of Sirince to finish your journey. So why are you waiting for? Without a turkey e visa, you can not enjoy this beautiful country.
Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul – Relax at a hammam
After landing at Istanbul’s airport, you’ll take a transfer to your hotel to check-in. You’ll get to take proper tours over the next two days, stopping at essential landmarks. So take it easy and discover Istanbul’s cultural side for your first few hours there.
Visit a classic hammam or Turkish bath to get started. One of Istanbul’s most famous hammams, the Cemberlitaş, dates back to the 16th century and is renowned for having been designed by Sinan, the Architect, who is also famed for creating some of the city’s most recognizable structures. Tea and skincare purify you, making it the ideal spot to unwind after a flight.
After your hammam, try some regional Turkish specialties to expand your palate. You may find street food, elegant cafes, and bustling restaurants throughout the city, but you’ll undoubtedly like the diversity in the trendy Kadiköy-Moda neighbourhood on Istanbul’s Asian side.
Day 2: Explore Sultanahmet, the Old City of Istanbul
Before starting a privately guided walking tour of the Old City, popularly known as Sultanahmet, start your day with a cup of Turkish coffee. While learning about the world-changing history of a city that served as an imperial capital for nearly 16 centuries, you will locate several of Istanbul’s most well-known sights here.
Begin by going to the Hippodrome, which served as a sports venue when Istanbul was known as Constantinople and the capital of the Eastern Roman Empires and Byzantine. The Hippodrome was once a circus. Imagine the Roman horse and chariot races in Sultan Ahmet Square as you explore the grounds. The Serpentine Column, Walled Obelisk, Obelisk of Theodosius, and German Fountain can all be seen; they each have a unique history to convey about Istanbul.
Tours to some of Istanbul’s most well-known attractions, including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Church Museum, and Topkapi Palace, will fill the day. After a night of enjoying Istanbul’s booming nightlife, return to your hotel to unwind.
Day 3: Tour the Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, and the Bosphorus Strait
You will continue your tour of the Old City today by visiting the Museum of Islamic Arts and the Basilica Cistern, the largest of the several hundred historic cisterns buried under Istanbul. The Basilica Cistern, which Justinian I built in the sixth century CE, is famous for the Medusa heads that serve as the bases of numerous columns.
After that, you’ll visit the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market, where the vibrant sights, sounds, and tastes of Istanbul’s renowned markets will excite your senses. A cruise on the Bosphorus, which famously divides Asian and European Turkey, is a great way to finish off the day. It’s a fantastic way to get a holistic overview of Istanbul while learning why this city, which sits at the junction of the east and west, has played such a significant role in history.
Day 4: Transfer to Assos – Visit Gallipoli and the Ancient City of Troy
You will leave Istanbul in the morning with your private driver and guide. Your guide will assist you in better understanding Turkish history and culture as you stop at some of the country’s well-known attractions.
First up on the agenda is Gallipoli (Gelibolu in Turkish), the site of the famous and terrible conflict of World War I. One of the critical battles of the WWI Gallipoli Campaign was the Battle of Gallipoli, in which the Turks defeated the Allied forces at the time. The victory was especially notable for Turkey because it boosted the spirit of the Turkish side, which went on to fight an independence war from 1919 until 1922. Eventually, the remains of the former Ottoman Empire were used to create its independent republic in 1923.
Today, you may enjoy this little peninsula between the Aegean Sea and the Dardanelles Sea, where you will see peaceful hills and gullies covered in wildflowers and pine woods. Turkish and foreign people frequently visit this protected area to pay respects to the numerous graves and memorials, including the well-known ANZAC Beach Cemetery. You can take a lunch break here.
After that, a ferry will transport you to the renowned city of Troy, the scene of the Trojan War, across the Dardanelle Strait. Explore the Bronze Age settlement’s ruins, which date to 3,000 BCE. The Troy Museum, situated at the entrance to the ruins, is another place you can go. The museum’s structure is as tall as the old city of Troy was before it was excavated, keeping the community’s spirit alive.
Eventually, you’ll keep driving to the lovely town of Assos (also known by its modern name Behramkale). The Greek philosopher Aristotle once resided, studied and founded an academy in this charming old city on the Aegean coast. You can stroll the hilly streets after settling into your lodging and eat dinner at a restaurant.
Day 5: Drive to Şirince and discover the ancient site of Pergamum
You will meet your tour guide and car driver for a full day of sightseeing as you journey from Assos to the coastal city of Kusadasi near Ephesus after breakfast at your hotel. You’ll stop along the journey to the location of ancient Pergamum (or Pergamon), which is close to the modern city of Bergama. Beginning in the 4th century BCE, this served as the hub of the Hellenistic civilization. You will tour the Acropolis of Pergamum and the ancient Asclepium with your guide. You’ll eat lunch at a top-notch local restaurant here.
After that, take a beautiful three-mile drive to your accommodation in the area’s historic Orthodox village of Sirince. After settling into your lodging, meander through the cobbled streets of Sirince, stopping at shops and pubs.
Day 6: Tour the Ancient City of Ephesus and learn about rug-making
With a privately guided tour of Ephesus and its surroundings, you’ll have the chance to see some of Turkey’s greatest ancient remains today. The site, which spans a large area, goes back to the 10th century BCE. The renowned Celsus Library and the freshly reopened and renovated Terrace Houses will also be included in your trip.
Take a break later for a healthy, organic meal outside made with ingredients from surrounding farms and orchards at Sultankoy. After lunch, you can discover more about the regional rug-making processes, which involve the extraction of silk, dyeing, and weaving. Sultankoy is well known for its carpets.
The journey ends today with stops at Selçuk’s Basilica of St. John and the Ephesus Archaeology Museum. You’ll go back to your lodging in the late afternoon, where you can spend the rest of the day as you like.
Day 7: Depart Turkey via Istanbul
It’s time to say goodbye. Before going to the Izmir Airport for a journey to Istanbul, take advantage of one last breakfast. You can then proceed to your following location or to an international flight that will take you there.
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