Istanbul Trip Overview
Every year we get more and more inquiries for Biblical tours in Turkey as a lot of people have recently discovered the important role these lands played in the history of Christianity. Therefore, for Bible land tours we carefully choose guides who have good knowledge of Bible and Christian history.
During our Bible tours, our guests can visit many magnificent churches, some nearly as old as Christianity itself, and can retrace the footsteps of Apostle Jhon and Paul from the Biblical city of Ephesus to the underground churches of Cappadocia.
Our Biblical tour guides are locals who have very good knowledge not only about the sights in the area, but also about the history of Christianity. They are all fluent in English, and some of them guide also in other languages.
If you want to visit more biblical sites in Turkey; you can contact us and we can allways customize this itinerary.
Additional Info
Duration: 10 days
Starts: Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Istanbul Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Istanbul, Turkey, Turkey
Every year we get more and more inquiries for Biblical tours in Turkey as a lot of people have recently discovered the important role these lands played in the history of Christianity. Therefore, for Bible land tours we carefully choose guides who have good knowledge of Bible and Christian history.
During our Bible tours, our guests can visit many magnificent churches, some nearly as old as Christianity itself, and can retrace the footsteps of Apostle Jhon and Paul from the Biblical city of Ephesus to the underground churches of Cappadocia.
Our Biblical tour guides are locals who have very good knowledge not only about the sights in the area, but also about the history of Christianity. They are all fluent in English, and some of them guide also in other languages.
If you want to visit more biblical sites in Turkey; you can contact us and we can allways customize this itinerary.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul
Pass By: Istanbul, Istanbul
transfer from airport to your hotel, overnight stay
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: We will stay in Istanbul. Different hotel options are available to choose.
Day 2: Istanbul Old City tour
Stop At: Istanbul, Istanbul
You will start the tour from the Byzantine Hippodrome that was used for public entertainments organised by emperors.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Mah At Meydani Cad No 7, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Also known under its official name, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, it is famous for its handmade, blue ceramic tiles that decorate its interior.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Hagia Sophia Mosque, Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya MeydanI No:1, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
The Church of Holy Wisdom is one of the most important sites in the world when it comes to history of art and architecture. It used to be the biggest orthodox church in the world, and nowdays it is a musem/mosque, one of the most visited sites in Turkey.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
This former imperial residence of Ottoman Sultans is one of the largest palaces in the world, and a very good example of Ottoman art and architecture.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Grand Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
At the end of the tour you will have chance to walk and shop in the oldest and the largest covered market place in the world with more than 4000 shops.
After the tour return to hotel and overnight stay
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in Istanbul. Different hotel options are available to choose.
Day 3: Istanbul tour
Stop At: Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
During a 2 hour Bosphorous boat trip you will see the bridges of Istanbul, Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces, Anadolu and Rumeli fortresses and beautiful houses around the strait).
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Misir Carsisi (Spice Market), Rustem Pasa Mahallesi, Erzak Ambari Sok. No:92 Eminonu – Fatih, Istanbul 34116 Turkey
This covered market area is the 17 century structure that housed the majority of the city’s spice trade.
After the tour transfer to airport to fly to Izmir; arrival in Izmir, transfer from airport to a hotel in Kusadasi; overnight stay in Kusadası
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: After half day tour of Istanbul you will drive about 5 hrs to Canakkale and overnight stay in Canakkale.
Day 4: Troy – Alexander Troas – Assos
Stop At: Troy (Truva), Tevfikiye Koyu, Intepe, Canakkale Turkey
After breakfast you will have short drive and you will visit Homer’s legendary Troy and see the replica of the wooden horse.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Alexandria Troas Antik Kenti, Dalyan Koyu, Ezine Turkey
After short drive you will reach Alexandria Troas; St. Paul sailed to Greece from here ( Acts 16:8.); this is also the place where he raised Eutychus from the dead ( Acts 20:5-12).
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Assos, Assos, Canakkale Province, Turkish Aegean Coast
Our final stop during this tour is Assos; on the last leg of his third missionary journey, Paul walked from Alexandria Troas to Assos ( Acts 20:5-6,13-14) where he met his companions, who had gone ahead of him by sea.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: We will stay in Assos. Different hotel options are available.
Day 5: Pergamon – Akhisar (Thyatira) – Izmir (Smyrna)
Stop At: Pergamon Antik Kenti, Bergama Turkey
Departure from Assos and 3 hours driving to Pergamon; in Pergamon you will see the Acropolis, Temple of Athena, Serapis Temple, Heroon, Sanctuary of Athena, Library of Pergamon, Temple of Trajan, Theatre, Zeus Altar, Red Coart. Pergamon is the third of the ‘Seven Churches of Asia’ (Rev.1:11). This was the place of Satan’s throne ( Rev. 2:13).
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Akhisar, Akhisar, Manisa Province
Our second stop on this tour is Thyatira; it was one of the Seven Churches ( Revelation 1:11;2:18-28) Lydia, the seller of purple, who sold her dyes in Philippi was from this city, (Acts 16:14).
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Izmir, Izmir, Izmir Province, Turkish Aegean Coast
Then we will drive to Smyrna (Izmir) the third largest city of Turkey. It was the second city to receive a letter from the Apostle John in the book of Revelation (Acts 19:10). The letter in Revelation (2:8-11) is filled with the affection and joy that comes from triumph over hardship and persecution.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: We will stay in Izmir. Different hotel options are available to choose.
Day 6: Sardis – Philedelphia ( Alasehir) – Hierapolis ( Pamukkale)
Stop At: Sardis (Sardes), Belediye Cd. No:124 Sart, Salihli 45300 Turkey
After breakfast we will drive to Sardis. Here was one of the seven Asiatic Churches (Revelation 3:1-6). Sardis was the capital city of ancient Lydia. See the early church remaining in Sardis (Sardis Gymnasium, Jewish Synagogue, Diana Temple).
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Alasehir, Alasehir, Manisa Province
Then proceed to Philadelphia (Alasehir). Philadelphia (brotherly love) is not so ancient as many other cities of Asia Minor, it was founded after 189 BC. It was the seat of the ‘Seven Churches’ (Revelation 3:7-12).
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Pamukkale, Pamukkale
Pamukkale is a town in western Turkey known for the mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces on a nearby hillside. It neighbors Hierapolis, an ancient Roman spa city founded around 190 B.C. Ruins there include a well-preserved theater and a necropolis with sarcophagi that stretch for 2km. The Antique Pool is famous for its submerged Roman columns.
We will also visit the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, Necropolis and Apostle Philip’s tomb.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: We will stay in Pamukkale. Different hotel options are available to choose.
Day 7: Laodicea – Collosae
Stop At: Laodicea, Just off Denizli – Pamukkale, Denizli Turkey
After breakfast we will have a short drive to Laodicea ( Lukewarm Church) . The final letter of the churches of ancient Asia Minor is to the church in the city of Laodicea.
We visit the Christian Ruins as well as the Statue of Emperor Augustus, Aquaduct, Stadium, Ephesian Gate.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Colossae, Emirazizli, 20330 Honaz/Denizli, Turkey
Then drive to the unexcavated city of Colossae (Honaz, Ancient metropolis of Phrygia, the recipient of Paul’s letter). The book of Colossians was addressed to the Church here (Col 1:2) and that Philemon lived in this city.
After the tour 3 hours driving to Kusadasi and overnight stay.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in Cappadocia. Different hotel options are available.
Day 8: Ephesus Tour
Stop At: Ephesus Museum, Selcuk Turkey
After breakfast we will drive to Ephesus; St. Paul visited Ephesus briefly during his second missionary journey and stayed there more than three years. Both Paul and Apostle John wrote letters to the Ephesians.
We also visit Baths of Scholastica, Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, the Theater, Temple of Artemis which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House), Sultaniye Mahallesi, Selcuk 35100 Turkey
We will visit the house, where it is believed Mary (mother of Jesus) lived her last years.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: The Basilica of Saint John, Isa Bey Mahallesi, 2013. Sk. No:1, Selcuk 35920 Turkey
The Basilica of St. John was a basilica in Ephesus. It was constructed by Justinian I in the 6th century. It stands over the believed burial site of John the Apostle. It was modeled after the now lost Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.
After the tour you will be transfered to Izmir airport for your Cappadocia Flight.
Duration: 45 minutes
Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in Cappadocia. Different hotel options are available.
Day 9: North Cappadocia Tour
Stop At: Goreme Panorama, Uchisar Yolu uzeri 1.km, Goreme 50180 Turkey
Esentepe Panoramic viewpoint gives an amazing landscape view over the town of Goreme in Cappadocia.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Goreme Open-Air Museum, Merkez, Muze Cd., Goreme 50180 Turkey
Goreme Open Air Museum is a rocky settlement area that has hosted an extreme monastery life between 4th to 13th centuries D.C.. Being UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, the Goreme Open Air Museum is also one most popular places to see in Cappadocia.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Pasabag, Urgup Turkey
Monks Valley (Paşabağ Vadisi) in Cappadocia is famous for its perfect fairy chimneys, sculpted from ancient lava, ash, and basalt. Often known as Pasabag, Monks Valley is famous for its opportunities to hike among the boulders and into the hills that ring the area.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Avanos, Avanos, Cappadocia
The old city of Avanos, whose name in ancient times was Venessa overlooks the longest river of Turkey, the Kızılırmak which also separates Avanos from the rest of Cappadocia.
The most famous historical feature of Avanos, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery, it is also the most economic activity in the town.
You can visit one of the pottery workshops in the area.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Cappadocia Cave Dwellings, Urgup Turkey
Devrent Valley in Cappadocia (also known as Imaginary Valley) is a beautiful valley full of unique rock formations, many of which are said to resemble animal shapes.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in Cappadocia. Different hotel options are available.
Day 10: South Cappadocia Tour.
Stop At: Kaymakli Underground City, Derinkuyu Turkey
Buried beneath the surface of Cappadocia are a number of stunning underground cities built in ancient times to protect the local population from marauding armies and roving bands of invaders, but the Kaymaklı Underground City dwarfs them all with its sprawling layout.
Kaymaklı Underground City contained eight floors of subterranean defense, but currently only four of the floors are open to the public.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Red Valley, Nevsehir Ortahisar, Nevsehir 50650 Turkey
interesting for walking, as you can see many vineyards and gardens throughout the valley
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Cavusin, Cavusin, Cappadocia
Cavusin old Greek village in Cappadocia Turkey has a 5th century church of Saint John, and a marvelous view into the Rose and Red Valleys.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Pigeon Valley, Uchisar KasabasI Nevşehir Kapadokya, Goreme 50240 Turkey
Guvercinlik Vadisi (Pigeon Valley) earned its name from the countless man made dovecotes (Pigeon Houses) that have been carved into the soft volcanic tuff.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Love Valley, Goreme 50180 Turkey
Out-of-the-way destination with scenic sunset views & unique tower-shaped rock formations.
After the tour you will be transferd to Kayseri airport for your Istanbul flight.
Duration: 45 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation is not included to day 10. Please contact us if you need any accommodation for this night.
