Turkey Itineraries

Turkey in 1 Week 

There’s a lot of ground to cover in Turkey, depending on what you’d like to get out of your tour. This week-long guided Turkey itinerary focuses first on Istanbul’s highlights before delving into the archaeological treasures of Ephesus.

Alternatively, you might look for tours that move from Istanbul to Cappadocia if you’re more interested in unique land formations and mysterious landscapes.

Day 1, Istanbul: Start your immersive Turkey week as soon as you arrive - most transatlantic flights will land late morning, so you’ll have time to regroup, then head out to visit the old city of Sultanahmet and the Blue Mosque, perhaps the ancient underground Yerebatan Cistern and the St. Savior in Chora church, famous for its Byzantine mosaics. 

Day 2, Istanbul: You’re ready to roll on your second day in Istanbul. Join your small group tour for visits to Topkapi Palace, the Istanbul Archaeology Museum and the Grand Bazaar. 

Day 3, Cruise on the Bosphorus: Today, your tour guide take you on a half-day guided sightseeing tour up the Bosphorus, stopping at the Egyptian Bazaar, Rumeli Castle and to the appealing seaside village of Ortaköy.

Day 4, Ephesus: Your Turkey vacation continues with a flight to Izmir, where you’ll stay in either Selçuk or Kusadasi as a homebase for Ephesus exploration. Visit the Ephesus Museum, Temple of Artemis, St. John’s Basilica and more. 

Day 5, Pamukkale: Spend a day with your expert local guide in Pamukkale, a must-see Turkey destination, particularly for archaeology buffs. Don’t miss taking a dip in the Sacred Pool.

Days 6-7, Bodrum: Lovers of Greek history adore this part of their tour, exploring the ancient sites of Priene, Miletus and Didyma. Continue on to Bodrum to visit the Underwater Archaeology Museum, St. Peter’s Castle and the waterside village and submerged ruins of Gümüslük.

See all Turkey tours in 1 week »

Turkey and Beyond

While Turkey offers such a breadth of experience for the world traveler, if you’ve flown so far, why not take the time to add on a neighboring country to up the ante on your European vacation?

Turkey’s enviable position in Europe and Asia, and on both the Mediterranean and Black seas, making it an easily combinable trip with other cultures.

Here are a couple ideas of countries that match up well with a guided tour of Turkey:

Turkey and Greece: Lovers of antiquity will enjoy small-group tours of Turkey and Greece. The two countries are geographically close, making it easy to combine them, and both have a plethora of beautiful landscapes, storied history and rich culture to share. 

Turkey and Georgia: Consider an off-the-beaten path tour of Georgia as an add-on to your vacation in Turkey. Experience the melting pot of diverse cultures in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, and its impressive Forte Narikala. From there, it’s easy to hop over to Istanbul for an in-depth visit to Turkey. 

Turkey and Uzbekistan: It’s unlikely you’ll meet too many friends and travelers who have visited Uzbekistan. Combine this exotic country with your Turkey trip and you’ll have so much to share at your next dinner party! It’s less than a five-hour flight from Istanbul to the ancient city of Tashkent. Once there, your tour guide can lead you to incredible Islamic architecture the Khast Imam temple, the Chorsu bazaar and so much more. 

Turkey and Egypt: Topping many a traveler’s bucket list, Egypt is another country that combines easily with a Turkey tour vacation. Hop a quick flight from Istanbul to Cairo and find yourself in Egypt’s chaotic and exotic capital, with incredible museums, sarcophagi and, of course, the Pyramids of Giza nearby.

Read more about great tours to Greece, Georgia, Uzbekistan and Egypt and consider adding at least one or two to your Turkey travel itinerary.