Explore Historic Turkey: From Istanbul to Antalya - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Turkey, Tour Gallipoli, Transfer to Çanakkale

Welcome to Turkey! This culturally rich nation is a geographic and cultural bridge between the Middle East and the West. Few cities in the world represent such a melting pot of cultures through the ages, quite like Turkey's largest city, Istanbul. Though you'll arrive in Istanbul, your driver will transfer you to Gallipoli. This northwestern peninsula is forever enshrined in the history books as a crucial strategic front and site of many epic battles during World War I. The drive takes about three hours, and you'll arrive by mid or late morning to ensure you have a full day touring the area.

 

Your tenure in Gallipoli kicks off with a visit to a local winery for a welcome glass (or three) of the local tipple. This particular area of Turkey is a fertile wine-producing region that utilizes both international and local grapes in its wine-making. Here you can taste several different varietals, including one of Turkey's flagship white grapes, Beyaz, denoted by floral characteristics with apple and citrus notes. During the visit, you'll also learn about the history of wine and the wine-making process in Turkey. 

 

After lunch, you'll visit some famous battlefields. Two somber (but scenic) locales are Anzac Cove and Sedd el Bahr Cape. These were both the sites of significant battles during the war, but they offer tranquil scenes of sandy beaches and turquoise waters today. Along this route, you'll stop at the Çanakkale War Simulation Center, which recounts the timeline of the Gallipoli Campaign through cutting-edge 3D simulations. You can also visit the 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial, the Helles Memorial, and the Ari Burnu Cemetery, commemorating the 252 Commonwealth soldiers killed during the campaign.

 

After learning all about Gallipoli's wartime history, you'll take the ferry south across the Dardanelles Strait to the waterfront city of Çanakkale. Settle into your hotel and relax a bit before heading out for dinner. Many delicious restaurants are in the city's historic district and near the port.

Day 2: Visit the Ancient Ruins at Troy & Assos

After breakfast, drive 19 miles (30 km) south of Çanakkale to the ruins of ancient Troy. Sitting on the Mound of Hisarlık and overlooking the Aegean Sea, this city is famous as the setting for the Trojan War in Homer's two epic poems: "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey." Even those who haven't read the books are familiar with the famous "Trojan horse" gambit in which Greek soldiers hidden inside a giant wooden horse infiltrated Troy. The siege is based on an actual event back in the 13th century BCE. More incredible is that excavations date settlements back long before: about 8,000 years.

 

There's a lot to see on this 74-acre site, so plan on spending 1.5 hours here. Highlights include the remains of Troy's lower town, the citadel, amphitheater, defensive walls, bastions, and various gates. Afterward, continue south down a coastal road to Babakale, a historic harbor town on the Biga Peninsula, for lunch. Your next stop is the Assos Archeological Site, the remains of a Greek city founded during the 7th century BCE. It's home to ruins like the gymnasium where Aristotle taught. The Temple of Athena was also built in 540 BCE on a hill with views over the sea to the Greek island of Lesbos. 

After touring Assos, you'll continue driving a little way east to the coastal foothills and the village of Adatepe, known for its stone houses and cobbled streets. Settle into your accommodation and relax before exploring this charming little town. Adatepe is one of the most well-preserved ancient villages in Turkey, and there's no shortage of quaint cafés here to enjoy a lovely dinner. 

Day 3: Olive Oil Tasting, Drive from Adatepe to İzmir

In the morning, head out to explore some of the most beautiful sites in this coastal region, starting at an olive oil museum. Here you'll learn all about the origins of the olive tree in Turkey, its cultivation, the production of olive oil, and this product's national significance—Turkey is the world's fifth-largest producer of olive oil. Of course, a major highlight is when you taste some high-quality olive oils. After snacking, get back in the car with your guide and drive about three hours south from Adatepe to İzmir, a lovely coastal city that the Turks refer to as "the pearl of the Aegean."

On the way, you'll stop at the ancient city of Pergamon, located in the coastal hills. The city's golden age was during the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, during which time it was a major center of science and education. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the exceptional monuments here are a testament to that legacy and include an amphitheater, gymnasium, and the Great Altar of Pergamon. During its heyday, it was also home to one of the most important libraries of the ancient world and a famous sculpture school. Moreover, Pergamon is the site of one of the seven churches of the Christian Revelation.

 

After visiting Pergamon, you'll drive to your hotel in İzmir, check in, and have the remainder of the evening free.

Day 4: İzmir to Şirince, Tour Ancient Ephesus

After a tour of İzmir, you'll drive down the coast to Ephesus. This 1,030-acre archeological site is home to a wealth of history spanning various eras, dating to around the 10th century BCE. It's a well-preserved testimony to Hellenistic, Roman, and early Christian periods and the site attracts millions of tourists each year. The most famous monument is the Temple of Artemis, which dates to around 550 BCE and is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Other incredible ruins include a 24,000-seat amphitheater and the Library of Celsus, a grand funerary monument that dates to the 2nd-century CE. 

Later in the afternoon, you'll walk in the footsteps of more religious history when you visit the House of the Virgin Mary. Located atop the beautiful greenery of Bulbul Mountain, it's believed that this is where Mary came with St. John, who spent several years spreading Christianity in Ephesus. There's even reason to believe the gospel of St. John was written here.

After touring Ephesus, you'll travel 5 miles (8 km) to the charming village of Şirince for a lovely dinner.

Day 5: Walking Tour of Şirince

In the morning, you'll have free time to stroll this picture-postcard Aegean village. Şirince is a town of just 600 people, one whose primary industry is agriculture. The area around it is a major producer of olive oil, peaches, and grapes. Still, tourism is a big draw, too—people flock from all over to experience this charming town and its impressive Ottoman-Christian architecture. This is a self-guided tour in which you can go wherever you like. You'll want to visit the colorful town center to find numerous artisanal shops and vendor stalls.

 

An easy hike just outside the village reveals even more history. There are landmarks here dating back to the Hellenistic period (323–31 BCE), and up the road, you'll see the remains of several Roman aqueducts. This is because Şirince was a vital water source for nearby Ephesus during its heyday. After exploring on foot, you can head back to your hotel to relax before enjoying dinner in town. 

Day 6: Visit Pamukkale & Hierapolis

After breakfast, hop in the car and head east from Şirince on a 3.5-hour drive inland to Pamukkale. This town in southwestern Turkey is known for what might be the most stunning natural wonder in the entire country: its collection of terraced thermal springs. The name itself translates to "cotton castle." On a 6-hour day tour of this area, you'll understand why. 

 

The landscape here comprises mineral forests, petrified waterfalls, and terraced basins. These were formed by calcium waters that cascade down from a 656-foot (200-m) cliff overlooking the plain. Some of the terraced pools, with their baby-blue water, are even open for swimming. But the best place for a soak is nearby Hierapolis, an ancient Roman spa city founded around 190 BCE. Take a dip in the Antique Pool, a thermal bath full of submerged marble columns from the nearby Temple of Apollo. Other landmarks here include various baths, temple ruins, arches, a necropolis, and an amphitheater.  

After touring Hierapolis and the nearby terraced pools, you'll go to your spa hotel in Pamukkale. Here you can spend the evening relaxing, swimming in more thermal pools, or enjoying a relaxing massage to take the edge off your long day.

Day 7: Pamukkale to Antalya

In the morning, you'll embark on another road trip, this time back towards the coast and the resort city of Antalya. This is the gateway to the country's stunning Turquoise Coast, famous for its golden beaches, coastal mountains, pine-fringed bays, and azure waters. Antalya is one of the country's premier holiday destinations and the very definition of a historic Mediterranean port, complete with a yacht-filled old harbor, stunning Roman ruins, and Ottoman-era houses.

 

The drive will take about 3.5 hours, and when you arrive, you'll check in to your hotel. Then you can head out and explore Antalya on your own.

Day 8: Tour Antalya's Old Town, Travel to Adrasan via Chimaera

After breakfast, you'll meet a personal guide who will lead you on a 3-hour walking tour of the city's Kaleiçi (Old Town) district. This tour focuses on the city's archaeological heritage, which spans the Roman, Seljukid (Turko-Persian), and Ottoman eras. Antalya has such a diverse history precisely because of this port city that has seen its fair share of cultures over the millennia. 

Highlights of the tour include a stop at Hadrian's Gate, a well-preserved triumphal arch built for Roman emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century CE. There's also the Yivli Minaret Mosque, built by the Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubad I in the 13th century and whose 124-foot (38-m) fluted minaret is an icon of the city. Another stop is the legendary Broken Minaret (Kesik Minaret). It sits on a site that has been a Roman temple, a Byzantine church, a Seljuk mosque, a Christian church, then a mosque again during Ottoman rule. The mosque is now in ruins, with only its stone minaret remaining.

After Kaleiçi, you'll visit the Antalya Archaeological Museum, adding perspective to the architectural marvels you've seen by providing a timeline of Antalya's history from antiquity to the present day.

 

In the afternoon, you'll leave Antalya for the hour trip down the coast to the tranquil seaside town of Adrasan. On the way, stop at Mount Chimaera, known in Turkish as yanartaş, which translates to "burning rock." The mountain earned this name due to its many flaming gas vents that have been burning for millennia and were even once used as a navigational reference for ships at sea. Famously, this place is widely believed to be the origin of the mythical Chimaera monster. After witnessing the eternal flames of Chimaera, you'll continue to Adrasan, where you'll check into your hotel.

Adrasan is known for a relaxed atmosphere that's in stark contrast to the crowded resort areas of the Turquoise Coast. The lovely golden beaches around this village are rarely crowded, and there are some tremendous offshore islands to visit. For these reasons, boat tours are the most popular activity here.

 

You'll enjoy one such excursion on a full-day boat tour. On this 7-hour trip, you'll travel to hidden coves and secluded white-sand beaches where turquoise and crystalline waters lap at the shore. There will be ample time to disembark, go for a dip, laze on the sands, and enjoy food and drinks as you marvel at the stunning coastal scenery. 

Day 10: Free day in Adrasan

Today is yours to spend however you like in Adrasan. Hit the beach for sunbathing, embark on more optional boat tours, visit secluded bays, or relax at the hotel with a good book. If you do opt for a beach, the white sands and clear waters at the Bay of Olympos is one of the best options.

Day 11: Adrasan to Istanbul, Walking Tour

In the morning, a driver will transfer you to the airport in Antalya for your flight to Istanbul. Turkey's largest city lies on the Bosphorus Strait, which divides it into European and Asian halves, thus bridging the two continents. Istanbul is a melting pot of cultures—a hallmark ever since it was the terminus on the old Silk Road. It's also known for great food and incredible architecture spanning the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Combine that with the welcoming spirit of the locals, and the result is one of the most dynamic cities in the world.

Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your centrally located hotel. After unpacking and unwinding, it will be time to head out on a 3-hour walking tour of the city. Your guide will take you right to the heart of Istanbul, around the lively Karaköy and Galata districts. Important landmarks include St. Antoine's Church (the largest Catholic Church in Istanbul), the 19th-century Tünel (the oldest underground train in Europe), and Neve Shalom Synagogue.

 

Then head up Galata Tower. This 14th-century watchtower was built by the Genovese and offers stunning views of the European side of Istanbul, the Golden Horn waterway, the Bosphorus, and south to the Historical Peninsula (Old City). Then head down to the waterfront enclave of Karaköy via the stunning Camondo Steps. This curved stairway was built in the 1870s in an Art Nouveau, Gaudi-esque style you have to see to believe. Afterward, cross the Golden Horn via the Galata Bridge before arriving at the Eminönü waterfront, known for its many bazaars.

 

After the tour, head back to your hotel and relax. In the evening, venture out again for dinner at one of Istanbul's many kebapçıs (kebab restaurants), or try other staples like fresh fish and mezes (a platter of small plates and finger foods designed to be shared).

Day 12: Tour Istanbul by Foot & Boat

Wake up and enjoy a classic Turkish breakfast of olives, tomatoes, eggs, cheese, fresh bread, and other goodies. Now that you're fortified, head out for a day exploring Istanbul. Start at Topkapi Palace, the former residence of the Ottoman sultans in the 15th century. Today it houses a fascinating museum.

 

Next, you'll visit the Spice Bazaar, one of the most fragrant and colorful markets in the city. This is where people stock up on common Turkish spices like sumac, saffron, black cumin, and pul biber (also known as Aleppo pepper). It's also a great place to shop for gifts and local treats such as Turkish coffees, teas, dried fruits, nuts, and Turkish delight.

 

After lunch, enjoy a boat excursion along the Bosphorus. From the deck, you can admire the shores of both the European and Asian sides of the city. This vantage point reveals the full scope of Istanbul and how all its minarets, ancient buildings, and colorful homes dotting the hills comprise one of the most impressive skylines. After a long day of sightseeing, head back to your hotel for a little relaxation before venturing out again for another dinner in Istanbul.

Day 13: Walking Tour of Istanbul's Old City

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, then meet your guide for another adventurous day exploring Istanbul. Today's focus will be the Old City, located on a peninsula that juts eastward into the Bosphorus. Because this landmass sits at the southernmost entrance to the strait, it was of great strategic importance to anyone who controlled the city. The Roman emperor Constantine, for example, built the Walls of Constantinople here in the 1st century CE. These stone fortifications ran around the spine of the peninsula and survived even through the Ottoman Empire. Many are still intact today.

You'll visit significant landmarks in the Old City, some of which are centered around the Byzantine-era Hippodrome. This large square was a circus and sports center in the days of Constantinople. Today it's famous as the location of Hagia Sophia, which was built in 537 CE and was the largest building in the world at the time. The Blue Mosque sits just across the Hippodrome, another of Istanbul's architectural marvels. Officially called the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, it was built in the early 17th century and earned its nickname due to the 20,000 blue Iznik tiles speckling its interior. 

In the afternoon, your guide will take you to the Grand Bazaar. Sprawling more than 333,000 sq feet (30,700 sq m), this is one of the largest covered markets in the world. And because it was built in 1455, it is also one of the oldest. More than 4,000 shops and stalls across 61 covered streets sell everything from hand-woven Turkish rugs to knockoff designer clothing. To see all of it would take a few hours, so be sure to stop every so often and give your legs a break at one of the bazaar's many cafés. 

Afterward, return to your hotel and relax for a bit. Then head out to dinner at one of the restaurants around Taksim Square, Galata, or trendy Karaköy.

Day 14: Depart Turkey

Alas, your grand adventure in Turkey has come to an end. Your driver will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight home in the morning. See you soon!

 

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