5 Days Istanbul, Ephesus and Pamukkale Tour
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Tour Overview
Stay three nights in Istanbul, with time for your own plans between visits. Join an Old City morning tour and a Bosphorus lunch cruise on separate days. Then fly to Izmir for Ephesus and stay one night in Kusadasi. Visit Pamukkale before flying back to Istanbul. Both flights and four hotel nights are included.
Start with an airport meeting and three nights in Istanbul. The Old City morning tour on day 2 covers Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar. The Group morning finishes at the bazaar, leaving the afternoon for your own plans.
Day 3 has a free morning and an afternoon Bosphorus cruise with lunch aboard. Both Group and Private packages use the shared lunch-cruise boat. The Private option includes private transfers to and from the boat, without a private guide on the cruise day.
Fly to Izmir early on day 4. The included arrival transfer connects you with the Ephesus itinerary, including the ancient city, House of Virgin Mary, Temple of Artemis and lunch. Stay one night in Kusadasi, then leave after breakfast for Pamukkale on day 5.
Visit the white terraces and Hierapolis, have lunch and see Cleopatra Pool. Viewing the pool is free; swimming costs extra. Continue to Denizli Airport for the flight to Istanbul. The airport meeting and hotel transfer are included after landing, but accommodation in Istanbul after this return flight is separate.
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Three Istanbul nights before the western site visits
- Separate the two Istanbul itinerariesThe Old City morning is on day 2; the lunch cruise follows on day 3, leaving time for your own plans.
- Visit Ephesus after the Izmir flightThe early flight, airport meeting and arrival transfer connect with the complete Ephesus itinerary.
- Fly back after PamukkaleFinish the visits before the Denizli airport transfer; the final hotel transfer in Istanbul is included.
Day by day
Tour Itinerary
Every day is set out in full below: the times, the transfers and every place you visit.
Fly into Izmir for Ephesus and out of Denizli after Pamukkale. Accommodation after the return to Istanbul is separate. 2 stops · 4 nights
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Day 1Arrive in Istanbul and check in for three nights An airport meeting and the transfer to your selected hotel are included.
Meet your driver at your arrival airport in IstanbulTravel to your hotel for the first of three included Istanbul nights. International flights are separate.
Check in and spend the rest of the day as you chooseHotel check-in follows the usual time. No guided visits are scheduled on arrival day.
First night in IstanbulBreakfast is included before the Old City morning tour.
Day 2Visit the Old City in the morning The Group itinerary finishes at the Grand Bazaar, with the afternoon free.
Pickup depends on hotel location; the morning tour ends around 12:30.Hotel pickup for the Old City tour after breakfastVisit the four places below with a licensed guide and included entrance fees.
Hagia SophiaSee the building whose large dome has shaped the Old City skyline for centuries. Your guide introduces its architecture and history of different religious uses.
Blue MosqueVisit the mosque facing Hagia Sophia across Sultanahmet Square. Its decorated interior remains a place of worship, with dress and prayer-time requirements for visitors.
Hippodrome and ObelisksWalk through the square where chariot races once took place. The surviving obelisks and other monuments mark parts of the former racing ground.
Grand BazaarFinish the morning among the covered market’s lanes and shops. The Group tour leaves you here for your own browsing; Sundays use a different shopping stop.
Finish the Group tour at the Grand BazaarBrowse independently after the guided tour. Lunch and transport back to your hotel are separate. An alternative shopping stop is used when the bazaar is closed on Sunday.
Use the afternoon for your own plansNo further tour is booked today. Any additional visits, meals and local transport are at your own expense.
Second night in IstanbulTomorrow morning is free before the afternoon lunch cruise.
Day 3Take an afternoon Bosphorus cruise with lunch The morning is free, followed by the included hotel pickup, cruise and return.
Free morning after breakfastMake your own plans before the cruise pickup. Extra visits and local transport are separate.
Transfer from the hotel to the cruise boatThe included pickup brings you to the afternoon departure.
The afternoon cruise runs around 14:30–17:00.Bosphorus lunch cruiseCruise past the places below with lunch aboard.
Golden HornSee the inlet beside Istanbul’s historic peninsula. The waterfront and older districts form part of the views on the afternoon route.
Lunch aboard the afternoon cruiseThe boat serves the included lunch during the cruise. Drinks and any additional orders are paid separately.
BosphorusLook towards both the European and Asian shores from the strait. The route passes waterfront neighbourhoods, bridges and palaces.
Return to your Istanbul hotel after the cruiseHotel drop-off is included. Tomorrow’s early flight requires checkout before breakfast service.
Third and final included night in IstanbulBreakfast is excluded on day 4 because of the early flight checkout.
Day 4Fly to Izmir and visit Ephesus The arrival meeting and transfer take you straight to the guided tour.
Pickup follows the booked flight.Early hotel checkout and transfer to the departure airport in IstanbulBreakfast is excluded because checkout is before breakfast service.
Flight time depends on season and availability.Fly from Istanbul to IzmirThe included domestic flight takes about one hour, arriving in time for the Ephesus itinerary.
Airport meeting and transfer to the Ephesus tour areaMeet your driver in Izmir and travel about one hour to join the guided visits.
Sightseeing runs around 09:30–15:00.Begin the Ephesus itineraryVisit the three places below with a licensed guide, lunch and entrance fees.
Ephesus Ancient CityFollow the ancient streets through the remains of Ephesus. The Celsus Library façade and large theatre are among the buildings explained on the guided walk.
Lunch on the Ephesus flight-arrival dayThe Ephesus itinerary includes a restaurant lunch between its visits. Drinks with lunch and extra orders remain separate.
House of Virgin MaryVisit the small stone shrine in the hills above Ephesus. Its association with the Virgin Mary has made the site a place of pilgrimage.
Temple of ArtemisSee the remaining traces of the sanctuary once dedicated to Artemis. Your guide explains the scale of the temple that stood at this site.
Transfer to your Kusadasi hotel after sightseeingCheck in for one night in your selected class. Breakfast is included before tomorrow’s road departure.
One included night in KusadasiBreakfast is included before the 07:00 Pamukkale pickup.
Day 5Visit Pamukkale and return to Istanbul by air Continue from the site visits to Denizli Airport, then take the included hotel transfer in Istanbul.
Leave Kusadasi after breakfast and checkoutThe drive to Pamukkale takes about two and a half hours. Breakfast is included before pickup.
The guided visits finish around 15:00.Pamukkale and Hierapolis guided tourVisit the places below with lunch and the listed entrance fees included.
Pamukkale TravertinesVisit the white terraces made by mineral deposits from the springs. Walk without shoes on the permitted section of the terraces.
Hierapolis Ancient CityExplore the remains of the settlement above Pamukkale’s springs. The ruins show how the ancient city developed around the thermal waters.
Lunch before the Denizli departure transferLunch is included as part of the Pamukkale itinerary before leaving for the airport. Drinks and additional restaurant orders are extra.
Cleopatra Antique PoolSee ancient stonework beneath the warm pool water. The pool is open, with free viewing and a separate payment at the site for optional swimming.
Pickup is arranged around the flight departure.Transfer to Denizli AirportThe included airport transfer takes about one hour after the Pamukkale visits.
Flight time depends on season and availability.Fly from Denizli to IstanbulYour domestic return flight is included.
Meet your driver and transfer to your hotel in IstanbulThe airport meeting and hotel transfer complete the package. Accommodation in Istanbul after this flight is not included.
Package scope
What's Included
No hidden package costs. Hotels, flights, transfers, guided visits and the shared lunch cruise are included, with breakfast on days 2, 3 and 5 and lunch on days 3–5.
Included
Covered by the displayed package price
Hotels and listed meals
- Four hotel nights in the selected class: three in Istanbul and one in Kusadasi
- Breakfast on days 2, 3 and 5; lunch on days 3, 4 and 5
Tours and tickets
- Old City morning itinerary with licensed guide, entrance fees and hotel pickup
- Shared Bosphorus lunch cruise with hotel pickup and return; Private bookings use private transfers to and from the same shared boat
- Ephesus and Pamukkale itineraries with licensed guides, lunch, listed entrance fees and tour transport
- English guiding on the Group sightseeing itinerary; the selected English, Spanish or Italian guide on Private Old City, Ephesus and Pamukkale visits
Domestic flights and transfers
- Domestic flights from Istanbul to Izmir and from Denizli to Istanbul
- 15 kg checked baggage and 8 kg cabin baggage per person on the included flights
- All listed airport meetings, airport transfers and hotel transfers, including the hotel transfer after the return flight to Istanbul
Local taxes and fees
- Local taxes and service fees
Not included
Budget separately or add during booking
- International flights and accommodation in Istanbul after the day 5 return flight
- Meals on arrival day 1, lunch on day 2, breakfast on the early flight day 4, all dinners and drinks with included lunches
- Hotel return transport after the Group Old City morning tour
- A private boat or private guide on the lunch-cruise day
- Optional swimming at Cleopatra Pool; viewing the pool is free
- Independent sightseeing, extra baggage, shopping and personal expenses
Stay options
Hotel Classes
Three Istanbul nights and one Kusadasi night are included; accommodation in Istanbul after the return flight is separate.
Smart value
Standard Class
- En-suite rooms with air conditioning
- Breakfast included every morning
- Properties we book week after week
From, per person€810
Prices by room occupancy
- 1 person in a single room€1,063
- 2 people sharing a room€810
- 3 people sharing a room€771
Per person. Prices vary by departure date. These are this week’s lowest.
Most selected
Middle Class
- Larger rooms and better bathrooms
- More on-site facilities and service
- Consistently higher guest ratings
Upgrade, per person+ €123
Prices by room occupancy
- 1 person in a single room€1,232
- 2 people sharing a room€933
- 3 people sharing a room€888
Per person. Prices vary by departure date. These are this week’s lowest.
Premium pick
High Class
- The best-rated property on each stop
- The most space and the best views
- Attentive service from arrival to check-out
Upgrade, per person+ €559
Prices by room occupancy
- 1 person in a single room€1,921
- 2 people sharing a room€1,369
- 3 people sharing a room€1,202
Per person. Prices vary by departure date. These are this week’s lowest.
Swipe to compare the classes
Route & duration options
Compare Turkey Tour Packages
Keep three Istanbul nights and a lunch cruise, shorten the city stay, or add Cappadocia to the regional route.
| Comparison | 4 Days Turkey Tour from Istanbul: Istanbul, Ephesus and PamukkaleFour days without the lunch-cruise day | You are viewing5 Days Istanbul, Ephesus and Pamukkale TourOld City and lunch cruise before the Aegean sites | 6 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale TourAdd Red and Yellow Tours in Cappadocia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul sightseeing | Old City morning | Old City morning and Bosphorus lunch cruise | Old City morning; no lunch cruise |
| Istanbul nights | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Cappadocia | Not included | Not included | Red and Yellow with 1 hotel night |
| Kusadasi nights | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Ephesus and Pamukkale | Days 3 and 4 | Days 4 and 5 | Days 5 and 6 |
| From price | €698 | €810 | €944 |
| View Tour & Prices: 4 Days Turkey Tour from Istanbul: Istanbul, Ephesus and Pamukkale | View Tour & Prices: 6 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale Tour |
Swipe to compare the packages
Want to start sightseeing immediately in Istanbul?3 Days Turkey Tour from Istanbul: Istanbul, Ephesus and Pamukkale combines an Old City morning with Ephesus and Pamukkale over three days, without Istanbul hotel nights.
Want the cruise and more regions together?Plan a Turkey trip with Istanbul and the Aegean to choose the sightseeing and overnight stays for your holiday.
Practical details
Before You Book
The shared boat, Istanbul free time and four-night hotel arrangement.
- Is the Bosphorus boat private when I choose a Private package?
No. Both package types use the same shared lunch-cruise boat. A Private booking includes private transfers from your hotel to the boat and back, with no private guide on the cruise day. Lunch is included aboard and drinks are extra.
- How does the Old City morning end?
The Group itinerary ends around 12:30 at the Grand Bazaar, where you can stay to browse. Lunch and transport back to your hotel are separate. On Sundays, a different shopping stop replaces the bazaar. Private Old City bookings include the return transfer.
- Is there an included hotel night after we fly back to Istanbul?
No. The four included nights are three in Istanbul at the start and one in Kusadasi after Ephesus. The return flight on day 5 includes an airport meeting and hotel transfer, but accommodation after that return is separate.
- Which departures are early, and is breakfast included?
Day 4 has an airport transfer around 04:00, so breakfast is excluded before that flight. On day 5, breakfast is included before the 07:00 Pamukkale pickup. Breakfast is also included on days 2 and 3 in Istanbul.
- Does the Old City tour include Topkapi Palace?
No. This package’s morning tour covers Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar. Day 2 has a free afternoon and day 3 has a free morning for your own plans; extra visits and their costs are separate.
- Which languages and tour types is this tour available in?
- EnglishGroupPrivate
- SpanishPrivate
- ItalianPrivate
Pick the combination that suits you when you check availability.
- Can I cancel this tour, and how much do I get back?
Yes. How much comes back depends on how early you let us know: we count the days from your written cancellation to your first booked service.
- 61 to 90 days70% back
- 31 to 60 days60% back
- 16 to 30 days30% back
- 0 to 15 days, or no showNo refund
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