Compare From Istanbul to Antalya: the Ultimate Turkey Itinerary by Culture Trip vs Best of Turkey (Summer) by Trafalgar

Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Istanbul Pera

Activities Included: Welcome dinner

Upon arrival in Istanbul, you’ll be whisked off to a five-star hotel in the harbourside district of Karaköy. Here, our Local Insider will greet you at 6pm and accompany the group throughout the trip. Drop your bags and get your first taste of Istanbul at the in-house hammam, or take a short walk to see the Galata Tower. Regroup in the evening for a welcome dinner at Hamdi in the Old City; tuck into Urfa-style kebaps and lahmacun (thin, meat-topped pizza) while getting to know your fellow travellers. Today serves as a gentle preamble to the packed itinerary over the next two days.

Day 2: Admire the extraordinary architectural treasures of Istanbul

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Istanbul Pera

Activities Included: Guided Old City tour, Guided Grand Bazaar tour

Starting at the elegant Blue Mosque, our tour will lead you through the vibrant streets of Istanbul. This unique city is a melting pot of Byzantine, Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Turkish civilisations, where tradition and modernity live harmoniously side-by-side. Enjoy the vast beauty of the Hagia Sophia and the exquisite details within the Topkapi Palace complex, once the imperial residence of 25 Ottoman sultans. Take your time to sip a glass of çay (Turkish tea) while you haggle for souvenirs in the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 4,000 shops.

Day 3: Discover the sights, sounds and smells of Istanbul’s two continents

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Istanbul Pera

Activities Included: Guided Spice Market tour, Bosphorus ferry cruise, Istanbul food tour

Today, allow yourself to be drawn into the aromatic pleasure of the Spice Market. Next, a hop aboard a ferry across the Bosphorus, the historic waterway between the shores of Europe and Asia, where you’ll glimpse the architectural highlights of Istanbul, such as the Rumeli Fortress. Disembark in the fairytale-like neighbourhood of Kuzguncuk, where you’ll take part in a food-tasting tour through Kadıköy, sampling Turkish specialities such as lahmacun, kaymak and baklava. After taking a ferry back to the European side, you’ll walk through the ancient Beyoglu tunnel and end your day with a stroll down the popular, shop-lined Istiklal Street.

Day 4: Visit the traditional capital city, Ankara

Accommodation: The Wings Hotels Neva Palas

Activities Included: Guided Anıtkabir visit, Museum of Anatolian Civilizations visit

On arrival in Ankara, you’ll instantly sense the calmer, less touristy way of life – in contrast to the chaotic clamour of Istanbul. By now, you’ll probably be familiar with the figure of Kemal Atatürk, founder and first leader of the Turkish Republic, as his image is found across the country. In Ankara, you’ll visit Anıtkabir, his monumental tomb, then onto the Ankara Citadel and the fascinating Museum of Anatolian Civilizations to pour over the most extensive collection of Hittite artefacts in the world, some more than 7,500 years old. Bed down in a luxurious city-centre hotel.

Day 5: Experience the remarkable sites of Hattusas, Yazilikaya and Cappadocia

Accommodation: Utopia Cave Cappadocia

Activities Included: Hattusas visit, Yazilikaya visit

The capital of the ancient Hittite Empire was the mighty Kingdom of Hattusas. Discover this extraordinary relic from the late Bronze Age as you meander through huge stone walls set with reliefs and statues from more than 5,000 years ago. A short walk uphill from the Unesco World Heritage site will bring you to Yazilikaya, a sacred memorial place for Hittites. This impressive site is a natural open-air temple hewn in the rocks, and hidden in the high cliffs. Tonight, you’ll stay in cave-like rooms built from local stone.

Day 6: Marvel at the unique chimney stack rock formations of Cappadocia

Accommodation: Utopia Cave Cappadocia

Activities Included: Guided Goreme Open-Air Museum tour, Zelve Valley visit, Pottery workshop, Wine tasting

Optional Activities: Hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia, Rug weaving demonstration

Although optional, we highly recommend you take the early morning hot-air balloon ride. Floating silently over the surreal rock formations of Cappadocia is undoubtedly the best way to experience this natural phenomena. Enjoy breakfast back at the hotel before heading to Goreme National Park, which has more than 30 rock-carved chapels and the unique cliff dwellings of Zelve. Come afternoon, you’ll join a terracotta workshop in Avanos, creating traditional colourful pottery using time-honoured techniques. Finish your day with a wine tasting at the finest winery in Cappadocia and an optional visit to see local craftspeople weave rugs.

Day 7: Explore an underground city and hike the Rose and Red valleys

Accommodation: Utopia Cave Cappadocia

Activities Included: Guided Kaymakli Underground City tour, Rose and Red valleys hike

Optional Activities: Turkish evening entertainment

Tug on your hiking boots today. You’ll be exploring the Kaymakli Underground City, cut seven storeys down into volcanic rock. These labyrinthine tunnels were dug by locals to hide from marauding armies centuries ago, and could house thousands of people and livestock. Leaving the subterranean city behind, you’ll embark on an 8km (5mi) hike through the Rose and Red valleys; the pink colour of the other-worldly rocks changes as the sun moves across the sky. Spend the rest of your afternoon exploring Cappadocia at leisure. Evening brings optional traditional entertainment of live music and, of course, belly dancing.

Day 8: Visit the compelling city of Konya

Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn Konya

Activities Included: Mausoleum of Rumi visit, Mosque of Aladdin visit

Bid farewell to the Cappadocia caves as we drive on to the sacred city of Konya. Walk in the footsteps of the most famous Persian poet and great Sufi mystic, Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi, as we explore the streets of his hometown. Immerse yourself in Rumi’s teachings, learn about his life, and perhaps catch a glimpse of the mesmerising Whirling Dervishes as they spin, hands held aloft, in a form of meditation. Next, you’ll visit the Mosque of Aladdin, one of the oldest mosques in Turkey, where you can take time to investigate interesting architectural features and beautiful historical tiles.

Day 9: Stroll through the archaeological sites of Aspendos and Perge

Accommodation: Puding Marina Hotel

Activities Included: Aspendos amphitheatre tour, Perge visit

Widely renowned as one of the best preserved Roman theatres of the ancient world, the Aspendos amphitheatre was built during the reign of emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180CE) and was used as a caravanserai by the Seljuks in the 13th century. This ancient masterpiece is used for performances to this day. You’ll hear the story of how the statues of Perge were unearthed as we explore this ancient town, before the final leg of your day trip: a journey through the wild landscapes of the Taurus Mountains to Antalya.

Day 10: Explore the gateway to the Turkish Riviera, Antalya

Accommodation: Puding Marina Hotel

Activities Included: Old Harbour walking tour

Optional Activities: Termessos hike and tour

Today you have two options. You could hike to the ancient mountaintop site of Termessos, 1,000m (3,281ft) above sea level. The national park includes an impressive amphitheatre, Roman baths, aqueducts and even a gymnasium, bounded by a dense pine forest and home to rare wild plants. Alternatively, kick back by the hotel pool. Regroup in the afternoon for a walking tour of the Old Harbour. This includes the colourful marina, cobblestone streets and the fascinating Antalya Archaeological Museum, considered to be one of the best in Turkey. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish.

Day 11: Relax on the beloved beaches of Antalya

Accommodation: Puding Marina Hotel

Activities Included: Farewell dinner

Optional Activities: River rafting

As our tour comes to a close, it’s time to relax and take stock of everything you’ve discovered on your trip through the diverse Turkish landscape. Take a dip in the sea and find your spot to unwind on the miles of soft sand in Turkey’s favourite seaside destination. Alternatively, join an optional adventure to Koprulu Canyon National Park – a vast playground for hiking, rock climbing, swimming and river rafting. Climb aboard and paddle downstream to work up an appetite for your farewell dinner, in a beautiful location under the night sky.

Day 12: Depart from Antalya

After one final night at your hotel, your trip concludes. Say goodbye to your new-found friends at midday before either making your way back to Istanbul to catch your onward flight or continuing your exploration of this fascinating country.

Day 1: Welcome to Istanbul

Stand at the ancient crossroads between Europe and Asia, embarking on a journey of discovery through ancient lands and the marauding empires who fought to rule it. Arriving in vibrant Istanbul, you will be transferred to your hotel before joining your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a memorable Light Meal to kick off your epic adventure.

Arts Hotel Taksim

Dinner

Day 2: Discover Colorful Istanbul Dive Into Culture

Spend your day delving into a city where modern and ancient coexist effortlessly. Gain insights into the Ottoman Empire's power during your guided tour of the Topkapi Palace and see the 4th-century Egyptian obelisk. Visit Hagia Sophia and the Hippodrome. See the exquisite Blue Mosque, said to rival even the Great Mosque in Mecca. Dive Into Culture this afternoon, with a visit to the Grand Bazaar. Spend your afternoon haggling with passionate market vendors lining its labyrinthine lanes.

Arts Hotel Taksim

Breakfast

Day 3: Journey to Gallipoli and Çanakkale

Pay tribute to the brave souls who lost their lives at Gallipoli – the national pride of two nations, the Turkish and Australians, were awakened at the site of the bloody WWI battlefields and are commemorated to this day. See Anzac Cove and the Dardanelles, and visit the cemeteries of Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair, the final resting place of many Allied soldiers. We continue to Çanakkale where we dine at our hotel tonight.

Iris

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Off to Troy, Pergamon and Izmir

Explore the legends of Troy and see the symbolic replica of the famous Wooden Horse the Greeks used to break their siege of this ancient city. Visit the ancient Asclepion Medical Center in the city of Pergamon before retiring in Izmir this evening where we'll dine at our hotel.

Kaya Izmir Thermal & Convention

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: Explore the Ruins of Ephesus

Stroll through the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, past the amazingly intact façade of the Library of Celcus and down to what was once its thriving port. During your visit to a Turkish carpet emporium, learn about the rich heritage and intricate artistry of carpet weaving. See the House of Virgin Mary at Mt. Koressos, then spend the rest of the day at leisure. This evening you may consider joining an optional dinner at a local restaurant in Izmir and indulge in some of the local raki.

Kaya Izmir Thermal & Convention

Breakfast

Day 6: Onwards to Pamukkale

Leave the coastal city of Izmir behind as you journey inland to Pamukkale. Relax and enjoy the blissful thermal pools at your hotel before dinner.

Colossae Thermal

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Venture to Hierapolis and Antalya Connect with Locals

Tread in the footsteps of the ancients who sought relief and relaxation at the Roman health spa at Hierapolis, then admire the bubbling pools and delicate white cascades of water of Pamukkale's Cotton Castle Springs. Later, we travel through scenic countryside and join the Yazir community in the Taurus Mountains, where we’ll Connect With Locals and gain insights into their traditions at our Be My Guest lunch. Our stop for the next two nights is the Mediterranean retreat of Antalya. Enjoy some time on your own ambling through the winding lanes of its old city and admiring beautifully preserved Ottoman architecture. This evening, join your companions for a Regional Dinner at a local restaurant.

Oz Hotels Antalya

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Enjoy Ancient Perge

Enjoy a morning on your terms to soak up the enchanting seaside atmosphere of the Turkish Riviera, embarking on an optional yacht cruise or relaxing at the hotel pool. This afternoon, we travel to the Roman city of Perge to visit the impressive Antalya Archaeological Museum and see treasures spanning the centuries.

Oz Hotels Antalya

Breakfast

Day 9: On the Road to Aspendos and Konya

Witness the world's best-preserved theater of antiquity during your first stop in Aspendos this morning, before continuing to Konya, where we will gain insights into the mystical Whirling Dervish sect whose remains lie in the Mevlana Museum and Mausoleum. We continue to the Karatay Tile Museum, spellbound by its exquisitely Seljuk-tiled dome, before returning to our hotel where we'll dine tonight.

Dedeman

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10: Continue to Cappadocia Stays With Stories

See a well-preserved 13th-century caravanserai, at which weary travelers used to rest. We journey to Cappadocia with its honey-colored rocky spires providing an enchanting backdrop for our visit to the underground city of Saratli on the ancient Silk Road. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at King’s Valley eco farm. Local host Ali shares how he created an eco farm on the very spot where his grandfather’s garden once stood, in an effort to preserve traditional farming and revive the local economy. Tonight we stay in one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories located with views of the valley and ancient Ortahisar rock castle.

Exedra Hotel

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11: A Day to Explore Spectacular Göreme Dive Into Culture

The other-worldly landscapes of Cappadocia take center stage today as we explore its volcanic landscape dotted with caves and troglodyte dwellings. We visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum to admire the extraordinary rock-hewn churches and the fairy chimneys of Paşabağ. Dive Into Culture to learn about the art of pottery making in Avanos. This evening, indulge in the flavors of traditional pottery kebabs during a Regional Dinner at a local restaurant.

Exedra Hotel

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12: Onwards to Ankara

Arriving in the youthful capital of Turkey today, we visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations and the final resting place of the country's beloved Atatürk, the first president of the modern Turkish nation. This evening we dine at our hotel in Ankara.

Grand Mercure Ankara

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 13: Return to Istanbul

Returning to Istanbul, we enjoy the rest of the day on our own. Delve into the depths of the Basilica Cistern, savor the intoxicating smells of the Spice Market or ascend Galata Tower for exquisite views of east and west. Consider an optional cruise navigating the waters of the Bosphorus before meeting your Travel Director and fellow companions for a memorable Farewell Dinner.

Arts Hotel Taksim

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14: Farewell Istanbul

Our epic journey into antiquity has come to an end as we bid Istanbul and newfound friends a fond farewell.

Breakfast