Turkey Suggested Trips

Assume that you are in Istanbul, the following are recommended sights:

Note that tripod for your camera is not allowed inside Aya Sofia, the Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern.

1.  (2 hours)  visit Topkapi Palace - opens 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, except Tuesdays. 

Take the tram on Divanyolu Caddesi (Caddesi = street) towards the direction of the palace after buying the ticket at the booth next to the tram station.  Get off at the stop near the palace.  Walk through the entrance with a stone arch on the side of the pavement which leads to both the palace and the Archaeology Museum, then walk up the hill to the palace entrance.  Ticket required.

You can visit the many buildings, rooms, gardens and terraces, as well as jewels and other treasures owned by the Ottoman sultans.  From the terraces, you can see the Asian part of Istanbul from across the waters of the Golden Horn and the Mamara Sea. 

The Harem has been touted as a worthwhile place to see.  There is a separate charge for it.  However, I did not find the visit and the time and money spent there worthwhile.

2.  (2 hours)  visit Aya Sofia - opens from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm everyday except Mondays.

From Topkapi Palace, walk (about 10 minutes) on the level path towards Aya Irini without having to go down the slope back to the stone arch and then up Divanyolu.  Aya Sofia is just behind Aya Irini.

You should be able to appreciate the history and ambience of this wonderful building, both inside and outside, at a leisurely pace in the two hours.  Spend some time admiring the design and structure of the building, as well as the mosaics on the walls.  Unfortunately, the interior of the building is marred by a huge metal scaffolding which has been there for about 10 years said to allow maintenance of the ceiling, but its removal is supposedly quite costly.

(1 hour, until 2:00 pm) Have lunch in the area near Aya Sofia.  There are many restaurants nearby although most are a bit touristy, but this can't be helped.

3.  (1 hour)  visit Basilica Cistern just opposite Aya Sofia on the other side of Divanyolu Caddesi.  Opening hours 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily (but check).

This underground structure is an extravagant water storage tank built by Emperor Justinian to provide water for Constantinople.  It has 336 huge columns and two Medusa heads at the base of two columns.  Beware of water dripping from the ceiling which have done damage to cameras held by visitors.

4.   (1 1/2 hours) visit Blue Mosque and Hippodrome -  the Mosque is open all the time to visitors if it is not prayer time

The Blue Mosque is only a 5-minute walk from Aya Sofia as they face each other on the opposite ends of Sultanahmet Park.  Go to the back of the Mosque which has an entrance for visitors, change your shoes into slippers (provided); for ladies, headscarves are required (also provided) and enter the Mosque.  You should dress conservatively.

The exterior of the building and minarets perhaps look more refined but is certainly less imposing than the Aya Sofia.    Again the interior view of the mosque is marred by metal pipes which are placed part way down the ceiling throughout in quite a disorderly fashion apparently to support the lighting.

Next to the Blue Mosque is the Hippodrome, a public arena for chariot racing and other events in Roman times.  However, there is not much left there except for the Dikilitas Obelisk (taken by Constantine from Egypt), the Serpentine Column (originally from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi), and the Ormetas Column.

5.  (1 1/2 hours) Grand Bazaar - opens 9:00 am (? check) to 7:00 pm, closed on Sundays.

From Divanyolu Caddesi, walk west until the street changes it name to Yeniceriler Caddesi.  Instead of continuing, turn right onto Yaglikcilar Sok. into the bazaar.  Wander around to look at the hundreds of shops that line the alleyways inside this covered bazaar that sell jewelry, carpets, clothing, and many other things.

If you start #1 at 9:00 am and follow the pace suggested, and allowing for a one-hour lunch, you should finish #5 at about 6:00 pm, including moving between sights.

6.  (4 hours)  take a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus.  Before you start the day, have your hotel book the cruise for you.  Cruises start at around 7:30 pm or 8:00 pm. (but check).

The cruise operator will pick you up at the appointed time and place.  The cruise will go up the Straits and then turn back south  Along the way you will see the Dolmabache Palace built in the mid-1800 to impress foreign dignataries, pass under the Bosphorus Bridge (one of the longest single-span suspension bridges in the world) and pass by the imposing Rumelihisar Castle, which was built in the 1452 by Sultan Mehmet to block off aid to Constantinople by the Europeans from the Black Sea before its downfall.  At the northern end, you can have a close-up view of the buildings, houses and mansions along the shore, close enough that you may be able to see the furniture inside.

Guests on the cruises will be served a mix of Turkish and western food, or other food of your choice (but order when you book your cruise).  Cultural shows such as Turkish folk dances and belly dancing are performed.

The above should be sufficient for one day.  You will need to time your schedule as you have to walk between places.  If you are short of time, you can spend less time at the Blue Mosque, as everything you can see inside the mosque is in plain view from the ground level.

If you are in Turkey for 7 days, and if this is your first time to Turkey, you should probably spend 2 days in Istanbul to see this beautiful city and the various world famous historical sights.  For the rest of the time, you should go outside Istanbul; it is here that you have many possibilities as Turkey is a vast country with many regions each with its characteristics.  The following is of course just one option.  The program below provides for 6 days of actual sight-seeing, with one day to allow for travel between Istanbul to wherever you intend to go and back.

In Istanbul, you can do everything on your own, because all the sights mentioned below can be reached by bus, tram, taxi or walking, provided you have a decent map of Istanbul or guide book.

For trips outside Istanbul, it is best to have a Turkish Government approved tour operator / advisor to make all the flight, connection, hotel and local transportation (included to the sights) arrangements for you.  The operators have standard packages as well as ones tailored to your needs. 

Most operators will do the coordination and booking, but leave it to local guides (possibly run by other tour companies) in each location of your visit to handle the local transport, meals and tours.   It is a good idea, if you use a tour operator / advisor, to ask if they will provide you with a mobile phone which you can use to call them from anywhere in Turkey in case of trouble or emergency. 

Day 1   Istanbul

You can use the program set out in the Suggested Trip for 1-Day section, which includes:

-   Tokapi Palace

-   Aya Sofia

-   Basilica Cistern

-   Blue Mosque

-   Grand Bazaar

-   dinner cruise on the Bosphorus

Day 2   Istanbul

1.         (2 ½ hours)  Kariye Museum (Church of the Holy Savior in Chora) - open every day of the week except Wednesday (check opening hours).

It is easiest to get to the Museum (closed Wednesday) by taxi.  You can also take bus 86 ("Edirnekapi") from Eminonu along Divanyolu Caddesi to the end of the line at Edirnekapi; but this will take longer.  Once at Edirnekapi, ask for directions by saying Kariye (KAH-ree-yeh). The museum is only a two-minute walk east of from there.

The Museum has very well-preserved Byzantine mosaics.  Originally built in the 4 A.D., the current building was re-built in the late 11 A.D..  Most of the interior decoration—the famous mosaics and the mural paintings—dates from about 1320.  Some of the mosaics are those of the dedication, to Jesus and Mary. Others are the offertory ones: Theodore Metochites, builder of the church, offering it to Jesus.  The two small domes of the inner narthex have portraits of all Jesus's ancestors back to Adam. A series outlines Mary's life, and another, Jesus's early years. Yet another series concentrates on Jesus's ministry.  For four centuries after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul it served as a mosque (Kariye Camii), and is now a museum (Kariye Müzesi) because of its priceless mosaics.

On the south side of the Kariye Muzesi is the Kariye Oteli, housed in a renovated Ottoman mansion. The hotel's garden restaurant is very pleasant.  It serves good Ottoman cuisines.

2.         (1 ½ hours)  Golden Horn

The Golden Horn is a river valley and a natural harbor which used to be where the Ottoman fleet was anchored.  The area on the high grounds around the valley has been turned into a picnic area.  Near the top is Pierre Loti Café, where you can enjoy a good view of Istanbul across the harbor.  No food or alcoholic drink is served at the café. 

Nearby is the Eyup Camii (mosque) which is open to visitors from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm except at prayer time.  It is the most holy Islamic site in the country and was built by Sultan Mehmet to commemorate the fall of Prophet Mohammed’s companion Eyub-Al0Ansari during the siege of Constantinople in 688 A.D..

3.         (2 hours)  Dolmabahce Palace - open every day of the week except Monday and Thursday (check opening hours)

The palace is located on the banks of the Bosphorus near the Kabatas tram stop (the end of the tram line in the “new” section of Istanbul).  Here you have to join a guided tour as visitors are not allowed to enter the palace alone.  If you want to bring in a camera, you have to pay an extra fee.

The palace was built in the mid 19th century by Sultan Abdulmecid during the declining years of the Ottomans when he wanted to impress his European rivals.  The palace is luxuriously decorated and follow European designs of the day, although there are obvious signs of aging.  If you are able to and is not rushed by the guide, try to take a look at the paintings and other art objects along the corridors in the palace because many of them were drawn or created over a century ago and some depicted battles fought by the Ottomans. 

4.         (2 hours)  Taksim Square and Military Museum

You can get to Taksim from Dolmabachce Palace by going up Inonu Caddesi.  This is the business and entertainment center of Istanbul with hotels, shops, a concert hall, a convention center and an open theater (Acikhave Tiyatrosu).  It is worth spending some time in this area, have a drink in a café and watch the happenings around there. 

If you have some time, visit the Askeri Museum (Military Museum) - open 9:00am to 5:00 pm, Wednesday to Sunday), where collections of military costumes and weapons from the past are on display.

5.  (evening)   Dinner around Galata Bridge

For dinner, consider going to the “new city” side of Galata Bridge.  There are many restaurants in the area; some are directly under the bridge, which are more touristy and costly.  There are many others 5-minute walk away from the bridge in two to four-storey buildings in an area where one can still enjoy a good view of the sea.  While these restaurants may still be touristy, they appear to also cater to local residents and are less costly.  Some of these restaurants serve seafood, but there are other choices.  As you enjoy your dinner, you can see Topkapi Palace and Aya Sofia from afar.

If you have time to spare on Day 1, 2 or 7 (upon your return from outside Istanbul), it is worth visiting the Archaeology Museum which is just below the Topkapi Palace.   The museum has on display statues, sculptures and other objects from before Hellenistic and Roman times.

For Day 3 onwards, if you follow the program below, you will likely fly from Istanbul to Izmir on Day 3, and then fly back from Izmir to Istanbul on Day 7.  Anyway, you need to adjust your time-table to fit the flight schedules.

Day 3   Flight to Izmir / Pergamum Tour

Pergamum is a pre-Greek name presumably meaning "height" or "elevation." The earliest city was built atop a cone-shaped Acropolis rising over a thousand feet above the surrounding valley.  Pergamum dates back to 1000 BC, perhaps earlier, but there is no written evidence until 399 BC when the city emerged as a power during the struggle for territorial control following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC.

At the Roman city of Pergamon, visit the site of an enormous library built with Roman tiles (the building has long gone), the Asklepion (hospital) and Acropolis, the place where parchment was invented and the steep theater built on the mountain side. Pergamum's other notable structure is the Serapis Temple (Serapeum) which was later transformed into the Red Basilica complex (or Kizil Avlu in Turkish), about one kilometer south of the Acropolis. It consists of a main building and two round towers. In the first century AD, the Christian Church at Pergamon inside the main building of the Red Basilica was one of the Seven Churches which the Book of Revelation mentioned.

Day 4 Priene, Didyma, Miletos Tour

Visit Priene (east of the coastal town of Kusadasi, south of Izmir) which in its time was one of the most spectacular of all the ancient Ionians cities. Then travel on to Miletus with its magnificent theater and the Byzantine fortress on the acropolis above. Last, but not least, visit Didyma. Here you will find the largest Ionic Temple in the world, that of Apollo. Also in Didyma lies the huge, cracked head of Medusa which long ago fell from the frieze.

Day 5   Ephesus Ancient City, Virign Mary’s House and Basilica of St John

Ephesus was the biggest city in Roman Asia with as many as 500,000 citizens around 100 AD. It was also the Byzantine Empire’s most important city around the fifth and sixth centuries and have many well-preserved historical structures. You can walk among them imagining what it would have been like centuries ago.  

The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was located here during this time as well as Cave of Seven Sleepers, but be forewarned that there is not much left at the Temple of Artemis site.

After Ephesus, visit the House of Virgin Mary, about 8 kilometers south of Sulcuk. At the time of his crucifixtion, Jesus entrusted the care of Virgin Mary to St Paul.   Legend has it that Virgin Mary, accompanied by St. Paul, came to Ephesus at the end of her life, circa 37-45 AD. Renaissance church historians mentioned the trip.  Christians and Muslims venerate a small house near Ephesus as Mary's.

Nearby in Sulcuk is the beautiful Basilica of St John built on a hill.  St John the Apostle is said to have lived here toward the end of his life, and was buried here.  The Basilica was built by Emperor Justinian.  Many columns and walls still remain on the sprawling grounds of the Bisilica.  Strange enough, despite its beauty and history, some operators do not mention the Basilica in their itinerary; instead they would bring you to see the nearby Isa Bey Camii, an elegant 14 th century mosque.  The Basilica is really worthwhile to visit.

Day 6   Aphrodisias, Hierapolis, Pamukkale

Aphrodisias is one of the oldest sacred sites in Turkey. Dedicated to the ancient Mother Goddess and then the Greek goddess Aphrodite, it was the site of a magnificent Temple of Aphrodite and the home of a renowned school of marble sculpture. The Temple of Aphrodite later became a Christian basilica through an impressive swapping of columns. Aphrodisias also offers ruins of a large theater, a stadium and other structures, as well as an on-site museum displaying artifacts.   

A museum was just completed in June 2008 at the entrance to the ruins, with numerous Greco-Roman statues and other ancient artifacts on display.

After Aphrodias, the next stop will be at Hierapolis. The name of the city may mean holy city or may be derived from Hiera, the wife of Telephus (son of Hercules and grandson of Zeus), the mythical founder of Pergamum. The hot springs at Hierapolis were believed to have healing properties and people came to the city to bathe in the rich mineral waters in order to cure various ailments.

Right next to Hierapolis, you can see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, located next to the ruins of Hierapolis. The extraordinary effect is created when water from the hot springs loses carbon dioxide as it flows down the slopes, leaving deposits of limestone. The layers of white calcium carbonate, built up in steps on the plateau, gave the site the name Pamukkale ("cotton castle”).

Day 7  Fly back to Istanbul either in the morning or in the afternoon depending on your flight.