WESTERN SITES OF TURKEY TOUR

Western Sites of Turkey Tour – 10 Days Western Turkey Tour to Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Smyrna, Ephesus, and Bodrum tours. Book it today and get the Western Turkey Tour Package.

10 Days Western Turkey Tour Package

ISTANBUL → GALLIPOLI → TROY → PERGAMON → EPHESUS → BODRUM → SMYRNA-IZMIR

Day 1 – Arrive in Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul! Where the continents meet.

Meet at Istanbul Airport: Once you arrive at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport, after the luggage claim, you will be greeted by a Romos Travel Representative at the meeting area.

Transfer to the hotel: You will be taken to your hotel, and after check-in, you will have time for leisure, and the rest of the day is yours.

Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 2 – Istanbul Old City Tour
After breakfast, your pick-up will be scheduled for 8:30 am from the hotel to start the Private Istanbul Old City tour. Our professional tour guide will be introducing the ancient sights of Istanbul.

Today you will explore the following highlights of Istanbul.

Hippodrome: An ancient Roman and Ottoman square where the chariot races were held. Within the square is some Roman remains, Egyptian Obelisk, Serpent Column, and Constantine Columns.

The Blue Mosque: An Ottoman Imperial mosque built by Sultan Ahmet I in 1609-1616 CE, famous for the blue Ottoman tiles.

Hagia Sophia: Once the largest cathedral of Christianity when it was built in 532-537 CE by the Roman Emperor Justinian; later converted into a mosque by the Ottomans.

Topkapi Palace: The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II built the palace after the conquest of Constantinople. Topkapi Palace was the home of the royal family and the headquarters for the Ottoman Empire’s administrative center.

Grand Bazaar (Covered Market): The largest and the oldest functioning shopping center in the world. The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II built the Grand Bazaar in the 15th century. The market consists of 5,000 stores, 66 streets, 24 gates, and much more eye-pleasing architecture. Within the bazaar are many Turkish handicraft stores such as rugs, carpets, kilims, and beautiful Turkish tiles. Upon your request, our guide will be more than happy to help you find your masterpiece of Turkish art.

After the Istanbul Old City sightseeing tour, you will be driven back to the hotel. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Note: Breakfast at hotel and lunch at a local restaurant is included

Day 3 – Bosphorus Cruise, Two Continents Tour
After breakfast, your pick-up will be scheduled for 8:30 am from the hotel to start the Bosphorus tour. Our professional tour guide will be introducing you to the Bosphorus.

Today you will explore the following highlights of the Bosphorus:

Spice Market ( Egyptian Bazaar): The Ottomans built the market in the 17th century. Unlike the Grand Bazaar, the Spice market is much smaller but full of beautiful fragrances of mixed spices, herbs, and traditional sweets. It consists of around 100 stores, 2 streets, and 5 gates.

Bosphorus Cruise: The channel divides Istanbul into two continents and stretches about 32 km between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Along the Bosphorus, there are many settlements to see, such as great Palaces, hotels, yali (private houses), etc. While you are on the boat, you will see the highlights of the Bosphorus including the Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Çırağan Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, Rumeli Fortress, Küçüksu Palace, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge ( the second bridge on the Bosphorus), Maiden’s Tower to name a few.

Beylerbeyi Palace: After the sultans westernized the Ottoman Empire, they built some Palace’s modern-western architectural styles. The Beylerbeyi Palace is one of them, located on the Asian side by the Bosphorus. The garden is full of statues, and the rooms with handcrafted arts will take you back in time to the 19th century.

Çamlıca Hill: The highest hill of Istanbul, situated on the Asian side. The walking path with 360 panoramic views will let you take the best pictures of Istanbul and the Bosphorus.

After the Bosphorus sightseeing tour, drive back to the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Note: Breakfast at hotel and lunch at a local restaurant is included

Day 4 – Gallipoli Tour
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, at 07.00 am, we will pick you up from your hotel and then drive to Gallipoli, where World War I took place. Gallipoli is situated on the Dardanelles (Hellespont) Peninsula on the European side of Turkey. When WWI broke out, The Ottoman Empire took the Germans’ side and entered the war. The Allies failed to cross the Dardanelles but then had another plan of landing on the Peninsula. On 25 April 1915, the first Anzac troops landed on Gallipoli then another war began between Turks, Australians, and New Zealanders.

We arrive in Gallipoli by noontime, and we will have lunch at a local restaurant then start the tour. In this tour, you will visit The Anzac Cove, where the Dawn Service is being held every 25 April. The Ariburnu Cemetery where the soldiers are lying side by side, The Beach Cemetery, the grave of John Simpson, The Lone Pine, Australian memorial Johnston’ Jolly, the real trenches of the Turks and Australians 57th Regiment, the Turkish memorial, The Nek and the Chunuk Bair, the New Zealander’s Memorial.

After the Gallipoli sightseeing tour, drive to the hotel. Overnight in Çanakkale.

Note: Breakfast & Dinner at the hotel, Lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 5 – Troy Tour (Helen Of Troy) & Asklepion Tour
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we drive to Troy, located by the Dardanelles (Hellespont). Troy is an ancient city, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. We know all about it from the Iliad of Homer and its main characters, such as King Priam, Helen, Paris, Hector, Achilles, and Agamemnon. Troy was firstly a Hittite settlement which was named Wilusa. The excavations have revealed nine levels starting from the Bronze Age 2920-2350 BCE.

But first, it was excavated by Heinrich Schliemann in the 19th century. Even Alexander the Great came to Troy and offered sacrifices to Achilles’ tomb then his followers built a temple on behalf of Athena, which you can see today. You can also follow the footprint of those ancient people exploring Troy and imagine the story behind the Trojan War. During the visit, you will see the Defense walls, Temple of Athena, Megaron shelters, the Palace, defense ramp, odeon, Roman baths, and Trojan Horse’s replica.

Visit Asklepion, a Greco-Roman city where the dead shall not enter. They built a healing complex and hospital in 4C BCE on behalf of Asclepius. It was one of the most important cities with its healing methods and architecture. Asklepion is also a Roman city where they built a theater with 3,500 capacity, Temples, and sanctuaries. The cut stone with two serpent relief has become the symbol of medicine since.

After the Troy & Asklepion sightseeing tour, drive to the hotel. Overnight in Izmir.

Note: Breakfast & Dinner at the hotel, Lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 6 – Izmir/Smyrna Tour
After breakfast and check-out, we will pick you up from the hotel and drive to Izmir, situated on the western coast of Turkey, known as the Pearl of Aegean. The history dates back to the archaic era of 3,000 BCE. The Greek colonists settled at Izmir (Symrna) before the end of the second millennium. Homer, the Iliad writer, was born in İzmir, and Strabo spent his years in this city.

When Alexander the Great came from Sardis to Smyrna, he rested after Mount Pagos’ hunting (Kadife Kale). When the Pergamon ruled most of the Aegean coats, Smyrnaeans resisted their hegemony for years. Eventually, after the Romans inherited the Pergamon Kingdom, Smyrna passed under the Roman Empire’s control in 133 CE.

With the growth of Christianity in the First Century, Smyrna was mentioned by St. John in the Book of Revelations as one of the seven churches of Asia. The first bishop Polycarp became a martyr in 155 CE when he was 86, and he was ordained and installed by St. John in Izmir (Symrna).

Today, Izmir is the 3rd biggest city in Turkey. Although there are not many remains from ancient times, with modern architecture, a beautiful shore, and neighborhoods such as; Konak Square which is not far from the Izmir Archaeology Museum and the Agora, Izmir is a beautiful place to visit. With Romos Travel, you will experience many hidden gems such as Alsancak, Bornova, and Karşıyaka.

After the Izmir/Smyrna sightseeing tour, drive to Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Note: Breakfast & Dinner at the hotel, Lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 7 – Ephesus Tour
After breakfast, we pick you up from the hotel. Then drive to Selçuk district, where Ephesus ancient city is situated.

We will drive to Virgin Mary’s House, upon the dream of German nun Anna Katherina Emerich, the Lazarist priests followed the descriptions and the signs then discovered the house 1891 CE. According to Catholic belief, Mary was taken here by St. John, and she spent the rest of her earthly life there. After the Virgin Mary’s House, we proceed to Ephesus Ancient City, the capital city of Asia Minor during the Roman era. According to myth, Ephesus was founded by the Greek commander Androculos around 1,000 BCE.

Moreover, Alexander the Great, Lysimachus, Coressus, and Antiochus II either invaded or ruled in this city. While the excavations are still going on, you will see the ancient remains such as the State Agora (a marketplace and meeting point), Odeon (Bouleuterion) concert house and council, Town Hall and Artemis Sanctuary, Domitian Square, a complex consisting of temple fountain and a bath, Curetes Street colonnaded and monumental Street in Ephesus,

The Hadrian Temple dedicated to Emperor Hadrian dating to 200 BCE, Latrines the public toilets, Celsus Library proves us that how Ephesians were intellectual and dates back to 200 BCE with the library having had 12,000 scrolls, Forum a commercial center located by the port and finally The Great Theater the largest ancient theater with 25,000 capacity.

After Ephesus ancient city, we drive to lunch at a local restaurant, and thereafter, the next stop is Isa Bey Mosque, built-in 1375 by the Anatolian Seljuks. Unlike Modern Ottoman architecture, it has a geometrical architecture roof and two minarets. The mosque is still functioning today for the five-time prayers. After Isa Bey Mosque, we drive to the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven ancient wonders of the World.

After the Ephesus sightseeing tour, drive back to the hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Note: Breakfast & Dinner at hotel, Lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 8 – Didyma, Miletos and Priene Tour
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we drive to Didyma, Miletus, and Priene Tour. Our first visit to the Temple of Apollon, One of the most important oracles in the ancient world, was located at Didyma (Didim). It was designed by Panionios, one of the architects of the temple of Artemis in Ephesus. The oracle at Didyma, which issued many fateful pronouncements, dates back to the worship of a local Anatolian god in prehistoric times.

Visit Miletus, the first city in Anatolia to be colonized by Greeks. In about 1700 BCE, in the Middle Bronze Age, Minoans from Crete were attracted by its ideal situation on a defensible peninsula with four natural harbors and good agricultural land. Miletos was the most wealthy city where firstly coins were minted.

Visit Priene, from the Maeander River’s flat valley, and we see a dark green band of trees on a broad terrace below the craggy cliffs of Mount Mycale. They mark the splendid city site that prospered and gradually declined over a period of eight centuries. It sloped gently to the South, offering a prospect over a fertile land towards its harbor and distant mountains.

After the Didyma, Miletos, and Priene sightseeing tour, drive back to the hotel. Overnight in Bodrum.

Note: Breakfast & Dinner at hotel, Lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 9 – Bodrum City Tour
After breakfast, start the Bodrum Tour. Visit Bodrum Castle, which is also known as St. Peter Castle, built by St. John Knights between 1402-1409. The rooms of the castle are being used as exhibition rooms, and many findings from Bronze Age, archaic, Mycenaean, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine are on display. The Bodrum Castle is also the largest underwater archeological museum in Turkey. Visit Mausoleum, built by the Carian King Mausolus in 4C BC, as his tomb and the Mausoleum was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

After the Bodrum Old City tour, drive back to the hotel. Overnight in Bodrum.

Note: Breakfast & Dinner at hotel, Lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 10 – Transfer to Airport
Breakfast at hotel, Pick up from the hotel, and transfer to Bodrum Airport for the flight back to Istanbul for your International flight.

After completing the amazing Western Sites of Turkey Tour,  Package Tour Turkey wishes all guests a very healthy and wonderful life ahead…

Western Sites of Turkey Tour Package Details

Western Sites of Turkey Tour: A Journey Through History

Introduction to Turkey and its Western Sites

Turkey is an intriguing nation that connects Europe and Asia. This region has seen numerous great civilizations over the course of its long, rich history. In this post, we’ll take a tour of the most well-known historical landmarks and cities in western Turkey. Join us on a tour of Turkey’s rich past, from the bustling metropolis of Istanbul to the historic ruins of Ephesus.

Istanbul

Topkapi Palace

Turkey’s greatest city, Istanbul, is home to a wealth of ancient locations. The Topkapi Palace is one of the most well-known. The palace, which served as the residence of the Ottoman sultans, is now a museum with amazing antiques and lavish design. Explore the opulent courtyards while admiring the mesmerizing views of the Bosphorus Strait.

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia, a magnificent example of Byzantine architecture, has served as a mosque, a museum, and a church in the past. Its beautiful dome and dexterous mosaics are evidence of the craftsmanship of ancient architects and painters. Any tour of Istanbul must include a stop at the structure due to its distinctive history.

Blue Mosque

Istanbul’s most recognizable landmark is the Blue Mosque, so named because of its stunning blue Iznik tiles. This functioning mosque, which has six minarets and a sizable central dome, is a must-see for its beautiful architecture and peaceful ambiance.

Grand Bazaar

A visit to the Grand Bazaar is a must on every vacation to Istanbul. The bazaar, one of the biggest and most historic covered markets in the world, offers a distinctive shopping experience where you can purchase anything from spices to hand-made carpets.

Gallipoli

Anzac Cove

The historical significance of the Gallipoli extends to both Turkish and Australian history. Many people make the trek to Anzac Cove, the site of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps’ 1915 landing during World War I. Visit this historic site of a battle and pay your respects while reflecting on the courage of the warriors who fought there.

Lone Pine Cemetery

Many of the troops who died in the campaign are laid to rest in Lone Pine Cemetery, another significant location in Gallipoli. The peaceful cemetery serves as a melancholy reminder of what conflict costs.

The Nek

A devastating struggle took place on The Nek, a small ridge near Gallipoli, and many Australian and Turkish men perished there. The location is now a tranquil tribute to the soldiers who took part in the futile campaign.

Troy

Trojan Horse

History buffs must visit the ancient city of Troy, which was immortalized in Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad. The mythical Trojan Horse, a representation of trickery and cunning, greets guests as they enter the archaeological site.

Temple of Athena

The Temple of Athena, which was constructed in honor of the goddess of knowledge and combat, is another noteworthy Troy site. Only a few of the temple’s original columns are still standing, but its antiquity and historical importance make it a must-see.

Pergamon

Acropolis

The beautiful Acropolis of Pergamon, an ancient Greek metropolis, is comparable in beauty to that of Athens. Explore this spectacular site and take in the remains of the Temple of Trajan, the Sanctuary of Athena, and the Altar of Zeus.

Asclepion

Another remarkable site in Pergamon is the Asclepion, a prehistoric hospital honoring the deity of healing, Asclepius. A theater, a holy spring, and the remnants of numerous treatment rooms are all present at the site, which provides a window into prehistoric medical procedures.

Ephesus

Library of Celsus

Some of Turkey’s best-preserved remains may be found in Ephesus, an ancient city that was once a flourishing hub of trade and culture. A highlight of any trip to Ephesus is the Library of Celsus, with its elaborate façade serving as a spectacular example of Roman architecture.

Temple of Artemis

The Temple of Artemis was originally one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though all that is left of it is a single column. This sacred sanctuary, which is devoted to the goddess of the hunt, serves as proof that the ancient Greeks were masters of architecture.

Bodrum

Bodrum Castle

Bodrum is a lovely coastal town famous for its magnificent Bodrum Castle. Amazing shipwreck-related artifacts are on display at the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, which is located in the Knights of St. John castle.

Ancient Theater

Another must-see attraction in Bodrum is the historic theater, which dates back to the fourth century B.C. The theater offers breathtaking views of the surroundings and serves as a reminder of the town’s lengthy history.

Smyrna-Izmir

Agora

Turkey’s historic Smyrna, or Izmir as it is known now, was a significant city. A lively marketplace known as the Agora provides an insight into ancient Smyrna’s daily life. Imagine the traders and shoppers who once populated this area as you stroll among the remains.

Kemeralti Bazaar

The Kemeralti Bazaar in Izmir is a bustling shopping district with a past that dates back to the 17th century. Stroll around the congested streets, learning about regional goods and taking in the lively environment.

The Western Turkey attractions offer a distinctive tour through history, from the crowded streets of Istanbul to the age-old remains of Ephesus. Turkey is a country that should be on every traveler’s bucket list because of its incredible natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.