Day Trips from Istanbul: 14 Options by Hours, Travel and Best Fit

For the shortest journeys from Istanbul, pick Sapanca, Bursa or the Princes' Islands: none of them takes over two hours each way. Gallipoli and Troy can be done in one day, though you spend five to six hours in the vehicle in each direction. Konya, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia only work as day trips if you fly.

Every Istanbul day trip we run, in one table

Group trips are the cheapest, private ones cost more, and the flying trips cost the most since the airfare is built in. Konya and Gobeklitepe are also available as plane day trips. The price you pay depends on the season, the size of your group and the inclusions, so contact us for the current rate on your date.

Close by: islands, a beach and a lake (less than 2 hours)

The Princes' Islands are the quickest way out of the city. Private cars are not allowed there, so you get around by ferry and on foot, or by electric vehicle or bicycle if you like, paid on the spot. On the private trip a guide takes you round Buyukada, the biggest island, with the Adalar Museum, the former Greek Orphanage and the hilltop Church of Aya Yorgi; getting from your hotel to the pier is up to you. The group tour stops at Kinaliada, Heybeliada and Buyukada and includes lunch and hotel transfers. Weekends in summer are the busiest, and weekdays are quieter.

Sile, on the Black Sea coast, is for swimming rather than sights. You get use of the beach and pool with sunbeds and transfers from your hotel; meals are extra. It is only worth it in July and August.

Sapanca and Masukiye swap monuments for woods, a lake and waterfalls, and lunch is part of the day. You pay extra for ATV rides, the zipline and the cable car.

Bursa, Edirne and Iznik: the early Ottoman cities

These suit visitors who have already done the Old City in Istanbul and want to go further back in Ottoman history.

• Bursa served as the first capital of the Ottomans. On the group trip you take the ferry over the Sea of Marmara, ride the cable car to Uludag, see the Green Mosque and Green Tomb, and have lunch. The private trip also includes the Grand Mosque, the tombs of Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi and the historic silk market, but you pay for the cable car and food yourself.
• Edirne held the capital before Istanbul did. Sinan's Selimiye Mosque is what draws people there. The private day also takes in the Old Mosque, the Uc Serefeli Mosque, the Grand Synagogue, the Meric Bridge and the Bulgarian Church of St George, and museum entry is covered.
• Iznik stands on the site of Nicaea, where the First Council of Nicaea gathered in 325. The day covers the Hagia Sophia of Nicaea, the Roman theatre, the walls and gates of the town, and the lakeshore. Entry fees are covered; you buy lunch yourself.

A long drive: Gallipoli and Troy

Gallipoli and Troy sit beside the Dardanelles, roughly 300 kilometres away. You set off early and get back late. On the private Troy trip the ruins, the Troy Museum and the museum tickets are covered. The group version also includes lunch and the ferry over the Dardanelles. At Gallipoli you visit the First World War battlefields, from Anzac Cove up to Chunuk Bair. To see both, book our two-day Gallipoli and Troy tour and avoid spending 12 hours in a car on two separate days.

Flying day trips: Ephesus, Pamukkale, Cappadocia

A domestic flight puts these within a day, but the day is long, with an early departure and a return flight in the evening. The Pamukkale trip, from $499 per person, covers the flights, every transfer, a licensed guide who speaks English, entry tickets and lunch. Both the price and the time of the flight home depend on what is available on your date, so check the current price with us. The Ephesus and Cappadocia trips are private and include flights, a guide and museum entry, with the price set by your date and group. A one-day Cappadocia visit means no balloons, as they only go up at dawn. To compare one-day and two-day versions, see our pages on Cappadocia from Istanbul, Ephesus from Istanbul and Pamukkale from Istanbul.

Picking the right trip

• A single spare day with kids: Sapanca or the Princes' Islands.
• Keen on the Ottomans: Bursa, or Edirne if you want the best mosque.
• Early Christianity: Iznik, and also our Christian heritage tour of Istanbul.
• Ancient sites, and you do not mind a long day: Troy.
• One day for a famous place: Cappadocia or Pamukkale by air, accepting a day of 10 hours or longer.

All the trips here start with a pick-up at your Istanbul hotel, apart from the private Princes' Islands day, where you meet the guide at the pier. On the tour pages we looked at, you can cancel free of charge until 7 days ahead. You will find more tours from Istanbul in our Istanbul tours list.

Frequently Asked Questions