Istanbul & Pamukkale Tour: 2 Days with Flights and Guide

Istanbul and Pamukkale in 2 days with flights: the key facts

This is a 2-day, 1-night group tour that pairs a guided day in Istanbul's Old City with a morning at Pamukkale. On Day 1 your guide collects you from your Istanbul hotel at 09:00 for a walking tour of the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, with Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia as optional visits, and then you fly to Denizli for the night. On Day 2 you are picked up early for the Pamukkale terraces, Hierapolis and Pamukkale Naturel Lake, then fly back to Istanbul from Denizli Airport.

It suits travellers with little time who want one Istanbul sightseeing day and one look at Pamukkale without long bus journeys. It covers the essentials only, so do not expect free time in either place. The price is from $640 per person.

How do the two flights work?

Both domestic flights are included. At the end of the Istanbul walking tour on Day 1 you are taken to the airport for the flight to Denizli, and a transfer takes you to your hotel on arrival. On Day 2, after the Pamukkale visit, you are driven to Denizli Airport for the flight back, and our representative meets you in Istanbul to take you to your hotel or to your flight home. The page does not give flight times or the baggage allowance. Ask us for both, and travel light, because you carry your bag through a full sightseeing day before the first flight.

What do we see in Istanbul, and what is optional?

The walk covers the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia are both marked optional. The Hagia Sophia ticket is listed as an extra at $40; the page gives no price for Topkapi, so ask us to include it in your plan if you want to go in. Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays, so if Day 1 is a Tuesday the palace is not possible. For current ticket rules, see our Hagia Sophia ticket price page.

What happens on the Pamukkale morning?

You are collected early from the hotel. The visit covers the Necropolis and the Theatre of Hierapolis, the white travertine terraces and Pamukkale Naturel Lake and Park. Swimming in the Cleopatra Pool is optional and charged separately, so bring swimwear and a towel if you want it. Shoes are not allowed on the terraces, so you walk barefoot on the marked path and carry them in a bag. See our Pamukkale travertines and Hierapolis guide and the Pamukkale destination guide.

What should we wear on this tour?

Two dress codes apply on two days. In the Blue Mosque, and in Hagia Sophia if you add it, cover shoulders and knees, women cover their hair, and shoes come off at the door. Mosques close to visitors at prayer times, so the order of visits can shift on the day. At Pamukkale the white rock reflects sunlight strongly, so sunglasses and sun cream help, and clothes you can roll up keep the hems dry on the terraces. Comfortable walking shoes matter on Day 1. More on what to wear in Istanbul.

Where is the hotel, and which category is it?

The included night is near Pamukkale after the flight to Denizli, with breakfast. The page does not say whether the hotel is in Pamukkale village or Denizli city, and it does not name the hotel or give its category. Ask us to state the hotel name and location in your written plan. Your Istanbul hotel before and after the tour is not part of this package; the page says extra Istanbul nights can be added.

When is the best time of year for this route?

Spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable for both days, because the Istanbul walk is on foot and the Pamukkale terraces have no shade. Midsummer can be hot at Pamukkale, so carry water and a hat. In winter, pack a warm layer, since you spend part of the morning barefoot. For month-by-month planning, see our best time to visit Istanbul guide.

Can we add a day or continue to Bodrum?

Yes. The page lists a one-day extension for $115 and a transfer to Bodrum for $85, which lets you go from Pamukkale to the coast instead of flying back; see our Bodrum guide. If you would rather see Pamukkale without the Istanbul day, the Pamukkale and Hierapolis day trip from Istanbul by plane starts from $499 per person. For a slower version with two nights, compare the 3-day Istanbul and Pamukkale tour from $1,110 per person.

How do we book this tour?

Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page and tell us your Istanbul hotel for the 09:00 pick-up. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We check both flights and the Pamukkale hotel for your date and send the full plan in writing, with flight times, the hotel and the cost of any optional tickets, before you make any payment. Cancellation terms are on our cancellation policy page. Get Turkey Tours is operated by Viracocha Travel Turizm, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.