Istanbul & Antalya in 48 Hours: 2-Day Tour with Flights

Istanbul and Antalya in 48 hours: the key facts

This is a 2-day, 1-night group tour built for travellers who have two days and want both a big city and the Mediterranean coast. Day 1 starts at 09:00 with your guide collecting you from your Istanbul hotel for a walking day at the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, with Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia as optional entries. You then fly to Antalya and spend the night there. Day 2 covers Perge, the Aspendos Theatre, Kursunlu Waterfall, Kaleici and Hadrian's Gate, followed by the flight back to Istanbul.

It suits couples, friends and solo travellers on a short stopover who are happy to keep moving. It is a sightseeing trip, not a beach stay. The price is from $845 per person.

How do the 48 hours break down?

Day 1: walking tour of the Old City from 09:00, then a transfer to the airport and the flight to Antalya, with a driver to your hotel on arrival. Day 2: check-out after breakfast, the Roman sites of Perge and Aspendos, Kursunlu Waterfall, then Kaleici and Hadrian's Gate in the city, and the flight back to Istanbul. Our representative meets you there and takes you to your hotel or to your flight home. The page does not give flight times, so ask us for them before you book, especially if you have an onward flight on Day 2.

Which Istanbul sights are included?

Entry is included for what the page does not mark optional: the walk takes in the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. Hagia Sophia is optional, with the ticket listed at $40, and Topkapi Palace is optional with no price shown, so ask us to put it in your plan if you want to go in. Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. For current Hagia Sophia ticket rules, see our Hagia Sophia ticket price page.

What is there to see in Antalya on Day 2?

You walk among the ruins of Perge, a Roman city, then visit the Aspendos Theatre, one of the best-kept Roman theatres anywhere. Kursunlu Waterfall is a quiet, green stop between the sites. Back in the city you stroll Kaleici, the old town of cobbled lanes and Ottoman houses, and pass Hadrian's Gate, the Roman gateway into the old city. More on the region in our Antalya guide.

What should we wear and pack?

For the Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia if you add it, cover shoulders and knees, women cover their hair, and shoes come off at the door. A light scarf in your day bag solves most of this. Comfortable shoes matter on both days: Istanbul is all on foot and Perge and Aspendos have uneven stone. Pack light, because you carry your bag through the Istanbul day before the first flight. In summer, sun protection and water are needed at the Antalya sites. See what to wear in Istanbul.

Which hotel is used in Antalya?

The included night is in Antalya, with breakfast. The page does not name the hotel or give its category, so ask us to state both in your written plan. If you have a preference, for example a hotel near Kaleici so you can walk the old town in the evening, tell us when you enquire and we will say in the plan whether it is possible for your date. Your Istanbul hotel before and after the trip is not included in this package.

When is the best time of year for this trip?

Spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable seasons, because both days involve a lot of walking outdoors and the Antalya sites have little shade. Midsummer in Antalya is hot. The Istanbul walk works year-round, though winter brings rain and shorter days. Whatever the month, bring a hat and water for Perge and Aspendos. Our best time to visit Turkey guide has more detail.

Can we stay longer in Antalya or Istanbul?

Yes. The page says extra nights in Antalya or Istanbul can be added, and lists an extra tour day for $115 and an onward transfer to Fethiye for $165 if you want to continue along the coast. Note that the Istanbul and Antalya 2-day tour by air has the same route, sights and price; if you are looking at both, ask us which one has availability for your date. For more time on the coast, compare the 4-day Istanbul and Antalya tour from $1,455 per person or browse our Antalya tours.

How do we book this tour?

Pick 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 Antalya hotel for your date and send the full plan in writing, with flight times, the hotel and any optional ticket costs, 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.