Istanbul, Antalya, Ephesus & Pamukkale Tour: 3 Days with Flights

Istanbul, Antalya, Ephesus and Pamukkale in 3 days: the key facts

This is a fast group tour of 3 days and 2 nights that reaches four places with three domestic flights. Day 1 is a guided walk through old Istanbul, then a flight to Antalya. Day 2 covers Perge, the Aspendos Theatre, Kursunlu Waterfall, Kaleici and Hadrian's Gate, then a flight to Izmir and a night in Kusadasi. Day 3 combines Ephesus in the morning with Pamukkale and Hierapolis in the afternoon, and you fly from Denizli back to Istanbul.

It suits travellers who want to tick off four famous places and accept long days in return. The price is from $1,315 per person. Hotels with breakfast, a professional guide, all flights in the itinerary, air-conditioned vehicles and entrance fees (except optional sights) are included.

How do the three flights work?

All three are included. Day 1 ends with Istanbul to Antalya. Day 2 ends with Antalya to Izmir, then a drive to Kusadasi. Day 3 ends with Denizli to Istanbul, after Pamukkale. In Istanbul a representative helps with your transfer to a hotel or your flight home, and the service ends there. The page gives no flight times, airlines or baggage allowance. Ask for all three in writing. With three airports in three days, one cabin-sized bag per person makes every check-in faster.

Is the Aspendos ticket included or not?

The page contradicts itself here, so confirm it in writing. Aspendos is listed as a Day 2 highlight, and the inclusions say entrance fees are covered "except optionals". Yet the extras list sells an "Aspendos Ticket" for $25. Ask whether Aspendos entry is in the price or whether you pay $25 on top. Also ask what happens if you skip it. Hagia Sophia ($40) and the Ephesus Terrace Houses ($25) are clearly extra. The House of the Virgin Mary is marked optional, but no price is given.

How long is Day 3?

It is a very long day. You walk through Ephesus in the morning, past the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the Grand Theatre. The page also says the tour "ends at" the optional House of the Virgin Mary, yet the day then goes on to Pamukkale. In the afternoon you travel inland to Pamukkale, walk the white terraces and Hierapolis, then go to Denizli Airport for the flight. The page gives no drive time for the Ephesus to Pamukkale leg, so ask. Expect to land in Istanbul late, and do not book an international flight home that night.

What should we wear at Pamukkale and in the mosques?

At Pamukkale, footwear is not allowed on the white travertine terraces. You walk barefoot along the permitted path and carry your shoes in a bag. Shoes are fine in Hierapolis above. The surface can be wet and slippery in places, and the white rock is bright, so sunglasses help. In Istanbul, the Blue Mosque is on the route. Cover your shoulders and knees there, and women also cover their hair. Our what to wear in Istanbul guide has more.

Which hotels are used, and is an Istanbul night included?

The two nights are in Antalya after Day 1 and in Kusadasi after Day 2. Both include breakfast, but the page names no hotels and gives no star rating. No Istanbul night is included. The tour starts with a pick-up from your Istanbul hotel and ends after the Day 3 flight, so you book Istanbul yourself or add extra nights, which the page says are available. Ask for hotel names in your written plan.

Is Day 1 really a full day in Istanbul?

The page calls it "a full day on foot" from 09:00: the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia as options. You then fly to Antalya the same day, with no flight time given. The booking form also lets you choose a start between 08:00 and 14:00, which does not match the fixed 09:00 pick-up. Plan on 09:00 and check out that morning. If Istanbul matters most to you, add a night before the tour.

Are there slower versions of this route?

Yes. If you can spare a day or two, the 4-day Antalya, Ephesus and Pamukkale tour costs from $1,660 and spreads Antalya, Ephesus and Pamukkale over four days instead of two. The 3-day Istanbul, Antalya and Ephesus tour costs the same, from $1,315, and drops Pamukkale for a calmer last day. The 2-day Antalya, Ephesus and Pamukkale tour from Istanbul costs from $845. Browse all multi-city packages.

How do I book this 3-day tour?

Pick your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page and send it, or message us on WhatsApp. We check all three flights and both hotels for your dates. Then we send the full plan in writing: flight times, hotel names, the confirmed 09:00 pick-up, whether Aspendos entry is included, and which optional tickets you pay for. You pay only after you have read and confirmed it. The tour is run by Get Turkey Tours under TÜRSAB licence A-15751.