Istanbul, Troy, Ephesus & Antalya Tour: 4 Days with Flights
Overview
Istanbul, Troy, Ephesus & Antalya Tour: 4 Days with Flights
From the legends of Troy to the Mediterranean shore, this 4-day, 3-night tour covers a lot of Turkish history in a short time.
You begin with a full day in Istanbul's Old City, then travel by road to Troy, the city of Homer's Iliad, and on to Kusadasi. The next day you explore ancient Ephesus before flying to Antalya, where the old town of Kaleici, Hadrian's Gate and the Duden Waterfalls round off the trip ahead of your flight back to Istanbul.
The price includes hotels with breakfast, a professional guide, all flights in the itinerary, air-conditioned vehicles and admission fees to the sights (except the optional ones). International flights to Istanbul, lunch and dinner, and optional tours or activities in your free time are not included.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Istanbul Old City Tour
Your guide picks you up from your hotel or the airport at 09:30 AM for a full-day walking tour through the core of Ottoman and Byzantine Istanbul. Today's highlights:
- Topkapi Palace (optional): Tour the former home of the Ottoman sultans and learn about its long history and fine architecture.
- Blue Mosque: See one of Istanbul's best-known landmarks, famous for its blue tiles and grand scale.
- Hippodrome: Walk the old chariot-racing ground and see the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the German Fountain.
- Hagia Sophia (optional): Go inside Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to admire its Byzantine design and immense interior.
- Grand Bazaar: Wander the lively lanes of the Grand Bazaar, the oldest covered market in the world, and shop for souvenirs, spices and textiles.
At the end of the tour you return to your Istanbul hotel for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 2 – Troy and Kusadasi
Today you check out of your hotel and board the bus for a scenic drive to Troy. The tour usually starts at about 09:00.
Today's highlight:
- Troy: Walk among the ruins of the ancient city at the heart of Homer's Iliad and see the famous wooden horse.
After Troy you continue to Kusadasi. Check in at your hotel and spend the evening as you like.
Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 3 – Ephesus Tour, Flight to Antalya
Today's Ephesus tour takes you deep into the past. Ephesus is among the best-preserved ancient cities anywhere, and its streets show you how its people once lived.
Today's highlights:
- Library of Celsus: Stand before the richly carved facade of the library, one of the best-known buildings in Ephesus.
- Temple of Hadrian: See the temple built for Emperor Hadrian, with its well-kept columns and finely worked reliefs.
- Terrace Houses (optional): Go inside the hillside homes where the wealthy families of Ephesus once lived.
- Hercules Gate: Walk through the great gateway decorated with carvings of the mythical hero.
- Grand Theatre: Take in the vast theatre that held as many as 25,000 people and is still used for performances today.
- The Snake Cult of Asklepios: Learn about the ancient cult of Asklepios, god of healing, and see what remains of his temple.
- Herm (Marker) of Hermes: Find the old stone markers that once guided travellers and marked boundaries in the city.
- Artemission: Visit the spot where the Temple of Artemis, one of the ancient world's Seven Wonders, used to stand.
- Stone-carving of the goddess Nike: Look closely at the relief of Nike, the winged goddess of victory.
- Fountain of Trajan: View the remains of the large fountain raised in honour of Emperor Trajan.
- House of Virgin Mary (optional): End with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where she spent her last days.
After the tour you transfer to the airport for your flight to Antalya.
Overnight in Antalya.
Day 4 – Antalya Old Town & Duden Waterfalls, Flight to Istanbul
Today you check out of your hotel and explore Antalya. Today's highlights:
- Kaleici (Old Town): Stroll the cobbled lanes, lined with Ottoman houses and lively shops.
- Hadrian's Gate: See the well-preserved Roman gate that once led into the old city.
- Duden Waterfalls: Enjoy the peaceful setting of the waterfalls just outside the city centre.
After the tour you transfer to the airport for your flight back to Istanbul.
Our representative then helps with your transfer, either to the airport for your flight home or to your hotel. This is where our services end.
Would you like to stay longer? Extra nights can be added to your trip.
Important Notes
Optional extras
- Extra Istanbul day (Day 2 Istanbul): $235
- Mary's House ticket: $55
- Ephesus Terrace Houses: $25
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Accommodations with breakfast
- ✓Professional guide
- ✓All flights in the itinerary
- ✓Air-conditioned vehicles
- ✓Admission Fees to enter sights (Except optionals)
- ✕International flights to Istanbul
- ✕Dinner and lunch
- ✕Optional additional tours or activities during free time
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Istanbul, Troy, Ephesus and Antalya in 4 days: the key facts
This 4-day, 3-night group tour starts with a full day in Istanbul's old city, then goes by road to Troy and on to Kusadasi, spends a day at Ephesus, flies to Antalya, and ends with Kaleici, Hadrian's Gate and the Duden Waterfalls before a flight back to Istanbul. You sleep one night each in Istanbul, Kusadasi and Antalya.
It suits first-time visitors who want Istanbul plus the two best-known ancient sites of the Aegean, with a short taste of the Mediterranean at the end, and who can handle one long road day. The price is from $1,455 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4 days / 3 nights |
| Route | Istanbul - Troy - Kusadasi/Ephesus - Antalya - Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour, road travel to the Aegean and flights after |
| Start / end | Pick-up from your Istanbul hotel or the airport at 09:30 on Day 1 / arrival back in Istanbul on Day 4 with a transfer to the airport or your hotel |
| Included | 3 hotel nights with breakfast, professional guide, all flights in the itinerary, air-conditioned vehicles, entrance fees except optional sights |
| Extra | International flights, lunches and dinners, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Terrace Houses, House of the Virgin Mary, free-time activities |
Can we start the tour on the day we land?
Yes, if your flight lands early. The page says the guide picks you up from your hotel or the airport at 09:30 on Day 1, so a morning arrival works, but a late morning or afternoon arrival would miss the old city tour. The first night is in Istanbul and is included. If you want a rest day first, ask us to add a night before the tour. The extras list also shows an "extra Istanbul day (Day 2 Istanbul)" at $235; ask us in writing what that day contains.
What is included on the Istanbul day?
The full-day walking tour covers the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome with its obelisk and Serpent Column, and the Grand Bazaar. Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia are marked optional, and the page gives no price for either on this package, so ask before you travel; our Hagia Sophia ticket guide explains the ticket. At the Blue Mosque cover shoulders and knees, and women should bring a scarf for their hair.
How long is the Troy day?
Day 2 is the long road day. You check out in Istanbul, travel by bus to Troy, walk the ruins and see the wooden horse, then continue to Kusadasi for the night. The page says "the tour usually starts at about 09:00" but does not say what time you leave Istanbul, and you cannot be in Istanbul and at Troy at the same hour. Ask us to confirm the real pick-up time in writing. Bring snacks and water for the bus, and expect to reach Kusadasi in the evening.
What do we see at Ephesus, and what costs extra?
Day 3 covers Ephesus: the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Hercules Gate, the Grand Theatre, the Fountain of Trajan and the site of the Temple of Artemis. Two parts cost extra: the Terrace Houses at $25 and the House of the Virgin Mary at $55. The site is open marble and stone with little shade, so wear good shoes and bring a hat. After the tour you transfer to the airport and fly to Antalya.
How much time do we get in Antalya?
You arrive on the evening of Day 3 and leave after the tour on Day 4. That morning you walk Kaleici and Hadrian's Gate and visit the Duden Waterfalls, then fly back to Istanbul. There is no beach time in the plan. If you want sea days, add nights in Antalya; see our Antalya guide. If you are in Antalya between 9 and 20 November 2026, the city is hosting the UN climate conference COP31, so ask us about timing for that week.
Which hotels are used?
The page does not name hotels or give a star category, even though the web address of this package uses the word "luxury". All it says is "accommodations with breakfast" in Istanbul, Kusadasi and Antalya. Ask us to name the three hotels and their category in your written plan before you pay. If you want a central Istanbul location or a sea view in Kusadasi, say so when you book. Our Kusadasi hotels page helps you compare areas near Ephesus.
Are lunches and dinners included?
No. Only breakfast at the hotels is included; lunch and dinner are listed as exclusions, so budget for six meals over the four days. The page does not say where lunch stops are made, so ask your guide each morning. Day 2 is mostly road travel and Day 3 and Day 4 end at the airport, so keep snacks and water with you. Bring some cash in Turkish lira for small cafes and tips.
Is there a similar tour with more time?
If four days feels too tight, compare the 5-day Istanbul, Troy and Ephesus tour from $1,595 per person, or add Gallipoli with the 2-day Gallipoli and Troy private tour from $235 per person. All our other routes are on the multi-city packages page.
How do we book this package?
Use the booking form on this page to choose your start date, a preferred time and the number of guests, and send your arrival and departure flight details. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We confirm the Day 2 pick-up time, the hotels, the flight to Antalya and back, and the optional ticket prices, and we send the full plan in writing before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).
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