Seven Churches of Revelation Tour: 7 Days with Ephesus & Istanbul
Overview
Seven Churches of Revelation Tour: 7 Days with Ephesus & Istanbul
This trip spends seven private days following the first Christian communities through Turkey, with a visit to each of the Seven Churches that the Book of Revelation addresses, namely Ephesus and Smyrna, Pergamon and Thyatira, then Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
Pamukkale, then on to Constantinople
Along the way you also see the Basilica of St. John and the House of the Virgin Mary, the remains of Hierapolis and the white travertine terraces at Pamukkale. Your final day of sightseeing is guided in Istanbul, once Constantinople, with stops at the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar.
Your Biblical Guide and What the Package Covers
A licensed biblical guide stays with you from start to finish. The price covers hotels, domestic flights, private transport, transfers to and from airports, site tickets, a daily breakfast and lunch whenever you are touring. We can change the plan to suit you, and it suits families and church groups as well as solo travellers.
Tour Info
Choose your hotels
This package comes with a mid-range hotel. To stay somewhere else, pick another hotel below and we add only the difference in price. We confirm availability with you.
Select a check-in date and the exact prices for those dates will appear.
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Middle ClassMiddle ClassMiddle ClassMiddle ClassMiddle ClassMiddle ClassMiddle ClassMiddle ClassMiddle ClassMiddle ClassThe hotel prices here are estimates. Before your booking is final, our team will get in touch to confirm the price and availability.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul
At Istanbul Airport (IST) our team is there to greet you and drive you privately to the hotel. After that the day is free: rest after the flight, or take a walk through the old streets near the hotel.
- Landing at Istanbul Airport
- Personal welcome from our team
- Private transfer to the hotel
- Check-in
- Free time in Istanbul
- Briefing on the tour and welcome information
Night in Istanbul.
Day 2 – Flight to Izmir, Smyrna and Pergamon
Once you have had breakfast and checked out, a transfer brings you to Istanbul Airport for the domestic flight to Izmir. Your licensed biblical guide meets you there, and the first church of the tour is Smyrna, one of the seven named in Revelation.
Next comes Pergamon, famous for its Acropolis, its very steep theatre and the Red Basilica, a site with links to early Christianity. From there you drive on to the hotel.
- Hotel breakfast
- Check-out
- Private transfer to Istanbul Airport
- Domestic flight to Izmir
- You meet your licensed biblical guide
- Smyrna, a Church of Revelation
- The Acropolis of Pergamon
- The Red Basilica
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Scenic drive and check-in at the hotel
Night in Kusadasi or Bergama.
Day 3 – Thyatira, Sardis and Philadelphia
Three of the Seven Churches of Revelation fill today's programme: Thyatira, Sardis and Philadelphia. Your licensed biblical guide shows you archaeological remains and ancient churches and tells the stories of the first Christian communities there.
- Hotel breakfast
- Drive to Thyatira
- The Church of Thyatira
- The ruins of Sardis
- The Temple of Artemis, then the ancient synagogue
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Philadelphia (Alasehir)
- Drive back to your Kusadasi hotel
- Free time at the hotel
Night in Kusadasi.
Day 4 – Laodicea, Hierapolis and Pamukkale
The morning drive brings you to Laodicea, among the most significant of the churches in the Book of Revelation. Then you move on to Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its Roman remains and its early Christian past. The day finishes on the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, after which you head back to Kusadasi.
- Hotel breakfast
- Drive to Laodicea
- The ruins of Laodicea
- The ruins of Hierapolis
- Its ancient theatre
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- A walk on the travertines of Pamukkale
- Time for photographs
- Drive back to your Kusadasi hotel
Night in Kusadasi.
Day 5 – Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary and Flight to Istanbul
After breakfast and check-out you set off for Ephesus. This was the seat of one of the Seven Churches of Revelation, and it ranks among the best-preserved Roman cities anywhere. Afterwards you visit the House of the Virgin Mary, thought to be where Mary, mother of Jesus, spent her final years, and the Basilica of St. John, which stands on the spot traditionally held to be the grave of the Apostle John.
When the touring is done, a transfer takes you to Izmir Airport for an evening flight to Istanbul, and another private transfer brings you to your hotel there.
- Hotel breakfast
- Check-out
- The ruins of Ephesus
- The Library of Celsus
- The Great Theatre
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- The House of the Virgin Mary
- The Basilica of St. John
- Transfer to Izmir Airport
- Domestic flight back to Istanbul
- Private transfer and check-in at your hotel
Night in Istanbul.
Day 6 – Christian Heritage of Istanbul
Today is devoted to the Byzantine and Christian legacy of Istanbul, from the days when the city was called Constantinople. You see Hagia Sophia, the old Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar, while your guide describes the part the city played under the Byzantine and later the Ottoman Empire. The Basilica Cistern can be added as an optional visit.
- Hotel breakfast
- Your guide collects you from the hotel
- Hagia Sophia
- The Hippodrome
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- The Grand Bazaar
- Optional visit to the Basilica Cistern
- Time for shopping
- Drive back to the hotel
Night in Istanbul.
Day 7 – Departure from Istanbul
Enjoy breakfast and a few final hours in Istanbul, then check out for your private transfer to Istanbul Airport. Thanks for travelling with Get Turkey Tours; we hope to welcome you back.
- Hotel breakfast
- Check-out
- Private transfer to the airport
- Drop-off at Istanbul Airport
Our services end here.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Breakfast and 6 hotel nights in a mid-range hotel we choose, subject to availability and confirmed with you
- ✓Lunch whenever a guided tour runs
- ✓A licensed, professional biblical guide
- ✓A tour guide who speaks English
- ✓Airport transfers on a private basis
- ✓Flights within Turkey
- ✓A private vehicle for the whole trip
- ✓Visits to the Seven Churches of Revelation
- ✓Guided visit to ancient Ephesus
- ✓The Virgin Mary's House
- ✓St. John's Basilica
- ✓The ancient city of Hierapolis
- ✓The travertine terraces of Pamukkale
- ✓Istanbul tour focused on Christian heritage
- ✓Entry tickets for every museum and site
- ✓Pick-up at your hotel and return
- ✓Every tax and service charge
- ✕International Flights
- ✕Turkey Visa Fees (If Required)
- ✕Travel Insurance
- ✕Personal Expenses
Cancellation Policy
Cancel at no charge until 7 days before your tour and you receive a full refund. If you cancel within the final 7 days before the tour, no refund is given. All times shown are local.
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Seven Churches of Revelation and Istanbul in 7 days: the key facts
Follow the first Christian communities across Turkey on this private seven-day trip, priced from $2,050 per person. You see all Seven Churches of Revelation, Smyrna, Ephesus, Thyatira, Pergamon, Philadelphia, Sardis and Laodicea, plus the Basilica of St. John, the House of the Virgin Mary, Pamukkale and Hierapolis. The trip ends with a guided day in Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, at the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar. The price covers six hotel nights with breakfast, flights within Turkey, private transport and transfers, a licensed biblical guide and lunch on tour days.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 6 nights, 7 days |
| Cost | $2,050 per person and up |
| Format | Private, led by a licensed biblical guide |
| Itinerary | Istanbul, then Izmir and the Seven Churches, then back to Istanbul |
| What you get | Hotels with breakfast, flights within Turkey, private transport, guide, lunch on tour days, all Seven Churches, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, a day on Istanbul's Christian heritage |
| What you pay extra | Flights to and from Turkey, Turkey visa fees where needed, travel insurance, personal spending |
What is on the plan for each of the 7 days?
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Land in Istanbul, private transfer to the hotel |
| Day 2 | Fly to Izmir; Pergamon and Smyrna |
| Day 3 | Sardis, Thyatira and Philadelphia |
| Day 4 | Laodicea, Hierapolis and the travertines of Pamukkale |
| Day 5 | Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary; fly to Istanbul |
| Day 6 | Byzantine and Christian heritage of Istanbul: the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar |
| Day 7 | Final hours in Istanbul, private transfer to the airport |
Why include Istanbul in a Seven Churches tour?
Because that is where the story of early Christianity goes next. Constantinople became capital of the Christian Roman Empire, and Hagia Sophia, completed in the 6th century, stood for centuries as the greatest church in Christendom. Finishing in Istanbul links the small communities of Revelation with the empire that later adopted Christianity as its faith. It also gives you a night of rest before your flight home from Istanbul.
5 or 7 days: which Seven Churches tour is right?
| Faith tour | Days | What changes | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seven Churches of Revelation, 5 days | 5 days | Only the Seven Churches | $1,800 per person |
| This tour | 7 days | Adds a day in Istanbul plus arrival and departure nights | $2,050 per person |
| Istanbul, Cappadocia, Saint Paul and the Seven Churches | 10 days | Adds Saint Paul's route and Cappadocia | $2,750 per person |
| Biblical Ephesus and Pamukkale tour | 2 days | A shorter trip from Istanbul | $720 per person |
What extras are there in Istanbul?
The private Istanbul churches tour, from $180, takes you to the city's active Armenian, Orthodox and Catholic churches, the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Fener among them. It works well as an extra day before or after the tour, though not on Sundays, when it does not operate.
Does the tour work for pilgrimage groups?
Yes. As a private tour with its own vehicle and licensed biblical guide, it lets a church group hold readings and prayer at every site. Share your group size and any special requests at booking.
When should you go?
For travel between the inland sites, March to June and September to November are the most comfortable. Summers are hot; winters are quiet and mild.
What should you pack?
Comfortable shoes for the ancient sites, modest clothes for mosques, churches and the House of the Virgin Mary, sunscreen and a hat, a Bible if you like, and your passport for the flights within Turkey.
How does booking work?
Pick your dates on this page and submit the form, or send us your flights and group size on WhatsApp. We confirm the plan in writing, and payment is due only after confirmation. More ideas are in our Ephesus tours, Istanbul tours and Turkey tour packages.
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