Turkey Pilgrimage for Korean Church Groups: Seven Churches and Paul

A Turkey pilgrimage for a Korean church group takes 5 to 7 days for the Seven Churches of Revelation alone, or about 10 days if you add Istanbul, Nicaea and the rock churches of Cappadocia. Our Seven Churches of Revelation tour, 5 days, starts from $1,800 per person, and the 10-day Biblical Turkey tour with Cappadocia and Istanbul from $2,750 per person. Korean passport holders need no visa, and three airlines fly nonstop from Incheon. Below: the seven churches in order with their chapters in Revelation, the places of Paul's journeys a group can realistically reach, the councils of Nicaea and Constantinople, real package prices, and the practical side of bringing 20 to 40 church members from Korea.

The Seven Churches in order

The seven cities of Revelation 2 and 3 form a rough loop in western Turkey, starting and ending near Izmir. Most groups fly from Istanbul to Izmir and drive the loop in three to five days. Driving times are approximate and depend on traffic and stops.

The order can be reversed, and many groups finish at Ephesus because it needs the most time. At Laodicea, read the letter about the lukewarm church while looking across the valley at the white travertines of Hierapolis, whose hot springs and the cold water of Colossae are the background many commentators give for the image. Our Seven Churches of Revelation tour page goes through each site in more depth.

Paul in Turkey: what a group can reach

Paul was born in Tarsus and spent more of his missionary life in what is now Turkey than anywhere else. A single trip cannot cover every place in Acts, so it helps to group them by region.

• The Aegean (easy to combine with the Seven Churches). Ephesus, where Paul stayed more than two years and the riot in the theatre took place (Acts 19); Miletus, where he spoke to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-38); Troas and Assos, on his journeys between Asia and Macedonia (Acts 16 and 20).
• The south coast. Perga and Attalia, modern Antalya, on the first journey (Acts 13:13 and 14:25). Perga is a short drive from Antalya airport.
• Central Anatolia. Iconium, modern Konya (Acts 14:1), with Lystra and Derbe further south, and Antioch of Pisidia near Yalvaç (Acts 13:14-52). These are long drives and suit groups that are already crossing to Cappadocia.
• The south-east. Tarsus and Antioch on the Orontes (Antakya), where the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). Much of old Antakya was destroyed in the February 2023 earthquakes, so check the current state of the sites before planning a visit.

For a first pilgrimage, the Aegean is the realistic choice: Ephesus and Miletus sit on the same route as the Seven Churches. Paul's central and southern sites make a good second trip, or a custom extension; see our tailor-made Turkey tour page.

Nicaea, Constantinople and Cappadocia

Three more places complete the story of the early church in Anatolia.

Nicaea (İznik). The first ecumenical council met here in 325 and produced the first form of the Nicene Creed. In Lake İznik, the foundations of a Byzantine basilica lie just under the surface, found in 2014 from aerial photos. In November 2025, for the 1,700th anniversary of the council, Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew prayed together at the lakeside site. İznik is a day trip from Istanbul: our Nicaea day tour includes the town's Hagia Sophia, where the council of 787 met, and the city walls.

Constantinople (Istanbul). The second ecumenical council met in 381 in Hagia Irene, which still stands in the outer courtyard of Topkapı Palace and is included in the palace ticket. Hagia Sophia, the mosaics of the Chora and the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Fener fill a full day. Our Christian heritage tour of Istanbul page shows how to fit them together.

Cappadocia. The home of the Cappadocian Fathers, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and Gregory of Nyssa. The painted rock churches of the Göreme Open-Air Museum and the underground cities, where communities sheltered in times of danger, are the reasons church groups add two nights here.

Route lengths and what they cost

These are our real package prices per person. For a church group, the final price depends on group size, hotel category and season, and is confirmed in writing before payment. International flights from Korea are extra.

Entry tickets are paid in euros at the main sites. Until 31 March 2027, foreign visitors pay €40 at Ephesus, €30 at Pamukkale and Hierapolis, and €20 at the Göreme Open-Air Museum; from 1 April 2027 these rise to €45, €35 and €22. The combined Hierapolis, Laodicea and Denizli museum ticket is €40, rising to €45. Ask us whether tickets are included in the package you choose.

Worship, prayer and Bible readings on site

Korean church groups usually want to do more than look: a short service, a hymn, a reading at each church. This is possible with some care.

• Short readings and prayers at the sites are common and accepted. Choose a corner away from the main path, keep the group together and keep it brief, as other visitors are walking through.
• Singing and amplification. Open-air sites are archaeological areas managed by the state, not churches. A hymn sung quietly is usually fine; loudspeakers and long services are not. Ask the guide where a group can gather.
• Early-morning prayer. Many Korean groups hold daybreak prayer before breakfast. Hotels can usually provide a meeting room; some charge for it, so tell us when you book.
• Sunday worship. In Izmir, St Polycarp's Church holds regular services. In Istanbul, several churches of different traditions hold Sunday services. If your group wants to attend one, tell us early so the Sunday is kept free.
• Communion. If your pastor wants to hold communion at a site, plan a quiet place and time with the guide in advance.

The House of the Virgin Mary above Ephesus is a Catholic shrine with its own Mass times; Protestant groups often visit it briefly or skip it.

Planning from Korea: visa, flights, holidays and food

• Visa. According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citizens of the Republic of Korea with ordinary passports can stay up to 90 days without a visa. There is no e-visa to buy.
• Flights. Turkish Airlines, Asiana Airlines and Korean Air fly nonstop between Incheon and Istanbul Airport. Istanbul is six hours behind Korea all year. From Istanbul, the domestic flight to Izmir for the Seven Churches takes a little over an hour.
• Timing around church holidays. Easter 2027 falls on 28 March. Many groups travel just after Easter, or in October after the Chuseok peak, when flights from Korea are easier to book.
• Food. Turkish food suits most Korean travellers, with grilled meat, rice, soups and plenty of bread and vegetables. Korean restaurants are easy to find in Istanbul but not around the Aegean sites, so many groups bring instant noodles and side dishes for the evenings.
• Coach and luggage. A group of 30 to 40 travels in one full-size coach with a single guide. Domestic flights have lower baggage limits than international ones, so warn members before departure.
• Weather. Laodicea, Sardis and Ephesus have little shade, and summer afternoons are very hot. Spring and autumn are best for walking the sites.

A Korean-speaking guide

Guiding in Türkiye is a licensed profession, and the pool of guides who work in Korean is small. A Korean-speaking licensed guide is arranged on request, subject to availability; we confirm the guide by name and the price before you pay. Peak weeks around Easter and in October fill first, so ask four to six months ahead for a church group. If no Korean-speaking guide is free on your dates, the usual solution is an English-speaking guide with a strong biblical background, with your pastor or a bilingual member translating. Our 5-day Seven Churches tour is led by a guide who specialises in the biblical sites.

Tours that cover this

• Seven Churches of Revelation Tour: 5 Days Private with Biblical Guide, from $1,800 per person.
• Seven Churches of Revelation Tour: 7 Days with Ephesus and Istanbul, from $2,050 per person.
• Biblical Turkey Tour: Seven Churches, Cappadocia and Istanbul, 10 Days, from $2,750 per person.
• Nicea (Iznik) Day Tour from Istanbul with Hagia Sophia and City Walls, from $450 per person.

All our faith-based trips are listed on the religious tours page.

Frequently Asked Questions