6 days – Seven Churches Tour with Istanbul

Featuring some of each destination’s must-see highlights, this trip is ready to book with the itinerary and services indicated. Please see full details below.

Quicklinks: Detailed Itinerary, Hotels, Prices & Dates

Overview

Detailed Itinerary:

All of our tours can easily be customized to suit individual preferences where viable – This is a suggested itinerary below:

Location of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor:
Pergamon – Thyatira – Smyrna – Sardis – Philadelphia – Laodicea – Ephesus

Istanbul
Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Day at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

Istanbul (B)
Full Day Old City Tour:
Pick up from your hotel to visit Topkapi Palace, with royal treasury and elegant four courts. After lunch, proceed to the Hagia Sophia, a great Byzantine architectural masterpiece, whose interior is resplendent with golden mosaics. Then admire the delicate design and Iznik tiles of the Blue Mosque. Explore the ancient Roman Hippodrome with Egyptian Obelisk and Serpentine Column. Finally, stop off at the dazzling Grand Bazaar with over 4000 shops. Drop off to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul

Istanbul(B)
Full Day Bosphorus & Two Continents Tour:
Pick up from your hotel to visit the bustling Spice Market – a colorful bazaar heaped with various sweets and spices. Then you’ll take a relaxing Bosphorus boat cruise (by public ferry or Zoe Yacht) between the continents of Europe and Asia – gliding past Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces, ornate wooden Ottoman mansions and mosques, Rumeli Fortress and the Bosphorus Bridge. In the afternoon, visit the beautiful Beylerbeyi Palace following by a scenic stop on Camlica Hill for panoramic views over Istanbul. Drop off to hotel. Overnight Istanbul.

Izmir-Pamukkale (B, L, D)
Seven Churches at Ephesus & Laodicea:
Transfer from the hotel to Istanbul airport. Fly to Izmir. Visit the city of Ancient Ephesus, the most important of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. See the great Library of Celsus, Agora, Odeon, Trajan Fountain, Domitianus Temple, Roman Latrines, Theater and Stadium in which St. Paul preached the gospel. Also visit the House of Virgin Mary, where she is said to have spent her final years and Isabey Mosque, with intricate carving. After lunch, drive to Eskihisar, site of the Church of Laodicea, to which St. John addressed his letter concerning the city’s waning faith. Overnight stay in Pamukkale.

Pamukkale-Bergama (B, L, D)
Seven Churches at Sardis, Philadelphia, Thyatira & Pamukkale:
Pick up to visitthe ancient city ruins of Hierapolis, where St. Philip was martyred in 1AD. See the Necropolis, Avenue of Tombs and Thermal Baths. Enjoy a break at Pamukkale with snow-white terraced cliff pools. Then we proceed to the ancient Philadelphia Church at Alasehir, the youngest of the Seven Churches of Revelation,visiting the remains of an early church and the city walls. After lunch, visit the site of Sardis – the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia. Walk the Royal Avenue and see the site of the Church of Sardis built on the foundations of the Temple of Artemis. Finally at Akhisar we visit the Church of ancient Thyatira, another one of the 7 churches, set in an ancient commercial town with strong ties to Troy and Sardis. Drop off to hotel. Overnight in Bergama.

Bergama-Istanbul (B, L)
Pergamon – Smyrna – St. Polycarp:
Drive to Pergamon, site of one of the Seven Churches, where St. John wrote of Satan’s throne being sited. Visit the Church of Pergamon, the famous Red-Court and the Acropolis. After lunch, proceed to Smyrna (Izmir), whose early faithful were praised in a letter from St Paul. Finally visit the Church of St. Policarp and enjoy a short tour of Izmir city.  Transfer to Izmir Airport. End of Service. (Fly to Istanbul or onward extension on request).

• Smyrna Revelation: 2:8-11
• Pergamon Revelation: 2:12-17
• Thyatira Revelation: 2:18-29, Acts 16:14
• Sardes Revelation: 3:1-6
• Philadelphia Revelation: 3:7-13
• Laodecia Revelation: 3:14-22
• Ephesus Revelation: 1:11:2:1-7 Acts 18:19-28:19

• Smyrna Revelation: 2:8-11
• Pergamon Revelation: 2:12-17
• Thyatira Revelation: 2:18-29, Acts 16:14
• Sardes Revelation: 3:1-6
• Philadelphia Revelation: 3:7-13
• Laodecia Revelation: 3:14-22
• Ephesus Revelation: 1:11:2:1-7 Acts 18:19-28:19

Hotels

Great Choice of Hotels
When you email us to receive a trip quote, you’ll receive a suggested travel program with a choice of 3 hotels from our selection of 4-5 star, stylish boutique, special class or luxury hotels. All our tour packages are complemented with conveniently-located and established properties or the best available for rural regions. So rest assured that you will be able to retire in comfort each evening, and within easy reach of the center for exploring.

For more information, please see some of our boutique Turkey hotels here.

Prices & Dates:

What’s Included:

Not Included:

Extra Options/Upgrades:

Schedule:

Seven Churches: Departure dates guaranteed every day all year around for this tour.

Change This Trip:

We are happy to make some minor changes provided those are compatible and acceptable with the smooth operation of the tour packages offered.

Awards & Testimonials:

TripAdvisor has awarded Byzas Tours the Certificate of Excellence with 5 stars. Please read what previous guests have said about us on their website.

Information & Reservations:

Please email us your dates of travel and number of travelers for more information and reservations. We aim to respond to all requests within 1 business day. All requests welcome.

Email us for Reservations

“It’s a pleasure to recommend our friends to you as we had such a wonderful trip…well paced, organized and executed”
Barbara.R, USA

Related Tours: