Multi-day journey
Byzantine Turkey Tour in 7 Days: Constantinople, Nicaea, Cappadocia and Trebizond
A private 7-day Byzantine tour of Turkey: Hagia Irene and the cisterns of Istanbul, the council church of Nicaea, the rock churches of Cappadocia and the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon.
Photo: Turkey Your Way
- Length
- 7 days
- Route
- Istanbul → İznik → Cappadocia → Trabzon
- Style
- Private, guided
- Best time
- All year round. Istanbul and the rock churches of Cappadocia suit every season, and in winter, Cappadocia may be under snow, with balloons flying on clear mornings with little wind.
Best for Returning visitors
Tour code TR-J07B
Overview
For a thousand years, Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine world, and its churches still stand across Anatolia. Our Byzantine Turkey tour follows them for seven days, from the Bosphorus to the Black Sea.
Constantinople on the Byzantine Turkey Tour
We begin in Istanbul with our Byzantine Istanbul tour. At Hagia Irene, which Justinian rebuilt in the 6th century, the bare brick and the apse cross still feel Byzantine. Then you see the Great Palace mosaics, Little Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern.
Nicaea
On the third day, you drive to İznik, ancient Nicaea. Inside its Roman and Byzantine walls stands the Hagia Sophia of Nicaea, where the Seventh Ecumenical Council met on 11 October 787.
From our guides
Our suggestion In İznik, if the Hagia Sophia is open, take a moment inside, where the Seventh Ecumenical Council met.
Cappadocia on the Byzantine Turkey Tour
Next, you fly to Cappadocia. At the Göreme Open-Air Museum, monks carved and painted churches between the 10th and 12th centuries. The next day, you walk into the Güllüdere valley for the hidden churches of our Çavuşin and Güllüdere tour, and you see the church at Çavuşin from outside while it is under restoration.
Trebizond
Finally, you fly to Trabzon. Its Hagia Sophia was built in the mid-13th century under Manuel I Komnenos, emperor of Trebizond, with frescoes of the apostles in its dome. On the last morning, we go to the Sumela Monastery; visiting status can change, and we confirm it before your date.
Shape Your Byzantine Turkey Tour
Every journey is private, so we add our Conquest of Constantinople tour for the walls, or a slower day in Cappadocia.
Would you like to follow the Byzantine world across Turkey? Constantinople, Nicaea, Cappadocia and Trebizond span the empire; we link them in the order your trip allows.
Route
- Istanbul
- İznik
- Cappadocia
- Trabzon
Day by day
-
Day 1 · Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul
Arrival and transfer to your hotel.
- Stay: Istanbul
-
Day 2 · Istanbul
Byzantine Istanbul
Hagia Irene, the Great Palace mosaics, Little Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern.
- Places: Hagia Irene, Little Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Great Palace Mosaic Museum
- Stay: Istanbul
-
Day 3 · Bursa
Nicaea
A day trip to İznik, ancient Nicaea: the walls and the Hagia Sophia of the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
- Places: Iznik, Hagia Sophia, İznik
- Stay: Istanbul
-
Day 4 · Cappadocia
The Göreme Open-Air Museum
The flight to Cappadocia and the painted rock churches of Göreme.
- Places: Göreme Open-Air Museum
- Stay: Cappadocia
-
Day 5 · Cappadocia
Hidden churches
The church at Çavuşin, seen from outside, and the rock-cut churches of the Güllüdere valley.
- Places: Çavuşin, Red and Rose Valley, Cappadocia
- Stay: Cappadocia
-
Day 6 · Trabzon
Trebizond
The flight to Trabzon and the Hagia Sophia of the emperors of Trebizond.
- Places: Hagia Sophia of Trabzon
- Stay: Trabzon
-
Day 7 · Trabzon
Sumela and home
The Sumela Monastery on its cliff, as its visiting status allows, then the flight home.
- Places: Sumela Monastery
What’s included
Included
- Private licensed guides on every touring day, in the language you ask for
- A private vehicle and driver for the whole journey
- Airport meetings and transfers
- A 10 GB eSIM for one traveler in your group, our gift, valid for 30 days (data only)
Not included
- Flights, unless agreed in your program
- Hotels, unless agreed in your program
- Entrance tickets, unless agreed in your program
- Meals and drinks
- Tips
“From the pick up to the drop off, the entire experience was top notch”
Practical
- Best time to go
- All year round. Istanbul and the rock churches of Cappadocia suit every season, and in winter, Cappadocia may be under snow, with balloons flying on clear mornings with little wind.
- Fitness level
- Moderate: walks in the city and on valley paths, and some steps in the rock churches.
- Accessibility
- Tell us your needs. Some rock churches and Sumela have steps.
Gallery
Photo: Turkey Your Way 
Photo: Turkey Your Way 
Photo: Turkey Your Way 
Photo: Turkey Your Way
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Byzantine Turkey tour start and end?
It starts in Istanbul and ends with a flight home from Trabzon.
Can we go inside every church on the Byzantine Turkey tour?
Several are mosques today, and some are under restoration. Visiting status can change; we confirm it before your date, and we see the others from outside.
Is Sumela open?
Visiting status can change; we confirm it before your date.
How demanding is the journey?
Moderate: city walks, valley paths and some steps.
Can we add more days?
Yes. Every journey is private, so we can add the walls of Constantinople or more time in Cappadocia.
What is your cancellation policy?
Every trip with us is private, so we agree the cancellation terms with you by email before you book, and you find them in writing in your booking confirmation. The deposit is non-refundable.
