Days 1–3: Istanbul
After arrival, we spend two full days exploring the highlights of Istanbul. Visits include the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the 6th-century Byzantine Cistern, the City Walls, the Golden Horn, and the Kariye (Chora) Churc/Mosque.
We also discover Topkapi Palace and its famous blue-tiled Harem, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market, and Rustem Pasa Mosque. At dusk, we enjoy a ferry ride along the Bosphorus toward the Black Sea.
Day 4: Edirne
We drive through Thrace to Edirne, the third Ottoman capital from 1363 to 1453, located at the gateway to Europe. The Selimiye Mosque, described by the architect Sinan as his masterpiece, dominates the city skyline.
We also visit the Muradiye, Yildirim, and Beyazit II Mosques, which reflect the transition from the early Ottoman state to the Ottoman Empire. Historic caravansaries, bedestens, and arastas still serve as lively centers of commerce and social life.
Every July, the famous Kirkpinar oil wrestling festival attracts thousands of visitors, continuing a tradition that is over 600 years old.
Day 5: Gallipoli – Troy – Canakkale
We follow the route taken by the Ottomans in the 14th century and visit Gallipoli to explore the battlefields of 1915. The Gallipoli campaign became a defining moment for both Turkish and Allied forces.
Crossing the Dardanelles highlights the strategic importance of the Turkish Straits connecting the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Day 6: Troy – Bursa
Troy’s location at the entrance of the Hellespont made it an important military and trading center during the Bronze Age. Because ships struggled against the strong currents and northern winds in the Dardanelles, merchants often waited in Troy’s harbor for favorable southern winds.
In the afternoon, we continue to Bursa, located at the foot of Uludag Mountain.
Day 7: Bursa
Bursa served as the first major Ottoman capital from 1326 to 1362. Its mosques, bazaars, and monumental tombs reflect a culturally rich and politically important period in Ottoman history.
Located at the western end of the Silk Road, Koza Han remains a lively reminder of Bursa’s commercial past.
One of the highlights of Bursa is experiencing the traditional Turkish baths built over the ancient thermal springs in the Cekirge district.
Day 8: Iznik (Nicaea) – Istanbul
Driving through olive groves along the Sea of Marmara and Lake Iznik, we arrive in ancient Nicaea. The city is known for its Byzantine walls, famous Ottoman tiles, and Hagia Sophia, where the First Ecumenical Council of 325 declared the Nicene Creed.
A ferry ride across the Sea of Marmara brings us back to Istanbul in the afternoon.
Istanbul Highlights
Roman & Byzantine Heritage (325–1453)
- Hagia Sophia (537)
- Basilica Cistern (532)
- Walls of Constantinople (413–1453)
- Chora Museum and its mosaics (1321)
- Church of the Pantocrator, now Zeyrek Mosque (1136)
- Fener district and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
- Great Palace Mosaics (532)
- Roman Hippodrome (200)
Ottoman Landmarks (1453–1922)
- Topkapi Palace Museum (1465)
- Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) (1616)
- Suleymaniye Mosque by Sinan (1557)
- Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus (1856)
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts (1524)
- Military Museum with Mehter Band concert
Modern Istanbul
- Istanbul Modern Art Museum
- Pera Museum
- Sabanci Museum
- Taksim Square and cultural venues
Shopping & Markets
- Grand Bazaar
- Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Market)
- Nisantasi upscale shopping district
Neighborhoods & Local Character
- Ortakoy
- Uskudar
- Mahmutpasa
- Galata Bridge and surrounding neighborhoods
- The Bosphorus, lined with kiosks, pavilions, and yali waterfront homes
- Princes’ Islands
