DAY TRIPS · ISTANBUL
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 12 day trips from istanbul worth the money, priced per seat, with the pick-up time and the lunch question answered.
Escape Istanbul for Sapanca Lake, Maşukiye, cable cars, ziplining, ATV rides, lunch, and countryside views on a full-day tour.
“Lunch venue was excellent however menu and quantity should be improved.”
Review of Istanbul’s Bursa and Uludag day trip, covering ferry views, cable cars, Green Mosque, lunch, shopping stops, and value.
“This was a great trip but very long the things we went to see was excellent and going on a boat and a cable car and petrol buggy on the day was fantastic The shops we were taken to see well being harassed was not enjoyable in all 3 and the Turkish delight factory was only a shop with very expensive items for sale cheaper going to the bazaar Lunch was very nice The only down I thought were the guide and driver constantly on their phones whether stopped or driving they just never seemed to stop phoning or texting All in all a great day for the money”
Review of Cappadocia’s 16-hour day trip from Istanbul, with flights, lunch, fairy chimneys, cave churches, pottery, and practical booking advice.
“Was the perfect day trip to ensure that we saw Cappadocia. Our guide Umit was awesome! This is a great tour if you are only in Istanbul for a week and would like to still see Cappadocia.”
Review of Istanbul’s Bursa and Uludag day trip, covering the cable car, mountain views, lunch, historic sights, shopping stops, and practical tips.
“Amazing day! We were picked up from the hotel as promised..visited a few tourist shops along the way to Bursa, did the ski lift ride (must do for 150lira) had a beautiful lunch (definitely pay extra 50lira for the aubergine). The cable car was stunning and the coach was very comfortable. The tour guide was always on hand so we didnt feel lost anywhere. The mosque in Bursa is also well worth a visit. Everything went smoothly and we even had an unexpected ride on a ferry back to Istanbul. 10/10 day!!”
Review of a 15-hour Istanbul to Ephesus day trip with flights, private guide, lunch, airport transfers, and the House of Virgin Mary.
“Inan our guide was the best! He was informative and eager and really made a lasting impression on my kids which I can’t thank him enough for. I’m even telling my in laws to request Inan when they go to Ephesus in a few weeks. The only complaint I have about the whole thing was we were too early to airport both times and ended up waiting for 2 hours in airport. Make the flight back earlier and problem solved”
Explore Istanbul’s top sights in one guided day, from Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace to the Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar.
“Our guide Mr. Ismail (Gulliver Travels) gave ample time to enjoy all the itinerary sites with skip the lines for all the locations along with detailed descriptions about the history and importance of the sites. The lunch included was descent. Recommend for people staying for short time in İstanbul. The guide indeed an asset for the company.”
Review of Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands day trip, with ferry details, Büyükada sights, lunch, transport concerns, pricing, and booking advice.
“We booked online in Sydney. $154. for a small group tour and guide when we reached island. The boat was full. Very old and slow. No commentary or introduction. We were subjected to very loud music to the extent we had to go downstairs. We did ask that the music be turned down but to no avail. There was x1 funtioning toilet which was dirty and u could only squat! The men had 2 luckier! The guides or so we thought showed no interest and said "free time". We walked about in the hot sun with no info about the island. Another couple we met from Australia made the trip…”
Fly from Istanbul to Ephesus for a guided day of ancient ruins, the House of Virgin Mary, Selçuk sights, lunch, and return transfers.
“The trip to Efessos was very worthwhile! The sites are amazing to visit, and our guide, Ziki, was extremely knowledgeable and personable. We felt very comfortable with him. After a delicious lunch (though the outdoor seating in rather cold air temperature made it hard for me to enjoy fully), my partner enjoyed learning about silk production and carpet making at the Pergamon Carpet Weaving COOP, right next-door. There were many beautiful and unique hand-crafted artifacts at the site she would have liked to look at. Most time was taken up, however, showing us rugs which were completely beyond our budget to buy. Personally I feel the tour description ought to…”
Review of a 2-day Cappadocia trip from Istanbul with flights, cave hotel, balloon ride, ATV tour, guides, costs, and practical tips.
“The tour with Pupa Tours was well-organized and comprehensive. The staff was exceptionally kind, attentive, and always eager to address our inquiries. The balloon ride provided an absolutely breathtaking and unforgettable experience. However, there are certain aspects that could be improved. One issue was that our tours were swapped, resulting in the Goreme tour taking place after the balloon ride. Consequently, we had limited time to rest since the balloon ride required a 4 am pick-up, followed by the second tour starting at 9 am. Moreover, the chimneys tour felt somewhat repetitive, and some locations could have been omitted to enhance the overall experience. Additionally, unnecessary stop...”
Review of the Istanbul to Göbekli Tepe and Harran day trip, with flights, local guides, Abraham’s Cave, beehive houses, and practical tips.
“We had an amazing tour with Ibrahim! He was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and hospitable. We’ve been travelling for months and this was by far our best day yet. Everything ran smoothly and the communication was excellent. 10/10 recommend Ibrahim as your guide!”
Review of a Bursa day trip from Istanbul with lunch, ferry transport, Uludag cable car views, Green Mosque, and practical booking tips.
“Bursa, no l'hem vista, tret de la mesquita verda, 20 minuts ja de nit”
Review of the Istanbul to Sapanca and Masukiye day trip, with lake views, lunch, zoo, waterfall, Kartepe, costs, and practical advice.
“Il s'agit d'une sortie commerciale au cours de laquelle des activités payantes seront proposées à chaque arrêt. . Il ne s'agit pas vraiment de visites de sites à proprement parler. Le dejeuner était peu qualitatif mais s'est fait dans un joli endroit. S'agissant du transfert, le chauffeur est arrivé avec près d'une heure de retard à l'aller et nous a déposé à proximité de l'hotel. Le point positif est le guide qui assurait parfaitement son rôle et était très agreable, pédagogue et bienveillant. Aussi tout dépend de ce que vous recherchez...”
A boat, a castle, a waterfall or a very long lunch.
