Turkish Food & Culture Tour - 12 Days

Highlights

• Dine at world-renowned restaurants in Istanbul, like Tugra and Mikla
• Visit the tasty Eminonu and Kadikoy districts on a street food tour
• Take a wine tour in the Urlice Vineyards and sample local wines
• Soar over Cappadocia on a hot-air balloon to the famous fairy chimneys from above
• Explore the Greco-Roman ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in İstanbul, Dinner at Tuğra Restaurant

Welcome to İstanbul! Upon arrival, a driver will be waiting for you outside of the airport to transfer you to your centrally-located hotel. Steeped in history and culture, İstanbul is known as "the bridge between Europe and Asia" as it's the only city in the world that straddles two continents. Once you settle in and relax a little, get ready for dinner at Çırağan Palace Kempinski. This historic Ottoman palace houses one of İstanbul's most famous restaurants, Tuğra Restaurant and Lounge ("Tuğra" means "Signature of the Sultan").

Enjoy incredible views over the Bosphorus Strait from the opulent dining room adorned with intricate Ottoman-era decor. Choose from an array of dishes crafted from centuries-old recipes with a modern twist, from delectable appetizers or mezes to succulent kebabs. No meal is complete without dessert; try a homemade baklava or a warm halva paired with Turkish coffee. Continue the night with drinks along the strait or head back to the hotel to rest for tomorrow's tour of the city. 

Day 2: Cruise on the Bosphorus, Cultural Performance 

Explore the city by water as you board a private luxury yacht to sail across the Bosphorus Strait. Sit back, relax, and admire popular landmarks on both the European and Asian sides of the city, like the Golden Horn and Ortaköy Mosque. Don't miss the Galata Tower, built by the Genovese as an observation tower; it's now a museum that makes up the iconic silhouette of the city. Enjoy afternoon drinks and nibbles as you sail.

Sit down for a quick lunch at an esnaf lokantası, a type of local restaurant with a variety of premade meals to choose from, such as hünkarbeğendi (roasted meat served on mashed eggplant). Save your appetite because, in the evening, you get to enjoy more authentic Turkish cuisine, including an array of mezes, at an exclusive nightclub. Following your meal, immerse yourself in Turkish culture by listening to a folk performance and watching belly dancers perform. 

Day 3: Guided Tour of Sultanahmet & Grand Bazaar, Feast on Kebabs

Head out for a guided tour of the city's historic district, Sultanahmet, home to many important buildings from the Byzantine era. Follow your guide to one of the city's most famous sites, the Blue Mosque. Enter this historic landmark from the 17th century to see the interior lined with intricate blue tiles that lent the mosque its name. Next, step outside to the Hippodrome of Constantinople, now known as Sultanahmet Square. Admire the square's fountain with the mosque as a backdrop, and check out the towering Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius.

Take a break for lunch at Suleymaniye Kurufasulyecisi to try fasulye, a classic Turkish dish of white beans cooked in tomato sauce with rice. Explore other UNESCO World Heritage sites in the area, such as the Hagia Sophia Mosque or Topkapı Palace, before heading to the Grand Bazaar in the afternoon. Stay close to your guide as you wander 61 winding streets and alleys covered by over 4,000 stalls. End the day with a Turkish staple, kebabs, at Samatya Develi, which has been serving this beloved local dish since 1966.

Day 4: Street Food Tour of Eminönü & Kadıköy

Get ready to eat, as today, you're going on a street food tour across the city. Start with the European side at the commercial waterfront area of Eminönü. As you weave through the colorful backstreets, learn about and try different traditional dishes and ingredients, like local cheeses, pickles, puddings, and Turkish delight. Surround yourself with mouthwatering aromas at the Spice Bazaar, with over 85 shops selling local snacks, spices, and sweets for you to try. Grab a dürüm, a delectable wrap filled with tender meat, to keep you going.

In the afternoon, take a short ferry ride across the strait to the Asian side of the city, Kadıköy. Walk along the narrow, pedestrian-only streets, entering local shops and restaurants. Explore one of the many markets in the area; from fresh fruit to seafood to spices, they sell it all. This is the best area to try the favorite local dish of midye dolma, stuffed mussels with rice, and kokoreç, lamb intestines seasoned with traditional spices wrapped in bread. End the street food tour with a restorative glass of Turkish tea called çay in one of the traditional tea gardens overlooking the Sea of Marmara.

Day 5: Fly to Cappadocia, Lunch & Cooking Class, Whirling Dervish Show

Head to the airport for a domestic flight to Cappadocia, located in the heart of Turkey's Central Anatolia region. Meet your driver outside the airport and transfer to your hotel. After you've settled in, head to a village house to learn about the secrets of baking bread and cooking local dishes in a stone oven from the owner of the house. You can then enjoy the food you made in the garden.

In the evening, your driver will take you to the nearby town of Avanos to watch a whirling dervish ritual dance in the 13th-century museum of Saruhan Caravanserai. Watch as the dancers, clad in white robes and conical hats, whirl around the room.

Day 6: Hot-Air Balloon Ride, Tour of the Region, Dinner at Seki Restaurant

Wake up bright and early to experience the thrill of a hot-air balloon ride over the otherworldly valleys of Cappadocia. Watch as the crew inflates the massive balloons, then hop into the basket to float into the air. Admire the sun slowly rising over the valleys and unique rock formations. When you land, continue to explore the region by visiting the Göreme Open-Air Museum, with its dozens of painted cave churches. After admiring these rock-cut structures, head to the Devrent and Paşabağı valleys to see the famous "fairy chimneys," towering chimney-shaped structures made of clay, sandstone, and volcanic ash.

The adventure continues after an authentic Cappadocian lunch as you visit Uçhisar Castle, built in the fourth century. Climb to the top for a panoramic view of the entire valley. Head back to Avanos to watch a pottery demonstration, as the nearby Kızılırmak River gives residents plenty of red clay to work with. End this action-packed day with dinner at Seki, a restaurant that uses fresh, local ingredients paired with contemporary cooking techniques to produce unique flavors. Try dishes like duck confit wrapped in chard leaves or lamb cutlet with grape molasses, all paired with Turkish wines.

Day 7: Kaymaklı Underground City, Ihlara Valley, Dinner at Lil'a Restaurant

Cappadocia has plenty to see, and it's not all above ground. Today, you'll visit the Kaymaklı Underground City, one of 36 underground cities in the region. This one, in particular, used to house over 3,500 people fleeing religious persecution in the seventh and eighth centuries. Although the ancient city descends eight floors, you can only visit the first four, stopping at old living quarters along the way so you can imagine how residents used to live. Once you're back above ground, stop in the Ihlara Valley, one of the largest valleys in the world, for a picnic lunch with regional delicacies and local wine.

After refueling, trek through the valley, surrounded by sheer canyon walls that create a shaded oasis. Admire the rock-cut churches and dwellings from the Byzantine era dotting the landscape. End the day in the Museum Hotel at Lil'a Restaurant, which pairs traditional recipes with the almost-forgotten tastes of Anatolia and Cappadocia. Chef Saygın Sesli's philosophy is "from farm to table," so you can enjoy the freshest ingredients in dishes like tandoor ribs or partridge manti, large dumplings filled with slow-cooked partridge meat.

Day 8: Fly to İzmir, Visit Urlice Vineyards, Transfer to Alaçatı

Fly to the Aegean coast today to reach İzmir, the third most populated city in Turkey. Upon arrival, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to Urlice Vineyards, a family-owned and operated boutique winery. Embark on a tour of the vineyard and discover how the family continues to use ancient viticultural techniques, keeping their wine free of chemicals. Sample some of their delicious wines, such as shiraz or cabernet sauvignon, paired with a homemade pizza for lunch.

Continue to Alaçatı, a historic known for its distinctive architecture and vibrant culture. Settle into your hotel, then head out to explore the area on your own. Walk down the cobblestone streets lined with restored stone houses painted in various shades of white and adorned with colorful bougainvillea flowers. Visit the town center to try delectable Aegean cuisine, like muska börek, a layered pastry typically filled with cheese, meat, or potatoes. If you visit on a Saturday, you can stop by the bustling market, a labyrinth of fresh produce, spices, and nuts.

Day 9: Visit Can Carpets, Explore Ephesus, Transfer to Şirince

Today, your driver will take you west to the village of Çamlık, where you'll stop at Can Carpets, a small atelier that still uses a traditional dye extraction method from plants to create their textiles. After sharing a traditional lunch with the employees, learn about the dying process and observe the women making traditional one-of-a-kind carpets you can purchase and take home with you as a souvenir. Say goodbye to the team and continue to the ruins of Ephesus. The Greeks established this ancient city in the 11th century BCE before it fell under Roman rule in 129 BCE.

You can see the influence of both empires as you explore the remnants of buildings like the Celsius Library, the Great Theater, and the Trajan Fountain. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary next, believed to be the final residence of the Virgin Mary. Stop at the nearby sacred spring that's said to have healing properties. Back on the road, you'll continue to the quaint village of Şirince and get settled into your hotel. As evening falls, step out for a gourmet dinner at Nişanyan House, one of the finest hotels in Turkey. Try dishes characteristic of the Aegean region, like çiğ balık—fish carpaccio with fresh ginger.

Day 10: See the "Cotton Castle" of Pamukkale, Dinner at Kuşadası Fish Market

Today's excursion starts with a three-hour transfer east to the town of Pamukkale in southwestern Turkey. This Turkish gem, often referred to as the "Cotton Castle," is renowned for its terraces of white and baby blue, mineral-rich thermal waters cascading down the mountainside. Not only are these terraces, formed over millenniums, visually stunning, but they also offer the opportunity to take a dip in the soothing, warm waters acclaimed for their therapeutic properties.

After relaxing in the hot springs, visit the nearby ruins of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis. Wander through the well-preserved archaeological site and discover the historical Roman baths, the theater, and the Temple of Apollo. On the return trip to Şirince, you'll make a stop in Kuşadası, a beach resort town on the western Aegean coast. Visit the Kuşadası Fish Market to choose from a selection of fresh fish and seafood. Your guide will take your picks to a restaurant to be cooked and served with an array of salads and mezes.

Day 11: Fly to İstanbul, Hammam Experience, Dinner at Sofyalı 9

Wave goodbye to Şirince as you fly back to İstanbul today. Transfer to your hotel and settle in before heading out to explore the city on your own. Visit some of the landmarks you didn't get to see, such as the Chora Church, a Greek-Orthodox church built in the fourth century, famous for its mosaics and frescoes. When your feet are tired, make your way to the hammam (Turkish spa) at Hurrem Sultan Bath, to relax.

Start your blissful afternoon with a steam bath to open your pores and cleanse your skin in preparation for a body scrub to exfoliate your skin and remove dead skin cells and impurities. After rinsing off, lay down for a full-body massage with essential oils to ease any tension you may be feeling. End the night with dinner at Sofyalı 9, a meyhane (Turkish tavern) that whips up Anatolian classics, such as lamb stew with tomato sauce and fried liver, paired with Turkey's most famous alcoholic drink, rakı.

Day 12: Depart İstanbul

It's time to say goodbye to Turkey! If time allows, continue to explore İstanbul on your own. You may want to revisit some of your favorite landmarks, such as the Grand Bazaar to pick up some last-minute souvenirs. Keep an eye on the clock, though, as a driver will be picking you up at your hotel to transfer you to the airport. Safe travels!

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