Ephesus & Pergamon Plus Tours from Istanbul

Ephesus & Pergamon Plus Tour from Istanbul is planned for people who will be departing from Istanbul. From Istanbul, you will be transferred via bus or plane, depending on your preference. There is no train service that runs directly between Istanbul and Izmir. Your journey can conclude in Izmir, Kusadasi or Bergama (Pergamon).

Day 1 – This tour from Istanbul takes you to Pergamon, one of the finest archaeological sites in Turkey. The city was a great cultural centre of culture and the capital of the East during the reign of the Roman Empire. After a short cable car ride, you will have a birds-eye view of the local surroundings. You will see numerous ruins including the celebrated Library, the steepest theatre in Anatolia, the Temples of Trajan and Dionysos, the location of the Altar of Zeus which is famous for its relief with God and devils, the Sanctuary of Demeter, the Gymnasium situated on terraces, and the lower Agora. After a delicious lunch with Turkish specialities, you will visit the Archaeological Museum in Bergama, before proceeding to the Medical Center of the ancient world — the Asclepion — where the first psychological treatments were performed and which was dedicated to the God of Health, Asclepios. Your overnight will be in Izmir.

Day 2 – This full-day excursion covers the most exciting sites of the region which include the House of the Virgin Mary, where the Blessed Virgin is reputed to have spent the last years of her life; the Ancient City of Ephesus, the most important archaeological site in Turkey; and finally the Basilica of St. John, the ruins of a church which houses a 2nd-century tomb thought to hold the remains of St. John. During our full-day tour, the Temple of Diana (Artemis) as well as the Selçuk Museum will be visited.  You will enjoy a delicious lunch with Turkish specialities in Selçuk. We will visit a carpet weaving centre supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism before leaving the region. These talented weavers use hand-made traditional techniques as opposed to typical carpet weaving centres that use the latest technology. Get informed about how to create a traditional rug by using traditionally-dressed peasantry in an authentic marquee to examine each stage of the process from live displays. After Ephesus, you will be taken back to the airport or bus terminal of your choice for your journey back to Istanbul.

Tour Code: PLP017EP