This 5-day guided tour visits Istanbul (3 nights) and Ankara (1 night). Prices start from $1,174 USD per person, based on two travelers sharing. Operated by One Nation Travel, a TÜRSAB-licensed (No. A-6073) local tour operator founded in Istanbul in 2008.
Overview
You spend four nights across two Turkish capitals: three nights in Istanbul and one night in Ankara. Start with two full days in Istanbul, fly to Ankara after a Bosphorus cruise, then return to Istanbul after touring Ankara for your final night before departure. Domestic flights connect the cities, with airport and hotel transfers coordinated around them.
In Istanbul, you visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar, then cruise the Bosphorus between the European and Asian sides of the city. In Ankara, the focus shifts to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and Anitkabir, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s mausoleum.
As a licensed local operator based in Istanbul, we coordinate your listed transfers, domestic flights, hotel stays, and guided touring.
This pace suits you if you want a compact introduction to Istanbul and Ankara with limited unplanned time; it does not suit you if you prefer slow mornings or extended independent exploration.
Route: Istanbul (3 nights) → Ankara (1 night) → Istanbul
Day-by-Day Itinerary
When you arrive at Istanbul New Airport or Sabiha Gökçen Airport, a team member will meet you at the international-arrivals exit with a sign bearing your name. You will then travel to your hotel in Istanbul for check-in and time to settle in after your flight.
The rest of the day is free. Keep plans simple if you have arrived after a long journey, or use the afternoon to get your bearings, have a meal nearby, and adjust to the pace of the city. If you prefer a structured evening, an optional dinner cruise on the Bosphorus with entertainment may be arranged separately.
Your arrival transfer is handled according to your flight details, so there is no need to make your own way from the airport. Overnight in Istanbul.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Istanbul: Antea Hotel Oldcity, Muyan Suites, or Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel. Begin in Istanbul‘s old center with your guide, visiting Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Hippodrome, where the layout of the former Roman chariot-racing arena still shapes the square.
After lunch, continue to Topkapi Palace, the main residence of Ottoman sultans for centuries, before heading to the Grand Bazaar. This is a working covered market rather than a museum, so expect narrow passages, busy shopfronts, and time to browse before the return transfer.
The order of visits may change with opening days and religious services. On Fridays, the Blue Mosque is visited from outside only. If Topkapi Palace is closed on a Tuesday, the visit is replaced by the Basilica Cistern. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. After the tour, return to your hotel and keep the evening open. Overnight in Istanbul.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Istanbul: Antea Hotel Oldcity, Muyan Suites, or Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel. Travel to the pier at Eminönü and make a short stop at the Spice Market, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar. Then board a shared boat for a morning cruise on the Bosphorus, the waterway between Europe and Asia.
From the boat, you will pass views of Dolmabahçe Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, the Bosphorus Bridge, waterfront mansions, and the fortifications along the strait. This part of the day is about seeing Istanbul from the water, where the city’s hills, ferry routes, and shorelines make more sense than they do from street level.
After the cruise, return to your hotel to collect your luggage, then transfer to Istanbul Airport for your domestic flight to Ankara. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the evening is free for an easy dinner or rest before the following day’s sightseeing. Overnight in Ankara.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Ankara: Başkent Center Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel. Start your visit to Ankara at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, where the collections trace Anatolia through early settlements, Bronze Age kingdoms, and later civilizations. The Hittite material is a key part of the visit and gives useful context for central Turkey’s ancient past.
After lunch, continue to Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey. The setting combines a ceremonial approach, museum displays, and a formal memorial complex. Allow time to take in the scale of the site and the way it remains part of modern Ankara’s public life.
At the end of the tour, transfer to Ankara Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. After landing, an airport representative will meet you and arrange your transfer to the hotel. You will have the evening free in Istanbul, with time for dinner nearby or a final walk at your own pace. Overnight in Istanbul.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Istanbul: Antea Hotel Oldcity, Muyan Suites, or Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, check out of your hotel in Istanbul and prepare for your departure transfer. We will arrange pickup according to your flight details, allowing you to travel to Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen Airport for your onward flight.
Keep your passport, travel documents, and any items needed during the flight in your carry-on bag before leaving the hotel. If your departure is later in the day, you can use any remaining time independently, subject to your hotel’s check-out arrangements and the timing of your airport transfer.
Your transfer marks the end of the tour services. No accommodation is included on this day.
No accommodation is included on this day.
Inclusions:
- 3 nights in Istanbul at a 4-star or Special Class hotel, including breakfast
- 1 night in Ankara at a 4-star hotel, including breakfast
- Domestic flights from Istanbul to Ankara and Ankara to Istanbul, as specified in the itinerary
- Airport and hotel transfers as specified in the itinerary
- Professional licensed English-speaking guide during the tours
- Entrance fees for the sites listed in the itinerary.
- Meals as specified in the itinerary: breakfast and lunch
- Transportation during tours as specified in the itinerary
- Local taxes and service charges
Exclusions:
- International flights
- Visa or e-visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Dinners
- Drinks with meals
- Optional tours and activities
Important Notes
With your inquiry, please send your travel dates, number of travelers, preferred room setup, hotel class preference, and whether your dates are flexible by a day or two.
Before domestic flight tickets can be issued, we need each traveler’s full name exactly as printed in the passport, date of birth, passport number, and nationality. The name on the ticket is checked against the passport at the gate.
For pickup arrangements, send your hotel name and address, or your arrival flight number and landing time.
Tour Notes
- The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
- This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
- The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
- Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
Room Allocation
- For 1 traveler: 1 Single Room Accommodation.
- For 2 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room Accommodation.
- For 3 travelers: 1 Triple Room Accommodation.
- For 4 travelers: 2 Double/Twin Rooms Accommodation.
- For 5 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room and 1 Triple Room Accommodation.
Flights & Transfers
- On flights luggage allowance is 15 kg per person for checked in luggage. For carry-on, you can take up to 8 kg per person. One carry-on is allowed per person.
FAQs
Stay & Schedule
You spend three nights in Istanbul and one night in Ankara. Istanbul is your base on arrival, after the Ankara flight, and before your departure.
The main sightseeing days start with hotel pickup around 8:30 or 9:00 am and include several stops before returning in the late afternoon or continuing to the airport. Expect a full day on your feet in Istanbul and a moderate amount of walking in Ankara, including uneven pavement, museum floors, mosque courtyards, and market streets. Comfortable walking shoes are important.
Spring and fall are usually the easiest seasons for city sightseeing, with more comfortable conditions for walking between major sites. Summer can be hot, while winter can bring cool, wet weather in Istanbul and colder conditions in Ankara. Check the forecast close to departure, especially because you visit two cities with different weather patterns.
Transfers & Flights
On arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), you will be met at the international arrivals exit by a representative holding a sign with your name. Your transfer then takes you directly to your Istanbul hotel.
The route includes flights from Istanbul to Ankara on Day 3 and from Ankara back to Istanbul on Day 4. After the Bosphorus cruise, you return to your Istanbul hotel to collect your luggage before heading to the airport. On the return flight, you are met in Istanbul and transferred to your hotel.
Your domestic flight allowance is 15 kg for checked luggage and up to 8 kg for one carry-on bag per person. If you are traveling with more luggage, plan ahead and keep essentials, documents, and any needed medication in your carry-on.
Practical Details
Wear comfortable shoes and clothing that works for a full day of walking and changing temperatures. For mosque visits, bring clothing that covers your shoulders and knees; women should also carry a scarf for head covering when required. A light layer and rain protection are useful outside the warmest months.
Yes. Solo travelers are accommodated in a single room and join the scheduled transfers and guided sightseeing included in the itinerary. Airport pickup and departure transfer are arranged according to your flight details.
You have free time in Istanbul on arrival day and after several tour days, which gives you time to arrange a SIM card or eSIM if needed. Mobile data is not listed as part of the tour, so it is best to set up your connection independently and save hotel and transfer details offline before arrival.
Group Travel
Our multi-day Turkey packages are regular group/shared tour arrangements, not fully escorted tours with one tour leader and the same guests from arrival to departure. Sightseeing tours are shared and usually operate with about 15-20 guests, but group size and participants may change by city or day as travelers join or leave different scheduled tours. Licensed English-speaking guides lead scheduled sightseeing visits only. Guides do not travel with guests on domestic flights, intercity buses, airport transfers, hotel transfers, or free-time periods unless this is specifically stated in the itinerary. For flights, buses, and transfers, guests are met by our driver or local representative at airports, bus terminals, or hotels and assisted with the planned transfer. One Nation Travel coordinates the full itinerary, hotels, domestic tickets, transfers, local guides, and support throughout the trip.
Overall Trip Rating:
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Verified Purchase
By Karolína K.(Olomouc, Czech Republic)August 11, 2026 Worked well with kids, Istanbul and Ankara both fineTwo cities and two flights in five days sounded like a lot with the kids, but it worked out fine. Someone was waiting at the airport with our name on a sign, which was a relief after a long flight. Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque were busy, so our guide took us early and kept us moving without rushing. The Bosphorus cruise was the part the kids talked about most. Ankara felt calmer, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations held their attention longer than I expected. Pickups were around 8:30 every morning so we had early nights, but nobody minded. Well organised family trip, we felt safe the whole time.Date of Experience: August 07, 2026
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Featured Hotels
Hotel options associated with this itinerary; the selected tour page and written confirmation control the included hotel and category.
View Featured Hotels (4)- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel for an additional cost, which is added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Hotels are subject to availability; alternatives of an equal standard may be provided.
