Istanbul & Ephesus Faith Tour: House of the Virgin Mary & Biblical Sites – 5 Days / 4 Nights

Tour Overview

5-Day Istanbul and Ephesus Faith Tour: House of the Virgin Mary and Biblical Sites

This 5-day Istanbul and Ephesus faith tour starts in Istanbul and follows early Christian heritage across four nights: two in Sultanahmet, then two in Kuşadası on the Aegean coast after a domestic flight to İzmir. It has two guided days, one in Istanbul and one around Ephesus.

In Istanbul you see Hagia Sophia, known for its Byzantine mosaics, the Hippodrome and the Blue Mosque; the private option adds the Basilica Cistern, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Church of St. George in Fener, and Balat. At Ephesus you visit the House of the Virgin Mary, the Great Theatre where St. Paul preached and the Temple of Artemis; the private option adds the Basilica of St. John and a Bible-oriented guide.

It suits pilgrims, church groups and families. Choose a shared tour with lunch included or a private tour with your own vehicle and guide. The price includes 4★ hotels (or similar) with breakfast, domestic flights, airport transfers and the Ephesus and House of the Virgin Mary entrances; Istanbul museum fees are paid on-site. See the Ephesus travel guide for tickets and hours, browse the Ephesus and Pamukkale packages, or compare the Istanbul, Bursa and Ephesus tour.

Highlights

• Hagia Sophia and Byzantine Istanbul
• Ecumenical Patriarchate in Fener (private)
• House of the Virgin Mary
• Great Theatre of Ephesus
• Basilica of St. John (private)
• Temple of Artemis
• Bible-oriented guide (private)

Quick facts

• Best time to visit: spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), when Ephesus is mild.
• On the shared option, note that the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and Topkapı Palace on Tuesdays.
• Optional extras on request: Şirince village, Churches of Revelation extension.

Places Along the Route

Why Choose This Istanbul & Ephesus Faith Tour?

This faith tour follows early Christian heritage in five days: Byzantine Istanbul on Day 2, a flight to İzmir, then Ephesus with the House of the Virgin Mary as its pilgrim stop.

• Pilgrim sites on both guided days — Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, then the House of the Virgin Mary and the Great Theatre of Ephesus, where St. Paul preached, fill the two guided days.
• A deeper Private option — Private adds the Basilica Cistern, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Church of St. George in Fener, Balat, the Basilica of St. John and a Bible-oriented guide in Ephesus.
• Flights included — Day 3 flies Istanbul to İzmir, with a private car of about one hour to Kuşadası for two nights; the flight back on Day 5 is included too.
• Shared with lunch — The shared option has groups of up to 20 guests in Ephesus, a licensed English-speaking guide, lunch on tour days and the Ephesus and House of the Virgin Mary entrances.
• A light, compact week — Only four nights and two guided days, plus a free Day 3 afternoon with an optional Şirince village visit, suit pilgrims, church groups and families.
• Licensed local agency — TÜRSAB A-group licence #18154, Istanbul-based, rated 5.0 on Google (15 reviews), free cancellation up to 15 days before the start date.

Optional Upgrades

Add these to your request — we confirm availability and the final total before you pay.

Have something else in mind? Ask us on WhatsApp

Cancellation Policy

• For a full refund, cancel up to 15 days before the start date.
• If you cancel less than 15 days before, the amount paid is non-refundable.
• Changes made less than 15 days before the start date cannot be accepted.
• If the tour is cancelled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund.
• Domestic flight tickets are issued after the balance payment and are non-refundable once issued.

Plan Your Ephesus Trip

Good to Know

Hagia Sophia and Closing Days

Hagia Sophia is a working mosque, so visits are limited at prayer times and around Friday midday. On the shared option, Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays and the Grand Bazaar on Sundays.

House of the Virgin Mary

The way up to the chapel is a short uphill walk, and photos are not allowed inside the chapel.

Summer Heat at Ephesus

Ephesus has almost no shade. In summer bring a hat, sunscreen and water, and wear flat, non-slip shoes for the marble street.

Baggage on Domestic Flights

Domestic flights allow about 15 kg of checked baggage plus 8 kg of cabin baggage per person; the exact allowance depends on the airline and can change. We recommend packing a small overnight bag for flight days.

Pick-up Times

Your exact pick-up time is confirmed with you the day before each tour.

Hotel Check-in & Check-out

Standard hotel check-in is from 14:00 and check-out is until 12:00. Early check-in or late check-out depends on availability; ask us and we will request it.

Dietary Requirements

Halal and vegetarian options are available. Please tell us about any dietary needs when you book.

Cancellation Policy

• For a full refund, cancel up to 15 days before the start date.
• If you cancel less than 15 days before, the amount paid is non-refundable.
• Changes made less than 15 days before the start date cannot be accepted.
• If the tour is cancelled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund.
• Domestic flight tickets are issued after the balance payment and are non-refundable once issued.

Payment

Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). A 30% deposit secures your booking after we confirm availability; the balance is due 15 days before the start date.