Best Shore Excursions: Turkey

The following Turkish ports of call are commonly visited on Greek itineraries.

Istanbul

Grand Istanbul with Lunch in an Ottoman Home (8 1/2 hr., 120€/$165): Includes the Hippodrome, once the largest chariot race grounds of the Byzantine empire; Sultan Ahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque for its 21,000 blue Iznik tiles; the famous St. Sophia, once the largest church of the Christian world; the underground cistern, a reservoir held up by more than 300 Corinthian columns; and Topkapi Palace, the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans and home to treasures that include Spoonmaker's Diamond, one of the biggest diamonds in the world. Also visit the Grand Bazaar, with its 4,000 shops. In this version of the tour, stop for lunch in the gardens of an Ottoman house; other tours include lunch in a hotel, and/or a carpet-making demonstration.

The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia & The Bazaar (4 hr., 53€/$73): An example of an abbreviated tour of the above, which visits the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, the Hagia Sophia, and the Grand Bazaar, as well as a carpet-making demonstration.

Turkish Dinner & Entertainment (4 hr., 54€/$75): A motorcoach will bring participants to a local nightclub, where a dinner of traditional Turkish cuisine will be accompanied by different types of entertainment: belly dancing, folk dancing, and a group of performers who sing phonetically in different languages. A viewing of the Bosphorus Bridge by night wraps up the evening. Available only if you're in town for the evening or overnight.

Scenic Bosphorus Cruise & Lunch (6 1/2 hr., 43€/$59): A narrated cruise up the famous Bosphorus includes lunch and a chance to view the city's most famous landmarks from the water. A visit to the Sadberk Hanim Museum is included, as well as a trip to the Grand Bazaar for shopping.

Magnificent Legacies with visit to Spice Market (4 hr., 43€/$59): Start with a visit to the Suleymaniye Mosque, built by the architect Sinan. Continue to the Church of the Savior in Chora, now the Chora Museum, near the city's old Byzantine walls, which features mosaics and frescoes depicting biblical scenes. This tour also includes the underground cistern, where 300-plus columns support the vaulted roof. At the end of the excursion you'll hit the famous spice market, where you can browse for all kinds of exotic items, from jewelry to spices and herbs.

Kusadasi

Ancient Ephesus (3 hr.; 36€/$49): Visit one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world. Your guide will take you through the Magnesia gate and down the city's marble streets to the Temple of Hadrian, the Trajan Fountain, the baths of Scoloastika, the theater, and the incredible library building, and along the way you'll pass columns, mosaics, monuments, and ruins. Some time for shopping in Kusadasi is provided.

Ephesus, St. John's Basilica & Virgin Mary Shrine (4 1/2 hr., 43€/$59): This tour combines a visit to Ephesus with the House of the Virgin Mary, a humble chapel located in the valley of Bulbuldagi. Located here is the site where the Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last days. The site was officially sanctioned for pilgrimage in 1892. The tour also includes a visit to St. John's Basilica, another holy pilgrimage site. It is believed to be the site where St. John wrote the fourth book of the New Testament. A church at the site, which is now in ruins, was built by Justinian over a 2nd-century tomb believed to contain St. John the Apostle. This tour may also be offered as a full-day excursion, including lunch at a local restaurant and a visit to the museum of Ephesus.

Ephesus & Terraced Houses (4 hr.; 55€/$76): You'll see the Ephesus highlights on this tour, including the Celsus Library facade and Hadrian's Temple. You'll also view the Terrace Houses, a newly excavated area opposite Hadrian's Temple. The houses were once inhabited by Ephesus's rich and are decorated with mosaics and frescoes. The area can only be accessed by special permission, such as part of a shore excursion group.

Ruins of Miletus & Didyma(6 1/2-7 hr., 62€/$85): This tour takes in the ruins that surround the region of Ephesus: Didyma, known for its Temple of Apollo; and Miletus, which includes the Bath of Faustina and a stadium built by the Greeks and expanded by the Romans to hold 15,000 spectators. A lunch at a restaurant in Didyma is included. Some tours also will include visits to Ephesus or the ancient village of Priene.