Footsteps of St Paul Turkey Tour

Meeting with our representative and transfer to your hotel. 

Dinner & Overnight stay in Istanbul.

We take a morning flight to Hatay, the historic region where the early Christian community first took root. Upon arrival, drive to Samandag (Seleucia Pieria), the ancient port from which Paul and Barnabas departed for Cyprus on their first missionary journey.

Here, we will visit: 

Titus Tunnel, 
Rock-cut Tombs,
Besikli Cave, all remarkable examples of Roman engineering and early Christian heritage. 
Seleucia Pieria served as a strategic harbor in Paul’s time, marking a key departure point in the spread of the Gospel beyond Anatolia.

After our visit, we continue to Antakya. 

Dinner & Overnight stay in Antakya.

Antioch was the place where believers were first called Christians and one of the most important centers of the early Church.

We begin our day with a visit to:

St. Peter’s Church, carved into the hillside and considered one of the earliest Christian worship sites, where the first believers gathered during the apostolic era.
Necmi Asfuroğlu Archaeology Museum, home to remarkable mosaics and artifacts reflecting the rich cultural heritage of ancient Antioch.
Catholic Church in old Antioch, experiencing the living Christian tradition that continues in this historic city.

Following visits, we depart for Mersin.

Dinner & Overnight stay in Mersin.

Tarsus is the birthplace of Saint Paul and an important Roman city of learning and culture. 

Today we’ll visit: 

St. Paul Well, Ancient Street and Cleopatra Gate.

En route to Cappadocia, we’ll visit Gümüşler Monastery (a rock-cut, early Christian complex).

Dinner & Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Full-day exploration of early Christian settlements carved into volcanic rock. Cappadocia was a significant refuge and missionary base during the early spread of Christianity, reinforcing the spiritual context of Paul’s era.

Sights to be visited: 

Goreme Open-Air Museum (Dark Church, Apple Church, Snake Church, Barbara Church, Tokalı Church with Biblical frescoes), 
Derinkuyu Underground City (refuge for persecuted Christians)

Dinner & Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

We drive to Konya, known in antiquity as Iconium. This city was an important stop on St. Paul’s missionary routes. 

Paul and Barnabas preached here during their first journey, and Paul returned again with Silas during his second journey, performing many miracles and strengthening the early Christian community.

We visit Lystra (Klistra), located 47 km away. 

Lystra was a pivotal site in St. Paul’s ministry; it was here that he was stoned by a hostile crowd during his first missionary journey, yet survived.

Lystra is also where Timothy joined Paul during his second journey. Many inhabitants of Lystra embraced the new faith preached by Paul and Barnabas, making it one of the earliest Christian communities in Anatolia.

Dinner & Overnight stay in Konya.

We depart Konya and drive to Pisidian Antioch, an important Roman colony visited by St. Paul and Barnabas during the First Missionary Journey. 

It was here that Paul delivered his first recorded sermon, famously declaring, “Now we turn to the Gentiles.” Almost the entire city gathered to hear his preaching, making Pisidian Antioch a milestone in the spread of early Christianity.

Although only a portion of the ancient site has been excavated, notable remains include the Augustus Temple, Roman Baths, Theater, Tiberius Area, Propylon, Nymphaeum, and Sections of the Aqueduct.

We also visit the Yalvac Archaeological Museum, which displays artefacts unearthed from the site.

After visit, continue to Antalya.

Dinner & Overnight stay in Antalya.

We begin with a visit to Perge, the principal city of Pamphylia and an important site visited twice by St. Paul and Barnabas during their first missionary journey. 

Here, Paul delivered his first teachings in the region. The extensive ruins include a well-preserved Aspendos Theatre, Agora, Roman Baths, a Colonnaded Street, Gymnasium, Monumental Gates, and Necropolis.

We continue to Aspendos to see its magnificent Greco-Roman Theatre, considered one of the best-preserved in the ancient world.

Returning to Antalya, we visit the historic Attalia Harbour, the port from which Paul and Barnabas later sailed back to Antioch, as well as Hadrian’s Gate.

Dinner & Overnight stay in Antalya.

After breakfast, we drive to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. The ruins reflect its importance as a major Christian center, including the Basilica, Stadium, Aqueduct, Ephesian Gate and the Statue of Emperor Augustus.

We continue to Colossae, the unexcavated ancient city addressed in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians. The site offers insight into the early Christian community that received Paul’s teachings.

Upon arrival in Pamukkale, we visit Hierapolis, the “Sacred City”, which transformed from a pagan cult center into a major Christian site. According to tradition, the Apostle Philip lived and was martyred here under Domitian. 

Highlights include: 

Martyrium of St. Philip, 
Domitian Gate, 
Arcadian Way,  
Temple of Apollo, 
Necropolis,
Roman Theatre.

Dinner & Overnight stay in Pamukkale.

Today we explore Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. 

Walking along its marble streets, we will see the Baths of Scholastica, Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, and the impressive Grand Theatre, where St. Paul preached to the Ephesians and where he lived for three years.

We continue to the House of Virgin Mary, a modest stone dwelling on Mount Koressos, believed to be the place where Mary spent her final years under the care of St. John. It remains an important pilgrimage site for Christians from around the world.

Ephesus is also one of the Seven Churches of Revelation, referred to as the “Loveless Church”. It is traditionally believed that the Gospel of John was written here.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Our final stop is the Basilica of St. John, the burial place of St. John the Evangelist. Beneath its central dome lies the apostle’s tomb. St. John, author of the Fourth Gospel, spent his final years in Ephesus and later wrote the Book of Revelation on the island of Patmos.

Dinner & Overnight stay in Kusadasi.

We begin the day in ancient Smyrna Ancient City, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation, praised for its faithfulness under persecution. Our visit includes: 

Church of St. Polycarp, the oldest functioning church in the city and a symbol of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. Here, we will have the opportunity to attend Mass. 
Ancient Agora, one of the best-preserved Roman agoras in Asia Minor, offering insight into daily life during the early Christian era.
Thyatira, another of the Seven Churches, known in antiquity for its trade guilds and textile industry. The city is associated with Lydia, the seller of purple from Philippi. Today, we view remnants of the ancient roadway, columns, and traces of the early Christian community.

Our journey continues to Philadelphia, known as the “Faithful Church”. Although few remains survive, primarily parts of a Byzantine Basilica and ancient walls, Philadelphia is remembered for the perseverance and loyalty of its early believers.

Sardis, former capital of the Lydian Kingdom and another of the Seven Churches, referred to as the “Dead Church”. Here we explore the impressive, reconstructed Synagogue, Gymnasium and the Temple of Artemis and Cybele, later transformed into a Byzantine church. The site offers profound insight into both Jewish and early Christian heritage.

Dinner & Overnight in Sardes.

We begin the day with Pergamon Ancient City, once a powerful cultural and political center, Pergamon was known for its magnificent acropolis, its monumental library and its temples dedicated to Zeus and other deities. 

We then continue to Assos, an ancient hilltop city overlooking the Aegean Sea. The Temple of Athena perched on its acropolis provides one of the most striking panoramas in the region.

Assos holds special significance in St. Paul’s ministry: during the third missionary journey, he walked from Alexandria Troas to Assos, where he reunited with his companions who had traveled ahead by sea. From here, Paul set sail toward Lesbos on his way to Jerusalem.

Our journey proceeds to Alexandria Troas, one of the most important Biblical sites in Asia Minor. Founded in 310 BC, Troas is mentioned several times in scripture and played a key role in Paul’s ministry. 

Here, St. Paul received the Macedonian vision calling him to Europe, marking a pivotal moment in the spread of Christianity.

Troas is also the place where Paul raised Eutychus from the dead during his third missionary journey. St. Luke joined Paul at Troas, accompanying him throughout much of his later travels.

After our visit, we drive to Canakkale.

Dinner & Overnight stay in Canakkale.

Today, we will visit the legendary Ancient City of Troy, immortalized in Homer’s Iliad. As we walk through the archaeological remains of this storied city, we witness layers of history spanning millennia and see the iconic replica of the wooden Trojan Horse, symbolizing Troy’s enduring myth and cultural significance.

We then visit the impressive Troy Museum, one of Turkey’s most important archaeological museums. Its modern galleries showcase artifacts excavated from the region, offering a deeper understanding of Troy’s history, mythology, and cultural significance.

After our visit, we embark on a four-hour drive to Istanbul, where our journey concludes.

Dinner & Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day at leisure. Transfer to the airport according to your flight time.

This is the end of our service. We sincerely hope to welcome you as our guest again!