Share this tour
Offered languages
- English
Discover Iznik, ancient Nicaea, one of the most important cities in the history of Christianity. On this full-day tour from Istanbul, explore the city where the First Ecumenical Council was held in AD 325 and the Second Council in AD 787, two events that helped shape early Christian doctrine.
Visit the Hagia Sophia of Nicaea and the remarkable Lake Basilica archaeological site, discovered beneath Lake Iznik in 2014. Ongoing research continues to explore its connection to the early Christian history of Nicaea.
See the archaeological site and viewing platforms, and discover the city’s Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman heritage with a professional licensed guide. Travel comfortably from Istanbul as part of a small-group experience and enjoy an in-depth journey through one of Christianity’s most historically significant destinations.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
We will meet you at your hotel lobby.
Itinerary
-
1
Visit the historic Hagia Sophia of Nicaea, one of the city’s most important Christian monuments and traditionally associated with the Second Council of Nicaea in AD 787. Discover its transformation through Byzantine and Ottoman periods while learning about Nicaea’s role in early Christianity.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included -
2
Explore the remains of Nicaea’s impressive Roman theatre and discover another layer of the city’s long history. Your guide will explain how the ancient settlement developed from the Roman period through Byzantine times.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
3
Visit this remarkable Ottoman building commissioned in the 14th century and today serving as a museum. Its collections and architecture offer an insight into Iznik’s transition from Byzantine Nicaea to an important Ottoman cultural centre.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included -
4
Discover the extraordinary Early Christian basilica uncovered beneath the waters of Lake Iznik in 2014. Visit the archaeological site, museum and viewing platform while learning about ongoing research into the basilica and its place in the early Christian history of Nicaea.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
5Iznik
See sections of Nicaea’s monumental defensive walls and the historic Istanbul Gate. These impressive fortifications reveal the strategic importance of the city through Roman and Byzantine history.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6
Historic tile firing kilns illustrating traditional Iznik ceramic production and Ottoman decorative arts.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included -
7Iznik
Discover the artistic heritage that made Iznik ceramics famous throughout the Ottoman world. Learn about traditional production techniques, designs and the historic kilns that once supplied tiles for some of the empire’s greatest monuments.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Popular Countries
Get our app
