10 days • 9 nights • Turkey
Combines two of the most popular destinations in Turkey: Istanbul's landmarks and the Bosphorus, then Trabzon, Lake Uzungöl, Ayder and Sümela Monastery, with domestic flights.
The 10-Day Istanbul and Trabzon Family Tour combines Turkey's biggest city with some of its most beautiful nature in a single trip. It starts with three nights in Istanbul for the Old City and the Bosphorus, then you fly to Trabzon for four nights among Lake Uzungöl, Sultan Murat Plateau, Ayder and Sümela Monastery, and return to Istanbul for two days of shopping and rest before departure, so one vacation brings you the city, the mountains and the lake.
This format is one of the most searched for when planning a 10-day tour of Turkey, because it balances city and nature without wearing you out. Domestic flights between Istanbul and Trabzon are included, the flight takes about two hours, and a private driver meets you in each city. We choose family rooms or aparthotels for you, and a family-size van with child seats on request. The direction can be reversed, starting in Trabzon and ending in Istanbul, depending on your international flights.
The driver meets you at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) and takes you to your hotel. After a rest, we suggest an evening stroll around Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue. We hand you your SIM card and go over the details of the domestic flight to Trabzon with you.
We start with the Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Square and Hagia Sophia, then the Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace. In the afternoon we visit the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar in Eminönü, with time to buy sweets and coffee. The pace of the day is relaxed for families, with a lunch break at a restaurant in Sultanahmet.
A tour of the European side: Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy, Bebek and Emirgan Park, then a boat ride on the Bosphorus of about an hour and a half. After that we cross to the Asian side to visit Çamlıca Mosque and watch the sunset from the hill. You can add an optional seafood dinner in the evening.
After breakfast the driver takes you to the airport for the domestic flight to Trabzon (about two hours). Our driver meets you at Trabzon Airport, and we begin with an easy tour: Hagia Sophia of Trabzon and the Atatürk Mansion. We end with sunset on Boztepe Hill overlooking the Black Sea, then spend the night in Trabzon.
We head east along the coast, then uphill to Uzungöl, about two hours with stops, at the Sürmene knife shops, a tea house and the waterfalls along the way. After check-in we stroll around the lake, its mosque and the wooden houses. The evening is quiet and cool, so don't forget a light jacket.
In the morning we drive up to Sultan Murat Plateau, about 35 kilometers from Uzungöl, with its green pastures and clouds between the peaks. We return to visit the panoramic Uzungöl viewpoint, then the horse farm and the honey and Turkish delight shops. Children and adults can enjoy the zipline or horseback riding as extras.
The longest day of the tour: we leave Uzungöl for Rize and stop at the tea garden overlooking the city, then enter the Fırtına Valley and climb to Ayder Plateau (about two and a half to three hours). We visit the Gelin Tülü waterfall and have lunch in the mountains, then return to Trabzon, about three hours. For families with small children, this day can be replaced with a quiet day in Uzungöl and Lake Sera.
In the morning we head to the Altındere Valley, about an hour away, to visit Sümela Monastery hanging on the cliff, then the village of Hamsiköy to taste rice pudding with hazelnuts. In the afternoon the driver takes you to Trabzon Airport for the domestic flight to Istanbul, where our driver meets you and takes you to your hotel. For this day, choose an afternoon or evening flight.
A free day with the driver for shopping at a large mall such as Mall of Istanbul or İstinye Park, or at the clothing markets in Laleli and Osmanbey. If you prefer nature, you can instead visit the Princes' Islands by ferry and stroll around Büyükada. In the evening we suggest a farewell dinner on the Bosphorus.
Depending on your flight time, enjoy a free morning for last-minute shopping. The driver picks you up at the hotel and takes you to the airport about three hours before takeoff. We wish you a safe journey home.
| City | Nights | Suggested |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | 5 | 4-star hotel or aparthotel for families in Taksim, Şişli or Sultanahmet (3 nights at the start and 2 at the end). |
| Trabzon | 2 | 4-star hotel in the city center or on the coast near the airport (one night before Uzungöl and one night after Ayder). |
| Uzungöl | 2 | Hotel or bungalow with a lake view, with suites and family rooms available. |
Book this program
Add your arrival date, the number of travelers and the hotel level, and you will receive a written offer with the final price via WhatsApp.
Questions & answers
About two hours, with many daily flights from Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen. The road trip is over 1000 kilometers, so we use the domestic flight in the tour.
Yes. The tour can be reversed to suit your international flights, so you fly directly to Trabzon in season if there is a flight from your city, and finish in Istanbul.
Yes. Only two days involve driving longer than two hours, and the Ayder day can be lightened. We provide family rooms or aparthotels and a family-size van with child seats on request.
The earlier you book, the more options you have, especially for Uzungöl hotels overlooking the lake. If you have a longer vacation, see the 12-day Turkey family tour.
From the OYA guide
A balanced 10-day family itinerary in Turkey that combines city, nature and snow or lakes, with ideas for children's activities and practical tips on accommodation and getting around with little ones.
Instead of generic numbers that don't fit your trip, we explain the components of travel costs in Turkey and what raises and lowers them, with a simple way to calculate a one-week budget and practical saving tips.
Turkey has varied climates, so what suits Istanbul may not suit Antalya or Uzungöl in the same month. A month-by-month guide helps you choose the timing and the destination together.
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Personal service from start to finish
We design a custom program for you, with the number of days, cities and hotels you want — just tell us.
