back to Turkey

Turkey

City of Constantine: Istanbul

Prices from £2,050 pp

Single Supplement £360

Next available tour:

Tour leader: The Revd Sally Lynch

Download brochure

A journey to the city of Constantine — tracing sixteen centuries of Christian faith where Europe meets Asia.

Istanbul is unlike any other city in Christendom. Founded by Constantine in 330 as the new capital of a Christian empire, Constantinople was for a thousand years the heart of Byzantine faith, worship and learning. Here Hagia Sophia, Hagia Eirene and the golden mosaics of the Chora still speak of a Church that shaped East and West alike.

Our programme begins in the Hippodrome, where chariots once raced beneath the emperor's gaze, before we enter the Blue Mosque and the vast, luminous space of Hagia Sophia. We visit the Chora, whose mosaics are among the finest of the Byzantine world, and the iron church of St Stephen of the Bulgars. At Topkapı Palace we see Hagia Eirene and descend into the Basilica Cistern. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar follow, before worship at the Anglican Crimea Memorial Church and a private boat on the Bosphorus at sunset.

We include return flights from London, four nights in the heart of the old city, all excursions and entrance fees, daily dinner, and the expert accompaniment of a local guide throughout.

Click to view slideshow

Itinerary

  1. Monday 18 October 2027 — Arrival in Istanbul

    We meet at the airport in London and fly to Istanbul, where you will be met by your English-speaking guide and transferred to the Royan Hotel Hagia Sophia, or similar, in the heart of the old city, for a four-night stay. A welcome drink awaits on arrival. This evening we gather for prayer, with dinner at the hotel and a first chance to meet fellow pilgrims.

  2. Tuesday 19 October — Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia & the Chora

    Our walking tour begins in the Hippodrome, where our guide sets the scene of Constantine's city, before we visit the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia — for nine centuries the greatest church in Christendom, its dome seeming, as Procopius wrote, suspended from heaven. In the afternoon we see the Milion, the stone from which every road of the empire was measured, then travel to the Chora, famed for its Byzantine mosaics, and the iron Bulgarian Church of St Stephen on the Golden Horn. Evening prayer and a dinner of Ottoman palace cuisine.

  3. Wednesday 20 October — Topkapı, Hagia Eirene & the Cisterns

    Today is a walking tour. We explore Topkapı Palace, seat of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries, and within its outer court Hagia Eirene, the Church of Holy Peace, where the Second Ecumenical Council met in 381. The Archaeological Museums follow, with their collections of antiquities and the exquisite Tiled Kiosk. We descend into the Basilica Cistern, Justinian's forest of columns beneath the city, and continue to the Column of Constantine, raised in 330 to mark the city's founding. Evening prayer and dinner.

  4. Thursday 21 October — Bazaars, the Crimea Church & the Bosphorus

    This morning we wander the Grand Bazaar, among the oldest covered markets in the world, pausing for Turkish coffee, before the Spice Bazaar of 1664, fragrant with spices and Turkish delight. In the afternoon we worship at the Crimea Memorial Church, the Anglican church raised in memory of those who fell in the Crimean War, then board a private boat at Eminönü to sail the Bosphorus as the sun sets between two continents. A farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

  5. Friday 22 October — Fly Home

    After morning prayer and a final breakfast, we transfer to Istanbul Airport for our return flight to London, carrying with us memories of Hagia Sophia's great dome, the golden mosaics of the Chora and the Bosphorus at dusk — and of a city where the Church of Constantine still leaves its mark.

Essential Information

This tour includes:

  • Return flights London–Istanbul
  • 4 nights' accommodation in Istanbul
  • Expert local guide and individual headsets
  • All entrance fees as per itinerary
  • Daily dinner throughout
  • Gratuities included, disbursed locally

£100 per person early booking discount for all bookings received before 31 October 2026.

Flights from regional airports can be arranged at a supplement subject to availability, you can also book this tour without flights. For more information please ask for details.

A £500 per person non-refundable deposit is payable on confirmation. After which, an instalment payment amounting to 50% of the total cost of your trip is due 26 weeks prior to departure with the final balance due twelve weeks prior to departure.

Special requests
Any special requirements, such as dietary needs, mobility requests, and any other requests should be noted at the time of booking.

Final travel documents
These will be emailed to you two weeks before departure.

Travel insurance
Travel insurance is essential. We require all travellers to have adequate cancellation and medical coverage for their journey. We are partnered with Holiday Extras who offer a comprehensive policy as well as yearly policies that also cover short UK overnight stays.

Mobility
Many of our tours and excursions are designed for those who are able to travel independently, or with the support of a companion who can assist during the trip. We recommend that participants feel comfortable with physical activity and are able to manage longer travel days, which may include early starts and extended periods on the road. We encourage you to consider your personal health and comfort when planning your adventure, and we’re happy to help if you have any specific concerns or questions about the suitability of a tour for your needs.

Practical information

About McCabe Pilgrimages
McCabe has been arranging journeys of faith, culture and spirituality for over 40 years with an unwavering focus on attention to detail and service. With a deep understanding of the unique needs and aspirations of Christian travellers, McCabe strive to make every trip a memorable and meaningful experience.

McCabe Travel Ltd. trades as McCabe Pilgrimages. McCabe Travel Ltd. is registered in England and Wales. Registered No. 2125334. VAT No: 318527355. Registered office address: McCabe Travel, The Square, Basing View, Basingstoke, RG21 4EB.

The McCabe Educational Trust
The McCabe Educational Trust is an independent registered charity which was set up in 1991 to support Christian communities. To date the Trust has distributed more than £4 million in grants. McCabe Pilgrimages supports the Trust directly by contributing to the administrative and running
costs, thus ensuring all pilgrim donations are able to go directly to the important projects supported by the MET. In 2026 McCabe Pilgrimages will
once again invite all pilgrims to make a voluntary donation of £20. In addition, McCabe will also donate £20 for every pilgrim who travels with us - regardless of whether they choose to donate - effectively doubling the impact when you do. This scheme is voluntary and confidential with nobody put under any pressure to participate.

Financial and quality assurances
All monies paid are fully protected through McCabe’s membership of the ABTOT bonding scheme. In addition, McCabe are also members of the Association of Independent Tour Operators and abide by the Association’s code of conduct.

Health advice
Please carry an adequate supply of essential medication in your hand luggage in case your checked luggage is lost.

Holiday insurance
Ensuring that your holidays are appropriately protected is one of our main priorities. That’s why we have partnered with Holiday Extras so you can get a travel insurance quote to protect you before and whilst you are travelling. Holiday Extras Cover Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and has been independently rated 5-stars by Defaqto. For more information or to obtain a quote, please go to their website at www.holidayextras.com/travel-insurance or call them on 0800 083 3551 to speak to a friendly advisor.

Read reviews

Dates

Our Programme Tour Leader Tour Dates Availability
City of Constantine: Istanbul Istanbul Short Break 2027 Departing From London Prices from £2050 pp The Revd Sally Lynch 18/10/2027 for 5 days Download brochure Book now Make an enquiry

Send to a friend




    Saints of the Danube: A Pilgrimage to Budapest

    Prices from £1,800 pp

    Read more

    Seven Churches of Revelation in Turkey

    Prices from £2,750 pp

    Read more

    Fellowship Tours

    A portfolio of tours with regular travellers in mind

    Read more