Tour duration:  3 nights / 4 days
Itinerary:  Istanbul & Izmir

Need to Know: Special permission required at some of these sites. We will ask copies of your passports to obtain permission. Due to possible security reasons, some of the sites may be closed to public admission on the day of the visit.

Day 01: Arrival in Istanbul
Upon arrival at Atatürk International Airport, meet with your professional license tour guide and assisted transfer to the selected hotel. Arrive hotel and walking orientation tour of hotel and the area. Evening is at leisure.
Meal: -

Day 02: Istanbul / Full day Sightseeing Tour
We will explore historical Jewish quarters and sites in Istanbul. First we will transfer to the Galata Quarter. The history of Jewish life in Galata began in Byzantine times when this was a walled city separate from Constantinople. Among of historical monuments of the area are Galata (Genoese) Tower, Neve Shalom Synagogue, Zülfaris Synagogue and Kamondo Staircase.

Our next stop will be the quarter of Balat, in which Jews were settled after their expulsion from Spain, enlarging a community which had lived here since Byzantine times. There are two major synagogues we will encounter here: Ahrida Synagogue (which foundation dates back to late 1400s) and Yanbol Synagogue.

Next we will drive to Ortaköy, which was the first disembarkation point of Sepharads and where they were welcomed by the Ottoman Sultan. We will stop at this charming sea-front quarter for lunch on own and then explore its relics, including the remains of the Etz Ahayim Synagogue.  After this we will have some free time to spend at local colorful street market and various arts and crafts shop. 

Day 03: Istanbul / Izmir
After breakfast, we will transfer to the Ataturk Airport for our flight to İzmir.
We will first visit Izmir’s bazaar. Jewish life was in the area of the bazaar, where the synagogues are located and where some Jewish merchants still work. We will walk along Havra Sokak, the "Street of Synagogues", named as because of its nine small, active synagogues.

The Señora is the most active of the remaining synagogues on Havra Sokak, open every morning. It's a simple but pleasant and interesting building, almost two centuries old, with obvious historic value. Next visit is to the Kadosh Mizrahi Synagogue and Shalom (Aydin) Synagogue, open only on Saturday mornings.

We will continue our tour with the panoramic drive through Alsancak Quarter. The modern quarter of Alsancak is among Izmir's most prestigious addresses. The Musta Bey Synagogue is a new building constructed to serve those who now live in this fashionable neighborhood. Our next destination is Karataş Quarter. Here we will see Beth Israel Synagogue, an Ottoman Victorian-style building dating from the turn of the century.

After visiting the synagogue, we will walk to the Asansör, a nineteenth-century funicular which once took passengers from the shore road up the sheer rock cliffs to the desirable residential district above. Inscriptions above the door in French and Hebrew declare that the elevator was constructed by Nissim Bey. After lunch on our own at the local restaurant, we will drive to the ancient site of Sardis. 
Ancient Sardis was the capital of the Kingdom of Lydia, whose most famous king was Croesus (560-546 B.C.), famed for his wealth. Croesus was the first monarch to mint coinage, introducing this useful invention to the world. During its heyday as a Roman city, Sardis had a very large and prosperous Jewish community which may have been established here in much earlier times.
Though Sardis plays no role in the history of Jewish immigrants who came to the Ottoman Empire from Spain and Portugal, it is of interest because of its extremely large and rich Roman synagogue. In ancient Sardis, Jews held seats on the city council and important offices in the Roman civil administration. Remains of the beautiful and richly-appointed synagogue are dating from the 200s A.D.
Early in the evening we will return to our hotel rest of the day is at leisure.
Meal: Breakfast

Day 04: İzmir / Return home
Today meet your tour guide at lobby and transfer to Adnan Menderes Airport and connect your homebound flight via Istanbul.
Meal: Breakfast