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Our Turkey Biking Tours

Discover Turkey

Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey offers a dizzying blend of cultures. The remains of ancient empires, palaces and fortresses that were once the province of sultans, soaring domes of basilicas and mosques, and centuries-old bazaars brimming with a cornucopia of wares tell timeless stories. And that’s just in Istanbul—the beating heart of one of Europe’s most history-rich nations.

This mesmerizing city is the perfect bookend to a cycling tour of Turkey. Its architectural marvels are unparalleled, whether you’re gazing up into the soaring dome of Hagia Sophia or descending into the haunting Basilica Cistern. And its cultural touchstones dazzle, from the arched passageways of the sprawling Grand Bazaar to the pleasure boats drifting along the mighty Bosphorus Strait.

To get a sense of Turkey’s revered place in world history, you need only stroll the time-worn streets of Ephesus. This remarkably preserved city dates to ancient Greece before Rome moved in. St. John himself roamed its streets and may have written his gospels here. When you’re not pedaling the vast agricultural lands of nearby Kuşadasi on a VBT Turkey cycling tour, you’ll walk in St. John’s footsteps here, pausing to admire the two-story façade of the magnificent Library of Celsus.

East meets West in this breathtaking nation, from its Mediterranean shores to its bustling cultural capital, and beyond.

Country Highlights

Wander among the 4,000 shops, cafés, and restaurants of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, where exoticism meets a thriving modern-day commerce.
Sample freshly grilled lamb kebabs and Turkish meze, delicious small plates, with a local grape brandy known as raki.
Cycle the vast agricultural land just outside Kuşadasi, a fertile land once fed by the Cayster River.
Explore the ancient city streets of Ephesus, marveling at the famed Library of Celsus façade and the 25,000-seat amphitheater.

Marvelous Meze

Similar to Spanish tapas, meze is an assortment of small plates served to whet the appetite or to share among several diners as a meal by itself. Stuffed vegetables, sausage, kebabs, or flatbreads are typical dishes in Turkey. The term itself refers to appetizers from all the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire, but in Turkey, you’ll savor an Ottoman touch.

Hagia Sophia

Perhaps no other building embodies Istanbul’s dual character like Hagia Sophia. Emperor Justinian constructed it as a Roman Catholic church in 537 AD. Ottoman Turks converted it to a mosque in the 15th century. It remained so until the Turkish Republic secularized it in 1934. Today, the UNESCO World Heritage site serves as both a mosque and a museum. It is truly breathtaking to step into its cavernous interior, one of the largest enclosed spaces in the world.

An Ancient City Come Alive

Even in ruins, the ancient city of Ephesus is a grand tribute to Greco-Roman architecture. Under the Romans, it was one of the most influential cities in the Mediterranean, boasting a population of a quarter million. One of antiquity’s most impressive aqueduct systems fed water to the people while its massive amphitheater hosted 25,000 spectators. Strolling the main street, it’s easy to imagine the vibrant energy that kept this remarkable city humming.