Istanbul Getaway, Türkiye

The “Escapade à Istanbul” getaway at a glance

Escapade à Istanbul (Istanbul Getaway) is a short 4-day, 3-night Club Med stay in Turkey that starts and ends in Istanbul. It is sold as a private package: you travel alone, as a couple or with your family and friends, with no group to follow. On the second day, a French-speaking local guide takes you on foot to Sultanahmet Square, to the Blue Mosque and its Iznik tiles, then underground into the Basilica Cistern, the Byzantine “sunken palace”. The rest of the stay is yours. You sleep in the heart of the old city, at the Pierre Loti 4* or the Dosso Dossi Old City 4* in the Comfort category, or at the Sura Hagia Sophia 5* in Superior Comfort. The package includes transfers between the airport and the hotel, nights with breakfast, the half-day guided tour and taxes.

How do the four days in Istanbul unfold?

On the first day, a driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel in the historic district. On the second morning, you set off on foot with your guide to Sultanahmet Square. At the Blue Mosque, you look up at thousands of blue and green Iznik tiles. Nearby, you go down into the Basilica Cistern, a forest of lit columns above the water, built by the Byzantines to supply the city. The afternoon is free. The third day is entirely yours, and on the fourth, you enjoy the morning before the transfer to the airport.

What can you do on the free days?

From the hotel, almost everything is within walking distance. Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace are a few minutes from Sultanahmet Square, and the Grand Bazaar is a short walk away. For a change of scene, a Bosphorus ferry takes you to the Asian side in about twenty minutes, just long enough for a tea on deck. Your advisor can also book extra activities ahead, or add half board if you prefer dinner at the hotel after a long day.

Which hotel do you stay in during the getaway?

All three hotels are in the old city, where you want to be in the evening when the minarets light up. In the Comfort category, you stay at the Pierre Loti 4* or the Dosso Dossi Old City-Sultanahmet 4*, two practical addresses for doing everything on foot. In Superior Comfort, the Sura Hagia Sophia 5* sits a few steps from Hagia Sophia. Your advisor helps you choose based on what matters to you: location, room comfort or breakfast on a terrace.

What is included in the Istanbul Getaway?

The package includes transfers between the airport and the hotel both ways, three nights with breakfast, the half-day guided tour with a French-speaking local guide, taxes and service charges. Flights, the optional half board, extra activities, drinks and travel insurance are booked separately. It is a light, flexible formula, designed for people who like to have the city in their own hands.

When should you go to Istanbul and how do you get there from Quebec?

The getaway is available on request: your advisor tells you which departures are open on your dates. Spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons for walking the city, summer is hot and lively, and winter, cooler, leaves the museums quieter. From Montreal, you reach Istanbul on direct or connecting flights depending on the day. Our Istanbul travel page gives you ideas for neighbourhoods and visits before you leave.

What travel documents do you need for Turkey?

You need a Canadian passport valid for the entire stay, with a margin of a few months. Your advisor checks the requirements at the time of booking, including any authorization to request online. To visit mosques, bring clothing that covers shoulders and knees, and a scarf for women. For the rest of the country, see our Turkey travel page.

Which Club Med resort should you combine with the getaway?

Istanbul pairs naturally with Club Med Bodrum Palmiye, on a peninsula on the Aegean Sea, about 1 hour by road from Bodrum airport. The resort welcomes families with clubs for every age, from Baby Club Med to Club Med Teens. For a more cultural week, the getaway fits neatly before the Cappadoce et vallées secrètes tour, which leaves from Antalya. Compare our Club Med resorts in Europe as well.

Who is the Istanbul Getaway made for?

It appeals to couples who want a first taste of the city before a beach week, to travellers with a stopover in Turkey who want to make the most of it, and to families who prefer to explore at their own pace. The private formula leaves plenty of room for improvisation: a Turkish coffee in a side street, an extra hour at the bazaar. See all our Club Med tours in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Why book this getaway with AquaTerra?

At Voyages AquaTerra, we connect the pieces: the flight from Montreal, the three nights in Istanbul, then the domestic flight and the week at the resort. Our advisors choose the hotel with you, add the activities that suit you and stay reachable throughout the trip. All our itineraries are gathered on the Club Med Tours page.

Call 1-866-628-6241. You will reach someone who knows this tour and has time for you. We look together at what is available on your dates, we choose the right departure, and we stay on the line throughout your trip. That is the difference between booking alone in front of a screen and travelling with someone behind you.

Meet our Club Med Specialists who can help you plan your trips to any of the Club Med destinations.

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