12 days in Istanbul & Montpellier Itinerary

A physical and cultural bridge between Europe and Asia, the transcontinental city of Istanbul serves as a living reminder of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires.

Istanbul is known for historic sites, museums, shopping, nature, and nightlife. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: explore the galleries of Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya), steep yourself in history at Basilica Cistern, get engrossed in the history at Kariye Museum (The Chora Church), and admire the striking features of Dolmabahce Palace.

To find out how to plan a trip to Istanbul, use our trip itinerary maker.

Dublin, Ireland to Istanbul is an approximately 8-hour flight. You can also do a combination of ferry and car; or take a bus. The time zone difference moving from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to Eastern European Time (EET) is 3 hours. Traveling from Dublin in December, expect somewhat warmer with lows of 7°C in Istanbul. Cap off your sightseeing on the 27th (Thu) early enough to travel to Montpellier.

"Montpellier is a modern, compact, and fast-growing city about 10 km (6 mi) inland from the Mediterranean coast with an active, youthful vibe.

Change things up with these side-trips from Montpellier: Carrieres des Lumieres (in Les Baux de Provence), Avignon (Musee Calvet, Pont d'Avignon, & more) and Promenade a Cheval La Marisma (in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer). And it doesn't end there: don't miss a visit to Chateau de L'Hauture, learn about winemaking at Auberge du Vin, identify plant and animal life at Maison de la Nature, and explore the ancient world of La Maison Carree.

To find where to stay, photos, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the Montpellier route planner .

Traveling by combination of flight and train from Istanbul to Montpellier takes 9.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of shuttle, flight, and train; or drive. The time zone difference when traveling from Istanbul to Montpellier is minus 2 hours. Traveling from Istanbul in December, expect nights in Montpellier to be about the same, around 5°C, while days are a bit warmer, around 15°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 1st (Tue) so you can travel back home.