5-Day Sebastopolis Roman Baths Tour from Istanbul by flight

This 5-day archaeological journey from Istanbul takes you to Sebastopolis now named Sulusaray, Tokat — an ancient Roman city renowned for its thermal baths, hypocaust heating system, and healing springs that have been used continuously for more than 2,000 years. Sebastopolis was a Roman-Byzantine spa city, founded in the Hellenistic-Roman period. Named Sebastopolis meaning "City of Augustus" and located in the Pontus region in Tokat province. Built around natural hot springs, where bath culture, medicine, and religion came together in everyday life. Today, the site remains one of the most authentic Roman bath experiences in Turkey, surrounded by the quiet landscapes of rural Anatolia and close to other ancient centers such as Comana Pontica and Zile. The Sebastopolis baths include: Caldarium (hot room), Tepidarium (warm room), Frigidarium (cold room), Hypocaust heating system under floors and natural thermal spring water channels. This makes Sebastopolis a rare example of Roman medical spa architecture in rural Anatolia, not just a city bath complex. Nowadays, its a small rural town with active thermal springs still in use, archaeological excavations ongoing minimal tourism ideal for authentic cultural travel and local spa culture which continues the Roman tradition.

Day 1

Pick up from your hotel in Istanbul for your domestic flight to Tokat airport or Sivas Airport depending on flights. Upon arrival transfer to Sulusaray (Sebastopolis area). Hotel check-in at a Tokat city boutique hotel or local thermal guesthouse near Sulusarary. After check in evening walk in Tokat Old Town with view of Tokat castle, Ottoman wooden houses and historical bazaars. Overnight in Tokat.

Day 2

After breakfast pick up from your hotel for your tour in the Sebastopolis Ancient City and Roman Baths Exploration Highlights: Roman bath ruins (hypocaust system remains), Ancient settlement foundations, Temple fragments & inscriptions and hot spring water channels. Be for a while a soldier and or civilian reaching healing from these baths as part of the old Roman medicine culture. Hot springs were believed to cure diseases. Upon end of the tour return to your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 3

After breakfast pick up from your hotel for your Comana Pontica & Zile Ancient City Tour. Comana Pontica is around to 15-30 kilometers by car. Comana was once called the "little Cappadocia temple city" and rivaled major Roman religious centers. Highlights of Comana Pontica: Temple of Ma (ancient Anatolian goddess), Roman-era religious center, Priest-kings system (unique in Roman Empire). Highlights of Zile Ancient City: Roman fortress remains, famous site of Julius Caesar’s “Veni Vidi Vici” campaign (Battle of Zela nearby) and Underground tunnels and city layers. Upon end of the tour, return to your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 4

After breakfast pick up from your hotel for your Tokat Archaeology & Local Culture Tour. We will visit the Tokat Museum and see the rare Roman coins, the Sebastopolis inscriptions, Byzantine artifacts and Seljuk ceramics. In this tour will experience the traditional copper workshops, Ottoman caravansaray architecture and the local Anatolian couisine. After the tour return to your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 5

After breakfast, if time allows will visit the Roman Sebasteia (modern Sivas), see the Byzantine city walls, Seljuk medreses and another-Roman era transformation city. Sivas was historically known as Sebasteia, a major Roman provincial capital in Anatolia. As the tour came to its end, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul.