Istanbul Trip Overview
This six day holiday combines the ancient city of Istanbul with the natural beauty of Cappadocia. Beginning in Istanbul at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, you’ll visit bucket list worthy sites such as the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. In Cappadocia, discover a world of fairy chimneys, cave dwellings, ancient churches hewn from the rock and underground cities.
Additional Info
Duration: 6 days
Starts: Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Istanbul Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Istanbul, Turkey, Turkey
This six day holiday combines the ancient city of Istanbul with the natural beauty of Cappadocia. Beginning in Istanbul at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, you’ll visit bucket list worthy sites such as the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. In Cappadocia, discover a world of fairy chimneys, cave dwellings, ancient churches hewn from the rock and underground cities.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul. Transfer
Pass By: Istanbul, Istanbul
Today, we’ll be waiting to meet you at the airport as you arrive in wonderful Istanbul.
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a hotel. Our packages include 3* and 4* hotel options.
Day 2: Istanbul. City Tour
Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
We begin exploring this fascinating city with a visit to Topkapi Palace. Perched on a promontory overlooking the Golden Horn, you’re perfectly placed to get a handle on the city’s physical geography from this vantage point where the Marmara Sea meets the Bosphorus. The Ottoman sultans lived in Topkapi Palace from the 15th to the 19th century but for almost a century it’s been open to the public as a museum, allowing visitors a glimpse of its harem and courtyards.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hagia Sophia Mosque, Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya MeydanI No:1, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
With a varied history as a mosque, church and museum, Hagia Sophia is no less compelling. Its ornate calligraphy is nothing short of magnificent.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Mah At Meydani Cad No 7, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Nearby the Blue Mosque, so called for the Iznik tiles that grace its interior, is another must-see.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hippodrome, Binbirdirek, Sultan Ahmet ParkI No:2, Istanbul Turkey
You’ll also visit the Byzantine Hippodrome, which once hosted chariot races, and the atmospheric Basilica Cistern, an abandoned reservoir hidden in plain sight beneath the streets of the Old Town.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Grand Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
We’ll round off today’s sightseeing in the Grand Bazaar. This famous market first set up in 1461, making it one of the world’s oldest and it’s impossible not to find some kind of souvenir to take home with you.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a hotel. Our packages include 3* and 4* hotel options.
Day 3: Istanbul. Egyptian Market, Bosphorus Cruise
Stop At: Istanbul, Istanbul
On our second day, we spread our wings and discover more of this captivating city. We’ll take you to the Egyptian Bazaar which dates from the 17th century and is home to spice traders selling fresh mint, cardamom and cinnamon alongside boxes of Turkish Delight. Though popular with tourists, locals also come to restock their cupboards. Across the square, fishermen will be casting their rods off the Galata Bridge just as their fathers and grandfathers did. Board a sightseeing cruise to travel up the Bosphorus.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Board a sightseeing cruise to travel up the Bosphorus. Elegant palaces and mansions occupy riverside spots, including the Dolmabahçe Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Çırağan Palace and Rumeli Fortress. Relax as this historic panorama glides slowly by, giving you plenty of time to take in the fresh air from your deck chair.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a hotel. Our packages include 3* and 4* hotel options.
Day 4: Istanbul – Cappadocia. Flight to Cappadocia. Sightseeing
Stop At: Goreme, Goreme, Cappadocia
We begin our day with a short flight from Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport to Kayseri, the gateway to Cappadocia. After the 45 minute transfer to Goreme, we’ll stop at a viewpoint from which Pigeon Valley, Rose and Red Valleys, Goreme and Uchisar Villages are all visible. It’s a snapshot of what’s to come in one of the most breathtaking regions of Turkey.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kaymakli Underground City, Derinkuyu Turkey
A half hour further on, we pay a visit to Kaymakli Underground City, one of the reasons Cappadocia gained recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage. This impressive feat of construction extends eight storeys below ground, though only four are open to visitors.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Uchisar Castle, Uchisar Turkey
Returning to ground level, we continue on to another scenic overlook to see Uchisar Castle and the Avcilar Valley, where poplars and fruit trees contrast with the bleached tuff rock.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Avanos, Avanos, Cappadocia
After lunch in Avanos there’s a pottery demonstration.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Pasabag, Urgup Turkey
Later we head to Pasabag and to Devrent Valley, both renowned for their distinctive fairy chimneys.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a hotel. Our packages include 3* and 4* hotel options.
Day 5: Cappadocia – Istanbul. Full Day Tour in Cappadocia. Flight to Istanbul
Stop At: Cappadocia, Cappadocia
Viewing the fairy chimneys from above is a magical sight. Treat yourself to an optional sunrise hot air balloon tour for what will surely be one of the most memorable mornings of your life. Our included sightseeing programme kicks off at 9.30am after those who have been ballooning return. We’ll explore the rock-hewn churches and pigeon lofts of the Red and Rose Valleys on foot before driving to Cavusin to view an abandoned village with amazing views. After lunch, your guide will show you the Goreme Open Air Museum which features the best preserved rock churches in Cappadocia. Though it’s best known for its natural beauty, Cappadocia also has a rich cultural heritage. Girls still weave carpets for their wedding dowry the traditional way and we’ll have the privilege of a visit to a local cooperative so you can see the process close up. Tonight it’s back on the plane to Istanbul where we’re scheduled to spend the night.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a hotel. Our packages include 3* and 4* hotel options.
Day 6: Istanbul. Departure
Pass By: Istanbul, Istanbul
Today we bid you farewell and transfer you to the airport for your onward flight.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
