Istanbul & Konya 2-Day Tour: Old City, Mevlana Museum & Flights

Istanbul and Konya in 2 days with flights: the key facts

This group tour pairs a guided day in Istanbul's Old City with a day in Konya, the city of Rumi. Day 1 is a walking tour of the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, with Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia as options, followed by a flight to Konya and a hotel night there. Day 2 covers the Mevlana Museum, Alaeddin Mosque and Hill, a local lunch and the Karatay Madrasa, then the flight back to Istanbul.

It suits travellers who have little time but want to see both the Ottoman capital and the home of the Whirling Dervishes, without arranging the domestic flights themselves. The price is from $770 per person. One hotel night in Konya with breakfast, a professional guide, round-trip airport transfers and the domestic flights are included. International flights to Istanbul are not.

Does Day 2 end in Konya or in Cappadocia?

The page contradicts itself here, so get the answer in writing before you pay. The Day 2 schedule ends with "04:00 PM: After the tour, transfer to Cappadocia". The next sentence, the day title and the overview all say you transfer to Konya Airport and fly back to Istanbul. Since the package price includes the flights and the title says "Flight Back to Istanbul", we expect the Istanbul return to be correct, but ask us to confirm it. If you would rather continue to Cappadocia, look at our Istanbul, Konya and Cappadocia tour from $1,565.

Do we need an Istanbul hotel before the tour?

Yes. Day 1 starts at 09:00 with the guide meeting you at your Istanbul hotel, and the package only includes the Konya hotel. Book your own room in Istanbul for the night before, or add one through us: the page lists one extra night in an Istanbul hotel for $65 and two for $125, before or after the tour. After the flight back on Day 2, our representative takes you to your hotel or to the airport. If you are flying home the same evening, send us the flight details so we can check the timing.

Are Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia included?

Not as standard. The Day 1 list marks Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia as optional, while the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar are part of the walk. The page gives no price for the two optional visits and does not list entrance fees as included. Ask us to quote both tickets in writing before you pay. The Istanbul day ends with a transfer to the airport, so choosing both palace and museum may also shorten your time at the bazaar.

How busy is the Istanbul day?

Busy. It is a full day on foot through the Old City, starting at 09:00, followed by the airport transfer and the flight to Konya. The page does not give the flight time or say which Istanbul airport is used. Wear comfortable shoes and keep your luggage light, because you carry it from the hotel in the morning to the airport after the tour. Ask us whether the vehicle can hold your bags during the walk. You arrive in Konya and are driven to your hotel for the night.

What should we wear for the mosques and the Mevlana Museum?

Both days include sacred places: the Blue Mosque and, if you choose it, Hagia Sophia on Day 1, then the Mevlana Museum with Rumi's tomb and Alaeddin Mosque on Day 2. Men and women should cover shoulders and knees, and women should bring a scarf for their hair. You take off your shoes at mosque entrances. Long trousers or a long skirt with a light top layer work for both days, so you do not need to change between sites.

What is the schedule in Konya?

The page gives clear times for Day 2. The visit starts at the Mevlana Museum at 09:30. At 12:15 you go to Alaeddin Mosque and the hill around it, at 13:00 you stop for lunch at a local restaurant with Konya dishes such as etli ekmek or firin kebabi, and at 14:15 you visit the Karatay Madrasa with its Seljuk tiles. The tour ends around 16:00. The page does not say whether this lunch is included, so ask us. Our Konya destination guide covers the city.

Can we see the Whirling Dervishes?

The page describes Konya as the spiritual centre of the Whirling Dervishes, but the itinerary does not include a ceremony. The Mevlana Museum tells their story and holds Rumi's tomb. If you want to watch a sema ceremony, you can do so in Istanbul before or after the tour: see our Whirling Dervish sema ceremony in Istanbul from $60 per person. Ask us to fit it in on an evening when you have no flight.

Can we add days or do Konya another way?

Yes. The page lists one more tour day for $115, though it does not say where the day is added, and the Istanbul hotel nights mentioned above. For a slower trip, the 4-day Istanbul and Konya tour costs from $1,035. If you have already seen Istanbul and want only Konya, compare the Konya day tour from Istanbul from $431 and the private Konya tour from Istanbul from $530. Our multi-city packages list more combinations.

How do I book the Istanbul and Konya tour?

Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page and send it, or message us on WhatsApp. Tell us your Istanbul hotel and whether you want Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia or extra nights. We then send you the full plan in writing, with the flight times, airports, the Konya hotel name, ticket prices and a clear statement that Day 2 ends with the flight to Istanbul. You pay only after you have read and confirmed it. The tour is run by Get Turkey Tours, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.