Ephesus & Cappadocia Tour 2 Days from Istanbul by Flight
Overview
Ephesus & Cappadocia Tour 2 Days from Istanbul by Flight
This 2-day, 1-night tour brings together two of Turkey's great sights in one short trip from Istanbul. You start in ancient Ephesus, a treasure house of classical ruins, and finish in Cappadocia, where fairy chimneys and underground cities create a landscape like a dream. History, culture and nature all play a part.
On day one you fly to Izmir and tour Ephesus, including the Library of Celsus, the Grand Theatre and the site of the Temple of Artemis, then fly on to Cappadocia for the night. Day two offers an optional sunrise balloon flight, followed by a guided tour of the valleys, Zelve Open-Air Museum and Avanos before your flight back to Istanbul.
Accommodation with breakfast, a professional guide, all flights in the itinerary, air-conditioned vehicles and admission to the sights (except optional ones) are included. International flights to Istanbul, lunches, dinners and optional activities during free time are not.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Flight to Izmir, Ephesus Tour & Flight to Cappadocia
We collect you from your hotel very early in the morning so you can catch the 9:30 AM flight to Izmir. If you prefer, you can meet our guide at the airport instead. A short drive from Izmir brings us to Ephesus, where the tour begins straight away.
Ephesus is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world, and its ruins are a pleasure to explore.
Highlights of the day
- Library of Celsus: The grand facade of this ancient library is the best-known image of Ephesus.
- Temple of Hadrian: A temple to the Roman emperor Hadrian, with well-kept columns and finely carved reliefs.
- Terrace Houses (optional): The luxurious homes where the wealthy families of Ephesus once lived.
- Hercules Gate: A monumental gateway decorated with carvings of the legendary hero.
- Grand Theatre: This vast theatre once held up to 25,000 spectators and still stages performances today.
- The Snake Cult of Asklepios: Hear about the ancient cult of Asklepios, god of healing, and see what is left of his temple.
- Herm (Marker) of Hermes: Ancient stone markers that guided travellers and marked boundaries in the city.
- Artemission: The site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
- Stone-carving of the goddess Nike: A finely worked relief of Nike, the winged goddess of victory.
- Fountain of Trajan: The well-preserved remains of a monumental fountain built in honour of Emperor Trajan.
- House of Virgin Mary (optional): The tour ends at the house believed to be the final resting place of the Virgin Mary.
After the tour you transfer to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia.
Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 2 – Cappadocia Tour & Flight to Istanbul
- 05:00 AM – Hot air balloon flight (optional): Float over Cappadocia's rock formations and fairy chimneys at sunrise.
- 07:00 AM – Champagne toast and return to hotel: Toast your landing, then transfer back to the hotel.
- 09:00 AM – Pick-up for the Cappadocia tour: Set off with your guide to discover the region's lesser-known sights.
The tour usually starts around 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest.
Highlights of the day
- Göreme Esentepe panoramic view: The day opens at the Esentepe viewpoint between Uçhisar and Göreme, with fairy chimneys and the small town of Esentepe spread out below.
- Zelve Open-Air Museum: Once a monastic community and a centre of Christian learning, Zelve is full of old monasteries, churches and chapels whose frescoes have survived in good condition.
- Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, also known as Pasha's Vineyard, is famous for its three-headed fairy chimneys, among the most striking rock shapes in Cappadocia.
- Devrent Valley: A short drive away, Devrent looks almost like the surface of the moon. Its small, pointed chimneys invite you to pick out animals and mythical creatures in the rock.
- Avanos pottery workshop: Avanos has been a pottery town since 3000 BC, and its potters still shape clay from the Red River. At a traditional workshop you watch the craft up close.
- Love Valley: The last stop is a valley of cones, pinnacles and fairy chimneys carved by millions of years of erosion, some as tall as 40 meters, and one of the most photogenic corners of the region.
After the tour, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Istanbul.
Our representative helps with your airport transfer, whether you are flying home or heading to your hotel, and our services end there.
You can also add extra nights to extend your stay.
Important Notes
Optional extras
- Add one more day to the tour: $115
- Ephesus Terrace Houses: $25
- Green Tour: $90
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Accommodations with breakfast
- ✓Professional guide
- ✓All flights in the itinerary
- ✓Air-conditioned vehicles
- ✓Admission Fees to enter sights (Except optionals)
- ✕International flights to Istanbul
- ✕Dinner and lunch
- ✕Optional additional tours or activities during free time
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Travel guides
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- Priene, Miletus and Didyma Day Trip: Route, Drive Times, Tickets
- Ephesus at Night Tour: Season, Evenings, Hours and Getting There
- Spanish-Speaking Guide at Ephesus: How to Book One for 2027
- Nicaea and Ephesus Pilgrimage 2027: A Route for French-Speaking Groups
- Ephesus Day Trip for French Visitors: Kuşadası, İzmir, Bodrum, Samos
- Ephesus from Marmaris, Bodrum or Kuşadası: Drive Times and Prices
- Kuşadası Cruise Port to Ephesus: 19 km, Which Gate, How to Get There
- Ephesus from Kuşadası for Italian Travellers: Hours, Tickets, Costs
- Ephesus on Your Own or with a Guide: Kuşadası, İzmir and Bodrum
Ephesus and Cappadocia in 2 days by flight: the key facts
This 2-day, 1-night group tour fits Ephesus and Cappadocia into a short break from Istanbul. On Day 1 you fly to Izmir, tour the ruins of Ephesus and fly on to Cappadocia for the night. Day 2 starts with an optional sunrise balloon flight, then a guided tour of the valleys, Zelve Open-Air Museum and Avanos before your flight back to Istanbul. It is three flights in two days.
It suits travellers with little time who want to see the best-known Roman site and the fairy chimneys without long drives. The price is from $1,050 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 days / 1 night |
| Route | Istanbul - Izmir (Ephesus) - Cappadocia - Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour with three domestic flights |
| Start / end | Very early pick-up at your Istanbul hotel (or meet the guide at the airport) / transfer to Istanbul airport or your hotel on Day 2 |
| Included | One hotel night in Cappadocia with breakfast, professional guide, all flights in the itinerary, air-conditioned vehicles, admission fees except optional sights |
| Extra | International flights, lunch and dinner, Terrace Houses ($25), Green Tour ($90), one extra day ($115), balloon flight |
How do the flights work on Day 1?
We collect you very early from your Istanbul hotel for the 09:30 flight to Izmir, or you can meet the guide at the airport. A short drive from Izmir airport brings you to Ephesus, and the tour starts straight away. When it ends, you transfer back to the airport for the flight to Cappadocia and spend the night there. Day 2 ends with the third flight, from Cappadocia back to Istanbul. Since you change cities twice on Day 1, keep your luggage small and easy to carry.
What do we see in Ephesus?
The walk covers the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, Hercules Gate, the Grand Theatre that once held up to 25,000 people, the Fountain of Trajan, the Nike relief and the site of the Temple of Artemis. Two stops are optional. The Terrace Houses cost $25 extra. The tour can end at the House of the Virgin Mary, but this page gives no ticket price for it, so ask us before you go. Our Ephesus and Kusadasi guide has more.
Is the hot air balloon included?
No. Day 2 shows an optional balloon flight at 05:00, with a champagne toast at about 07:00 and a return to the hotel before the 09:00 tour pick-up. This page does not list a balloon price, so ask us for the current price for your date in writing. With one night in Cappadocia, Day 2 is your only balloon morning, and flights depend on the weather on the day. Our balloon price guide explains what affects the cost.
What does the Cappadocia day include?
The tour runs from about 09:00 until 16:00 at the latest: the Esentepe viewpoint, the Zelve Open-Air Museum, Paşabağ, Devrent Valley, a pottery workshop in Avanos and Love Valley. This is the northern or Red Tour route. The overview mentions underground cities, but none is in this day plan. An underground city is part of the Green Tour, listed as an extra at $90, and there is no free day for it unless you add one.
How tiring is the trip?
Day 1 is long: a very early start, a flight, a full walk through Ephesus and a second flight to Cappadocia. Ephesus is a large open site, so wear shoes with good grip and bring water and a hat in warm months. Day 2 is even longer if you take the balloon, with a pick-up before dawn and then a full day of touring. The Cappadocia stops involve moderate walking between the bus and the viewpoints.
Where do we stay?
The one night is in Cappadocia, with breakfast. The page does not name the hotel or say whether it is a cave hotel, and it gives no star rating. If a cave room or a certain class of hotel matters to you, say so in the booking form and ask us which hotel is planned for your date. Our page on Cappadocia cave hotels explains the options in the region.
Can we add a day or more nights?
Yes. You can add one more day to the tour for $115, and the page says extra nights can be added if you want to stay longer. A second Cappadocia day would also give you time for the Green Tour ($90). If you would like that built in, our Cappadocia and Ephesus package by plane takes 3 days with both the Red and Green Tours and a night in Kusadasi, from $1,110 per person.
How do we book this tour?
Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page, and tell us whether you want hotel pick-up or to meet the guide at Istanbul airport, and whether to add the balloon or the Terrace Houses. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We confirm the three flights, the hotel and the extras, then send you the full plan in writing before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).
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