Istanbul, Antalya & Cappadocia Tour: 3 Days with Flights
Overview
Istanbul, Antalya & Cappadocia Tour: 3 Days with Flights
In three days this guided tour covers Turkey's history, scenery and culture at a brisk pace. You start among the landmarks of Istanbul, move on to the Mediterranean coast at Antalya and finish among the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, mixing history, a little adventure and natural beauty.
Day one is a walking tour of Istanbul's old city followed by a flight to Antalya. Day two takes in Perge, Aspendos, the Kursunlu Waterfall and Kaleici before a flight to Cappadocia. On day three you can start with a sunrise balloon flight, then tour the valleys and fly back to Istanbul.
Hotels with breakfast, a professional guide, all flights in the itinerary, air-conditioned vehicles and entrance fees (except optional sites) are included. International flights to Istanbul, lunches, dinners and optional activities in free time are not.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Istanbul Old City Tour and Flight to Antalya
At 09:00 AM your guide collects you from the hotel for a full day on foot through the centre of Ottoman and Byzantine Istanbul. The tour visits:
- Topkapi Palace (optional): the former home of the Ottoman sultans, full of history and fine architecture.
- Blue Mosque: one of Istanbul's best-known landmarks, famous for its blue tiles and its scale.
- Hagia Sophia (optional): a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a vast, richly decorated Byzantine interior.
- Grand Bazaar: the world's oldest covered market, a lively place to shop for souvenirs, spices and textiles.
After the tour, you are taken to the airport for your flight to Antalya. On arrival we drive you to your hotel, with breakfast included.
Day 2 – Antalya Tour and Flight to Cappadocia
This morning you check out of the hotel and set off to explore Antalya.
- Perge Ancient City: walk among the remains of this Roman city.
- Aspendos Theatre: one of the best-preserved Roman theatres anywhere.
- Kursunlu Waterfall: a quiet, green spot to relax.
- Kaleici (Old Town): cobbled lanes lined with Ottoman houses and busy shops.
- Hadrian's Gate: the well-kept Roman gateway that once led into the old city.
After the tour, a transfer takes you to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 3 – Cappadocia Tour and Flight Back to Istanbul
- 05:00 AM – Hot air balloon ride (optional): float over Cappadocia's rock formations and fairy chimneys at sunrise.
- 07:00 AM – Champagne toast and return to the hotel: a glass of champagne after landing, then the transfer back.
- 09:00 AM – Pick-up for the Cappadocia tour: your guide collects you to explore the region's lesser-known corners.
The tour usually starts at around 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest. Here is the route:
- Goreme Esentepe – panoramic view: we start at the Esentepe viewpoint between Uçhisar and Göreme, looking out over the fairy chimneys, the unusual Cappadocian scenery and the small town of Esentepe.
- Zelve Open-Air Museum: once a centre for monks and Christian learning, Zelve has old monasteries, churches and chapels with well-preserved frescoes that show the region's past.
- Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, also called Pasha's Vineyard, is known for its fairy chimneys with three heads and for some of the region's most striking rocks.
- Devrent Valley: a short drive away, this valley looks almost like the surface of the moon, with small pointed fairy chimneys, some shaped like animals and mythical creatures.
- Avanos Pottery Workshop: Avanos has made pottery since 3000 BC, and its craftsmen still shape clay from the Red River. You watch them at work in a traditional workshop.
- Love Valley: the last stop, where millions of years of erosion have carved cones, pinnacles and fairy chimneys up to 40 meters tall, a strange and very photogenic corner of Cappadocia.
After the tour, a transfer takes you to the airport for the flight back to Istanbul. Our representative then helps with your departure transfer, either to your flight home or to your hotel, which completes our services.
Extra nights in Istanbul can be added if you would like to stay longer.
Important Notes
Optional extras
- Hagia Sophia ticket: $40
- Watching the sunrise balloons: $50
- Aspendos ticket: $25
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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Istanbul, Antalya and Cappadocia in 3 days: the key facts
This 3-day, 2-night group tour combines a day in Istanbul's old city with the Mediterranean coast and Cappadocia, linked by flights. Day 1 is a guided walk through Sultanahmet and a flight to Antalya. Day 2 covers Perge, Aspendos, the Kurşunlu Waterfall and Kaleiçi before a flight to Cappadocia. Day 3 starts with an optional sunrise balloon flight, then a guided tour of the valleys and a flight back to Istanbul.
It suits travellers who are already in Istanbul and want to see two very different regions without long bus journeys. The price is from $1,315 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 days / 2 nights |
| Route | Istanbul - Antalya - Cappadocia - Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour with three domestic flights |
| Start / end | 09:00 pick-up at your Istanbul hotel on Day 1 / transfer to Istanbul airport or your hotel on Day 3 |
| Included | Hotels with breakfast (Antalya, Cappadocia), professional guide, all flights in the itinerary, air-conditioned vehicles, admission fees except optional sites |
| Extra | International flights, lunch and dinner, Hagia Sophia ticket ($40), Aspendos ticket ($25), balloon watching ($50), balloon flight |
Do we need a hotel in Istanbul before Day 1?
Yes. The guide collects you from your Istanbul hotel at 09:00 on Day 1, but the two nights in the price are in Antalya and Cappadocia. Book at least one Istanbul night before the tour yourself, or ask us to arrange it. Our where to stay in Istanbul page compares the areas, and a hotel in or near Sultanahmet keeps the morning pick-up simple. Tell us your hotel name in the booking form.
What does the Istanbul day include?
It is a full day on foot in the historic centre. You visit the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia are optional, and the Hagia Sophia ticket costs $40. After the tour you go to the airport for your flight to Antalya. Keep your luggage with you or ready at the hotel, because you do not return there.
What should we wear in the mosques?
Men and women should cover their shoulders and knees, and women also cover their hair. Shoes come off at the entrance, so wear a pair that is easy to remove. Mosques close to visitors during the daily prayers, so the guide may change the order of the stops on Day 1. A light scarf in your day bag covers you for Hagia Sophia as well. Our what to wear in Istanbul page has more detail.
What do we see around Antalya?
Day 2 takes in Perge, a Roman city; the Aspendos Theatre, one of the best-preserved Roman theatres; the Kurşunlu Waterfall; and Kaleiçi, the old town with Hadrian's Gate. After the tour you fly to Cappadocia for the night. One point to check: Aspendos is a regular stop on the day plan and admission fees are included except for optional sites, yet the extras list an Aspendos ticket at $25. Ask us to confirm in writing whether you pay it.
Is the hot air balloon included?
No. Day 3 shows an optional balloon flight at 05:00, with a champagne toast at about 07:00, but the extras on this page list only balloon watching at $50 and give no price for the flight itself. Ask us for the flight price for your date before you book. With one night in Cappadocia, Day 3 is your only balloon morning, and flights depend on the weather. Our balloon price guide explains the costs.
What does the Cappadocia day include?
You are collected at 09:00 for a tour that runs 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. After the tour you fly back to Istanbul, and our representative helps with your transfer to your flight home or to your hotel. Our Cappadocia guide helps if you want to come back for longer.
Can we add Ephesus or more nights?
The page says extra nights in Istanbul can be added if you want to stay longer; tell us how many in the booking form and we will quote them with the tour. The page lists no price for them. If you want Ephesus as well, our Istanbul, Antalya, Ephesus and Cappadocia tour takes 4 days, from $1,860 per person. Our Antalya, Ephesus and Cappadocia tour costs the same as this one, from $1,315 per person, and swaps the Istanbul day for Ephesus.
How do we book this tour?
Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page, and add your Istanbul hotel for the Day 1 pick-up. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We confirm the flights, hotels, the Aspendos ticket and any 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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