Istanbul, Konya & Cappadocia Tour: 3 Days with Flights
Overview
Istanbul, Konya & Cappadocia Tour: 3 Days with Flights
This short trip packs three sides of Turkey into three days: the historic streets of Istanbul, the spiritual city of Konya and the fairy-chimney valleys of Cappadocia.
You begin with a guided walking tour of Istanbul's old city, then fly to Konya. The next day you visit the Mevlana Museum, Alaeddin Mosque and Karatay Madrasa before driving to Cappadocia. The final day offers an optional sunrise balloon flight and a guided tour of the valleys before your flight back to Istanbul.
Accommodation with breakfast, a professional guide, round-trip airport transfers and the domestic flights in the itinerary are included. International flights to Istanbul are not.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Istanbul Old City Tour and Flight to Konya
Your guide collects you from the hotel at 09:00 AM for a full-day walking tour through the historic Byzantine and Ottoman core of the city. Highlights:
- Topkapi Palace (optional): once the residence of the Ottoman sultans, full of history and fine architecture.
- Blue Mosque: a symbol of Istanbul, known for its blue tilework and its sheer size.
- Hagia Sophia (optional): a UNESCO World Heritage Site with grand Byzantine architecture and a striking interior.
- Grand Bazaar: the world's oldest covered market and a lively place to shop for souvenirs, spices and textiles.
After the tour you transfer to the airport for your flight to Konya. On arrival we take you to your hotel, with breakfast included.
Day 2 – Konya Tour and Drive to Cappadocia
- 09:30 AM – Mevlana Museum: the day's visits start here.
- 12:15 PM – Alaeddin Mosque and Hill: see the historic mosque and enjoy the calm views from Alaeddin Hill.
- 01:00 PM – Lunch at a local restaurant: try Konya specialities such as etli ekmek or fırın kebabı.
- 02:15 PM – Karatay Madrasa: look at the fine Seljuk tilework and learn about the area's architectural heritage.
- 04:00 PM – Transfer to Cappadocia after the tour.
- 06:30 PM – Arrival and check-in at your hotel in Cappadocia.
Day 3 – Cappadocia Tour and Flight Back to Istanbul
- 05:00 AM – Hot air balloon ride (optional): float over the fairy chimneys and rock formations of Cappadocia as the sun rises.
- 07:00 AM – Champagne toast and hotel return: celebrate with a glass of champagne after landing, then transfer back to your hotel.
- 09:00 AM – Pick-up for the Cappadocia tour: a guided day among the region's less obvious sights.
The tour usually runs from about 09:00 until 16:00 at the latest. Stops:
- Goreme Esentepe – Panoramic View: a viewpoint between Uçhisar and Göreme that looks out over fairy chimneys, the wider Cappadocian landscape and the pretty town of Esentepe.
- Zelve Open-Air Museum: a former centre of monastic life and Christian learning, with old monasteries, churches and chapels decorated with well-kept frescoes from the region's past.
- Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ is famous for its three-headed fairy chimneys. Known also as “Pasha's Vineyard”, it holds some of the most remarkable rock formations in Cappadocia.
- Devrent Valley: a short drive leads to this moon-like valley of small, pointed fairy chimneys, some of which look like animals and mythical creatures.
- Avanos Pottery Workshop: Avanos has been a pottery town since 3000 BC, and its potters shape clay from the Red River. You see a traditional workshop and watch the craft up close.
- Love Valley: the final stop, where erosion over millions of years has left tall rock towers of up to 40 meters, along with cone-shaped pillars, pinnacles and fairy chimneys. It is one of the most unusual and photogenic corners of Cappadocia.
After the tour you fly back to Istanbul. Our representative helps with your departure transfer, whether for your flight home or to your hotel, and this marks the end of our services.
You can also add extra nights in Cappadocia or Istanbul if you want to stay longer.
Important Notes
Optional extras
- Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (Goreme): $310
- Add one more day to the tour: $115
- Entry ticket for Hagia Sophia: $40
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Accommodations with breakfast
- ✓Professional guide
- ✓Round-trip airport transfers
- ✓Domestic Flight Fares in the itinerary
- ✕International flights to Istanbul
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Istanbul, Konya and Cappadocia in 3 days: the key facts
This 3-day, 2-night group tour starts with a guided day in Istanbul's old city and then heads inland. On Day 1 you walk through Sultanahmet and then fly to Konya. Day 2 follows a timed plan through Konya, with the Mevlana Museum, Alaeddin Mosque and the Karatay Madrasa, before a drive to Cappadocia. Day 3 offers an optional sunrise balloon flight and a guided tour of the valleys before your flight back to Istanbul.
It suits travellers interested in Rumi and Seljuk history as well as the fairy chimneys, who have only a few days. The price is from $1,035 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 days / 2 nights |
| Route | Istanbul - Konya - Cappadocia - Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour with domestic flights and one road transfer |
| 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 (Konya, Cappadocia), professional guide, round-trip airport transfers, domestic flights in the itinerary |
| Extra | International flights, balloon flight ($310), Hagia Sophia ticket ($40), one extra day ($115) |
Do we need an Istanbul hotel before the tour?
Yes. Your guide collects you from your Istanbul hotel at 09:00 on Day 1, but the two nights in the price are in Konya and Cappadocia. Book at least one Istanbul night before the tour, or ask us to arrange it. Our where to stay in Istanbul page compares the main areas. The page also says extra nights in Istanbul or Cappadocia can be added, which helps if you arrive late or want time at the end.
What does the Istanbul day include?
It is a full-day walking tour of the Byzantine and Ottoman 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 transfer to the airport for your flight to Konya, so have your luggage ready. In Konya we take you to your hotel. Our Istanbul guide helps if you add days.
What is the plan in Konya?
Day 2 has set times. The visits start at 09:30 at the Mevlana Museum, where Rumi is buried. At 12:15 you see the Alaeddin Mosque and the views from Alaeddin Hill. Lunch at 13:00 is at a local restaurant, with dishes such as etli ekmek or fırın kebabı. At 14:15 you visit the Karatay Madrasa and its Seljuk tilework. You leave for Cappadocia at 16:00 and check in at your hotel at about 18:30. Our Konya guide has more on the city.
What should we wear in the mosques and at the Mevlana Museum?
Men and women should cover their shoulders and knees, and women also cover their hair. Shoes come off at the mosque entrance, so wear a pair that is easy to remove. Mosques close to visitors during the daily prayers, so the guide may adjust the order of stops in Istanbul and Konya. Dress the same way at the Mevlana Museum, which is a tomb as well as a museum. Our what to wear in Istanbul page has more tips.
What exactly is included?
The page lists hotels with breakfast, a professional guide, round-trip airport transfers and the domestic flights, and it names only international flights as excluded. It does not say whether entrance fees, the Konya lunch or any dinners are covered. Ask us to confirm these points in writing. The page also lists the destinations as Cappadocia, Istanbul and Konya, but the day plan runs Istanbul, Konya, then Cappadocia.
Is the balloon flight included?
No. The sunrise balloon over Göreme is an optional extra at $310 per person. It would take place at 05:00 on Day 3, with a champagne toast at about 07:00 and a return to the hotel before the 09:00 tour pick-up. With one night in Cappadocia, that is your only balloon morning, and flights depend on the weather. The Day 3 tour then runs until 16:00 at the latest, covering Esentepe, the Zelve Open-Air Museum, Paşabağ, Devrent Valley, Avanos and Love Valley.
Can we add days or choose a longer version?
Yes. You can add one more day to the tour for $115, and extra nights in Cappadocia or Istanbul can be added. If you prefer more time in each place, our Istanbul, Konya and Cappadocia tour in 5 days costs from $1,565 per person. If you are short on time and want to skip the Istanbul day, the 2-day Cappadocia and Konya tour starts from $845 per person.
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 and whether you want the balloon. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We confirm the flights, hotels and what the price covers, 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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