Istanbul, Konya & Cappadocia Tour: 5 Days in the Heart of Anatolia

Istanbul, Konya and Cappadocia in 5 days: the key facts

This 5-day, 4-night group tour adds Konya, the city of Rumi, to the usual Istanbul and Cappadocia pair. You arrive in Istanbul on Day 1, tour the old city on Day 2 and fly to Konya that evening. Day 3 is a timed tour of Konya followed by a drive to Cappadocia, and Day 4 is a Cappadocia tour before the flight back to Istanbul. Day 5 is your departure.

It suits travellers interested in Islamic and Seljuk history as well as the classic sights, who want a short trip that still feels like a route rather than two cities. The price is from $1,565 per person.

How is this different from the Nemrut version at the same price?

Our Istanbul, Konya, Cappadocia and Nemrut tour costs the same, from $1,565 per person, and follows a similar route as far as Cappadocia. The difference is the end: that tour takes an overnight bus to Adıyaman and climbs Mount Nemrut, while this one flies from Cappadocia back to Istanbul on Day 4 for a hotel night and a free evening. This version also gives Istanbul a full day instead of a half day. Choose this one if you prefer a hotel bed every night and an easier last day.

What time does the Istanbul tour start?

The page gives two times: Day 1 says you meet your guide at 09:30 the next morning, and Day 2 says the guide collects you at 09:00. Confirm the time in writing. The full-day walk covers the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, with Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia as options. After the tour you go to the airport for the evening flight to Konya, so keep your luggage ready. Our Istanbul guide helps if you add extra days.

What do we see in Konya?

Day 3 follows a timed plan. At 09:30 you visit the Mevlana Museum, where Rumi is buried, then the Alaeddin Mosque and hill at 12:15. Lunch at a local restaurant is at 13:00, with dishes such as etli ekmek or fırın kebabı, and at 14:15 you see the Karatay Madrasa with its Seljuk tiles. At 16:00 you leave by road and reach your Cappadocia 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, women also cover their hair, and shoes come off at the entrance to the mosques; scarves are usually lent at the door. Mosques close to visitors during prayer times, and the Blue Mosque stays closed on Friday mornings until early afternoon, so the guide may reorder the Istanbul and Konya stops. Dress the same way for the Mevlana Museum, which is a mausoleum as well as a museum. Our what to wear in Istanbul page has more tips.

What does the Cappadocia day include, and is the balloon extra?

The guided tour on Day 4 usually runs from about 09:00 to 16:00: the Esentepe viewpoint, the Zelve Open-Air Museum, Paşabağ, Devrent Valley, an Avanos pottery workshop and Love Valley. The sunrise balloon in Göreme is an optional extra at $310. You have one night in Cappadocia, so Day 4 is your only balloon morning, and wind can ground every balloon for days at a time. See our balloon price guide.

What exactly is included?

The page lists breakfast with each hotel night, a professional guide, round-trip airport transfers and the domestic flights, and 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 in writing. The overview also says the trip "ends" in Cappadocia, but the day plan returns you to Istanbul on Day 4 and ends with a departure transfer on Day 5, which is what to plan around.

Which hotels are used?

The page gives no hotel names or star ratings for Istanbul, Konya or Cappadocia, and does not say whether the Cappadocia night is in a cave hotel. If the hotel category or a cave room matters to you, say so in the booking form and ask us which hotels are planned for your dates. Our page on where to stay in Cappadocia explains the different villages.

Can we add nights or make it private?

Yes. An extra Istanbul hotel night before or after the tour costs $65, and you can upgrade to a private tour for $250. If you want more time in each place, our Spirit of Turkey tour of Istanbul, Cappadocia and Konya covers the same three areas over 7 days, from $2,100 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 arrival flight details. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We confirm the guide times, flights and hotels, then send you the full plan in writing before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).