Istanbul & Konya Tour: 4 Days with Flights, Rumi & Mevlana Museum

Istanbul and Konya in 4 days with flights: the key facts

This package pairs Istanbul's old city with Konya, the city of Rumi and the Mevlevi order of whirling dervishes. Day 1 is arrival and a transfer to your hotel. Day 2 is a full guided walk in Istanbul, with the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia as options, followed by an evening flight to Konya. Day 3 covers the Mevlana Museum, the Alaeddin Mosque and Hill, a lunch stop and the tiled Karatay Madrasa, then a flight back to Istanbul. Day 4 is the airport transfer.

It suits travellers with an interest in Sufism, Seljuk architecture or Rumi's poetry who want to see Konya without a long drive from Istanbul or Cappadocia. Both long legs are flights, so the time goes into sightseeing rather than driving. The price is from $1,035 per person.

What exactly is included in the price?

This page lists a shorter set of inclusions than most of our packages: accommodation with breakfast, a professional guide, round-trip airport transfers and the domestic flight fares. The only exclusion listed is international flights to Istanbul. Entrance fees and vehicles for the sightseeing are not named in either list, and Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia are marked optional. Day 3 also shows "lunch at a local restaurant" without saying who pays. Ask us to state in writing which entrance fees, meals and transfers are covered before you pay.

Do we see a whirling dervish ceremony?

Not in the listed programme. The Konya day visits the Mevlana Museum, where Rumi's tomb is, along with the Alaeddin Mosque and the Karatay Madrasa, but no sema ceremony is shown. If you want to watch one, the whirling dervish sema ceremony in Istanbul fits your free evening on Day 3 after you return from Konya. Ask us to add it when you request your plan, so the price you approve includes it.

What time does the Istanbul tour start?

The page gives two times. Day 1 says your guide will see you at 09:30 AM the next morning, and Day 2 says the guide collects you at 09:00 AM. Be ready at 09:00 and ask us to confirm the time in writing. Check out before the tour starts, because Day 2 ends with a transfer to the airport and the flight to Konya. Day 3 ends the same way, with the flight back to Istanbul after lunch and the Karatay Madrasa, and the rest of that evening is free.

What should I wear in the mosques and at the Mevlana Museum?

At the Blue Mosque shoulders and knees must be covered, women cover their hair and shoes come off; scarves are usually provided at the entrance. The mosque closes to visitors during the five daily prayers, with the longest closure at Friday midday. At the Mevlana Museum visitors put on shoe covers or remove their shoes, shoulders and knees should be covered, and women are advised to bring a scarf for the tomb room. The same clothes work at the Alaeddin Mosque. Our Istanbul mosques tour page has more on mosque etiquette.

What is the best time of year for Konya?

Konya sits at about 1,000 metres on the Anatolian plateau. Winters are cold, with average January temperatures near freezing and regular snow, and summers are hot and dry, with July highs around 30°C. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for walking between the sights. In winter, pack a warm coat; the flights mean you avoid the long winter roads. Read more in our Konya destination guide.

Which hotels are used?

The page includes three nights with breakfast: one in Istanbul, one in Konya and one more in Istanbul. It does not name the hotels or give a star category. Ask for the hotel names in your written plan, and ask whether the two Istanbul nights are in the same hotel, which saves repacking. If you want to choose your own area for extra nights, our guide to where to stay in Istanbul compares the main districts.

Can we add nights or extend the trip?

Yes. The page lists one extra hotel night in Istanbul, before or after the tour, for $65, two extra nights for $125, and one extra tour day for $115. If you want more of central Turkey, the Istanbul, Konya and Cappadocia tour adds Cappadocia after Konya, and the Spirit of Turkey tour is a longer version of the same idea. For a single day in Konya from Istanbul, see the Konya day tour. Other combinations are in our multi-city packages.

How do I book this package?

Use the booking form on this page to choose your date and number of guests, or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We reply with a written plan showing the flight times, hotel names, the Day 2 meeting time and a full list of what is and is not included, and you approve it before any payment. Because this page leaves meals and entrance fees unclear, please check those lines in particular. Read the cancellation policy before you confirm. The tour is operated by Viracocha Travel Turizm, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.