Konya Day Tour from Istanbul by Plane – Mevlana Museum & Rumi

Konya day tour from Istanbul by plane: the key facts

This is a one-day guided trip from Istanbul to Konya, the city where Rumi lived, taught and is buried. Return domestic flights make it possible in a single long day. In Konya you visit the Mevlana Museum, once the lodge of the Mevlevi order and home to Rumi's tomb, the Selimiye Mosque, the Karatay Madrasa (now the Tile Museum), the Seljuk-era Alaaddin Mosque and a panoramic stop at Meram, with lunch at a local restaurant.

It suits travellers with a strong interest in Rumi and Sufi heritage who cannot spare a night away from Istanbul, and visitors who want to see a central Anatolian city without a multi-day package. The day starts very early and ends in the evening. The price on the page is from $431 per person.

How do the flights and transfers work?

You are collected in Istanbul at about 05:00 and taken to the airport for the morning flight to Konya. A guide and vehicle meet you on arrival, and the same vehicle takes you between the sites and back to Konya airport for the evening flight. You are back in Istanbul at around 21:15. The baggage allowance is 15 kg checked and 8 kg cabin, which is more than you need for a day; a small bag is easiest. The page does not name the Istanbul airport or give flight numbers, so ask for both in writing once you book.

What do we see at the Mevlana Museum?

The Mevlana Museum is the first stop. It was the lodge of the Mevlevi order and holds Rumi's tomb, along with dervish robes and sacred instruments. It is a shrine as well as a museum, so keep your voice low and dress as you would for a mosque. Your guide uses this stop to explain the Mevlevi path and the meaning behind the whirling ceremony. The Konya destination guide has more background on the city.

What should we wear?

Two of the stops, the Selimiye and Alaaddin mosques, are working mosques. Men and women need covered shoulders and knees, and women need a headscarf that covers all the hair. Shoes come off inside, so wear a pair that is easy to slip on and off. The day includes airport time, coach time and walking, so comfortable clothes and a light layer for the plane help. Carry a scarf in your bag all day rather than packing it in checked luggage.

Is this day too long for us?

It is a long one. Pick-up at about 05:00 and return at around 21:15 means more than sixteen hours from door to door, with two flights and several sites. If you or your group are not early risers, or are travelling with small children, consider a longer trip that includes a night, such as the Istanbul and Konya tour. Dinner is not included, so you may want to eat at the airport or after you return.

Can we see a whirling dervish ceremony on this trip?

The listed programme does not include a sema ceremony. It covers the museum, mosques, the Tile Museum and Meram. If watching the ceremony matters to you, it is easier to arrange in Istanbul: see the Istanbul whirling dervish sema ceremony or the Hodjapasha whirling dervish show. Ask us if you want to combine one with this day. Because you land back in Istanbul at around 21:15, it is better to book a ceremony for another evening of your stay rather than the same night.

Are there other one-day flight trips like this?

Yes. The Gobeklitepe day tour from Istanbul flies you to Sanliurfa for the Neolithic site, and the Hattusa day trip from Istanbul visits the Hittite capital. If you prefer a guide just for your group, there is a private Konya tour from Istanbul. All Konya trips are listed under Konya tours. Each of these involves an early start and flights, so check the timings on each page before choosing.

The page gives different figures in places. What is right?

The booking box shows from $431 per person, but the FAQ compares this trip with a city tour in euros and implies a base price of about €383. The page says transfers are "as mentioned in the program", yet no hour-by-hour programme is shown, and it does not give the flight times. Before you pay, ask us to confirm in writing the price and currency, the pick-up time, the flight times and which airport you use.

How do we book this tour?

Choose a date and number of guests in the booking form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88 with your date, hotel and the full names of each traveller as they appear in the passport, which are needed for the flight tickets. The page says the tour runs daily with no minimum group size. We reply with flight details, pick-up time and the final price, and we confirm the plan in writing before you make any payment. Please read the cancellation policy before confirming, since flight tickets can carry their own rules.