Konya & Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul: 2 Days with Flights

Konya and Cappadocia in 2 days from Istanbul: the key facts

This is a 2-day, 1-night group trip that starts with a morning flight from Istanbul to Konya. You spend the first day in the city of Rumi and the whirling dervishes, with the Mevlana Museum, Alaeddin Mosque and Hill and the Karatay Madrasa, then drive to Cappadocia in the late afternoon and sleep there. Day 2 is a guided tour of the fairy chimney valleys, followed by a flight back to Istanbul.

It suits travellers who are already based in Istanbul and want to see both Konya and Cappadocia without giving up more than two days. The pace is brisk: one very early start, a long first day and only one night in Cappadocia. The price is from $770 per person.

How early is the start on Day 1?

Your flight to Konya leaves at 07:30, so we collect you from your Istanbul hotel very early. If you would rather go on your own, you can meet our guide at the airport instead. The sightseeing begins at 09:30 at the Mevlana Museum, the shrine of the poet Rumi. At 12:15 you visit Alaeddin Mosque and Hill, at 13:00 there is a lunch stop at a local restaurant with Konya dishes such as etli ekmek or firin kebabi, and at 14:15 you see the Seljuk tilework of the Karatay Madrasa. See our Konya guide and other Konya tours.

Is lunch in Konya included?

The page is not clear on this point. The itinerary has a lunch stop at a local restaurant on Day 1, but lunch is neither in the inclusions nor in the exclusions list, which only names international flights. Before you pay, ask us to confirm in writing whether the Konya lunch is part of the price or paid on the spot. Plan on paying for dinner in Cappadocia yourself, as no dinner is mentioned anywhere on the page. Breakfast at the Cappadocia hotel is included.

How long is the drive from Konya to Cappadocia?

The transfer leaves Konya at about 16:00 and you check in at your Cappadocia hotel at around 18:30, so allow about two and a half hours on the road. The page does not name the hotel or its category, so ask us which hotel is booked for your date. If one night feels too short, the page offers one extra day for $115, and extra nights in Cappadocia or Istanbul can also be added. Our Cappadocia guide and where to stay in Cappadocia page help you choose a base.

What do we see in Cappadocia on Day 2?

The guided tour starts at about 09:00 and ends by 16:00 at the latest. The stops are the Esentepe viewpoint between Uchisar and Goreme, the Zelve Open-Air Museum with its old churches and frescoes, Pasabag (Monks Valley) with its three-headed fairy chimneys, Devrent Valley, a pottery workshop in Avanos and Love Valley, where some rock pillars reach 40 metres. The page calls these the region's "lesser-known corners", but they are the main stops of the standard north route, often called the Red Tour. Read more about Zelve and Love Valley.

Is the hot air balloon included?

No. The balloon is an optional extra at $310 for a flight from Goreme. It is planned for 05:00 on Day 2, with a champagne toast after landing and a drive back to the hotel before the 09:00 tour pick-up. Because you have only one night in Cappadocia, there is no second morning to fall back on. Balloon flights go ahead only when the civil aviation office allows them, and strong wind can stop them for the day. If the balloon matters to you, consider adding the extra day. Our balloon price guide compares flight types.

What should we wear at the mosque and the Mevlana Museum?

Alaeddin Mosque is a working mosque, so cover shoulders and knees, and women should cover their hair. Shoes come off at the door, and visitors should stay out of the way during prayers. The Mevlana Museum is Rumi's shrine and a place of pilgrimage, so dress the same way to be safe. Keep a scarf and long trousers or a long skirt in your day bag, because you go straight from the airport to the sights. Day 2 involves walking on dusty paths in the valleys, so wear comfortable trainers. Our what to wear in Istanbul page covers the same rules.

Can we add the Green Tour or stay longer?

Yes. The page lists the Green Tour as an add-on for $90 and one extra day for $115. The Green Tour covers the southern side of Cappadocia, which this package does not visit. If you want more time in both places, compare the 3-day Istanbul, Konya and Cappadocia tour from $1,035 per person or the 4-day Cappadocia and Konya tour from $778 per person. The return flight time on Day 2 is not given on the page, so if you have an onward flight from Istanbul that evening, tell us before booking.

How do we book this package?

Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page, and tell us your Istanbul hotel or whether you will meet the guide at the airport. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We check the Konya and Istanbul flights and the Cappadocia hotel for your date, confirm the lunch question above, and send the full plan in writing before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).