5 Days – Istanbul – Cappadocia Tour

You arrive in Istanbul where a driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel in Sultanahmet . The rest of the day is intentionally open so you can adjust to the city at your own pace.

What this day is about

• Easy, stress-free arrival and check-in
• Time for a gentle walk, simple dinner, and rest

Nice ways to spend your free time

• Short stroll past local cafés and small shops
• Early evening look at the illuminated domes and minarets
• Relax in the hotel and prepare for the full walking tour tomorrow

After breakfast, your guide meets you at the hotel for a full day exploring the historical heart of Istanbul on foot. The route mirrors the original program but with a slower, more story-driven tone.

Key stops

• Hagia Sophia – architecture, faith, and empire layered in one building
• Blue Mosque – classic Ottoman elegance and courtyard atmosphere
• Hippodrome area – obelisks, monuments, and daily city life around them
• Topkapi Palace – courtyards, pavilions, and stories of the sultans
• Grand Bazaar – a tangle of vaulted alleys and traditional shops

Why guests like this day

• All major icons are walkable and close together
• Plenty of chances for photos and café pauses
• You get a strong mental map of the Old City

In the late afternoon, your guide walks you back to your hotel, and the evening is free.

You’re picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport for your morning flight to Cappadocia. On arrival, you meet your local guide and begin exploring the region’s southern highlights.

Typical flow (south Cappadocia)

• Uçhisar Castle – highest viewpoint in the region, sweeping panoramas
• Rose Valley (Kızılçukur) – gentle trail and warm-toned cliffs, ideal for photos
• Çavuşin Village – an early Christian settlement with rock-cut dwellings
• Love / White Valley – famous fairy chimneys and sculptural rock shapes

The feel of the day

• A mix of short walks and scenic stops
• Good balance between viewpoints and village textures
• A calm evening settling into your cave hotel

If you choose the balloon flight, the day begins before sunrise with hotel pick-up and a graceful float over the valleys, returning in time for breakfast. Then the northern Cappadocia program starts, mirroring the source route with a full day of classic stops.

Morning (optional)

• Hot air balloon over the chimneys and valleys (weather permitting)
• Light post-flight celebration, then breakfast at the hotel

Day tour (north Cappadocia)

• Göreme Panorama – wide views with Uçhisar in the background
• Göreme Open-Air Museum – rock-cut churches and frescoes
• Avanos – riverside town, pottery tradition, and workshop demo
• Çavuşin (second visit, different angle) – more time to enjoy the rock village
• Devrent Valley – natural “sculpture park” of animal-shaped rocks
• Paşabağ (Monks Valley) – iconic mushroom-shaped chimneys
• Three Beauties (Ürgüp) – famous trio of chimneys with valley views

After the tour, you’re transferred to the airport for your evening flight back to Istanbul, where another transfer brings you to your hotel for the night.

Your final day is flexible: either depart Turkey or continue your stay. The base program includes an airport transfer aligned with your flight time, but it’s easy to add extra nights if you want more time in the city.

Options for this day

• Direct transfer to the airport for your international flight
• Optional extra Istanbul night(s) to slow down at the end of the trip
• Light last-minute shopping or a relaxed café stop if time allows