Istanbul & Cappadocia – 7 Days with Domestic Flights

Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST or SAW) and meet-and-greet with our representative. After a short welcome briefing, transfer by private vehicle to your hotel. Time to check in and rest after the flight.
Depending on your arrival time, your guide may take you on a short orientation walk around the hotel area to show you tram/metro stops, exchange offices and nearby restaurants. Evening at leisure to enjoy your first dinner in the city and feel the atmosphere of domes, minarets and the distant Bosphorus.

Breakfast at the hotel. We head to the historic peninsula, the very heart of Istanbul. Our first stop is the former Hippodrome square, where the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpent Column and the Walled Column still stand as witnesses of Byzantine chariot races and ceremonies.
We then continue to the Blue Mosque (interior/exterior visit depending on current regulations), famous for its blue tiles and six minarets, before crossing over to Hagia Sophia, one of the city’s most iconic monuments, encapsulating centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman history.
In the afternoon, we visit Topkapi Palace (entrance according to the program), residence of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years. Its courtyards, chambers and terraces overlooking the Bosphorus help you imagine life at the imperial court. There will be free time for lunch during the day. Depending on time and opening hours, we may also include a short visit to the Grand Bazaar or the Spice Bazaar.

After breakfast we head to the Golden Horn area and the Spice Bazaar, where tea, nuts and Turkish delight shops recall Istanbul’s long trading history between East and West.
We then embark on a Bosphorus cruise, sailing between the European and Asian shores. From the water you can admire palaces such as Dolmabahçe, wooden mansions, fortresses and the great suspension bridges linking both continents, while your guide shares stories and anecdotes.
In the afternoon, depending on the program, we may cross to the Asian side for a short walk in Üsküdar or Kadıköy, or explore the modern heart of the city around Taksim Square and Istiklal Street, with its cafés, shops and historic buildings.

Early breakfast or breakfast box and transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Cappadocia (Kayseri or Nevşehir). After a flight of about 1–1.5 hours, arrival and private transfer to your hotel in the region.
Once settled in, we spend the rest of the day discovering the northern part of Cappadocia (order may vary): panoramic views from the Uçhisar castle area, a visit to Göreme Open Air Museum (entrance according to the program), with its rock-cut churches and frescoes, and a stop in Avanos on the banks of the Kızılırmak River, where you may watch a traditional pottery demonstration. We then continue to Devrent and possibly Paşabağ valleys, famous for their fairy chimneys and rock formations.
Dinner at leisure. Those who wish may join an optional Turkish night show or a dinner with traditional music.

For those who wish, there is the possibility of a hot-air balloon flight before sunrise (optional, subject to weather conditions and prior availability). Floating above the valleys and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia is an unforgettable experience.
After breakfast at the hotel, we continue our exploration of the region. On the southern or combined route we visit one of Cappadocia’s underground cities (Kaymakli or Derinkuyu, according to the program), an impressive maze of tunnels and chambers dug into the rock. We then enjoy panoramas of valleys and viewpoints with pigeon houses carved into the cliffs, with time for short walks and photos.
During the day we stop for lunch in a local restaurant (payable on the spot). In the afternoon, a short demonstration of carpet weaving or local handicrafts may be included before returning to the hotel. This is your last night in Cappadocia to enjoy the region’s unique atmosphere.

After breakfast and depending on your flight schedule, you may have a little free time in Cappadocia for a last walk or a few final photos before saying goodbye to the landscape. Transfer to Kayseri or Nevşehir airport and domestic flight back to Istanbul.
On arrival, transfer to your hotel and the rest of the day at leisure. You may choose to do some last-minute shopping at the Grand Bazaar or Spice Bazaar, or take a stroll through areas such as Karaköy and Galata. This is your last night in Istanbul – a perfect opportunity for a Bosphorus-view dinner or a relaxed evening in the city centre.

Breakfast at the hotel (depending on flight time) and final free moments in Istanbul. You may take a short farewell walk in your favourite neighbourhood or simply relax at the hotel. At the agreed time, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
After 7 days between Istanbul and Cappadocia, you leave Turkey not only with photos, but with stories, flavours and landscapes that will stay with you.