Istanbul and Göreme · Turkey
Istanbul and Cappadocia
Byzantine domes, Ottoman palaces and ferries across the Bosphorus in Istanbul, then balloons at dawn over the fairy chimneys and cave churches of Cappadocia. Six days between two continents and a landscape of soft volcanic rock.
- 6 days
- $$ Mid-range
- Moderate
- Good with kids
- Solo
- Couples
- Friends
- Culture
- City
- Food
Day by day
The plan
Times are suggestions. Opening hours and seasons change, so check before you go. Once it’s in your trip, move anything you like.
- Day 1
Sultanahmet
- 08:30
Hagia Sophia
Activity
Nearly 1,500 years old, a church and then a mosque under one vast dome.
- 10:00
Blue Mosque
Activity
Six minarets outside and thousands of blue tiles inside; it closes to visitors at prayer times.
- 11:00
Basilica Cistern
Activity
An underground Byzantine reservoir with rows of columns and two Medusa heads.
- 12:30
Lunch: köfte in Sultanahmet
Food & drink
Grilled meatballs with white bean salad, a classic of the old city.
- 14:00
Topkapı Palace
Activity
Home of the Ottoman sultans, with courtyards, the Harem and views over the Bosphorus.
- 08:30
- Day 2
Bazaars and the Golden Horn
- 09:00
Grand Bazaar
Activity
One of the oldest covered markets in the world, with thousands of shops under painted vaults.
- 11:00
Süleymaniye Mosque
Activity
Sinan’s masterpiece on a hilltop, calmer than Sultanahmet, with views over the Golden Horn.
- 13:00
Lunch: fish sandwich at Eminönü
Food & drink
Balık ekmek, grilled fish in bread, by the water.
- 14:00
Spice Bazaar and Galata Bridge
Activity
Sacks of spices and Turkish delight, then cross the bridge past the lines of fishermen.
- 17:30
Galata Tower at sunset
Activity
A medieval stone tower with a ring of views over the old city and the water.
- 09:00
- Day 3
Across to Asia, then to Cappadocia
- 09:00
Ferry to Kadıköy
Getting around
A cheap public ferry across the Bosphorus to the Asian side, with tea on deck.
- 09:30
Kadıköy market streets
Activity
Fishmongers, pickle shops and delis in a lively local neighborhood.
- 12:00
Lunch: meze in Kadıköy
Food & drink
Small plates of eggplant, yogurt dips and stuffed vine leaves.
- 15:30
Fly to Cappadocia
Getting around
About an hour and a half to Kayseri or Nevşehir, then a shuttle to Göreme.
- 19:30
Stay in a cave hotel in Göreme
Stay
Rooms carved into the rock are the local way to sleep; base for three nights.
- 09:00
- Day 4
Balloons and valleys
- 05:30
Hot air balloon at dawn
Activity
Float over the valleys with dozens of other balloons, or watch them rise from a rooftop.
- 09:30
Göreme Open-Air Museum
Activity
Rock-cut churches with painted frescoes, made by monks over centuries.
- 12:30
Lunch: testi kebab
Food & drink
Meat and vegetables slow-cooked in a sealed clay pot, cracked open at the table.
- 15:00
Uçhisar Castle
Activity
A rock citadel riddled with rooms, the highest point in the area.
- 17:00
Rose Valley sunset walk
Activity
The pink rock glows at the end of the day; trails pass small cave churches.
- 05:30
- Day 5
Underground city and Ihlara
- 09:00
Derinkuyu Underground City
Activity
Many levels of tunnels and rooms dug deep into the rock to shelter whole communities.
- 11:00
Ihlara Valley walk
Activity
A shaded riverside trail along a canyon lined with rock-cut churches.
- 13:30
Lunch by the river in Belisırma
Food & drink
Grilled trout at tables set by the water.
- 15:30
Selime Monastery
Activity
A large monastery carved into the cliff at the end of the valley.
- 19:30
Dinner in Göreme
Food & drink
Pide, Turkish flatbread with toppings, or a slow-cooked stew.
- 09:00
- Day 6
Fairy chimneys and fly back
- 08:30
Paşabağ (Monks Valley)
Activity
The most famous fairy chimneys, some with several caps.
- 10:00
Devrent Valley
Activity
Rock shapes that look like animals; it’s fun to spot the camel.
- 11:00
Avanos pottery
Activity
A riverside town known for pottery made from the red clay of the Kızılırmak.
- 13:00
Lunch in Avanos
Food & drink
Gözleme, thin stuffed flatbread cooked on a griddle.
- 16:00
Fly back to Istanbul
Getting around
Connect home through Istanbul.
- 08:30
Good to know
Tips
Balloon flights depend on weather
Flights are cancelled in wind or rain. Book your balloon for your first morning in Cappadocia so you have spare mornings if it’s called off.
Get an Istanbulkart
One rechargeable card works on trams, the metro, buses and the public ferries. The tram along the old city and the ferries are the easiest way around.
Visiting mosques
Cover shoulders and knees, women cover their hair, and shoes come off at the door. Avoid prayer times, especially Friday midday.
Best seasons
Spring and early autumn bring mild days in both places. Summer is hot and crowded in Istanbul, and Cappadocia is cold, sometimes snowy, in winter.
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