3 Days Istanbul and Cappadocia Tour
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Tour Overview
Explore Istanbul’s Old City, then fly to Cappadocia for the Red and Yellow Tours. Three guided days, return domestic flights and one hotel night in each city are included.
Visit Istanbul’s Old City and Cappadocia in three days. Begin with Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace, including its Harem section. Stay in Istanbul that night before an early flight to Cappadocia.
Meet your driver at the airport on day 2 and join the Red Tour. See fairy chimneys, Zelve’s cave settlement and pottery making in Avanos. After a night in a cave or stone hotel, spend day 3 on the Yellow Tour before flying back to Istanbul.
The package includes licensed guides, entrance tickets and lunch on all three days. Both domestic flights, airport transfers and two hotel nights are included. Breakfast is included in Cappadocia on day 3.
Find other flight packages in our Cappadocia tours from Istanbul.
Fit both places into three days
- Start with the Old CityHagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Harem.
- See two Cappadocia routesRed Tour and Yellow Tour with licensed guides.
- Connect the cities by flightBoth flights, transfers and two hotel nights included.
Day by day
Tour Itinerary
Every day is set out in full below: the times, the transfers and every place you visit.
One night in Istanbul, followed by one night in Cappadocia. 2 stops · 2 nights
Swipe to see the rest of the route
Day 1Visit Istanbul’s Old City and Topkapi Palace, then stay in Istanbul A full guided day with Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the palace and shopping stops. On Fridays, visit Topkapi Palace in the morning and the mosques in the afternoon after Friday prayers.
pickup depends on your hotel locationIstanbul hotel pickup and guided Old City tourMeet your guide for the historic sights. Entrance tickets, lunch and hotel pickup and drop-off are included.
Hagia SophiaSee the great dome and learn how this Byzantine building became an Ottoman mosque.
Blue MosqueVisit the Ottoman mosque known for its blue tiles and six minarets.
Hippodrome and ObelisksStand in the former chariot-racing area and see the ancient monuments still marking the square.
Lunch in the Old CityStop for an included restaurant meal during the visits. Drinks are extra.
Shopping StopBrowse local goods during a shopping stop on the Old City route.
Topkapi Palace and HaremExplore the sultans’ palace and the Harem, the former private living quarters. Entry to both is included.
Grand BazaarBrowse shops along the covered lanes. On Sundays, the tour visits another shopping area because the bazaar is closed.
Hotel drop-off and overnight stay in IstanbulAfter the full-day tour, transfer to your Istanbul hotel for the included night. Keep your luggage ready for tomorrow’s early flight.
One night in IstanbulThe next day begins with an early airport transfer. Breakfast on day 2 is not included.
Day 2Fly to Cappadocia, take the Red Tour and stay in a cave or stone hotel Your airport meeting and shuttle connect the morning flight with the guided visits.
pickup follows your booked flightEarly check-out and airport transfer in IstanbulCheck out of your Istanbul hotel and meet your driver. Breakfast is not included with this early departure.
flight time changes by season and availabilityFly from Istanbul to CappadociaYour included flight takes about 80 minutes.
flight time changes by season and availabilityCappadocia airport meeting and shuttleMeet your driver at arrivals and take the shared shuttle to the Red Tour meeting point. Allow about 1 hour for the drive.
Guided Cappadocia Red TourExplore the northern sights with your guide, with entrance tickets and lunch included.
Devrent ValleyLook for familiar animal shapes in the valley’s naturally formed rocks.
Pasabag Open Air MuseumWalk among tall fairy chimneys and see the rock-cut rooms inside some formations.
Goreme Panoramic ViewSee Goreme spread between the rock valleys from a viewpoint above the town.
Lunch between the northern sightsAn included restaurant meal is part of the Red Tour. Order and pay for drinks separately.
Avanos Pottery WorkshopWatch a pottery demonstration in a town with a long tradition of working clay.
Zelve Open Air MuseumExplore the remains of a village built into the rock, including homes and religious spaces.
Uchisar Castle (exterior view)Stop outside Cappadocia’s tall rock castle for a view of its carved facade. The climb is not included.
Transfer to your Cappadocia hotelCheck into your selected cave or stone hotel for one night.
One night in CappadociaBreakfast is included before check-out and the Yellow Tour tomorrow.
Day 3Visit the Yellow Tour sights and fly back to IstanbulOptional balloon See an underground city and southern valleys before the evening return flight.
Yellow Tour pickup after breakfast and check-outBring your luggage when you meet the tour vehicle at the hotel.
Guided Cappadocia Yellow TourVisit the southern route with your guide. Lunch and entrance tickets are included; touring ends around 16:00-17:00.
Rose ValleyView the layered rock ridges and the pink tones that give the valley its name.
Underground CityExplore chambers and connecting tunnels below ground. The route has steps and some narrow passages.
Lunch during the southern routeTake a break for your included restaurant lunch. Drinks cost extra.
Pigeon ValleySee the carved pigeon shelters dotted across the valley’s rock walls.
Gulludere ValleyTake an optional walk through the valley for up to 2 hours, or wait with the vehicle.
Cavusin VillageVisit the village beside an old hillside settlement with homes carved into the rock.
after the guided tourShared shuttle to Cappadocia airportAfter the visits, travel to the airport for the return flight. Allow about 1 hour.
flight time changes by season and availabilityFly from Cappadocia to IstanbulYour included flight takes about 80 minutes.
flight time changes by season and availabilityAirport meeting and hotel transfer in IstanbulMeet your driver at arrivals and travel to your Istanbul hotel. Accommodation that night is not part of this package.
Package scope
What's Included
No hidden package costs. Three guided days, tickets, lunches, domestic flights, listed transfers, two hotel nights and breakfast on day 3 are included.
Included
Covered by the displayed package price
- Return domestic flights between Istanbul and Cappadocia
- 15 kg checked baggage and 8 kg cabin baggage per person on each flight
- Airport meetings and transfers for both domestic flights
- Full-day Istanbul Old City tour, including Topkapi Palace and Harem
- Cappadocia Red Tour and Yellow Tour
- Licensed professional guides, tour transport and entrance fees
- 1 hotel night in Istanbul and 1 cave or stone hotel night in Cappadocia
- Breakfast on day 3 and lunch on all three days
- Local taxes and service fees
Not included
Budget separately or add during booking
- Travel to Istanbul before the package starts
- Accommodation before day 1 and after day 3
- Breakfast on days 1 and 2
- Optional balloon flight and other extra activities
- Dinners, drinks and personal expenses
Stay options
Hotel Classes
Stay one night each in Istanbul and Cappadocia; an Istanbul hotel night after the return flight is not included.
Smart value
Standard Class
- En-suite rooms with air conditioning
- Breakfast included every morning
- Properties we book week after week
From, per person€548
Prices by room occupancy
- 1 person in a single room€688
- 2 people sharing a room€548
- 3 people sharing a room€521
Per person. Prices vary by departure date. These are this week’s lowest.
Most selected
Middle Class
- Larger rooms and better bathrooms
- More on-site facilities and service
- Consistently higher guest ratings
Upgrade, per person+ €94
Prices by room occupancy
- 1 person in a single room€863
- 2 people sharing a room€642
- 3 people sharing a room€612
Per person. Prices vary by departure date. These are this week’s lowest.
Premium pick
High Class
- The best-rated property on each stop
- The most space and the best views
- Attentive service from arrival to check-out
Upgrade, per person+ €257
Prices by room occupancy
- 1 person in a single room€1,162
- 2 people sharing a room€805
- 3 people sharing a room€707
Per person. Prices vary by departure date. These are this week’s lowest.
Swipe to compare the classes
Route & duration options
Compare Turkey Tour Packages
Choose an immediate sightseeing start, an arrival day before the Old City, or an Istanbul stay focused on both continents.
| Comparison | You are viewing3 Days Istanbul and Cappadocia TourStart with the Old City, then two Cappadocia routes | 4 Days Istanbul and Cappadocia TourAdd an Istanbul arrival day | 5 Days Istanbul and Cappadocia Tour PackageChoose Two Continents and a final Istanbul night |
|---|---|---|---|
| First day | Full-day Old City tour | Airport arrival transfer and free time | Airport arrival transfer and free time |
| Istanbul sightseeing | Old City, Topkapi Palace and Harem | Old City, Topkapi Palace and Harem | Two Continents, Beylerbeyi Palace and Bosphorus cruise |
| Cappadocia routes | Red and Yellow | Red and Yellow | Red and Yellow |
| Hotel nights | 1 in Istanbul and 1 in Cappadocia | 2 in Istanbul and 1 in Cappadocia | 3 in Istanbul and 1 in Cappadocia |
| End of the package | Istanbul hotel transfer after the return flight; no final hotel night | Istanbul hotel transfer after the return flight; no final hotel night | Final Istanbul hotel night, then departure airport transfer |
| From price | €548 | €632 | €642 |
| View Tour & Prices: 4 Days Istanbul and Cappadocia Tour | View Tour & Prices: 5 Days Istanbul and Cappadocia Tour Package |
Swipe to compare the packages
Want to add Ephesus in four days?4 Days Turkey Tour from Istanbul: Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus combines an Old City morning and lunch cruise with Cappadocia’s Red and Yellow Tours, then Ephesus.
Need more days in either city?Plan your Istanbul and Cappadocia itinerary to fit the visits and hotel nights around your travel dates.
Practical details
Before You Book
Details for combining Istanbul with a short Cappadocia stay.
- Does the Istanbul tour include Topkapi Palace and the Harem?
Yes. The full-day Old City tour includes entrance to the palace and Harem, along with Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and shopping stops. Lunch and hotel drop-off are included.
- Which days can I start this itinerary?
The Old City group tour runs on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sundays, another shopping area replaces the Grand Bazaar. The palace visit is included on the listed operating days.
- Which nights and breakfasts are included?
Stay in Istanbul on night 1 and Cappadocia on night 2. Breakfast is included on day 3. Day 2 has an early airport departure, so breakfast is not included. Accommodation before the tour or after your return is separate.
- Can I take a balloon flight during the Cappadocia stay?
Yes. Add the optional flight for sunrise on day 3, before breakfast and the Yellow Tour. It costs extra and depends on suitable weather and aviation approval. There is one Cappadocia morning in this itinerary.
- How much walking is involved?
The Old City day includes walking between monuments and inside the palace. Cappadocia has paths at the sights and steps in the underground city. The Yellow Tour valley walk is optional and lasts up to 2 hours; you can wait with the vehicle.
- Do I need to be in Istanbul before the tour starts?
Yes. Be ready for the morning hotel pickup on day 1. Your flight into Istanbul and the airport transfer before the tour are not included.
- Which languages and tour types is this tour available in?
- EnglishGroupPrivate
- SpanishPrivate
- ItalianPrivate
Pick the combination that suits you when you check availability.
- Can I cancel this tour, and how much do I get back?
Yes. How much comes back depends on how early you let us know: we count the days from your written cancellation to your first booked service.
- 61 to 90 days70% back
- 31 to 60 days60% back
- 16 to 30 days30% back
- 0 to 15 days, or no showNo refund
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