Istanbul Old City + 2 Day Cappadocia Tour and Balloon Ride Option

Istanbul Old City Walking Tour / Flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia / Overnight in Cappadocia

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   Hotels Outside Sultanahmet: Round-trip vehicle transfers (pick-up and drop-off) are included for guests staying at hotels outside the Sultanahmet area.

   Hotels in the Sultanahmet Area: Vehicle pick-up and drop-off services are not provided for hotels located in Sultanahmet, as they are already within the Old City tour area. Guests will meet their guide at the designated meeting point within walking distance. Galataport Cruise Port: Round-trip vehicle transfers from and to Galataport Cruise Port are included.

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   You’ll meet your licensed tour guide and embark on a small-group (up to 10 participants) walking tour exploring the highlights of Sultanahmet, the historic heart of Istanbul. Today’s tour includes visits to Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, the Hippodrome, Sultanahmet Square, German Fountain, . The meeting point for today’s tour is the German Fountain in Sultanahmet. Your tour guide will be waiting for you at the meeting point, and from there, you’ll begin your walking tour of Istanbul’s Old City. The tour is entirely on foot, so no transportation service is required or included.

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   The German Fountain, located at the northern end of Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, across from the Mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed I, is a striking gazebo-style structure. Built to commemorate the second anniversary of German Emperor Wilhelm II’s 1898 visit to Istanbul, the fountain was constructed in Germany, transported in pieces, and assembled on-site in 1900. Designed in the Neo-Byzantine style, it features an octagonal dome supported by eight marble columns, with its interior adorned in stunning golden mosaics.

   15 minutos•Entrada gratuita

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   The Hippodrome of Constantinople, now known as Sultanahmet Square, was once the grand chariot racing arena and a key social and sporting hub of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today, it stands in modern-day Istanbul as a public square, renowned for its rich history and the surviving remnants of its ancient structures.

   20 minutos•Entrada gratuita

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   After a short walk through Sultanahmet Square, you’ll continue to Hagia Sophia, the next stop on your tour.

   10 minutos•Entrada gratuita

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   The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque)

   The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque) is one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks, famous for its elegant six minarets and beautiful blue Iznik tiles. You’ll admire the mosque from the outside and learn about its history and architectural significance from your guide.

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   Visit the Hagia Sophia with pre-booked tickets and experience one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks, deeply rooted in Greek Orthodox history. Discover how this magnificent structure was transformed into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Marvel at the unique blend of architectural elements from both a mosque and a church, coexisting harmoniously. Take in the grandeur of its soaring dome, towering minarets, intricate mosaics, vivid paintings, and ancient Roman columns. Learn about the addition of exquisite İznik tiles over the years, the craftsmanship behind the Virgin Mary mosaic, and the Ottoman tradition of burying their sultans in the courtyard.

   1 hora•Entrada incluida

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   Walk on the wooden walkways over the water until the famous upside-down Medusa head. The Basilica Cistern, an ancient underground water reservoir in Istanbul, features stunning columns and a mysterious ambiance, reflecting the city's rich history and architectural brilliance. The cistern was known in Byzantium as thebasilica Cistern, Justinian was the founder of the largest underground cistern, built after the Nika Revolt in 532. A must-visit marvel.

   45 minutos•Entrada incluida

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   Grand Bazaar / Kapalı Çarşı One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with over 4,000 shops with colorful products of ceramic, leather, rugs, carpets, handicrafts, clothes, silver, and gold.

   1 h 30 min•Entrada gratuita

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    After completing your Istanbul Old City tour, your airport transfer for your domestic flight to Cappadocia will be provided by your tour operator.

    1 h 20 min•Entrada incluida

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    Once you arrive at Cappadocia Airport, another driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals terminal exit, holding a sign with your name. From there, you'll be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia, located about an hour’s drive away.

    1 hora•Entrada gratuita

Hot Air Balloon Ride (Optional) / Semi-Private Cappadocia Day Tour / Overnight in Cappadocia

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   Hot Air Balloon Ride (Optional – Included Only with Selected Booking Options • Fixed Price Guarantee • Money-Back Guarantee): Get ready for a unique and unforgettable experience in Cappadocia! We will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the balloon site, where you can watch the balloon being prepared for your flight. The flight takes place at sunrise, with your pilot climbing to a comfortable altitude of approximately 700 to 1000 meters above ground level. From this height, you will marvel at the breathtaking beauty of Cappadocia below. During certain segments of the flight, our pilots may also fly as low as 1 meter above the rock formations, giving you perfect opportunities for photos. The total activity lasts approximately 3 hours, with the flight itself lasting around 60 minutes. At the end of the flight, there will be a champagne celebration, and you will receive a souvenir to remember this magnificent experience. Afterwards, we will transfer you back to your hotel.

   3 horas•Entrada incluida

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   Your expert local guide will meet you at your hotel reception before you begin a carefully curated journey through Cappadocia’s hidden treasures and fascinating heritage.

   As you make your way to Keslik Monastery, the first stop of your tour, you will pass through Mustafapaşa, a historic former Turkish-Greek settlement. From the comfort of your vehicle, you will have the opportunity to admire its distinctive traditional houses and unique architectural character.

   5 minutos•Entrada gratuita

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   Keslik Monastery is an extensive cave monastery complex featuring two churches, a spacious refectory, a sacred spring, and numerous interconnected cave chambers. Set within a peaceful garden, it is considered one of the largest monastery complexes in Cappadocia. The site has served different purposes and evolved significantly over the past 2,000 years. During pre-Christian Roman times, it was used as a burial site

   in the Byzantine era, it became a large communal monastery; and today, it stands as a remarkable historical attraction open to visitors.

   1 hora•Entrada incluida

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   Sobesos Ancient City

   Sobesos Ancient City was unexpectedly discovered in 2002, offering a fascinating glimpse into Cappadocia’s rich historical heritage. Excavations carried out over three years uncovered a variety of elaborate motifs carefully crafted from colorful stones. Among the site’s most remarkable features are its floor mosaics, which showcase stunning geometric designs.

   30 minutos•Entrada incluida

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   Today, enjoy an authentic Turkish dining experience at a unique cave restaurant in Ayvalı Village. Set within the distinctive ambiance of a traditional cave, this memorable meal invites you to experience Turkey’s rich flavors, culture, and warm hospitality through a carefully curated selection of delicious local specialties.

   1 hora•Entrada incluida

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   Situated in the town of Uçhisar, this location offers one of the finest panoramic views across the region. The area is also known for its many pigeon houses, which were carved and built by its ancient inhabitants. If you like, you may also visit a well-known onyx stone workshop in the region.

   20 minutos•Entrada gratuita

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   Kaymakli is one of Cappadocia’s largest underground cities, extending across eight levels. As with many underground settlements in the region, only certain levels are open to visitors. The first level was dedicated to animals, providing them with space to move freely. Separate from the stables, a network of corridors leads to churches and other living quarters. The underground city features a variety of fascinating areas, including storage chambers, kitchens, burial grounds, a communal meeting area, and a copper workshop. It is also believed that undiscovered tunnels still lie beneath Kaymakli, waiting to reveal more of its hidden history.

   1 hora•Entrada incluida

Semi-Private Cappadocia Day Tour / Flight Back to Istanbul

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   Your expert local guide will meet you at your hotel reception before you set off on a carefully crafted journey through the wonders of Cappadocia. Designed through years of experience and guest feedback, this itinerary offers an immersive introduction to the region's rich history, culture, geology, and breathtaking landscapes. Admire Cappadocia's iconic trio of fairy chimneys, a natural landmark famous for its unique rock formations, stunning views, and the legends that surround it.

   10 minutos•Entrada gratuita

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   Leaving the iconic Three Beauties behind, continue to Göreme National Park, where Cappadocia's world-famous valleys, fairy chimneys, and breathtaking volcanic landscapes await. Within this UNESCO-listed landscape, explore the Göreme Open-Air Museum and the historic Tokalı Church, renowned for their exceptional rock-cut architecture and beautifully preserved Byzantine frescoes.

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   The Goreme Open-Air Museum features an extensive monastic complex carved directly into the soft volcanic rock, including ancient churches, kitchens, wineries, storerooms, and living spaces once inhabited by Anatolian Christians. With its unique architectural details and beautifully preserved frescoes, the site offers a vivid window into early Christian life in Cappadocia. Its cultural and historical significance has earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

   1 h 30 min•Entrada incluida

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   The Tokalı Church (Buckle Church) in the Göreme Open Air Museum is considered one of the most beautiful of the Cappadocian cave churches. Its interior boasts some of the most outstanding frescoes, notable for their theological and artistic significance. The church is part of a larger complex that includes four churches and a hermitage, all dating back to the 9th century. Once the most famous church in the region, it remains one of the most impressive churches in the area today.

   20 minutos•Entrada incluida

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   The entire town is dominated by the 90-metre-high (300 ft) rock-castle in the centre of the town, which is called Sivrikoya by the inhabitants. It is an extraordinary example of the rock-cut architecture which is typical of the region and served as a refuge from attackers in Byzantine times. You will see all these rock-cut architecture by panoramic visit.

   20 minutos•Entrada gratuita

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   Today’s lunch service will be in a local restaurant at the Avanos, and you will have chance for test the "Testi Kebab" which is a traditional kebab variety of the Cappadocia region of Turkey. (Also, vegetarian meals are available in same restaurant.) Avanos is a popular destination because of its attractive old town with cobbled streets, and views over the river. The old city of Avanos, whose name in ancient times was Venessa, overlooks the longest river of Turkey, the Kizilirmak (Red River), which also separates Avanos from the rest of Cappadocia. The most famous historical feature of Avanos, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery

   it is also the most economic activity in the town. The ceramic trade in this district and its countless pottery factories date right back to the Hittites, and the ceramic clay from the red silt of the Kizilirmak has always been used.

   1 h 30 min•Entrada gratuita

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   Uchisar rock castle is one of the biggest landmarks of Cappadocia. It is the highest tuff hill in the area with beautiful views of the surrounding valley full of bizarre rock formations. (There are no any visit to rock castle because of the walking difficulties and safety risks on there. You will have a stop for panoramic view to this rock castle.)

   30 minutos•Entrada gratuita

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   Which is also known as Imagination Valley. Valley contains many animal shaped rocks which are mostly in red colour. Some of the most frequent shapes is like Camel.

   20 minutos•Entrada gratuita

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   Cappadocia is famous for its unique landforms. The Fairy Chimneys are the most obvious places to visit where these landforms are best seen and the common life of humankind and nature. You will see many examples of the Fairy Chimneys while exploring the area on foot and by car.

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    At the end of your Cappadocia tour, you will be transferred to the airport for your included domestic flight back to Istanbul.

    **Flexible Flight Option:** Instead of returning to Istanbul, you may choose to fly to Izmir (Ephesus), Bodrum, or Antalya at no additional airfare cost. This option replaces your included return flight to Istanbul. Airport transfers, accommodation, tours, and other services at your chosen destination are not included.

    1 hora•Entrada gratuita

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    Upon your arrival at the airport in Istanbul, your driver will be waiting to meet you and transfer you to your hotel. *** The departure time for your return flight is expected to be between 8:00pm and 9:45pm. This timing is ideal, allowing you to comfortably catch your return flight to Istanbul after your full-day guided tour of Cappadocia today.

    1 h 20 min•Entrada gratuita

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    If you wish to continue your journey to Ephesus and other nearby destinations instead of returning to Istanbul, you may choose to fly from Cappadocia to Izmir.

    If you select this option, your return flight to Istanbul will be replaced with a Cappadocia–Izmir flight. Please note that airport transfer services in Izmir are not included with this option. If needed, you may request an Izmir airport transfer separately from the tour operator.

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    If you wish to continue your journey to Bodrum and other nearby destinations instead of returning to Istanbul, you may choose to fly from Cappadocia to Bodrum.

    If you select this option, your return flight to Istanbul will be replaced with a Cappadocia–Bodrum flight. Please note that airport transfer services in Bodrum are not included with this option. If needed, you may request a Bodrum airport transfer separately from the tour operator.

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    If you wish to continue your journey to Antalya and other nearby destinations instead of returning to Istanbul, you may choose to fly from Cappadocia to Antalya.

    If you select this option, your return flight to Istanbul will be replaced with a Cappadocia–Antalya flight. Please note that airport transfer services in Antalya are not included with this option. If needed, you may request an Antalya airport transfer separately from the tour operator.

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Regreso

• ⭐ Continue to Antalya at No Extra Cost: Choose Antalya as your drop-off point and continue to the Southwestern Turkey instead of returning to Istanbul. Your Cappadocia–Antalya flight is included at no extra charge, so you won’t need to purchase a separate flight ticket.
• ⭐ Continue to Bodrum at No Extra Cost: Choose Bodrum as your drop-off point and continue to the Aegean instead of returning to Istanbul. Your Cappadocia–Bodrum flight is included at no extra charge, so you won’t need to purchase a separate flight ticket.
• ⭐ Continue to Izmir(Ephesus District) at No Extra Cost: Choose Izmir as your drop-off point and continue to the Aegean instead of returning to Istanbul. Your Cappadocia–Izmir flight is included at no extra charge, so you won’t need to purchase a separate flight ticket.
• ⭐ Return to Istanbul with Ease: Select the Istanbul option to enjoy a seamless round trip, with return flights and convenient hotel pickup and drop-off at your Istanbul hotel included.