7-Day Turkey Tour from New York: Istanbul & Cappadocia (Flights Included)

Your Turkish adventure begins today with your departure from New York. Make your way to the airport for your overnight flight to Istanbul. Settle into your seat and enjoy the in-flight service as you cross the Atlantic toward one of the world’s most storied cities, where East meets West at the crossroads of two continents. Take the opportunity to rest during the flight — an exciting week of discovery awaits you in Turkey. Upon landing tomorrow, your guide and fellow travelers will be ready to welcome you.

Welcome to Turkey! Upon your arrival at Istanbul Airport, a One Nation Travel representative will greet you in the arrivals hall and assist with your private transfer to the hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to unwind and recover from your transatlantic journey. Depending on your energy level, take a gentle stroll through the historic Sultanahmet neighborhood, where centuries of Ottoman and Byzantine heritage line the cobblestone streets. Stop at a traditional café to enjoy your first glass of Turkish çay while soaking in views of the nearby minarets and domes. For those craving a waterfront experience, a short walk toward the Eminönü Pier offers wonderful views across the Golden Horn. Your guide will provide details about the next day’s itinerary during the evening. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast at the hotel, join your guide and fellow travelers around 8:30 AM for a full-day exploration of Istanbul’s magnificent Old City. Begin at Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, the monumental masterpiece of Byzantine architecture that served as a cathedral, mosque, and museum over its 1,500-year history. Its soaring dome and shimmering gold mosaics remain awe-inspiring to this day.

Walk across the square to the iconic Blue Mosque, celebrated for its cascade of domes and more than 20,000 handmade Iznik tiles that adorn its interior. Next, visit the Topkapi Palace, the opulent seat of the Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries, housing priceless collections of jewels, manuscripts, and porcelain. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the ancient Hippodrome, the former chariot-racing arena of Constantinople, before losing yourself among the 4,000-plus shops of the legendary Grand Bazaar. Return to your hotel by approximately 5:00 PM. Overnight in Istanbul.

Rise early for your morning transfer to Istanbul Airport and your domestic flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival in Kayseri (approximately 1 hour by road to the Cappadocia region), your local guide will meet the group and the day’s adventure begins immediately. First, visit Devrent Valley, also known as Imagination Valley, where wind-sculpted rock formations resemble camels, dolphins, and other fantastical shapes — no two visitors see the same figures.

Continue to Paşabağ Valley (Monks Valley) to admire the region’s most striking mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys, some topped with multiple caps. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the fascinating Zelve Open Air Museum, a remarkable complex of cave dwellings, ancient rock-cut churches, and a mosque carved directly into the tuff stone across three intersecting valleys. End the afternoon at Uçhisar Castle, the hig

For those who wish, an optional early-morning hot air balloon ride over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia is available (additional cost, advance booking essential, subject to weather conditions).

After breakfast at the hotel, around 9:30 AM your guide will lead the group into the dramatic landscapes of South Cappadocia. Begin with a scenic hike through the Red Valley and Rose Valley, where vivid pink, orange, and red rock formations frame ancient cave churches with faded frescoes.

Continue to Çavuşin Village, one of the oldest settlements in the region, home to early Christian churches and centuries-old stone houses. After lunch at a local restaurant, admire the panoramic views of Pigeon Valley, famous for the hundreds of dovecotes carved into the rock face. Then descend into Kaymakli Underground City or Özkonak Underground City to discover how early Christians lived, worshipped, and sheltered across multiple subterranean levels. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast, enjoy a more relaxed pace as the group sets out around 9:00 AM to explore Istanbul’s famed waterway and markets. Start at the aromatic Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), where stalls overflow with colorful pyramids of Turkish delight, dried fruits, saffron, and exotic teas — a wonderful place to pick up authentic souvenirs.

From the nearby pier, board a Bosphorus Cruise and sail between Europe and Asia along one of the world’s most scenic waterways. From the deck, enjoy views of the ornate Dolmabahçe Palace, the elegant Beylerbeyi Palace, the imposing Rumeli Fortress, and the graceful Ottoman-era waterfront mansions lining both shores. After the cruise, transfer back to your hotel by around 12:30 PM. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure — relax at the hotel, wander the surrounding streets at your own pace, or seek out a traditional Turkish bath for a rejuvenating experience before your final evening in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and enjoy any remaining free time based on your flight schedule. Perhaps take a final stroll through the Sultanahmet district or pick up last-minute gifts from nearby shops. At the arranged time, your transfer to Istanbul Airport will be provided for your return flight to New York. As you fly westward, reflect on a week of extraordinary experiences — from the imperial grandeur of Istanbul’s mosques and palaces to the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys and underground cities. End of tour services.