8-Day Turkey Highlights Tour: Istanbul, Ephesus & Cappadocia

Q: How many nights are spent in each city?

You will spend 4 nights in Istanbul, 1 night in Kusadasi, and 2 nights in Cappadocia, for a total of 7 nights over 8 days.

Q: Are domestic flights included in the tour?

Yes. The domestic flights from Istanbul to Izmir, Izmir to Kayseri, and Kayseri back to Istanbul are all included as described in the itinerary.

Q: What type of hotels are used?

You will stay at Special Class or 4-star hotels in Istanbul, a 4-star hotel in Kusadasi, and a cave hotel in Cappadocia, all including breakfast.

Q: Which meals are included?

Daily breakfast is included throughout. Lunch is also included on the touring days in Istanbul, Ephesus, and Cappadocia as specified in the itinerary. Drinks with meals are not included.

Q: Is the Cappadocia hot air balloon ride part of the tour?

No. The hot air balloon flight is an optional early morning activity available at an additional cost and is not included in the tour price.

Q: What happens if I visit on a day when a site is closed?

The Blue Mosque is closed to visitors on Fridays, when you will see the exterior only. Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays and is replaced with the Basilica Cistern. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and during religious holidays. The overall order may adjust, but all described visits will take place.

Q: Will I travel with the same group and guide throughout the tour?

Our multi-day Turkey packages are regular group/shared tour arrangements, not fully escorted tours with one tour leader and the same guests from arrival to departure. Sightseeing tours are shared and usually operate with about 15-25 guests, but group size and participants may change by city or day as travelers join or leave different scheduled tours. Licensed English-speaking guides lead scheduled sightseeing visits only. Guides do not travel with guests on domestic flights, intercity buses, airport transfers, hotel transfers, or free-time periods unless this is specifically stated in the itinerary. For flights, buses, and transfers, guests are met by our driver or local representative at airports, bus terminals, or hotels and assisted with the planned transfer. One Nation Travel coordinates the full itinerary, hotels, domestic tickets, transfers, local guides, and support throughout the trip.

Q: What optional add-on trips are available on the free day in Istanbul?

On your free day you can choose from three add-on day trips at an additional cost: Bursa, Troy, and Sapanca & Masukiye. Each returns to Istanbul at the end of the day and can be selected during booking.

Q: How do I confirm my booking?

The deposit or full-payment requirement, currency, balance due date and any disclosed payment-processing charge vary by booking and are stated on the current booking page and in the written confirmation before payment. Flight and bus tickets are issued only under the confirmed booking terms and, once issued, are non-refundable. If you need to cancel or change your travel dates, notify One Nation Travel at least 5 days before the tour starts. For requests received at least 5 days before the tour starts, the cost of all non-refundable flight and bus tickets will be deducted from your paid balance. For requests received less than 5 days before the tour starts, and for no-shows, the full amount paid is non-refundable.

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Overview

This eight-day journey brings together the three destinations that define a first visit to Turkiye: imperial Istanbul, the classical ruins near the Aegean coast, and the surreal rock landscapes of Cappadocia. As a licensed local tour operator based in Istanbul, One Nation Travel has designed a route that flows naturally from one region to the next, using domestic flights to keep travel time short and your days full.

You will begin in Istanbul, where Byzantine and Ottoman monuments sit side by side, then cruise the Bosphorus before flying west to the Aegean. From your base in Kusadasi you will explore the ancient city of Ephesus and the hillside village of Sirince, then continue on to Cappadocia for two full days among its valleys, cave churches, and underground cities. A final flight returns you to Istanbul for a free day to explore at your own pace before your departure.

Throughout the trip you travel with English-speaking guides, stay in carefully selected hotels including a cave hotel in Cappadocia, and enjoy daily breakfast plus lunches on touring days. This is a regular small-group tour with a maximum of 15 to 20 guests, and it can be arranged privately on request.

Trip Highlights

Explore Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, the Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace on a full day of Istanbul sightseeing
Cruise the Bosphorus between two continents, passing waterfront palaces and historic mansions
Walk the marble streets of ancient Ephesus, including the Temple of Hadrian, Great Theater and Trajan Fountain
Visit the House of the Virgin Mary and the charming Greek village of Sirince
Discover the fairy chimneys of Devrent and Pasabag valleys in Cappadocia
Hike through the Rose Valley and see the rock-cut churches of the Red Valley
Descend into an ancient underground city carved by early Christians
Fly between regions on included domestic flights and stay in a Cappadocian cave hotel

Your journey at a glanceTour RouteFollow the overnight stops, flights and included road connections. 3 Stops · 7 Nights

Travel between stops

Flight ~380 km · ~1 hr 30 min Istanbul Kusadasi

Flight ~670 km · ~1 hr 15 min Kusadasi Cappadocia

Flight ~560 km · ~1 hr 15 min Cappadocia Istanbul

Route: Istanbul (4 nights) → Kusadasi (1 night) → Cappadocia (2 nights) → Istanbul · Day trips: Izmir, Ephesus

Day 1 :

Arrival in Istanbul and Airport Transfer

Welcome to Turkiye. On arrival at either Istanbul New Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), a member of our team will be waiting at the exit of the international arrivals area, holding a sign with your name. From there you will be transferred to your hotel.

The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax and settle in. If you would like to add something to your first evening, you can arrange the optional Night Cruise on the Bosphorus with dinner and a show at an additional cost.

Overnight in Istanbul.

2 hours

Overnight in Istanbul

Day 2 :

Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul

After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel at approximately 8:30 am for a full day exploring the historic heart of the city. The tour takes in the Hagia Sophia Museum, the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque), and the Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square), where centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman history come together in a single neighborhood.

You will also spend time at the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, and at Topkapi Palace, the sprawling residence of the Ottoman sultans. Lunch is served at a local restaurant during the day.

After the tour you will be returned to your hotel at around 5:00 pm. Overnight in Istanbul.

8 hours

Breakfast + Lunch

Day 3 :

Bosphorus Cruise and Flight to Izmir

Following breakfast at around 8:30 am, you will set out on a half-day morning cruise. The day begins with a drive to the pier in Eminonu and a short visit to the historic Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar), filled with the colors and aromas of Turkish spices, teas and sweets.

You will then board a boat for a cruise along the Bosphorus, the narrow strait dividing Europe and Asia and linking the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. From the water you will take in the Dolmabahce Palace, the Beylerbeyi Palace, the Bosphorus bridge, old citadels, centuries-old waterfront mansions, and the shorelines of both continents.

Afterward you will return to your hotel to collect your luggage and transfer to the domestic airport for your flight to Izmir, roughly 1 hour and 25 minutes. On arrival you will be met and driven to your hotel in Kusadasi, with the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight in Kusadasi.

10 hours

Overnight in Kusadasi

Breakfast

Day 4 :

Ephesus Tour and Flight to Cappadocia

After breakfast at around 8:30 am, your guide will meet you for a full day at Ephesus, the ancient Greek city that grew into one of the great centers of the classical world. Highlights of the site include the Temple of Hadrian, the Great Theater and the Trajan Fountain.

After lunch you will visit the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where she spent her final years, and pass by the Temple of Artemis, once counted among the seven wonders of the ancient world, though little of it remains today. You will also see the Isa Bey Mosque before continuing to Sirince Village, an old Greek settlement known for its charm and its local wines. Here you will have about an hour to explore on your own, sampling the area’s foods and wines and browsing the small village shops.

Later you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir via Istanbul. On arrival a representative will be waiting with your name sign to bring you to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

14 hours

Overnight in Cappadocia

Breakfast + Lunch

Day 5 :

North Cappadocia Tour

For those who wish, an early morning hot air balloon flight over the valleys can be arranged at an additional cost. Otherwise, after breakfast at around 9:30 am, you will be collected for a full day exploring northern Cappadocia.

The tour begins at Devrent Valley, known for its unusual fairy chimneys, followed by Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) and its distinctive mushroom-shaped pinnacles. You will then drive to the town of Avanos, and after lunch visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, a network of carved caves and early churches that offer a window into the region’s monastic past.

Toward the end of the day you will have around 15 minutes to take in panoramic views of the natural rock formations of Uchisar. You will return to your hotel at about 4:00 pm, with the rest of the day free to relax or explore on your own. Overnight in Cappadocia.

7 hours

Overnight in Cappadocia

Lunch + Breakfast

Day 6 :

South Cappadocia Tour and Flight to Istanbul

After breakfast at around 9:30 am, your guide will meet you to begin a full day in southern Cappadocia. The tour starts at the Red Valley, where you can explore its famous rock-cut churches and hike roughly 5 km through the neighboring Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi).

Next you will visit Cavusin Village, known for its old houses and the churches of its Christian clergy. After a midday lunch break, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), and in the afternoon descend into the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christians once lived and sheltered.

This brings your Cappadocia touring to a close. You will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for a late evening flight back to Istanbul, where our representative will meet you in the arrivals area with a name sign and take you to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

14 hours

Overnight in Istanbul

Breakfast + Lunch

Day 7 :

Free Day in Istanbul

Today is entirely yours to enjoy Istanbul at your own pace. Wander the neighborhoods, revisit a favorite spot, or simply relax.

If you would prefer a guided excursion, three add-on day trips can be selected at the time of booking for an additional cost: Bursa, Troy, and Sapanca & Masukiye. Each returns to Istanbul at the end of the day.

Overnight in Istanbul.

Overnight in Istanbul

Breakfast

Day 8 :

Departure from Istanbul

After breakfast you will check out of your hotel, with check-out before 12:00 noon. You will then be transferred to Istanbul international airport in line with your flight schedule.

This marks the end of our tour and services. We hope you leave with lasting memories of Turkiye.

Breakfast

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General

Expand all

How many nights are spent in each city?

Are domestic flights included in the tour?

What type of hotels are used?

Which meals are included?

Is the Cappadocia hot air balloon ride part of the tour?

What happens if I visit on a day when a site is closed?

How large is the group?

Will I travel with the same group and guide throughout the tour?

What optional add-on trips are available on the free day in Istanbul?

How do I confirm my booking?

Do children pay the same price as adults?

Who coordinates and delivers this tour?

One Nation Travel is a TÜRSAB Class A travel agency based in Istanbul (A-6073). You book with us, and we plan and coordinate the itinerary. Experienced local guides, drivers and selected providers deliver the listed services; assignments may vary by destination, day or segment.

How large are the groups?

Departures may use shared or private services. Exact group size is not fixed — it varies by tour, date and destination, and the written confirmation controls if a specific arrangement is promised.

What if I need to change or cancel my booking?

If you need to cancel or change your travel dates, notify us at least 5 days before the tour starts. Non-refundable flight and bus ticket costs will be deducted from your paid balance. For requests received less than 5 days before the tour starts, and for no-shows, the full amount paid is non-refundable.

Which payment methods can I use, and is it secure?

You can pay by credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard) or with PayPal. Payments use an SSL-encrypted checkout; the written confirmation states the booking status, currency, amount paid, balance and applicable terms.

Featured Hotels

Hotel options associated with this itinerary; the selected tour page and written confirmation control the included hotel and category.

View Featured Hotels (12)

Duration	8 Days / 7 Nights
Destination	Istanbul, Ephesus, Cappadocia
Tour Type	Regular group tour
Price	From $1,572 /person; request a dated written quote for final price and availability
Guide	Local guide service applies only where listed for this package; assignments may vary by day or segment
Add-ons	Bosphorus Dinner Cruise+$80Cappadocia 1-Hour Balloon Ride+$360Turkish Night & Dinner Show+$80
Best Time	📅 Istanbul • 📅 Cappadocia • 📅 Ephesus • 📅 Izmir • 📅 Bursa • 📅 Troy • 📅 Sirince

8-Day Turkey Highlights Tour: Istanbul, Ephesus & Cappadocia

Overview

Itinerary

Included & Excluded

FAQs

Review

Overview

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Overview

Trip Highlights

Day-by-day itinerary

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

NOT INCLUDED:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General

Overall Trip Rating:

Write a Review Cancel reply

Featured Hotels

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Related Trips

Tour Collections

Quick Links

Contact Us