How Many Days in Istanbul and Cappadocia?

Are you putting together your Turkey itinerary? Surely, you’ll want to visit Istanbul and Cappadocia during your time in Turkey, but how many days in Istanbul and Cappadocia are actually enough?

Depending on your travel style and the time you have available, the ideal amount of das to spend in Istanbul and Cappadocia can vary quite a bit. Generally, we would say for both destinations that there is enough to explore in both places to last you at least a week.

However, not everybody has a week to spare on just to visit Istanbul and Cappadocia. So, let’s focus on the bare minimum instead, the amount of time you need in each place to see and do the most important things without feeling rushed or stressed along the way.

Key Takeaways

• Overall: Set aside at least a week for your Istanbul Cappadocia trip, including a day for travel between the two destinations.
• Istanbul: Spend at least 4 days to explore the historic sights, neighbourhoods and markets without rushing.
• Cappadocia: Set aside at least 2 days for a balloon ride, the Red and Green Tours, and the region’s landscapes and history.
• If you have extra time: Add a day in either place to explore at a slower pace or allow for weather-related balloon flight delays.

Where We Stayed in Istanbul and Cappadocia

If you are going to explore two places like Istanbul and Cappadocia in just a few days, you want to book comfortable hotels for you to recharge. These are our favourite hotels in both cities:

Istanbul	Mest Hotel	from $ 268 per night	Click for rates & availability.
Cappadocia	Shoestring Cave House	from $ 88 per night	Click for rates & availability.

How Many Days Are Enough to See Istanbul and Cappadocia?

According to our experience, anything less than 4 days in Istanbul will have you feel either rushed or like you are missing out on most of the interesting stuff, since Istanbul is a huge city with several centres.

In 4 days in Istanbul, you will have enough time to visit these four areas:

• Sultanahmet: Located on Istanbul’s European side, Sultanahmet contains most of the city’s historic sites such as the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, the Archaeological Museum and the Grand Bazaar. Consider booking a tour of the old town for a better idea of the sites.
• Galata: Still on the European side, but east of the Golden Horn, the Galata district is best known for Galata Tower. Beyond Galata Tower, this area is known for its distinct Genoese architecture, churches, museums and – a short walk away – the stunning Dolmabahce Palace.
• Cihangir: Directly adjacent to the busy street of Galata, the Cihangir neighbourhood is much calmer and more modern. Here you can find some of the best cafés in Istanbul, a range of independent boutique shops, second-hand dens and antique stores.
• Kadiköy: Located on Istanbul’s Asian side, Kadiköy has made quite a name for itself as a shopping destination. Just a short ferry ride away, Kadiköy is home to the famous Çilek Sokak, featuring affordable fashion and bags, along with even more cafés and antique stores.

In Cappadocia, you can keep things shorter. Between its towns and landscapes, there may be lots to see, but within 2 days in Cappadocia you can get a good impression of what the region is all about.

In just 2 days in Cappadocia, we recommend tackling these tours:

• Red Tour: On your first day in Cappadocia, tackle the biggest highlights of the Cappadocia region. Start your day with an early-morning Hot Air Balloon Ride and join the Red Tour after. On this tour, you will see Cappadocia’s famous fairy chimneys, among other sites.
• Green Tour: On your second day in Cappadocia, join the Green Tour to venture out a little further from Göreme. On this tour, you will learn more about the region’s Christian heritage, including rock-cut churches, monasteries and underground cities.

Putting one and one together, we recommend factoring at least one week in Istanbul and Cappadocia, 4 days in Istanbul, 2 days in Cappadocia, and an additional day to get from Istanbul to Cappadocia, amounting to 7 days in Istanbul and Cappadocia in total.

6 Things to Do in Istanbul

Let’s take a moment to understand, why Istanbul is worth spending a little more time at during your Turkey trip, by looking at some of the most interesting sites of the city and their time constraints.

Visit the Blue Mosque

In Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s old town, you can find most of the city’s famous historic sites, including the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, facing each other across Sultanahmet Park.

For a better idea of Ottoman architecture, the Blue Mosque is the best-possible place to start. Built in the 17th century, this mosque is an absolute beauty to look at – and free to enter for Muslims and non-Muslims alike and charges no entrance fee.

Additionally, the Hagia Sophia is currently undergoing renovations, both on the outside and on the inside, apart from charging visitors to enter the compound outside of prayer times.

Explore the Basilica Cistern

Off to the left from the Hagia Sophia, you will have little trouble locating the Basilica Cistern. Hugely popular thanks to its stunning photos, the Basilica Cistern was built in the 6th century as a water reservoir for then-Byzantium’s European side. Today, it’s a popular photo destination.

Despite being less than 5 minutes away from the other central sites of Sultanahmet, you’ll need to factor in much more time to tick the Basilica Cistern off your list, because it gets BUSY. Ideally, pop by the Blue Mosque first thing in the morning and head to the Basilica Cistern right after

Stroll through the Archaeological Museum

Checking out historic sites is just a little more interesting, if you have some context to work with. In Istanbul, you can find this context in the Archaeological Museum.

Istanbul’s Archaeological Museums, there are multiple museums on one compound – are located in Gülhane Park, at about 10 minutes walking distance from the Basilica Cistern. For an entrance fee of 15 €, you get access to all building.

At the Archaeological Museum’s, you can learn about Turkey’s history through all eras, from its prehistory all the way up to the Ottoman Empire. Around lunch time it gets crowded, so make sure to arrive before.

Watch the Sunset on Galata Tower

Still in Europe, but now on the eastern side of the Golden Horn, the architecture and flair of the city change noticeably. From distinctly Ottoman and Islamic architecture, Galata Bridge takes you into an almost Italian-looking neighbourhood.

Largely constructed by a colony of Genoese merchants, the Galata district is a living testament to Istanbul’s multifaceted history. To learn about it, we suggest checking out Pera Museum, before visiting Galata Tower, the neighbourhood’s main attractions and sitting down for dinner nearby.

Marvel at Dolmabahce Palace

While there is much talk about Topkapi Palace in Sultanahmet, we believe that Dolmabahce Palace is just as worthy of praise.

While Dolmabahce Palace is far from being a hidden gem, people do tend to decide to visit Topkapi Palace instead, since it’s closer to the sites in Old Town. After all, it can’t be all that different, right?

Little do they know that Dolmabahce is quite possibly the most impressive palace they would see in their lifetimes. We’re not exaggerating. Since words are not enough to describe its beauty, we suggest you make the trip out to Karaköy and check it out for yourself. The entrance fees start from 2,750 TL.

Take it Slow in Cihangir

We noticed that most Istanbul itineraries are packed with sightseeing, and since we have been going on about historic sites as well, we’d like to shift our focus to something more chill to top off our suggestions.

Beyond its historic significance, Istanbul has developed into a modern cultural hub with a growing progressive scene, which is most visible in the Cihangir district. Within walking distance of Galata Tower, this districts is home to bars, restaurants and coffee shops of all sorts to fulfil your stomach’s desires.

Food and drinks aside, Cihangir is also great for vintage clothing, antiques, vinyls, books and handmade goods, just to name a few things. In other words: You can get lost in Cihangir for hours.

How Many Days Should You Spend in Istanbul?

All things considered, it should not be too hard to see why 4 days Istanbul are just about enough to do the city justice. Sure, you could tick off the sites in Sultanahmet in one day and then Galata Tower and Dolmabahce Palace the next day. But could you confidently say that you got to know the city?

Beyond historic sites, there is so much more to see win Istanbul, from third-wave coffee shops and antique stores in Cihangir to fashion steals and local brands in Kadiköy, and there’s is so much more stuff we haven’t even mentioned yet!

How to Get From Istanbul to Cappadocia

Now for the second part of your Turkey itinerary: Cappadocia. Before we worry about picking the best activities for 2 days in Cappadocia, let’s ask ourselves how to get there in the first place.

These are the 4 best travel routes for you to get from Istanbul to the Cappadocia region:

• Plane: Fly direct from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) to Nevşehir (NAV) or Kayseri (ASR) in 1h 30 for from about $34 to $39 (29 to 34 €), then take a shuttle from Nevşehir, or a taxi plus a 1.5-hour bus to Göreme from Kayseri, for five hours and about $45 (39 €) in total.
• Train: Take the high-speed train from Istanbul to Ankara, switch to the Dogu Express to Kayseri (about 16 hours, around 1,150 TL), then a taxi (500 TL) and a bus (300 TL) to Göreme, for about $41 (36 €) in total. Book exactly 30 days ahead, as Dogu Express tickets sell out fast.
• Bus: Hop on an overnight bus from Alibeyköy or Esenler to Göreme with Metro or Kamil Koc, about 10 to 12 hours and 1,700 TL (from around $36 or 31 €, baggage included), which saves you a hotel night, so pack snacks and a sweater.
• Car: Rent a car in Istanbul from around $30 a day and drive the roughly 700 km in about 7 hours (or break it up in Ankara), spending about $75 (65 €) on fuel at roughly $1.47 per litre, with the bonus of exploring sites like Derinkuyu on your own.

For a more detailed breakdown, check out our dedicated guide on how to get to the Cappadocia region from Istanbul.

6 Things to Do in Cappadocia

After making your way to Cappadocia, you have to play your cards right to make the most of your time. In Cappadocia, sites are located far apart from each other, the timing is tight and good planning a must.

Start the Day with a Hot Air Balloon Ride

How could we talk about making the most of your time in Cappadocia without talking about Hot Air Balloon Rides? As a matter of fact, most tourists come to the Cappadocia region specifically for the Hot Air Balloons. But there is one important thing to pay attention to when planning your own balloon flight.

If you are planning to stay in Cappadocia for a few days only, always plan your balloon flight as the very first activity on the first morning of your stay. Winds and bad weather conditions can easily disrupt flights, so make sure to leave enough time for rescheduling. Always book with certified providers; flight prices usually start from 100 € per person, but we found this balloon flight offer for less than 60 € per person.

Explore Göreme Open Air Museum

The whole point of going on a balloon flight in Cappadocia is getting a bird’s eye view of the region’s characteristic rock formations: the fairly chimneys. Let me tell you, however, that Cappadocia’s rock formations are just as interesting up close.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Göreme Open Air Museum is the best possible place to start to get to know Cappadocia’s nature and history. Here, you can not only walk through the unique rock formations, but also see how deeply they are entangled with Cappadocia’s Christian history.

Venture into Kaymakli Underground Cities

As if otherworldly rock formations and rock-cut churches were not impressive enough already, Cappadocia also features an extensive system of underground cities.

Numbering in the hundreds, a select few of Cappadocia’s underground cities are open to visitors today, one of them being the Kaymakli Underground City. At Kaymakli Underground City, you can descend into a multi-story underground network that housed tens of thousands of people at a time.

For the best understanding of the city’s history, we recommend joining the Green Tour where a tour guide will explain you everything in depth. If you prefer exploring solo, the entrance fee to the site is 450 TL.

Learn about Cappadocia’s Christian History

Not tired of Christian history yet? We promise, there are many more interesting Christian sites to see in Cappadocia.

Venturing out a little further from Göreme, you can find even more impressive remnants of Cappadocia’s Christian history, among them Selime Monastery, an impressive cathedral cut into a mountainside, and the Church of Saint George in Ihlara Valley, featuring impressive early-Christian paintings.

One note about these sites: The further you venture out from Göreme, the harder it becomes to get to attractions. To avoid transfer problems, consider joining a tour or renting a car of yourself.

Touch Grass at Ihlara Valley

Talking about Ihlara Valley, popping by Saint George’s Church gives you the chance to touch some grass since you’re there already.

Running along the narrow bottom of Ihlara Valley, there is a 14-kilometre lush-green hiking path, straddling along the sides of a calm stream. Considering all the rock you will have seen by now, getting out into the green is just the thing you need at this point of your time in Cappadocia.

Again, we recommend either driving here by yourself or joining a tour to spare yourself the hassle of getting there. The Green Tour includes stops both at Selime Monastery and Ihlara Valley.

Spend the Night at a Cave Hotel

Along with balloon flights, the so-called cave hotels feature on most Cappadocia’s itineraries – and you shouldn’t miss out on them either.

Based off the historic cave dwellings of Cappadocia’s early Christian population, these cave hotels emulate the atmosphere of ancient ruins, while combining it with luxurious amenities such as hot tubs and private hammams.

If you are still looking for the right hotel to stay at in Cappadocia, the Shoestring Cave House in Göreme ist your way to go. We stayed there and we couldn’t have wished for a better experience.

Looking for more inspiration? If you haven’t found enough inspo to fill your itinerary yet, check out our full list of the best things to do in Cappadocia.

How Many Days Should You Spend in Istanbul?

In Cappadocia, you can go two ways, really. You can either wrap up the region in just 2 days, or you can take the foot off the gas pedal and dive deeper into Cappadocian culture.

If you have time constraints, keep your visit to Cappadocia short. In 2 days in Cappadocia, you can go on a Hot Air Balloon Flight, and join the Red Tour and Green Tour, giving you the perfect introduction into the regions’s nature and history.

There is, however, much more to discover beyond the surface. So, if you have another few days to spare in Cappadocia, seriously consider diving deeper into the local cuisine or join a pottery school in Avanos.

Where to Stay in Istanbul and Cappadocia (& Where We Stayed)

When picking your hotel stays in Istanbul and Cappadocia, you want to be strategic to make the most of your time. Choose a hotel that is centrally located and one that is comfortable so you can get the night’s rest you’ll need after a busy day of exploring:

Mest Hotel (Istanbul)

Located in the Sirkeci neighbourhood, the Mest Hotel is only a stone’s throw away from Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s historic center. Even better, some rooms in this boutique hotel feature an unobstructed view of the Blue Mosque. What else can you wish for?

Shoestring Cave House (Göreme)

Located in Göreme, the Cappadocia region’s main town, the Shoestring Cave House offers a beautiful blend of traditional design and modern luxury. Featuring a range of carefully curated suites, this hotel offers not only comfortable beds, but also hot tubs, private hammams and panoramic balconies.

Sultanahmet	Mest Hotel	starting from $ 268 per night	Click here for rates & availability.
Göreme	Shoestring Cave House	starting from $ 88 per night	Click here for rates & availability.

The Bottom Line

What’s left to say? One week is about as little as you can do for both places, if you want to do them justice, yet waste no time. If you have more time to spare, however, we recommend spending a day or two more in each place, and or adding a stop in Ankara along the way.

Frequently Asked Questions