Istanbul and Cappadocia
The historic districts of Istanbul, then the volcanic plateau of Cappadocia and its rock-cut churches.
The route combines the two Turkeys people come to see: the imperial city on the Bosphorus, and the Anatolian plateau hollowed out into underground cities. A flight of a little over an hour links them, which saves ten hours on a bus.
In Istanbul most of it is concentrated in Sultanahmet and covered on foot; in Cappadocia a transfer or a car is needed to get from one valley to the next.
Allow two mornings in Cappadocia rather than one: the balloons take off at first light and are cancelled as soon as the wind gets up.
The stops
Length and budget
Length and budget are settled together: this route works over a few days as well as spread across two weeks.
Along the way, in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Is a domestic flight needed between Istanbul and Cappadocia?
It is the simplest way: a little over an hour to Kayseri or Nevşehir, then about an hour by road. The night bus takes around ten hours.
How many nights should you allow?
Three to four nights in Istanbul and two to three in Cappadocia give a pace you can hold. The exact length is settled with you around the flights.