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Discover Turkey’s iconic landmarks on this 3-Day Cappadocia & Ephesus Tour from Istanbul with Flights, a guided journey covering Cappadocia and Ephesus over 3 days and 2 nights. Fly to Kayseri or Nevsehir and explore Devrent Valley, Pasabag Valley, the Zelve Open Air Museum, and Uchisar Castle.
Hike through the Rose Valley, visit an underground city, then fly to Izmir to tour Ephesus. Walk along Curetes Street, admire the Temple of Hadrian, the Great Theater, and the Trajan Fountain before flying back to Istanbul. Reserve your Cappadocia and Ephesus adventure today!
You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 am and transferred to the airport for your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir, departing between 6:00 – 7:30 am. Upon arrival, our representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to Cappadocia, where you’ll meet your guide and begin your full-day North Cappadocia tour.
Today’s first stop will be Devrent Valley, famous for its unique fairy chimneys and rock formations. Next, you’ll explore Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley), home to stunning mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After enjoying these natural wonders, you’ll head to Avanos, a town renowned for its traditional pottery making.
After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, where you will explore ancient rock-cut churches and caves, providing a glimpse into the monastic history of the region. Towards the end of the day, you will stop at Uchisar Castle for panoramic photos. While entry into the castle itself is not permitted, the surrounding area offers beautiful views of the landscape.
After the tour, at around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your own pace.
For extra activities, you can choose one from the following options: a traditional Turkish Night show with dinner, a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through the valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show. Please note that all activities are available at an additional cost, and you can join only one due to time constraints.
For an optional extra, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please note that this activity comes at an additional cost.
After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am, you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your guide will brief you on the day’s activities. The tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley, where you will explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi).
Next, you will visit Cavusin Village, famous for its historic houses and churches of Christian clergymen. Afterward, you will take a break for lunch around noon.
Following lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon, you will visit either the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christians sought refuge.
After the tour ends around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your late evening flight to Izmir via Istanbul. Upon your arrival at Izmir Airport, a representative will be waiting, holding a sign with your name, to pick you up and transfer you to your hotel.
After breakfast, check out of your hotel around 8:30 am. You’ll be picked up for an enriching full-day tour of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities and once a major Greek port and cultural center.
Your tour begins with a walk along the Curetes Street, the main avenue of Ephesus, leading you to some of its most remarkable sites. One of the first stops is the Temple of Hadrian, a beautifully preserved structure with intricate reliefs depicting the city’s founding myths. Continuing on, you’ll reach the impressive Great Theater, which could seat up to 25,000 people and is still known for its acoustics. Here, your guide will share stories about the theater’s role in hosting gatherings, dramas, and even gladiatorial contests.
Next, you’ll see the Trajan Fountain, where you can admire its detailed carvings and learn about its significance in the city’s water supply system.
After lunch at a local restaurant, the tour continues to the House of the Virgin Mary, a sacred site nestled on a hillside. This modest stone house is believed to be the place where Mary, mother of Jesus, spent her final years. It remains a pilgrimage site and a place for quiet reflection.
The journey then takes you to the Temple of Artemis. Although only a few columns remain, this once-grand temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and a powerful symbol of the city’s importance in ancient times.
Your final stop will be the Isa Bey Mosque, a stunning example of Seljuk architecture from the 14th century, with beautiful courtyards and intricate tile work that reflect the blend of cultures in the region.
At the end of the tour, you’ll be transferred to Izmir Airport for your late evening flight to Istanbul, departing between 7:00 – 10:00 pm. The flight to Istanbul takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. END OF OUR SERVICE AND TOURS.
Please note that transportation from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul is not included in the tour price.
Hand-picked hotels for your stay — view our featured options for each city.
If you need to cancel your tour or change your travel dates, please notify us at least 5 days before the tour start date. As this tour includes domestic flights and bus tickets, which are non-refundable, the cost of these tickets will be deducted from your payment and the remaining balance refunded to you. For cancellations or date changes made less than 5 days before the start date, no refund will be issued and the booking will be treated under our no-show policy.
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We had such an amazing time on the 3-Day Cappadocia and Ephesus Tour. The transfers and domestic flights were seamless, and the accommodations were comfortable. Our guide was friendly and made history come alive. Cappadocia’s landscapes were unreal, and the balloon ride was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We came home with beautiful memories and new friends.
We recently embarked on the 3-Day Cappadocia and Ephesus Tour from Istanbul with All Istanbul Tours and it was an incredible experience! The organization was seamless, featuring efficient transportation and punctual schedules. Our guides were knowledgeable and engaging, offering in-depth insights into each site’s history and culture. The hotels were clean and comfortable, ensuring a pleasant stay. Dining at local restaurants for lunch was a delight, giving us a taste of authentic Turkish cuisine. Overall, this tour provided a perfect balance of historical exploration and cultural immersion, making it a highly recommended experience.
We just completed our 3-day Cappadocia and Ephesus Trip from Istanbul and it was amazing! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about the history of both locations. We were able to see so many amazing things in such a short period of time. The tour was very well organized and everything ran smoothly. We would highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for an amazing cultural experience.
We had a wonderful time touring Cappadocia and Ephesus. The hotels were safe, comfortable and very well located. We had a terrific tour guide, Aylin, who was very knowledgeable, helpful and fun. Thanks again for everything.
We were very pleased with your service. Our trip was great and we will definitely recommend you to our friends. I will go to trip advisor and write a review.