Istanbul
We do not offer trekking in Istanbul: the city closes our Cappadocia – Istanbul trip (8 days, level 2/5) with two days of guided visits and a free day, after three days of hiking in the Cappadocian valleys. The programme covers Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern, Topkapı Palace, the Spice Bazaar and a cruise of about 1 h 30 on the Bosphorus.
- Cappadocia – Istanbul — Eight days between the volcanic valleys of Cappadocia and the great monuments of Istanbul: gentle hiking in the morning, heritage in the afternoon.
Decision guide · Istanbul
Istanbul on our trips: a cultural finale
Istanbul is not a hiking region in our catalogue. You come here after the walking, for the city itself. These notes explain what the Istanbul days cover, what is guided and what is free, and how they connect with Cappadocia.
Sultanahmet, Topkapı and the Bosphorus: what the days cover
Istanbul’s historic peninsula has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1985 as the Historic Areas of Istanbul. The property groups four areas: the Sultanahmet archaeological park, with the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Hagia Irene, Little Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace; the Süleymaniye quarter; Zeyrek, around the former church of the Pantocrator; and the Theodosian land walls.
The hotel is in Sultanahmet, within walking distance of the main monuments. On the first afternoon, after the flight from Kayseri, visits start with the Blue Mosque and then Hagia Sophia. The next day is a full one: the Basilica Cistern, an underground reservoir built under Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, then Topkapı Palace. Completed in 1478 under Mehmed II, it was for almost four centuries the sultans’ residence and the seat of Ottoman government, until Dolmabahçe was built; it became a museum in 1924.
The afternoon heads down to the Golden Horn, with the Spice Bazaar and the Yeni Cami mosque, before a sunset cruise of about 1 h 30 on the Bosphorus. The last full day is free: the Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, the Taksim district or Dolmabahçe Palace on the Bosphorus, at your own pace.
When to come, and how Istanbul fits into the trip
The Cappadocia – Istanbul trip runs all year. The season mostly affects the walking in Cappadocia: heat in high summer, cold and possible snow on the plateau in winter. In Istanbul many visits are indoors, but the cruise and the walks between monuments depend on the day’s weather.
The order is fixed. You arrive in Kayseri, hike for three days in the valleys, then take the domestic flight from Kayseri to Istanbul on the morning of day five. Walking comes first, the city last, and you fly home from Istanbul.
Istanbul can also extend a longer trek: our Mount Ararat itinerary mentions an extension to Istanbul or Cappadocia on request. In that case the content is built with the agency; it is not a published trip.
Effort, guiding and meals: what changes in Istanbul
The trip is graded level 2/5, and the effort is concentrated in Cappadocia: about 3 hours of walking from Zelve to Çavuşin, 4 to 5 hours in the Rose and Red valleys with +300 m and −300 m, then 4 to 5 hours from Gorkün to Çavuşin via Uçhisar and the White Valley, with +415 m and −450 m. In Istanbul you still walk a lot, but on cobbles, steps and pavements.
On days 5 and 6 a certified professional guide accompanies the group in its own language; day 7 is free, without a guide. Accommodation is a three-star hotel. In Istanbul only breakfast is included: lunches and dinners are up to you, which leaves the choice of restaurants open.
The domestic flight from Kayseri to Istanbul is not included in the price, nor are international flights.
Which trip should you read for Istanbul?
One published trip currently includes Istanbul, at the end of the route after Cappadocia. For the hiking itself, the Cappadocia page compares the region’s other trips; only the itinerary and written proposal confirm services.
- Cappadocia – Istanbul — Read this if you want 8 guided days: three days of gentle hiking in Cappadocia (Zelve, Rose and Red valleys, Gorkün, White Valley), then two days of guided visits in Istanbul and a free day; level 2/5, all year.
Useful guides before choosing
Frequently asked questions about Istanbul on our trips
Can you go hiking in Istanbul?
Not on our trips. Istanbul is a cultural stop: two days of guided visits and a free day at the end of the Cappadocia – Istanbul trip. The hiking comes first, in the valleys of Cappadocia.
How many days do you spend in Istanbul?
Three nights: you fly in from Kayseri on day five with visits in the afternoon, a full day of visits on day six, a free day on day seven and departure on day eight.
Which monuments are visited?
The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, Topkapı Palace, the Spice Bazaar and the Yeni Cami mosque, followed by a cruise of about 1 h 30 on the Bosphorus.
Are the visits guided?
Yes, on days 5 and 6, by a certified professional guide who speaks the group’s language. Day 7 is free: the Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Taksim or Dolmabahçe, as you choose.
Are meals included in Istanbul?
Only breakfast at the hotel. Lunches and dinners in Istanbul are not included, unlike the hiking days in Cappadocia.
When should you go?
The trip runs all year. In high summer the heat mainly affects the walking in Cappadocia; in winter, snow is possible on the plateau.
Last reviewed :