Our trip to Türkiye: Istanbul and Cappadocia took place at the beginning of May 2018. I fly to Türkiye several times a year, so I have been to Istanbul around 20 times. However, I never had time to visit this city, admire its monuments, and delve into history. My husband has been to Türkiye several times as well, but never to Istanbul. In this case, this was an ideal opportunity to discover this place together.
When I was planning our short trip to Istanbul, I knew straight away that this was a perfect moment to combine it with a visit to Cappadocia. There are no direct connections from Poland to Cappadocia, so you must change your flight to Istanbul.
Cappadocia is a dream that was born in my heart a year earlier. I read about the wonderful experience of a balloon flight over Göreme, and in the meantime, I watched a few photos and videos about Cappadocia. Since then, I could not stop thinking about it. I “infected” my husband with this idea, and from that moment, it became our common plan.
Istanbul and Cappadocia
The organisation of the whole trip did not take me much time, but I had already booked hotels and trips in Cappadocia with a balloon flight in February (three months earlier).
Below, I am sharing my idea for the sightseeing: “Istanbul and Cappadocia – tailor-made travel plan”. Our stay in Istanbul (days 2 and 3) and the first two days in Cappadocia (days 5 and 6) were planned well in advance after reading several tourist guides. In Istanbul, there are so many great attractions that it is difficult to decide where to start and what to visit first. When planning specific points of the trip, it was worth checking what days and when the attractions are open, because we can come across a closed door on the spot. We also knew before that the Blue Mosque would be closed during our visit, so we did not book too much time on our agenda for it.
The following plan is written as a diary. I wonder if this form of writing suits you. Write in the comments and share your thoughts.
Day 1. Arriving in Istanbul
We are arriving in Istanbul in the afternoon, and after coming from the airport to the hotel (metro + tram, a total of about 45 minutes), it will already be dark. Because our hotel is in the centre of the Old Town, we are going for a walk to the Golden Horn Bay in the evening. We are admiring the panorama of the city and Galata towering over it. At the Galata Bridge, we are taking pictures of departing ferries and pigeons flying low over passers-by’s heads. We are going to a restaurant on the Galata Bridge for dinner, because they serve fresh fish and seafood there.
Useful links
Day 2. Istanbul
Hagia Sofia
In the morning, we are setting off for the Hagia Sophia museum. It is still early, 8.30 in the morning, the museum will open at 9.00, but in front of the entrance, the queue is already set. About 30 people are ahead of us. The Hagia Sofia Basilica, or the “Church of the Wisdom of God”, is considered the greatest architectural and construction object of the first millennium of our era. That would explain the long queues at the entrance. Visiting the museum takes us about 1 hour, but we don’t necessarily need to enter the upper balconies of the museum, from where there is a beautiful view of the whole church.
Basilica Cistern
The next point of our visit is the Basilica Cistern, a huge underground water tank, which, although it is not on the map of the main tourist attractions of Istanbul, is worth visiting. There is no other such place in the world, and it is worth spending 30-40 minutes there. There is no queue in front of the entrance, and in the middle, we are amazed by the specific atmosphere of this place, its size, and its architecture.
Blue Mosque
After leaving the basilica, we are going towards the Blue Mosque. Unfortunately, before coming to Türkiye, we knew that during our trip, the mosque would be closed to visitors due to renovation, but we could enter the inner courtyard. Even though the mosque was closed to visitors, there were many tourists in the inner courtyard, and some people prayed under shaded pillars.
Dolmabahçe Palace
In the afternoon, we get on the tram and go to the Kabatas end station. From there, about 5 5-minute walk, we could see the impressive gate of the Dolmabahce Palace. Despite the heavy rain, a long queue waits for tickets in front of the entrance. We are standing in line for over 30 minutes. Since it is already after 3:00 PM, we can only buy a ticket for one attraction: a palace or a harem. We are choosing to visit the palace.
Unfortunately, inside the palace, it is not allowed to take pictures, and there is, i.e., the largest crystal chandelier in the world! In Harem, you can see, among other things, the Pink Hall and the apartment belonging to the sultan’s mother. Atatürk also lived in this apartment and died here in 1938. Currently, Atatürk’s deathbed is covered by a Turkish flag, and the hands of the clock indicate the hour of his death.
Funicular (F1)
After visiting the Palace, we are returning to Kabatas Station. There, we get into the underground railway—the funicular (F1). It is a modern subway train with only one Taksim Station stop. The journey takes 2.5 minutes, but thanks to that, we do not have to go uphill.
Beyoglu district and Galata Tower
We are going for a walk through the İstiklal Caddesi, one of the city’s most popular and crowded shopping streets. We are following the wave of a dense crowd, and through the middle of the street, a historic train is painstakingly pushing through. We are buying a fresh bagel at a small stall on the way. The walk through this street, without going to the shops and stopping for coffee/tea, takes about 30 minutes.
At the end of the street, we can see the Galata Tower, dating back to 1348. It is late afternoon, at about 7.00 p.m. A long queue is standing in front of the entrance to the tower. We are heading up and see that the crowds are also on the upper outer terrace of the tower – we are giving up entry. I visited the Galata Tower in the past, so I still can remember that visit. I promised my husband I would show him pictures of the Galata Tower views when we returned home.
The Golden Horn
We are walking back to Old Town and our hotel. We are crossing the Golden Horn on foot over the Atatürk Bridge. From here, we have a beautiful view of the Fatih and Eminonu neighbourhoods, over which the Suleymaniye Mosque, the Blue Mosque, and the Hagia Sophia Museum dominate. On the shore, we can see the marina and passenger ships.
In the evening, we return to the Galata Bridge to taste a fresh fish again.
End of Day 2
It was a long and exciting day. The step count shows that we have gone through over 34,000, which gives an impressive result of 27.7 km. It’s hard to believe that we’ve made it because we have not overcome such a distance on foot daily. In Istanbul, however, there are so many attractions along the way that you do not feel that you are walking around the city all day.
Useful links
- Hagia Sophia Museum
- Hagia Sophia Skip the line Ticket with Audio Guide and Augmented Reality*
- Hagia Sophia Skip the Line Ticket + 1h Guided Tour + Audio Guide*
- Hagia Sophia Ticket & Bosphorus Cruise*
- Blue Mosque. Free admission.
- The Basilica Cistern can be visited daily.
- Basilica Cistern Tickets with Fast Track Entry & Audio Guide*
- Galata Tower Ticket & Tour with an Insider*
- Galata Tower Skip the Ticket Lines & Audio Guide*
- Pałac Dolmabahce strona oficjalna
- Dolmabahce Palace Skip the Ticket Line & Bosphorus Cruise**
- Dolmabahce Palace Skip the Ticket Line & Bosphorus Cruise*
Day 3. Istanbul
Topkapi Palace
Our hotel is located 10 10-minute walk from the Topkapi Palace. We are starting right after breakfast to avoid standing in a long queue for tickets. We hop at 9.00 in the morning, there will be no crowds. However, when we arrived, we could already see a dozen people waiting to open the cash registers. We are queuing for tickets for about 15 minutes. We are buying tickets to visit the palace and the harem. It was raining again that day, so walking around the park did not make us particularly happy.
Visiting the palace and harem takes us about 2 hours. If the weather had been lovely that day, it would have been worth staying there for a bit longer, because it is an extraordinary place. When leaving the palace, we see that the queue is a long serpentine line through the park alleys in front of the entrance. Tourists must spend at least one hour in the pouring rain before they reach the entrance. Therefore, we are happy that we have planned to start this day just from Topkapi Palace because we could lose a lot of time in the queue.
Gülhane Park
On our way back to the Old Town, we passed Gülhane Park, the oldest park in the city. Because it is raining, we do not take pictures, but the park is empty, which allows us to enjoy its views.
The Spice Bazaar
Another planned attraction on this day is the Spice Bazaar, also called the Egyptian Market. Part of the market is roofed. Standing with colourful spices causes dizziness. We stroll along long alleys filled with colours, aromas, and a magical atmosphere. We go outside and enter the winding streets, which continue the bazaar. Visiting the Market takes about one hour.
Suleymaniye Mosque
The next goal of our visit is the Suleymaniye Mosque. Because it was the time of prayer, we knew we could not go inside for another 40 minutes. Going up the hill on which the mosque stands, we find a lovely cafe, where we stop for lunch and coffee. The road to the mosque leads through several gates and brick corridors. We are unsure if we are going in the right direction, but we are going up the hill.
Finally, a beautiful mosque appears in front of us. It is huge and majestic. Before entering the mosque, we can see a beautiful view of the city from this place. We stand there for a moment and take pictures. In the meantime, we can see that the prayer is over so we can go inside.
The mosque makes a big impression on us. There is silence, a reverie atmosphere and pleasant peace. We are sitting on the carpet and … resting. We spent about 30 minutes there. On the way back, we remember to enter the nearby small cemetery, which is located behind the mosque. Tourists do not come here often, but in this cemetery is a mausoleum of Suleiman the Magnificent and Roksolana (Hürrem), his beloved wife. The whole cemetery is covered with iris flowers. It is a magical place, you must see it.
Grand Bazaar
The last attraction of this day is visiting the Grand Bazaar. Yes, it is true – to be in Istanbul and not see this place would be a significant loss. The Grand Bazaar is so connected with this city that it has been integral for several centuries. The bazaar makes an unusual impression, above all in terms of architecture. It is entirely covered by the rooftop, and the whole bazaar takes about 4.5 ha. There are over 60 alleys and about 3,500 stands. It is an unbelievable place! It isn’t easy to find the way out, and we do not know which way to turn and which gate to exit to the main road because there are more than 20 gates.
Strolling along the long and endless corridors, we finally left the bazaar after about one hour. Our joy was endless when we saw that the exit we found was right in front of the tram stop. The tram, which stops here, will take us back to our hotel.
In the evening, we are going to the harbour again. On the way, we found a nice restaurant where we had dinner. That day, we made over 30,000 steps, which is over 24 km. We are extremely tired but full of impressions and emotions. This is our last day in Istanbul. In the morning, we will start another journey and another great adventure, Cappadocia.
Useful links
- The Topkapi Palace museum is closed on Tuesdays.
- Topkapi Palace Guided Tour & Skip the Line Ticket*
- Discover the Icons – Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Basilica Cistern*
- Topkapi Palace Ticket & Bosphorus Cruise*
More information about my stay in Istanbul can be found on my blog:
- Istanbul – how to get to the main attractions, where you will find helpful information about travelling by public transport and hints on how to get to the main attractions in the city.
- Istanbul – secrets of the city, where you will find hints about what to see, where there are long queues and what is not written in the guidebooks but is worth seeing.
Day 4. Travel to Cappadocia
We will go to the Atatürk airport by tram (30 minutes) and then by metro (10 minutes). However, the entire route took us over 1 hour because the metro was delayed by more than 20 minutes due to a failure. At the airport, however, we are on time; there is no hurry. The flight to Kayseri takes about 1.5 hours.
Edit: How do I get to the NEW IST airport? Please check my other post, in which I wrote about the public and private transport offered by Istanbul New Airport.
If you have to travel from Sabiha Gokcen Airport (the second airport in Istanbul), you can find a private transport proposal here.
After landing at Kayseri airport, we were surprised by the complete emptiness around us, except for our plane, which was only a courier transport plane. When we went out, our driver was already waiting for us. We ordered a combined transport, which means that the driver is waiting for several people at the same time. In our case, he was waiting only for us, as all the other passengers were already sitting on the bus.
Goreme
The trip to Goreme takes about one hour. Along the way, all passengers are brought to their hotels; our hotel is at the end of the route. When we get off in front of our hotel, we already know that it is one of the nicest places in the town.
In front of our hotel, one of the owners is waiting for us. He invites us for a cup of tea and formalities related to check-in. We hear that family members run this hotel: two brothers (Irfan and Ibrahim), their mother and several cousins. He told us how they could help us make our stay more attractive and that the reception was open 24/7. During this time, our luggage was carried by the hotel staff (3rd floor) to our room. We are positively surprised by the very nice family atmosphere. Amazing views extend from the windows and terrace of our room, so we are delighted.
Goreme on foot
It’s late afternoon. We dream about a short walk around the area and a tasty lunch. The hotel owner recommends a nice place in the centre of the town. After a few minutes walk, we got to the restaurant that was recommended to us. The food is delicious, and the service is very nice. Our stay in Cappadocia promises to be quite good.
On our way back to the hotel, we take a long walk around the town. We are fascinated by the views, unusual rock formations, flats and restaurants carved into rocks, nice people, colourful lanterns, and stalls with ceramics and carpets.
We are going to the viewpoint at sunset. It is 15 15-minute walk (uphill) from our hotel. The panoramic views of Göreme are amazing.
We are eating dinner at a restaurant near our hotel. In front of the restaurant entrance, there is a bonfire. Inside the fire, there were a few clay jugs. We ask a man taking care of the fire what this is, and he tells us there is a kebab boiled inside each clay jug (Testi Kebab). We are entering the restaurant. The main room is carved into the rock. The service is very nice and professional. Soon, all the tables are occupied by guests. The Food is delicious, and the prices are affordable. Overall, our dinner was a lovely experience.
On our way back to our room, one of the hotel owners is waiting for us in the garden. He informed us that our balloon flight planned for tomorrow had just been cancelled due to the strong wind. We are disappointed. Anyway, we still have four more days until the end, so we have four more chances for the balloon flight.
Useful links
- Charming Cave Hotel – our hotel in Cappadocia
- Cappadocia: Private Airport Transfer To and From Kayseri and Nevsehir Airports*
Day 5. Cappadocia – Red Tour
Today, we have a planned full-day trip called “Red Tour.” The price per person is 38 Euros* (valid Jan’23), which is about $40,5. The minibus takes us from the hotel at 9.30 a.m. After bringing us to the tour operator’s head office, they move us to another (bigger) minibus, and a local guide joins us.
Our full-day tour is exciting, and our guide fantastically engages everyone in conversation. There is a lot of fun, and everyone feels it will be a nice day. On the way, we are visiting, among other things, Göreme Open Air Museum and Pasabag Fairy Chimneys, also called “Monks Valley.” This is also a unique place for Cappadocia, famed for its three-headed fairy chimneys.
This region is also known as ‘Pasha’s Vineyard’, as its stunning earth pillars are located within a vineyard. A pleasant element of our trip is also a visit to the city of Avanos, which is famous for handmade ceramics. We are visiting one of the local ceramic producers, where we participate in a demonstration and can see how a teapot is being created from sticky clay. This is what we like a lot.
Back to Goreme
We return to the hotel in the afternoon, around 4:00 p.m. After a short rest, we walk around the town again. There are flowering gardens around us and open doors to all guest houses and hotels, where everyone can enter the inner courtyard and take pictures. We walk down towards the city centre—the sunset begins. We stand on the terrace for a while and take photos because the panorama of Göreme looks beautiful from this perspective.
After dinner in the city centre, we return to the hotel. Today, one of the hotel owners is waiting for us again and says that our balloon flight will not occur tomorrow. Due to a strong wind, all flights are cancelled. Again, we are disappointed, but … – third time lucky. We still hope to have this adventure.
Useful links
- Cappadocia Red Tour with Zelve Museum, Lunch, and Hotel Transfer*
- Cappadocia Red Tour with Göreme Museum, Lunch, and Hotel Transfer*
- Cappadocia Red Plus Tour with Underground City, Lunch and Hotel Transfer*
Day 6. Cappadocia – Green Tour
Today we are going to have another one-day trip. This time it is a “Green Tour. The price per person is 40 Euros* (about 42$). *Prices valid in Jan’24
Göreme Panorama and Derinkuyu Underground City
This time, the bus that arrives for us will take us on a trip immediately. We are starting with a fantastic viewpoint – the Göreme panorama. Then we are going to visit the underground city. I read about it a lot before going to Türkiye and wanted to see such a city. I felt that this would be an exciting part of the program. We spent about 1 hour in Derinkuyu Underground City. After sightseeing, I did not feel any excitement anymore, and I did not know why, but I think this place disappointed me a bit.
Ihlara Valley
The next point of the program is Ihlara Valley. The guide leads us first to the forest, where there is a very nicely located restaurant on the riverbank. There are floating platforms on the river, where you can have lunch while sitting on the carpet. Our table, however, is prepared on a two-level terrace. We are surprised by the large number of tourist groups that are eating there. We have been waiting for a long time, although we have only two dishes. Unfortunately, our dinner was not especially tasty, so this was our first culinary disappointment since the beginning of our trip to Türkiye.
Right after lunch, we will explore the beautiful green valley of Ihlara. It is the deepest gorge in the entire region of Anatolia. A three-kilometre-long walk along the river Melendiz takes about 1 hour. It is an unforgettable experience. The valley is wonderful and delightful. Fortunately, on our route, we saw no crowds of tourists in the restaurant in the woods. There is beautiful weather today. We are surrounded by lush greenery and high rocks, and in the background, we can hear the sound of a rushing river and the sounds of nature.
Selime Monastery
On our way back to Göreme, we will also visit the Selime Monastery. It is the largest rock monastery in Cappadocia, with a large cathedral and breathtaking views of the surrounding area.
Pigeon Valley
The last natural attraction of the day is the Pigeon Valley, one of the longest valleys in the region. It is named after the ancient pigeon houses carved into the cliff faces over centuries. When we visited this place, many pigeons were still flying over the valley. We took a lot of pictures, as the view was beautiful.
Our guide takes us to the local onyx factory just before returning to the hotel. The factory primarily has long showcases with locally made jewellery. There is a huge selection and very affordable prices—it’s worth buying a small local souvenir here 😊.
We are coming back to the hotel at 6.30 p.m. We are tired after a whole day’s trip. For dinner, we are going to the restaurant right next to our hotel, as we do not want to walk far away. Once again, we are eating tasty food.
When we are going to sleep, we are very excited. We check several times whether we have charged the batteries for our cameras and whether the alarm clocks are set for 3:50 in the morning! At 4:00 a.m., we have a pick-up at the hotel reception, so we can’t be late.
Useful links
- Green Tour with Trekking in Ihlara Valley, Türkiye*.
- Cappadocia Green Tour with Lunch and Hotel Transfer*
Day 7. Cappadocia, Göreme and hot-air balloons in the sky
In the land of the balloons
I wake up before the alarm clock announces that it is time to get up. Outside the window, it is still completely dark. However, I can see that minibuses are already moving along the streets of the town, which means that companies organizing balloon flights have already begun picking up their clients from hotels. This coming day makes me feel very happy.
My husband gets up, and we’re getting ready to leave when our phone rings in our room. I first thought that they were already waiting for us at the bottom. But when I picked up the phone, I did not hear what I had expected. Our hotel receptionist rings and apologises for the mistake. They claim that so many people are willing to take today’s balloon flights, so our reservation has been lost somewhere. They have checked with the company that organises our balloon flight, and there is no place for us in the gondola, so we will not fly with the balloon today.
I’m very disappointed, but I hear the assurance that we have a 100% guarantee and a valid reservation the next day. And what now? We are already dressed and ready to go out; we have photo cameras. After a short talk, we decided not to lose this early morning and we wanted to see flying balloons from a nearby viewpoint. We go uphill, and after 15 minutes, we reach Göreme’s viewpoint. It’s 4.30 in the morning, dark, and many other people are waiting for the sunrise.
Goreme viewpoint
At sunset, people started to gather immediately after us. Some had travel chairs, and some had large tripods and telephoto lenses aimed at the rising sun. Just before 5:00 in the morning, the first balloons appeared on the horizon. They were still standing on the ground, but they began to be heated with hot air, so from our perspective, it looked as if tongues of fire were licking them.
The departure of the balloons begins at 5:00 in the morning, when 150 balloons begin to rise at once. Watching such a spectacle is accompanied by very strong emotions. After a few minutes from the start, balloons begin to float across the sky at different heights. A few of them are flying almost just above our heads. The sunrise begins, and it’s beautiful!
We spent over 1.5 hours at the viewpoint, almost waiting for the last balloon to land. With the rising sun, the colour of light changes, so we want to capture every possible moment in our pictures. It is a cold morning, but we feel cold only after returning to the hotel.
A whole day in Göreme
After breakfast, we will walk around the town of Göreme. We deliberately wander through the narrow, winding streets and admire the views. These are places where there are many small hotels and travellers’ homes. Everywhere, we can see flowered balconies and terraces and neat and clean courtyards. In the distance, we can see Pink Valley, which is getting pink at that time of day.
In the evening, we are going for dinner to a place reserved by the owners of our hotel. They recommended a special place for us that is famous for the traditional method of preparing a kebab in a clay jug. They told us that our kebab would be baked on a campfire for three hours before dinner. When we made a reservation for a table in the morning, we had to tell what kind of meat we wanted to eat in the evening.
Testi Kebab
When we come to the restaurant, our table is waiting for us. We sit down in a room carved with rock. Our kebab appears on the table after a dozen or so minutes. The waitress brings two clay jugs on a tray and puts them on our table. She takes a hammer and breaks the jugs in front of us. The interior of the jugs is filled with aromatic, thick meat and vegetable stew, and it lands on our plates. The dinner is delicious.
When we came back, one of the owners was waiting for us at the hotel and reminded us that in the morning, we would fly a hot air balloon. Weather conditions promised to be perfect for this occasion, so we started to feel excited about the coming morning. Today, we have passed over 18 thousand steps, or almost 15 km. We were tired, but the day was very pleasant, and the walk around the city was very successful.
Day 8. Cappadocia hot air balloon flight
Flight and organisation
The company organising our hot air balloon flight picks us up from the hotel at 4 a.m. It is still dark outside and quite chilly (although it is the beginning of May). On the way to the gathering place, we received instructions on how to behave in the balloon during take-off and landing. Our instructions also include the name of our balloon’s pilot, Kemar.
Along the way, other tourists are picked up from hotels scattered around Göreme. After about 30 minutes, we came to the headquarters of the organiser of our flight, where a light breakfast (rolls, coffee, tea, juices) was prepared. About 100 people are sitting in a large waiting room. Just before 5.00 in the morning, the main organiser comes to us and informs us that balloon flights today are officially allowed, and it’s time to start our adventure! They are beginning to pack us quickly into buses. Behind the windshield of each minibus, there are cards with pilots’ names, so we have to enter the bus where there is a plate with Kemar’s name. After about 10 minutes, we get off, just before our balloon.
In the air
Our balloon is already inflated with hot air. Our pilot, Kemar, is already working in the gondola and is inviting us inside with a big smile on his face. They pack us into the gondola, and a minute later, the balloon breaks away from the ground!
Our flight takes about 45 minutes. The emotions we feel are indescribable. The sunrise begins, and in front of us, there is a beautiful panorama of Goreme and all the other balloons. What is strange is that we do not feel that we are flying. The balloon is floating slightly in the sky, and we are rising all the time. We are flying into the clouds and stop seeing the earth underneath. The balloon is gently rotating around its axis all the time. Everything is great.
Flying and landing
Before landing, Kemar informs us that it is time to make a safe landing position. In this position, our eyes are below the upper edge of the gondola, so we do not see how far it is to the ground. After a moment, two employees of our organiser jump onto the basket and grab its outer edge. I got scared because one was landing at the height of my eyesight, but after a while, we laughed together. A minute later, our gondola is landing directly on the car trailer. Landing is exceptionally smooth and without any surprises.
After landing, the organiser’s team bustles while rolling the giant balloon and packing it away. Kemar is opening two bottles of champagne, and all his passengers are making a toast. He tells us a story about how champagne is the most crucial detail in completing a balloon flight for each pilot. So, they serve the best champagne after each flight with a selection of cakes. Champagne is a ballooning tradition since the Montgolfier brothers made the first flight in 1873 and celebrated a successful landing with champagne. After a glass of champagne and cookies, we all make a souvenir picture. Each participant received a personal diploma, proving that they flew a balloon. A nice souvenir.
We are coming back to the hotel at around 6:30 a.m. Our breakfast starts right away, so we are going straight to the hotel restaurant.
Useful links
- Cappadocia: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight*
- Soganli Valley Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise in Cappadocia*
- Top Hot Air Balloon Experience in Cappadocia with Hotel Transfers*
Göreme and Open Air Museum
The rest of the day was not planned before. We want to spend this day walking around the town and the surrounding area. After visiting the Open Air Museum, which took place two days earlier, we felt unsatisfied, so today we decided to go back there.
In the morning, we are going to the Museum. From our hotel, it is a distance of about 30-40 minutes on foot, but it takes us more time due to the beautiful nature on our way. We do several stops and a lot of photos. We pass horse stables, scooter rentals, and… two camels sitting by the road with their guardian and waiting for tourists
In the Open Air Museum, we are spending about 1,5 hours.
In the afternoon, we sit on the terrace of our hotel and enjoy Göreme’s views.
Useful links
- Cappadocia: 2-Hour Sunrise or Sunset Horseback Riding Tour*
- Cappadocia: 2-Hour Sunrise or Sunset ATV Tour*
- Cappadocia: Sunset or Daytime Jeep Safari*
- Traditional Turkish Bath*
Turkish Night
We are going to Avanos for dinner and the show “Turkish Night” in the evening.
One of the hotel owners takes us to the town of Avanos. We consider it a very nice gesture and proof of great hospitality. A day before, we booked a table for dinner and the Turkish Night show via our hotel reception. The owners want to ensure we will arrive on time and return safely to the hotel.
Evranos Restaurants
Dinner takes place in a big restaurant, with a maximum capacity of 400 people. The restaurant is partially sculpted in rock and is prepared in an elegant style. Tables are set in rock-cut recesses. The centre part is ready for the show, in the corner, an orchestra is preparing instruments. The show starts 15 minutes later. Dancers are running on the stage. There are seven different shows and national dances, including belly dance. In the program, it is written that we will see a dervish dance show, but in the end, this show does not take place. A full dinner with the Turkish Night show takes 2,5 hours.
The dinner is prepared at the convention, and everyone dances together on stage at the climax. Many people attended the dinner and danced on stage together with the artists. There was a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere, lots of laughter and clapping because the shows were spontaneous and fun. “Turkish Night” is an evening to familiarise oneself with local culture and Turkish customs. It is worth watching and being ready for fun and a relaxed atmosphere.
For me, the evening is too focused on Turkish tourists. Other guests, besides Turkish citizens, do not know the steps, so they do not want to dance. I am thinking that if I could decide once again whether to take part in this dinner or not, I would not do it. But this is my personal opinion. Everyone has to decide for themselves what form of entertainment suits them.
We are returning to the hotel after 10:00 p.m. Before going to sleep, we pack our suitcases because early in the morning, we will start our journey back home.
Useful links
- Turkish Night Dinner – Evranos restaurant.
- Whirling Dervish Show with Transfer in Cappadocia*, 1-hour show
-
Dinner In a Cave with Turkish Folk Dances, Turkish Night!*
You can find more information about my stay in Cappadocia on my blog: Cappadocia – a land of beautiful horses. I describe here various attractions and trips. You will also find many more photos and personal recommendations.
Day 9. Time to come back home
The trip to the airport in Kayseria takes us about 1 hour. At the airport, we are early, and we have time for a cup of coffee. The airport is tiny; there are few places to do last-minute shopping. There is nothing else outside of the traffic kiosk. They let us in for departures (just behind the security gates) when they announced it was time to check in. Customs officers are allowed to pass the gate only to currently flight-ready passengers; everyone else needs to stay in the main hall.
Our flight is punctual and calm, so we are landing at Istanbul Atatürk airport according to the schedule. We must change the terminal since we are arriving on an internal flight, and our next flight is international. Unfortunately, we still have our luggage with us. In Kayseri, we were not able to send it directly to Warsaw. It took us only 15 minutes to get through the terminal, but we had to go through security checks for the second time today. We are also standing in the queue for boarding cards for the second time today because we still need to check in our suitcases.
Edit: This all took place at the old IST airport.
The flight to Warsaw will also take place as planned.
After the trip
Our trip: “Istanbul and Cappadocia” has been over. The first thing after arriving home is to save a copy of all pictures onto the hard drive. In total, we have taken about 4,000 pictures. It will take me a long time to review them, sort them out, and choose one for my blog. There are already some new titles for my next post in my head. My heart tells me that … it’s time to plan another trip. 😊
Tips and tricks on how to organise local transport and an e-visa
Travel documents – Turkiye e-visa
Travel documents must be checked before each trip. It is worth knowing if you need a health declaration form, an e-visa, or any other travel document.
Local transport in Türkiye / Cappadocia
Effortless Travel: Cappadocia Connections Simplified with 12Go. Planning your journey to or from Cappadocia and seeking hassle-free transportation options? Look no further than 12Go – your go-to platform for seamless travel arrangements.
Connect with TOP travel destinations to and from Istanbul or Cappadocia
-
- Göreme Bus Station – Istanbul Central Bus Station
- Istanbul Central Bus Station – Göreme Bus Station
- Goreme Bus Station – Pamukkale
- Göreme Transfer – Kayseri Airport
- Göreme Bus Station – Antalya Bus Station
- Istanbul Central Bus Station – Göreme Bus Station
- Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport – Goreme Transfer
- Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport – Istanbul New Airport
Public Buses in Turkiye
In Türkiye, bus travel is the easiest and cheapest way to get around the country. The Road network is highly developed. Booking the tickets in advance is recommended, especially on the popular routes.
Benefits for you:
- All travel services are on a single platform for comparison and interline ticketing.
- Instant ticket confirmation. Once the ticket is booked at 12Go, it gets instantly confirmed and sent to the customer.
- Seat selection. Customers can choose their preferred seats on the checkout page.
- Flexible cancellation policy. Bus tickets are refundable; terms apply.
- Most buses have similar facilities and amenities. However, it is recommended that you double-check the trip details when booking a specific bus.
- To see the trip details, press on the trip block.
- Most of the buses have Wi-Fi, and some of them have a TV.
- A standard baggage allowance is two pieces of luggage with a maximum total combined weight of 30 kg.
- Toilets are usually unavailable on board, so it’s better to use terminal facilities before boarding. Moreover, the bus stops every 2-2.5 hours, so travellers can chill, buy snacks and drinks, use a restroom, and light up.
Flights in Türkiye
Flights are a good option for those who wish to save time travelling around the country. Flights in Türkiye are also budget-friendly, with prices starting from as low as $25.
Benefits for you:
- Instant ticket confirmation.
- Flights with low fares are available when booking in advance. Sometimes, the price is the same as for the bus, but it saves you 5+ hours.
Türkiye – my other posts
I also encourage you to read my other posts about Istanbul, Cappadocia and Türkiye:
- Cappadocia – a land of beautiful horses
- Istanbul – how to get to the main attractions
- Istanbul – Secrets of the City
- Türkiye photos
- Istanbul New Airport
- Istanbul – an idea for sightseeing
*Links to the offer from Klook, MegaPass, iVisa and 12Go are affiliate