This is the exact route we took in Turkey from 5 to 13 September 2026. Istanbul first, then Cappadocia, then back to Istanbul before flying home to Mumbai. We did it on 5 leaves plus two weekends.
If you only remember one thing from this itinerary, make it this: put a spare morning in Cappadocia. Our first balloon flight was cancelled, and because we had another morning there, we still got to fly.
In short: 5–13 September 2026: 5 nights in Istanbul, 3 in Cappadocia. Done on 5 leaves and two weekends, about ₹4.34 lakh for two.
The route at a glance
| Day | Date | Where | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat 5 Sep | Mumbai → Istanbul | Land, check in, Galata Bridge at dusk |
| 2 | Sun 6 Sep | Istanbul | Sultanahmet, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Gülhane Park, Topkapı Palace |
| 3 | Mon 7 Sep | Istanbul → Cappadocia | Early flight, Göreme, ATV ride at sunset |
| 4 | Tue 8 Sep | Cappadocia | Balloon cancelled, sunrise from the roof, Red Tour |
| 5 | Wed 9 Sep | Cappadocia | Hot air balloon, then Green Tour |
| 6 | Thu 10 Sep | Cappadocia → Istanbul | Balloons from the rooftop, fly back, Galata Tower, İstiklal |
| 7 | Fri 11 Sep | Istanbul | Fener and Balat, Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus sunset cruise |
| 8 | Sat 12 Sep | Istanbul | Grand Bazaar, sunset by the water |
| 9 | Sun 13 Sep | Istanbul → Mumbai | Sultanahmet and Gülhane Park, evening flight home |
Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul
We flew IndiGo’s direct flight from Mumbai and landed at Istanbul Airport just before 2 pm. After checking in at the Maywood Hotel in Sirkeci, we walked down to Eminönü and Galata Bridge for our first evening. The view of Galata Tower across the water at dusk is a perfect first look at the city.
Day 2: Old Istanbul on foot
This was our biggest walking day, and everything is close together in Sultanahmet:
- The Blue Mosque in the morning. Entry is free; cover your head, shoulders and knees, and check prayer times before you go.
- The Basilica Cistern, the 6th-century underground water reservoir with its forest of columns and the two Medusa heads.
- Gülhane Park, right next door, for a shady break.
- Topkapı Palace, the old home of the Ottoman sultans. Don’t skip the terrace that looks over the Bosphorus.
- Galata Bridge after dark.
Day 3: Fly to Cappadocia
A 4:30 am hotel pickup, an AJet flight at 7:45 from Sabiha Gökçen Airport, and we landed at Nevşehir at 9:00. From the airport we took a shuttle to Göreme (€15 per person, paid in cash) and checked in to the Harman Cave Hotel.
That evening we did an ATV ride through the valleys at sunset. It cost €35 for the two of us and was one of the best-value things we did all trip.
Day 4: A cancelled balloon, and the Red Tour
Our balloon flight was cancelled because of the weather. We watched the sunrise and the empty sky from the hotel rooftop instead.
Later we did the Red Tour (€90 for two): Paşabağ’s fairy chimneys, the Zelve open-air area, pottery in Avanos, Devrent valley and Uçhisar Castle.
Day 5: The balloon, and the Green Tour
Second try, and we flew. The balloon cost us €600 for the two of us, by far our biggest single activity spend. After landing we went on the Green Tour (€130 for two): an underground city, a walk through Ihlara Valley along the river, and Selime Monastery.
We loved both tours. If you only have time for one, pick the Green Tour.
Day 6: Back to Istanbul
One last sunrise with the balloons from our rooftop, then an AJet flight back to Istanbul (landing 11:15). We checked back into the Maywood and spent the afternoon around Galata Tower, İstiklal Avenue and the red nostalgic tram.
Day 7: Balat and the Bosphorus
The most colourful day of the trip. Fener and Balat have painted houses, steep cobbled lanes and the rainbow stairs. Then the Spice Bazaar, and in the evening a Bosphorus sunset cruise, our favourite evening in Istanbul.
Day 8: Bazaars and the water
A slower day: the Grand Bazaar, a Turkish coffee break, and the sunset by the sea.
Day 9: Last morning and home
A final walk through Sultanahmet and Gülhane Park, then a 1:30 pm pickup to the airport for IndiGo’s 5:55 pm flight back to Mumbai.
Where we stayed
- Maywood Hotel, Sirkeci, Istanbul: 2 nights before Cappadocia (₹14,294) and 3 nights after (₹24,511). Walkable to Sultanahmet and Galata Bridge.
- Harman Cave Hotel, Göreme, Cappadocia: 3 nights in a Superior Stone Room with breakfast (₹34,504). The rooftop is where we watched the balloons.
Prices are for two, after a Booking.com credit.
How much this itinerary cost
About ₹4,33,788 for the two of us, including flights, visas, hotels, the balloon, tours, transfers and food. See the full breakdown in our Turkey experience post.
Tips for this route
- Keep a spare morning in Cappadocia for the balloon.
- Book the early Istanbul–Cappadocia flight so you don’t lose a whole day.
- Wear proper walking shoes in Istanbul; the city is built on hills.
- Carry some euros in cash for shuttles and small tour payments in Cappadocia.
Read next: Istanbul, the city of dreams and Cappadocia, the land of hot air balloons.
Questions about the trip? Ask us on Instagram at @two_go_places.
