Turkey is where continents meet and stories collide—Byzantine domes beside Ottoman palaces, Roman roads leading to Anatolian cave towns, Black Sea flavors mingling with Aegean herbs. This 7-day itinerary balances Istanbul’s layered history with the lunar landscapes of Cappadocia, giving you the greatest hits and a few insider gems.

Expect mornings of tulip-shaped tea and simit, afternoons wandering sultans’ courts, and evenings of meze and rakı. In Cappadocia, dawn belongs to the sky: hundreds of hot air balloons rising over rose-tinted valleys, then hikes through tufa towers and hand-carved chapels. It’s a week packed with culture, cuisine, and cinematic scenery.

Practical notes: Tap into Istanbul’s public transport with an Istanbulkart, dress modestly for mosques (scarves for women; shoulders/knees covered), and prebook Cappadocia balloons and hamams. Domestic flights are frequent and affordable, and Turkish cuisine—from wood-fired pide to slow-cooked testi kebab—is a highlight of the journey.

Istanbul

Istanbul—once Byzantium, later Constantinople—has been a capital of empires for 1,600 years. Its skyline stitches together minarets and modern rooftops, the Bosphorus threading Europe and Asia like a silver seam.

Base yourself near Sultanahmet for the classics or in Karaköy/Beyoğlu for nightlife, cafes, and art. Eat broadly: street-side kokoreç for the adventurous, Anatolian home-cooking at neighborhood lokantas, and contemporary Turkish at Michelin-recognized kitchens.

• Top sights: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Süleymaniye Mosque, Galata Tower, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar.
• Neighborhoods: Sultanahmet’s monuments; Karaköy’s cafes and galleries; Balat’s color-splashed streets; Kadıköy’s markets and Moda seaside promenades.
• Dining highlights: Çiya Sofrası (regional Anatolian), Neolokal (heritage cooking with a modern lens), Karaköy Güllüoğlu (baklava), Van Kahvaltı Evi (classic breakfast spread).

Where to stay: Compare apartments and hotels here: Istanbul stays on VRBO and Istanbul hotels on Hotels.com.

Getting in: Fly into IST or SAW. Search global fares on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. From IST, Havaist buses reach Sultanahmet/Taksim in ~60–90 minutes; taxis take ~45–60 minutes depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival and First Taste of the City

Afternoon: Arrive IST/SAW and transfer to your hotel. Stretch your legs with a gentle walk through Sultanahmet Square to see Hagia Sophia’s massive dome from the outside and the Hippodrome obelisks. For a sweet welcome, stop by Hafız Mustafa near Sirkeci for pistachio baklava and tea.

Evening: Dinner in Karaköy at Aheste (creative meze with Aegean and Levantine notes) or Mürver (wood-fired Anatolian dishes with a Bosphorus view). Nightcap at Flekk or third-wave coffee at Petra Roasting Co. Karaköy if you’re fighting jet lag.

Day 2: Sultanahmet’s Imperial Core

Morning: Turkish breakfast at Van Kahvaltı Evi in Cihangir—honeyed kaymak, menemen, olives, cheeses. Head to Topkapi Palace and the Harem (allow 2–3 hours). The courtyards and tilework sketch the daily life of the Ottoman court.

Afternoon: Visit Hagia Sophia. The prayer hall is free; the upper gallery has a ticketed entry and gives close views of Byzantine mosaics. Continue to the restored Basilica Cistern, where Medusa heads guard forest-like columns—cool respite and atmospheric photos.

Evening: Dinner at Pandeli above the Spice Bazaar (historic lamb stews, stuffed grape leaves) or Giritli in Sultanahmet (fixed-menu meze, seafood focus). Finish with thick, foamy Turkish coffee at Mandabatmaz off İstiklal Street.

Day 3: Bazaar Culture, Süleymaniye, and a Bosphorus Cruise

Morning: Grab a simit and tahini-pekmez dip at Namlı Gurme Karaköy, then dive into the Grand Bazaar. Seek out lanes for copperware and textiles, and bargain politely. Walk to Süleymaniye Mosque—Sinan’s masterpiece—then sip tea with a skyline view at nearby gardens.

Afternoon: Take a Bosphorus cruise (short loop 1.5–2 hours; budget ~$5–10). Glide past Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, and hilltop yalı mansions. On return, snack on a fish sandwich at Balık Ekmek boats by Eminönü or try crunchy mussels from Midyeci Ahmet.

Evening: Contemporary Turkish dinner at Neolokal (reserve; tasting menus that reimagine Anatolian recipes) or Yeni Lokanta (wood-fired meats, house-pickled vegetables). Post-dinner, stroll Galata and up to Galata Tower for night views.

Day 4: Balat Colors, Asian-Side Eats, and a Classic Hamam

Morning: Coffee at Chronotrope Balat or Coffee Department, then wander Balat and Fener—rainbow houses, antique shops, and the red-bricked Greek Orthodox College. Pop into a boza shop if you find one for a sip of fermented millet drink.

Afternoon: Ferry to Kadıköy (the crossing itself is a highlight). Lunch at Çiya Sofrası: regional dishes like sour cherry kebab, içli köfte, and herb-stuffed flatbreads you won’t find elsewhere. Walk the market streets, graze on olives and pickles at Özcan Turşuları, then amble along Moda’s seaside park with dondurma in hand.

Evening: Book a scrub and soak at Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamam (16th-century hamam by Mimar Sinan) or Çemberlitaş Hamamı. For dinner, go seafood: Balıkçı Sabahattin (grilled sea bream, meze) or casual raki-meze at Asmalı Cavit. Dessert: Karaköy Güllüoğlu for warm pistachio baklava before turning in.

Cappadocia (Göreme, Uçhisar, Avanos, Ürgüp)

Welcome to a landscape carved by wind and devotion. Volcanic ash hardened into tufa, then people chiseled homes, chapels, and entire underground cities—by hand. Sunsets paint the valleys in rose and rust, and hot air balloons sketch commas across the dawn.

Base in Göreme for access to the Open-Air Museum and trailheads; Uçhisar and Ürgüp offer boutique stays and quieter evenings. Kitchen highlights include clay-pot testi kebab, wood-fired pide, and local wines from Emir and Kalecik Karası grapes.

• Top sights: Göreme Open-Air Museum, Love/White/Rose/Red Valleys, Uçhisar Castle, Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu Underground City, Avanos pottery workshops.
• Experiences: Hot air balloon at sunrise, easy valley hikes, sunset viewpoints, wine tasting at Turasan or Kocabağ.

Where to stay: Compare cave hotels and rentals: Göreme stays on VRBO and Göreme hotels on Hotels.com.

Getting there from Istanbul (Day 5, morning): Fly 1h15–1h25 to Kayseri (ASR) or Nevşehir (NAV), then shuttle 45–60 minutes to Göreme. One-way fares typically ~$40–$100 if booked early. Search and book on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. Overnight buses (10–12 hours, ~$25–$40) are an option; compare on Omio (buses).

Day 5: Fly to Cappadocia, Göreme Orientation, Sunset View

Morning: Early flight IST/SAW → ASR/NAV (1h15–1h25). Shuttle to your cave hotel and drop bags. Coffee and a light bite at Cafe Şafak (Göreme) or gözleme from a local stand.

Afternoon: Explore Göreme Open-Air Museum (allow ~2 hours). The Dark Church’s frescoes reward the extra ticket. Stroll the village lanes and peek into artisans’ shops.

Evening: Hike or drive to Red/Rose Valley for a sunset that lives up to its name. Dinner at Topdeck Cave (intimate, family-run; reserve) or Pumpkin Göreme Restaurant (seasonal set menus). Try testi kebab—sealed clay pot cracked open at the table.

Day 6: Balloon Sunrise, Underground City, and Avanos Pottery

Morning: Pre-dawn pickup for a hot air balloon flight (45–60 minutes in the air; plan 3–4 hours door-to-door; ~$180–$250 depending on operator/season). Reputable companies include Royal, Butterfly, and Voyager. Post-flight, refuel with a village breakfast at Nazar Börek & Cafe or gözleme and çay at a roadside garden.

Afternoon: Tour an underground city—Kaymaklı (multi-level with easy navigation) or Derinkuyu (deeper, narrower); allow 1–1.5 hours. Continue to Avanos for pottery demonstrations; try throwing a pot on the wheel. Late lunch on the Kızılırmak riverbank—order clay-pot beans and fresh salads.

Evening: Wine tasting at Turasan in Ürgüp or a glass of local Emir at a Göreme wine bar. Dinner at Dibek (floor seating, slow-cooked meats and mantı) or splurge at Lil’a in Uçhisar (refined Anatolian cuisine). Cap the night at Göreme Sunset Point for stargazing if skies are clear.

Day 7: Uçhisar Castle and Departure

Morning: Coffee and pastries at your hotel, then short drive to Uçhisar Castle for panoramic views over Pigeon Valley and the honeycomb terrain. Quick stroll through pigeon houses carved into cliffs.

Afternoon: Airport transfer (45–60 minutes) to ASR/NAV for your onward flight. Search return options on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. If you prefer an evening flight, squeeze in an easy walk through Love Valley or a pottery pickup in Avanos.

Optional Notes and Local Tips

• Public transport in Istanbul is efficient; load an Istanbulkart and use trams (T1 for Sultanahmet–Karaköy) and ferries. Traffic is heavy at rush hours—plan transfers with buffer time.
• Hamams are gender-segregated or offer mixed slots; booking ahead is best for English-speaking staff and preferred time.
• Dress code for mosques: headscarves for women, covered shoulders and knees for all. You’ll remove shoes before entering.
• Hiking in Cappadocia is mostly easy-moderate; carry water, sun protection, and offline maps.

In one week you’ve traced empires on the Bosphorus and floated above valleys shaped by volcanoes and time. From the incense of Hagia Sophia to dawn over Göreme, Turkey rewards the curious with history you can touch and flavors you won’t forget.