1
Istanbul
Days 1–2 · 2 nights- Topkapı Palace
- Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque
- Hippodrome & Grand Bazaar
- Spice Bazaar & Bosphorus cruise
Arrival and airport transfer
Tour Overview
Mediterranean Turkey, Compactly Done
This 8-day Mediterranean Turkey tour is a private, guided Turkey package tour through the best of Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya and Pamukkale. It is a more compact version of our 10-day Mediterranean itinerary, trimmed by one Istanbul day, while keeping both Cappadocia tours and a full day in Antalya, so the pace never feels rushed despite the shorter length.
You will discover Istanbul’s layered Byzantine and Ottoman history, Cappadocia’s volcanic landscapes and Antalya’s coastal charm, then finish with the white terraces of Pamukkale and a free day to explore at your own pace. Accommodation, domestic flights, expert guides and entrance fees are all included, and the itinerary can be customized to match your interests.
The best of Turkey in 8 days: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya and Pamukkale
If you have one week and a little more to see Turkey, this 8-day Turkey itinerary covers four very different faces of the country. Istanbul brings Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks within a few kilometres of each other: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, the Grand Bazaar and a Bosphorus cruise. Cappadocia adds fairy chimneys, rock-cut churches, valleys and an underground city, with an optional hot air balloon flight at sunrise.
On the Turkish Riviera, Antalya offers Hadrian’s Gate, the old harbor of Kaleiçi and the Düden Waterfalls, and the trip closes at Pamukkale, where the white travertine terraces and the ancient city of Hierapolis make a fitting finale. Few Mediterranean Turkey tours pack in this much variety without leaving you tired.
A Turkey tour with domestic flights: more sightseeing, less driving
Turkey is a large country, and the distances between these regions are long by road. That is why this Turkey tour package with domestic flights includes three internal flights, each with a 15 kg baggage allowance per person: Istanbul to Cappadocia, Cappadocia to Antalya and Antalya to Pamukkale. Flying turns long road days into short hops, so your time goes on sightseeing rather than on the highway. Every airport transfer is included, so there is nothing to arrange on the way.
Private Turkey tour or small group: you choose
You can join a small group or arrange a private Turkey tour exclusively for your own party, with a licensed English-speaking guide and comfortable, air-conditioned transport. Seven nights of bed and breakfast are included at your choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels, boutique hotels or cave hotels, and the programme can be adjusted to your interests, whether that means more time in the bazaars, an extra hike in Cappadocia or a slower pace by the pool in Pamukkale.
Who is this Mediterranean Turkey package for?
This tour suits first-time visitors who want a complete introduction to Turkey in a short time, couples looking for a well-organised trip, history lovers, photographers and anyone who prefers a guided, all-inclusive route over planning flights, hotels and transfers alone. If you would like more time in each place, our 10-day Mediterranean Turkey tour follows the same route with an extra day in Istanbul.
A note on the final days. Unlike our longer Mediterranean itinerary, this version gives you a genuinely free Day 7 in Pamukkale, plus a relaxed last morning: an unhurried final soak in the travertine terraces or a slow breakfast before your departure.
Why this route works
Istanbul gives you Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks within a few kilometres of each other. Cappadocia gives you an entirely different planet of fairy chimneys, rock-cut churches and underground cities. Antalya adds the Mediterranean coast and a waterfall that drops straight into the sea, and Pamukkale closes the trip with its dazzling terraces.
Three domestic flights link the regions, so you spend your time sightseeing rather than on long road transfers.
Tour at a glance
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Istanbul · Cappadocia · Antalya · Pamukkale
- Private tour or small group
- 3 domestic flights, 15 kg baggage each
- Optional Cappadocia balloon flight
- A free day to close the trip
- Licensed English-speaking guides
Duration
8 Days
7 nights, B&B
Regions
4
Istanbul to Pamukkale
Flights
3 Domestic
included
Price
$1,675
per person
Your route
Four Regions, Six Stages, One Seamless Journey
From the Bosphorus to the travertine terraces, your route links four distinct regions with three domestic flights. Follow the six stages below to see where you will be each day, which places you will visit and how you get from one region to the next.
Istanbul · 2 nights
Cappadocia · 1 night
Antalya · 2 nights
Pamukkale · 2 nights
2
Cappadocia North
Day 3 · overnight in Cappadocia- Devrent Valley
- Paşabağ & Avanos
- Göreme Open-Air Museum
- Uçhisar Castle
Flight 1: Istanbul → Cappadocia
3
Cappadocia South
Day 4 · optional balloon at sunrise- Red Valley & Güllüdere hike
- Çavuşin Village
- Pigeon Valley
- Özkonak Underground City
Flight 2: Cappadocia → Antalya
4
Antalya
Days 4–5 · 2 nights- Hadrian’s Gate
- Kaleiçi old harbor
- Yivli Minaret & Clock Tower
- Düden Waterfalls by boat
Lunch beside Upper Düden Waterfall
5
Pamukkale & Hierapolis
Day 6 · overnight in Pamukkale- Travertine terraces
- Hierapolis ancient city
- Hierapolis Theatre
- Necropolis & thermal waters
Flight 3: Antalya → Pamukkale
6
Free Day & Departure
Days 7–8 · 1 more night- A second walk on the terraces
- Optional Cleopatra Antique Pool
- A relaxed day by the hotel pool
- Final breakfast with the terraces in view
Airport transfer on Day 8
Hotel nights: Istanbul 2 · Cappadocia 1 · Antalya 2 · Pamukkale 2, all with breakfast.
8-Day Turkey Itinerary: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya & Pamukkale at a Glance
If you are planning an 8-day Turkey itinerary, the order of the stops matters as much as the sights themselves. This Mediterranean Turkey tour begins in Istanbul with two nights, so you see the Old City properly before moving on. It then flies to Cappadocia for the North and South tours, continues to Antalya for a full day on the Turkish Riviera and ends at Pamukkale with the travertine terraces, Hierapolis and a free day. Below you will find a day-by-day programme, and first a short guide to how each part of the trip works.
Days 1–2: Istanbul, the city that ruled three empires
You arrive on Day 1 and are met at the airport for a transfer to your hotel, with the evening free or spent on the optional Bosphorus dinner cruise. Day 2 is a full guided tour of Istanbul’s historic peninsula: Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, the Grand Bazaar, the Rüstem Paşa Mosque and the Spice Bazaar, followed by a Bosphorus cruise between Europe and Asia. It is a lot of ground in one day, which is why the route is planned on foot, in a logical sequence.
Days 3–4: Cappadocia, fairy chimneys, cave churches and an underground city
On Day 3 you fly to Cappadocia and start the North Cappadocia tour straight away, with Devrent Valley, Paşabağ, the pottery town of Avanos, the Göreme Open-Air Museum and Uçhisar Castle. Day 4 is the South Cappadocia tour: Red Valley with a 5 km hike through the Güllüdere Valley, Çavuşin village, Pigeon Valley and the Özkonak Underground City. If you want a Cappadocia hot air balloon flight, the sunrise of Day 4 is the time, best arranged in advance.
Days 4–5: Antalya and the Turkish Riviera
After the afternoon flight on Day 4, Day 5 is a full day in Antalya. You will pass through Hadrian’s Gate, explore the old harbor of Kaleiçi, see the Yivli Minaret and the Clock Tower, and enjoy lunch beside the Upper Düden Waterfall. The day ends with a boat ride to watch the Düden Waterfall drop straight into the Mediterranean Sea.
Days 6–8: Pamukkale, Hierapolis and a free day
Day 6 brings the third flight and the white Pamukkale travertine terraces, followed by the ancient city of Hierapolis and the chance to relax in the thermal waters, so pack a swimsuit. Day 7 is entirely free, for a second walk on the terraces, an optional swim in the Cleopatra Antique Pool or a rest by the hotel pool. On Day 8 you have breakfast and transfer to the airport for your onward or international departure.
How the three domestic flights fit the itinerary
The tour uses three domestic flights: Istanbul to Cappadocia on Day 3, Cappadocia to Antalya on Day 4 and Antalya to Pamukkale on Day 6. All three are included, each with a 15 kg baggage allowance per person, along with every airport transfer. Because the flights replace long drives, you reach each region with energy left for sightseeing, which is the main reason this 8-day Turkey tour feels relaxed despite covering four regions.
Is 8 days enough for Turkey?
Eight days is enough to see the highlights of Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya and Pamukkale without rushing, especially with a free day built in. If you would like more time in Istanbul, the 10-day Mediterranean Turkey tour adds a day there, and the 10-day Ultimate Turkey Discovery Tour adds Ephesus. You can also ask us to customize this itinerary to your own dates, hotels and interests.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Eight days, four regions and three domestic flights. Tap any day to see what you will visit, what is included and where you will sleep. Timings may be adjusted for flights, traffic, weather and opening hours.
1
Welcome to Istanbul, the only city on earth to span two continents, with Europe and Asia divided by the shimmering Bosphorus.
Airport meet & transfer
Our driver will be waiting to greet you at the airport and transfer you smoothly to your hotel, so you can begin settling in without a moment’s stress after your journey.
Optional Dinner Cruise
Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to join our optional evening Dinner Cruise, drifting along the Bosphorus past illuminated palaces and mosques. It is a memorable first night in a city that has served as the capital of empires for over 1,600 years.
Airport & hotel transfer Dinner cruise optional
2
After breakfast, a comprehensive guided walking tour of Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet peninsula, from Ottoman palace to Byzantine cathedral.
Topkapı Palace
The tour begins here, at the home of the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years.
Hagia Sophia
Completed by Emperor Justinian in 537 AD and, for close to a thousand years, the largest cathedral in the world. Interior access is not included.
Blue Mosque
Celebrated for its more than 20,000 hand-painted İznik tiles.
Hippodrome
The historic site of ancient chariot races, now Sultanahmet Square.
Grand Bazaar, Rüstem Paşa Mosque & Spice Bazaar
Wander one of the world’s oldest covered markets, then visit the Rüstem Paşa Mosque and the fragrant Spice Bazaar in the afternoon.
Bosphorus Cruise
A scenic cruise between Europe and Asia, passing landmarks like Beylerbeyi Palace and the elegant wooden yalı villas lining the shore.
Guided walking tour Bosphorus cruise Hagia Sophia interior not included
3
After breakfast, a transfer to the airport and a flight to Cappadocia, a region shaped by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago and carved over millennia into surreal valleys and fairy chimneys.
Devrent Valley
Wind-carved fairy chimneys that suggest animals and figures, depending on the light.
Paşabağ (Monk’s Valley)
Distinctive mushroom-shaped rock formations.
Avanos
A riverside pottery town.
Göreme Open-Air Museum
Explore the museum’s rock-cut churches in the afternoon.
Uçhisar Castle
Finish with panoramic views across nearly all of Cappadocia.
Domestic flight North Cappadocia tour
4
Consider an optional sunrise hot air balloon ride today, best arranged in advance and widely regarded as one of the most spectacular experiences in all of Turkey.
Red Valley
Rock-cut churches, with a 5 km hike through the Güllüdere Valley.
Çavuşin Village
A cliffside village in the heart of the region.
Pigeon Valley
Renowned for its hand-carved cliff coops.
Özkonak Underground City
In the afternoon, descend into the tunnels where early Christian communities once sheltered underground.
Flight to Antalya
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Antalya, Turkey’s sun-drenched gateway to the Mediterranean, known as the “Turkish Riviera” for its turquoise waters and dramatic coastline.
South Cappadocia tour Domestic flight Balloon flight optional
5
Antalya’s coast and old harbor
After breakfast, a full day of Roman gateways, Ottoman lanes and Mediterranean waterfalls.
Hadrian’s Gate
A triple-arched marble gateway built in 130 AD to honor a visit from Emperor Hadrian.
Kaleiçi
Antalya’s beautifully preserved old harbor town of narrow cobbled lanes and Ottoman-era wooden houses.
Yivli (Fluted) Minaret & Clock Tower
The minaret was built in the 13th century by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad; the historic Clock Tower stands nearby.
Upper Düden Waterfall
Lunch beside the cascading water in the Natural Park.
Boat ride to the Düden Waterfall
Finish with a memorable boat ride to see the waterfall dropping dramatically straight into the Mediterranean Sea.
Guided city tour Lunch Boat ride
6
After breakfast, a transfer to the airport for your flight onward, arriving to head straight to the terraces.
Pamukkale travertine terraces
Also known as “Cotton Castle”, formed over thousands of years as mineral-rich thermal water cascades down the hillside.
Hierapolis ancient city
Explore the ancient city, renowned in Roman times for its therapeutic hot springs.
Hierapolis Theatre
Walk to the Roman-era theatre of the ancient city, one of its best-preserved monuments.
Necropolis
Wander through one of the largest ancient cemeteries in Anatolia, scattered with tombs.
Thermal waters
Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit, as you’ll have the opportunity to relax in the thermal waters of Pamukkale yourself.
Domestic flight Pamukkale & Hierapolis tour Cleopatra Pool fee not included
7
With the major sightseeing complete, today is entirely yours.
A second walk on the terraces
Many travelers use this day for an unhurried second walk across the travertines at a quieter hour.
Cleopatra Antique Pool
An optional swim in a pool scattered with fallen ancient marble columns. The entrance fee is not included.
Relax at the hotel
Or simply enjoy a relaxed day by the hotel pool after a week of touring. Your guide remains available should you wish to arrange any optional add-on activities.
Breakfast Cleopatra Pool fee not included
8
After a final relaxed breakfast with the travertines still in view, our tour comes to an end.
We transfer you to the airport for your onward or international departure. From Istanbul’s imperial grandeur, to Cappadocia’s otherworldly valleys, to Antalya’s sun-soaked coastline and Pamukkale’s shimmering terraces, we hope this compact journey has given you a genuine taste of Turkey’s Mediterranean side.
Airport transfer
