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Historic Turkey - Istanbul & Cappadocia - Premier

Name: Historic Turkey - Istanbul & Cappadocia - Premier
Brand: Newmarket Holidays
SKU: 98187

Marvel at Turkey’s diverse cultural heritage and a collection of its most iconic landmarks in glorious Istanbul ahead of a truly unique stay in Cappadocia, a region of enchanting subterranean cities.

Discover the treasures of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires and the enduring impacts they had on Anatolian Turkey with an intimate small-group escape to Istanbul and magnificent Cappadocia. Immersed in the colourful former capital city, enjoy tours of some of its most impressive sights from the domed Blue Mosque and spectacular Hagia Sophia to the decadent Dolmabahçe Palace.

Bookend each day’s excursions with luxury stays on the Sultanahmet square and in a traditional rock-cut mansion in breath-taking Cappadocia. A final three-days follow and will see you trace a path through Anatolia’s finest natural landscapes before visiting some of the finest rock-cut architecture in the world.

Start your Turkish escape in lively Istanbul, a hub of diverse influences and architectural triumphs, ahead of a four-night city break in the city’s Sultanahmet Peninsula. You’ll have time to explore the former capital’s sights, from its religious monuments to the seats of the country’s imperial power. You can then enjoy a full day at leisure ahead of a short flight to glorious Cappadocia.

Spend the next three nights in a hotel, carved into a neighbouring hillside, where you’ll experience panoramic views of Anatolia’s striking rock features and famous ‘fairy chimneys’. Take in the region’s innovative rock-hewn architecture in Ürgüp, Göreme and Uçhisar before exploring the riverside pottery village of Avanos. After an enriching time in Cappadocia, conclude with a guided tour of Kaymakli, home to a sprawling underground city.

Price

from £2434 /pp

was £2705
Flights included
Dates Available

May 2027 - October 2027
Duration

8 days
Depart From

5 airports
Excursions & Visits

19 included
Meals

11 included
Ways to pay

Want to spread the cost? Choose our Easy Payment Plan and pay from £431.80 per month.

Marvel at the treasures of Turkey’s Ottoman past with entrance to the elegant Topkapi and Dolmabahçe Palaces.

Explore Istanbul’s diverse religious centres, from its iconic Blue Mosque to the cloisters of the UNESCO-listed Hagia Sophia

Witness the imposing rock features and ‘fairy chimneys’ of semi-arid Cappadocia during a scenic drive

Kaymakli underground city, Cappadocia, Turkey

Delve into the winding tunnels and magnificent carved chambers of Kaymakli Underground City

This two-centre holiday begins with a flight to historic Istanbul where you’ll be greeted by your friendly, local tour manager. You’ll then travel to your hotel, based at the heart of the Sultanahmet Square, for the first night of luxurious four-day stay. After checking in, you can unwind in the comfort of your room or get to know your fellow guests with a drink in the elegant communal lounges.

The rest of the day will be at leisure to settle in. Perhaps venture out into the nearby Eminömü district or find dinner at one of the vibrant local eateries.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and head out on a walking tour through the city streets to the iconic Blue Mosque, an Ottoman imperial mosque known for its towering minarets and magnificent domed roofs. Marvel at the impressive structure, with a brief stop to explore its grounds, before continuing to the city’s former Roman hippodrome. The legendary racecourse, which was once the largest of its kind in the Roman world, now lies beneath Sultanahmet Square and you’ll have time to trace its route or take in its surviving obelisks.

Next, you’ll pay homage to the UNESCO-listed Hagia Sophia, one of the world’s most famous religious buildings and an example of traditional Byzantine architecture. This spectacular building also embodies the city’s diverse religious heritage having been repurposed by Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics and Sunni Muslims across its 1500-year history. After taking in the opulent interiors and manicured grounds of the grand mosque, you’ll travel to Topkapi Palace.

The crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire, this exquisite imperial residence was the seat of power for the Ottoman sultans and is now open for public access. Spend time wandering around the palace’s idyllic garden courtyards and marvel at its grand libraries, home to over 13,000 manuscripts. From here, you’ll have access to palace’s harem quarters, which housed the Turkish Sultans’ concubines and hosted the domestic lives of the Ottoman royal family.

Return to the hotel for the rest of the evening at leisure.

Get ready for another walking tour around Istanbul’s impressive ancient landmarks with breakfast at the hotel. After a short drive back towards the Hagia Sophia, you’ll descend into the largest of hundreds of underground cisterns beneath the city, the Basilica Cistern. Having been mostly drained now for easier public access, this extraordinary, pillared basin now displays its carved ‘medusa’ heads and 1,500-year-old brickwork, and you’ll have plenty of time to wander around.

After exploring the underground chambers that used to hold the city’s water supply, you’ll return to the surface for a visit to the colourful Spice Bazaar, known locally as the Egyptian Bazaar. Here, you’ll be able to savour the scents, sights and sounds of the city’s most popular shopping area and peruse its stalls complete with heaped displays of aromatic powders and trays of Turkish delight.

Your final stop today will be the opulent Dolmabahçe Palace, which has marked the city’s Bosporus waterfront for almost 200 years. As the administrative capital of the Ottoman Empire, and home to six sultans throughout its history, this magnificent building cost five million gold lira to create – the equivalent of roughly £1.45 billion in today’s currency! You’ll have time here to explore the stately residence, with its elegant facades, gilded interiors and expansive private gardens.

This afternoon, travel along the Bosporus Strait to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening on your own time.

Embrace time doing as much or as little as you’d like this morning with a full day at leisure. Perhaps venture back into Istanbul’s neighbourhoods for further exploration or meander around one of the city’s colourful bazaars.

Make the most of a leisurely morning with a final breakfast at the hotel before departing Istanbul for a flight to glorious Cappadocia, a region of impressive subterranean settlements and extraordinary rock features, in the heart of Anatolia.

Upon arrival, you’ll check into your enchanting new hotel, Ürgüp’s Yusuf Yiğitoğlul Mansion, which showcases Cappadocia’s famous rock-carved architecture. Settle in for an introduction to the area courtesy of your hosts before enjoying the rest of the evening at your own pace.

Set out for your first taste of Cappadocia’s breathtaking natural landscapes with a scenic coach trip of Göreme’s finest surrounding sights. You’ll start at Pigeon Valley with views over the region’s volcanic landscapes and famous ‘fairy chimneys’, a series of surreal-looking rock spires that dot the Cappadocian countryside. The valley, owing its name to hundreds of resident dovecotes (pigeon shelters) carved into the volcanic tuff, offers gentle trails and viewpoints.

Continue to the town of Uçhisar, based on the outskirts of Göreme’s UNESCO-listed National Park. Here, you’ll be introduced to Cappadocia’s impressive rock-cut architecture with a tour of the Uçhisar Kalesi (castle). Despite its name, this grand citadel is actually an immense rock cone, which has been carved and hollowed into a series of underground tunnels, chambers and guard posts.

After time spent admiring Uçhisar’s memorable rock-cut landmarks, you’ll head north into Göreme National Park for a visit to Sword Valley, which owes its name to the thin, jagged rock formations scattered across its arid vistas. Observe the panoramic views of the rugged landscapes under the midday sun and take in the charming rock-cut dwellings and sculpted forts that the region’s inhabitants have used across the centuries.

Your next stop will take you to the heart of Göreme to explore its fascinating open-air museum. Here, you’ll discover a wealth of monastic structures, carved from the volcanic tuff of a neighbouring hillside, and a number of ancient cave dwellings used by early refugees and later Christian missionaries. As you see these rock-carved structures, your guide will offer captivating insight into the lives and cultures of the region’s first residents.

Later in the afternoon, journey back to Ürgüp, stopping in the idyllic pottery village of Avanos on the way. Set on the banks of the Kizilirmak (Red River), Turkey’s longest waterway, this delightful small town is a major producer of traditional Anatolian Iznik pottery, and you can wander around its delightful stores before returning to Ürgüp.

Your last full day in Turkey awaits this morning starting with an exploration of your hotel’s surrounding town, Ürgüp. As is customary throughout Cappadocia, this town is arranged around a central stone stack, Temenni Hill, which bares the region’s traditional rock-cut architecture.

The town also boasts a number of fascinating historical sites, including the hilltop tomb of a former Selcuk sultan, Kilij Arslan IV, who was executed in the area. Discover wider Ürgüp before travelling to the village of Mustafapaşa, a hub of Islamic, Greek and classical Anatolian architecture. Here, you can stroll around before enjoying a traditional Anatolian lunch.

Afterwards, venture south to Kaymakli. Though it may seem like an unassuming village on the surface, you’ll discover the magnificent subterranean vaults that lie beneath with a tour of the area’s spectacular underground city. Previously used by Christian refugees as a sanctuary against invading Timurid forces, this eight-storied citadel showcases the region’s innovative rock-hewn architecture in a truly memorable way. Marvel at the underground chapels, wine presses and living quarters as you meander through the city’s labyrinthine stone tunnels.

Return to the surface for the ride back to the hotel.

Exterior view of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, showing its domes and six minarets against a clear sky

Obelisk Of Theodosius, Hippodrome, Istanbul, Turkey

Market Stallholder, Spice Bazaar, Istanbul

Yusuf Yiğitoğlul Mansion, Ürgüp, exterior view

Aerial view of Uçhisar Castle, Cappadocia, Turkey

Göreme open-air museum, Cappadocia, Turkey

Ürgüp town view from Temenni Hill, Cappadocia, Turkey

Marvel at the Roman and Byzantine heritage of Turkey’s former capital with stops at the pillared Basilica Cistern and famous hippodrome

Unwind in a traditional Cappadocian cave dwelling at an Ürgüp hotel

Take in Anatolia’s distinct traditions with tours of Cappadocia’s charming small towns and enjoy an authentic lunch

Step back in time with a visit to Göreme’s renowned open-air museum and discover the medieval cave dwellings and chapels

Seven nights’ four-star bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Istanbul (4 nights) and Cappadocia (3)
10 meals
Tour of Sultanahmet district
Day trip to Besiktas district
Tour of Cappadocia
Visit to Göreme
Tour of Kaymakli Underground City
Internal flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia
Return flights to Istanbul and from Cappadocia 
Air-conditioned coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced Premier Collection tour manager
All mandatory local taxes and charges

Dates & Prices

Want to spread the cost? Choose our Easy Payment Plan.

Departure point	Departure date	Price (per person)	Availability
Birmingham	May 2027 - October 2027	from £2690.00 pp	5 dates available
Birmingham	03 Oct 2026 Saturday 8 days 10 Oct 2026 Saturday
Birmingham	15 May 2027 Saturday 8 days 22 May 2027 Saturday	from £2690.00 was £2989.00	Only 5 places left!
Birmingham	05 Jun 2027 Saturday 8 days 12 Jun 2027 Saturday	from £2767.00 was £3075.00
Birmingham	04 Sep 2027 Saturday 8 days 11 Sep 2027 Saturday	from £2776.00 was £3085.00
Birmingham	18 Sep 2027 Saturday 8 days 25 Sep 2027 Saturday	from £2776.00 was £3085.00
Birmingham	02 Oct 2027 Saturday 8 days 09 Oct 2027 Saturday	from £2771.00 was £3079.00
London Gatwick	May 2027 - October 2027	from £2690.00 pp	5 dates available
London Gatwick	03 Oct 2026 Saturday 8 days 10 Oct 2026 Saturday
London Gatwick	15 May 2027 Saturday 8 days 22 May 2027 Saturday	from £2690.00 was £2989.00	Only 5 places left!
London Gatwick	05 Jun 2027 Saturday 8 days 12 Jun 2027 Saturday	from £2758.00 was £3065.00
London Gatwick	04 Sep 2027 Saturday 8 days 11 Sep 2027 Saturday	from £2771.00 was £3079.00
London Gatwick	18 Sep 2027 Saturday 8 days 25 Sep 2027 Saturday	from £2771.00 was £3079.00
London Gatwick	02 Oct 2027 Saturday 8 days 09 Oct 2027 Saturday	from £2767.00 was £3075.00
London Heathrow	May 2027 - October 2027	from £2740.00 pp	5 dates available
London Heathrow	03 Oct 2026 Saturday 8 days 10 Oct 2026 Saturday
London Heathrow	15 May 2027 Saturday 8 days 22 May 2027 Saturday	from £2740.00 was £3045.00	Only 5 places left!
London Heathrow	05 Jun 2027 Saturday 8 days 12 Jun 2027 Saturday	from £2803.00 was £3115.00
London Heathrow	04 Sep 2027 Saturday 8 days 11 Sep 2027 Saturday	from £2816.00 was £3129.00
London Heathrow	18 Sep 2027 Saturday 8 days 25 Sep 2027 Saturday	from £2816.00 was £3129.00
London Heathrow	02 Oct 2027 Saturday 8 days 09 Oct 2027 Saturday	from £2812.00 was £3125.00
London Stansted	May 2027 - October 2027	from £2434.00 pp	5 dates available
London Stansted	15 May 2027 Saturday 8 days 22 May 2027 Saturday	from £2519.00 was £2799.00	Only 5 places left!
London Stansted	05 Jun 2027 Saturday 8 days 12 Jun 2027 Saturday	from £2443.00 was £2715.00
London Stansted	04 Sep 2027 Saturday 8 days 11 Sep 2027 Saturday	from £2618.00 was £2909.00
London Stansted	18 Sep 2027 Saturday 8 days 25 Sep 2027 Saturday	from £2618.00 was £2909.00
London Stansted	02 Oct 2027 Saturday 8 days 09 Oct 2027 Saturday	from £2434.00 was £2705.00
Manchester	May 2027 - October 2027	from £2789.00 pp	5 dates available
Manchester	03 Oct 2026 Saturday 8 days 10 Oct 2026 Saturday
Manchester	15 May 2027 Saturday 8 days 22 May 2027 Saturday	from £2789.00 was £3099.00	Only 5 places left!
Manchester	05 Jun 2027 Saturday 8 days 12 Jun 2027 Saturday	from £2857.00 was £3175.00
Manchester	04 Sep 2027 Saturday 8 days 11 Sep 2027 Saturday	from £2870.00 was £3189.00
Manchester	18 Sep 2027 Saturday 8 days 25 Sep 2027 Saturday	from £2870.00 was £3189.00
Manchester	02 Oct 2027 Saturday 8 days 09 Oct 2027 Saturday	from £2857.00 was £3175.00

Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel, Istanbul, exterior

Istanbul & Cappadocia – Turkey’s Historic Gems Hotels Istanbul, Ürgüp You'll be staying in two comfortable hotels that are conveniently located for your tour itinerary.

Ancient ruins of the Library of Celsus in Ephesus, Turkey, with a clear sky and warm sunlight highlighting the detailed stone architecture

No Single Supplement

Istanbul, Ephesus and Troy

Turkey

Find out more about this Newmarket Holidays Istanbul, Ephesus & Troy Tour and book online with confidence. Fly Local City / Central

See the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the famed Topkapi Palace
Discover wonderful Pamukkale on an optional excursion
Be amazed by the ruins of Ephesus

9 days from £1,741 pp

was £2,049 pp

Flights included
Dates Available

April 2027 - October 2028
Duration

9 days
Depart From

6 airports
Excursions & Visits

13 included
Meals

12 included

Explore

Istanbul, Ephesus & Troy with Three-night Beach

Turkey

Discover Turkey's iconic sites with Newmarket Holidays in our seamless combination of history and relaxation in Istanbul, Ephesus, and Troy. Book today! City / Central Fly Local

See the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the famed Topkapi Palace
Discover wonderful Pamukkale on an optional excursion
Be amazed by the ruins of Ephesus

12 days from £1,962 pp

was £2,309 pp

Flights included
Dates Available

April 2027 - October 2028
Duration

12 days
Depart From

6 airports
Excursions & Visits

5 included
Meals

18 included

Explore

Hagia Sophia with its domes and minarets at sunset, surrounded by green trees in Istanbul

Istanbul, Ephesus & Troy with Five-night Beach

Turkey

Discover Turkey's iconic sites with Newmarket Holidays in our combination of history and relaxation in Istanbul, Ephesus, and Troy, with beach extension. Fly Local City / Central

See the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the famed Topkapi Palace
Discover wonderful Pamukkale on an optional excursion
Be amazed by the ruins of Ephesus

14 days from £2,175 pp

was £2,559 pp

Flights included
Dates Available

April 2027 - October 2028
Duration

14 days
Depart From

6 airports
Excursions & Visits

5 included
Meals

26 included

Explore

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting.

For this tour specifically, it is important to note:

There is walking involved on most days.
The tours of Istanbul are approx. 6 hours long (with breaks), are done on foot and do include some cobbled streets.
The included visit to Kaymakli underground city involves visiting few levels of underground tunnels and rooms on uneven ground.

If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

If you would like any further information on the suitability of this tour, please call us for a chat prior to booking.

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

British citizens require passports when travelling overseas and this must be valid for six months beyond the date you return. If you are not a British citizen, you may need a visa for the country/countries you are visiting (please contact the respective embassies to check and to apply).

Offer Terms & Conditions

Save up to 15%/£2400 per couple discount applies to escorted tours only. This offer applies to new bookings only, made between 31 July and 30 September 2026, and cannot be applied retrospectively to bookings already confirmed. This offer does not apply to child pricing, holidays with late availability pricing and excludes river cruises, Wimbledon tours, Andre Rieu concert breaks and Edinburgh Tattoo. See full terms & conditions.

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Historic Turkey - Istanbul & Cappadocia - Premier

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