Turkey First Impressions

DAY 1: Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul, reception and private transfer to the hotel for accommodation for 3 nights, with breakfast.

Cut in half by the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul extends for 30 km and connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, separating Asia from Europe: on the European side, there is the center of commerce and business and on the Asian side, there are residential neighborhoods.


DAY 2: Istanbul
Breakfast at the hotel and full-day tour with a guide in Spanish or Portuguese (subject to availability and confirmation), visiting the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Underground Cistern, the Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazar.

• Hippodrome, known as At Meydani - Horse Square, gives an idea of the magnificence of the Hippodrome in Byzantine times, when it was the center of city life. The venue used to be a stadium for carriage races and public activities.
• Blue Mosque: The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, is next to the Hippodrome. Built between 1609 and 1616, its interior is decorated with 21,000 blue Iznik tiles.
• Hagia Sophia: built between 527 and 532 during the reign of Emperor Justinian, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople and was the center of religious life in the Byzantine Empire.
• Topkapi Palace was the residence of the Ottoman sultans between 1453-1852 and is a symbol of the entire empire.
• Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest bazaars in the world, with a wide variety of products. Those who like shopping can be delighted in more than 4,000 stores spread over streets and passages.

Notes: Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are closed on Fridays. Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.


DAY 3: Istanbul
Breakfast at the hotel. Full-day tour with a guide in Spanish or Portuguese (subject to availability and confirmation), visiting the Spice Market, built in the 17th century to finance the maintenance of a nearby mosque: Yemi Cami. There's a lot to explore for foodies. It's a colorful, vibrant, and affordable market.

Then, regular mini-cruise tour of the Bosphorus region, with a panoramic view of Istanbul's villages and waterfront.

Free time for lunch (not included).

In the afternoon, visit Beylerbeyi Palace, former residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire, located on the eastern (Asian) bank of the Bosphorus.


DAY 4: Istanbul/Kayseri - Cappadocia
After breakfast and check-out at the hotel, private transfer to Istanbul airport and board a flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival, ground transfer to the hotel in Cappadocia.

Accommodation in Cappadocia for 2 nights, with breakfast.


DAY 5: CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast at the hotel. Private full-day tour with a guide in Portuguese in the Cappadocia region, a unique setting sculpted over the centuries by the action of nature. Visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, Pasabag (or Valley of the Monks), Uçhisar Castle, the underground cities of Ozkonak, the village of Avanos and Othisar. Lunch (excluding drinks) at a local restaurant is included during the tour.

• Goreme Open Air Museum is one of the most famous attractions in the country. It is a complex of several churches/caves painted and sculpted by Orthodox monks between 900 and 1200 A.D. The paintings and decorations represent the flourishing of a unique Cappadocian artistic style.
• Pasabag: it is an open park where there are pillars of earth that stand in the middle of a vineyard; hence its name, which means “Pacha's vineyard”. This place is also called the Valley of the Monks.
• Uçhisar Castle, is one of the symbols of Cappadocia. This natural castle is a rock formation, composed of high cliffs, with many caves and tunnels dug into the rock, which have been used throughout history for housing purposes and as a strategic point for defense and observation of the region.
• Underground City of Ozkonak: made of volcanic granite, it was used by 7th-century Christians as places of retreat to escape Roman persecution.
• Avanos is famous for its carpet weaving and ceramic workshops. The city, whose name derives from the Latin Vanesa, was once the second most important city after Caesarea, the capital of Cappadocia. It has a history that dates back to the Bronze Age, based on the findings of nearby Topakli Hoyuk (Mound). There are nearly 300 ceramic workshops using the same techniques as Neolithic Anatolian men. The Avanos onyx workshops are also well known, as nearby quarries produce high-quality onyx.
• Ortahisar: natural fortress where houses were built around and inside the rocks.

Optional activity suggestions (not included):

• Early in the morning, balloon ride (subject to weather conditions);
• Wine tasting at the Argos hotel in Cappadocia.

DAY 6: Cappadocia/Istanbul
After breakfast and check-out at the hotel, private transfer to Cappadocia airport and board a flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, ground transfer to the hotel in Istanbul. Accommodation for 1 night, with breakfast.


DAY 7: ISTANBUL
After breakfast and check-out at the hotel, private transfer to the airport.