Magical New Year’s Eve in Turkey: From Istanbul to Fairytale Cappadocia

Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST), the city that connects two continents. After clearing customs (passport control and baggage claim), you will be met by our assistant who will guide you to your hotel. Immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of this metropolis. Enjoy your first dinner in Turkey before a well-deserved rest.

After breakfast, we will immerse ourselves in the beating heart of Istanbul. We will start from the ancient Hippodrome, where chariots once raced, surrounded by imposing obelisks. We will admire the majestic Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet), whose six minarets and famous blue tiles will leave you breathless. This will be followed by a descent into the mysterious Basilica Cistern, an underground engineering masterpiece of the Eastern Roman Empire built under Justinian I. Lunch in a typical restaurant. In the afternoon, we will set sail for an evocative Cruise on the Bosphorus. From the sea, you can admire both continents, Europe and Asia, in a kaleidoscope of historic buildings, mosques, and ancient fortresses. At the end, the journey continues to the modern capital, Ankara. Arrival in the late afternoon, accommodation, dinner, and overnight stay.

We leave Ankara after breakfast and head for a region that defies imagination: Cappadocia.
Here, erosion has carved out a fairytale landscape. We will explore the Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and rock-cut monastery complex, where you can see the famous “fairy chimneys,” rock columns that defy gravity. We continue to Devrent Valley, also known as the “Valley of Imagination,” where erosion has carved rocks into the most bizarre shapes. Lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon, we venture into one of the Underground Cities, complex shelters carved out to protect entire populations. We will admire the Citadel of Uchisar, an imposing natural cone-shaped fortress carved into the tuff. We will discover the secrets of local craftsmanship by visiting a Turkish carpet cooperative and a workshop specializing in semi-precious stones, gold, and silver. Return, dinner, and overnight stay at the hotel.
Optional paid experience: Are you ready to immerse yourself in tradition? Turkish evening with folk show and folk dancing!

Optional paid experience: For early risers, an indescribable thrill: a hot air balloon flight at dawn. You will admire the lunar landscape of Cappadocia illuminated by the first magical rays of the rising sun, tinged with gold and orange, a breathtaking view that you will remember forever. (The activity is subject to availability and weather conditions.)
After breakfast, we will continue our explorations. We will visit the Pasabag Valley (Pasha’s Vineyard), also known as the Valley of the Monks, where the “Fairy Chimneys” are particularly tall and have a characteristic mushroom shape, once a refuge for hermits. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will move on to Zelve, an ancient rock village nestled in the side of three valleys, a labyrinth of tunnels, rooms, and churches carved into the rock. We will end the day in Avanos, the ancient town famous for its hand-painted ceramics. You can watch the artisans at work and appreciate the beauty and quality of their products.Return, dinner, and overnight stay.
Optional paid experience: After dinner, don’t miss the mystical and hypnotic spectacle of the Whirling Dervishes (Sema).

Early departure for the long and scenic return journey to Istanbul. Along the way, we will stop in Ankara for lunch. Arrival in Istanbul in the afternoon, check-in at the hotel. Dinner is free today. You will have the opportunity to celebrate the arrival of the new year as you wish. For those interested in a memorable organized New Year’s Eve dinner, the guide will be at your complete disposal to provide details and reservations. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

We start the year with a leisurely late breakfast. Today we discover the most intimate and multicultural side of Istanbul. We head to Kuzguncuk, a charming neighborhood that has been home to Jews, Greeks, and Armenians. Here you will see mosques, Armenian churches, synagogues, and Orthodox churches coexisting side by side: a place of the soul that retains its fishing village atmosphere, loved by artists and dreamers. Lunch at a local restaurant. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner on your own to enjoy the city at your leisure. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

After breakfast (late morning), we will visit the Suleymaniye Mosque, the pinnacle of Ottoman architecture, built by the brilliant Sinan. You will have free time to lose yourself among the colors and scents of the Egyptian Market (Spice Bazaar). Next, we will immerse ourselves in history by visiting the Topkapi Imperial Palace (the Harem section is optional), home to the Sultans for almost four centuries, a living testimony to the power and majesty of the Ottoman Empire. Lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon is dedicated to shopping and exploring the legendary Grand Bazaar, a labyrinth of over 4,000 shops. The evening will culminate with a special “Farewell Dinner” in the Kumkapı area, a lively fishing village, to toast the memories of this fantastic trip. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Last breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for the return flight to Italy, with your heart full of Turkish magic.