The Konya Stop on the Cappadocia 2-Day Tour: Lunch in the City of Rumi
On the way back to the coast, the coach breaks the journey in Konya. Here is what that stop involves, what it costs, and why the city's name is worth knowing even from a lunch table.
Short answer
Konya is the lunch stop on day 2, on the drive back from Cappadocia to the coast. Lunch there is an optional extra, paid on the trip. Konya is the city of Mevlana (Rumi), but the programme does not include a museum visit: it is a meal break, not a sightseeing stop.
Where Konya fits on the way home
Day 2 starts in Cappadocia with an optional sunrise, breakfast at the hotel, a leather centre and a Turkish delight centre. Then the coach sets off back towards the coast.
The first stretch is about 2 h on the road, then a short break, then about 1 h 20 min to Konya. After lunch there are about 2 h more and a short stop before you are dropped at your hotel again between 19:00 and 21:00. The full order of both days is on the itinerary page.
Lunch in Konya is an extra
Lunch on day 2 is not part of the tour fare. It costs extra and is paid on the trip, if you want it. The fare covers the coach and guide, one night in a 3- or 4-star hotel, dinner on day 1, breakfast on day 2 and the Underground City entrance.
You decide on the day. If you would rather eat something you brought, that is your choice; just stay with the group and be back at the coach on time. Every extra and its price is listed on the price page.
| Day 2 meal | In the fare? | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast at the hotel | Included | — |
| Lunch in Konya | Optional extra | Extra cost |
| Drinks | Not included | Paid on the spot |
Konya, the city of Mevlana
Konya is one of the great cities of central Anatolia, and for many people around the world its name means one person: Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the poet and mystic known in English simply as Rumi. He lived and taught in Konya centuries ago, and his poetry on love, longing and the search for the divine is still read in many languages.
The order of whirling dervishes, the Mevlevi, traces its roots to Rumi and to Konya. Their turning ceremony, the sema, has become one of the most recognisable images of Türkiye's spiritual heritage.
This is background to help you place the city. The tour programme lists Konya as a lunch stop only.
What the stop is not
We want to be clear, because some people hear "Konya" and expect a visit to the Mevlana Museum or a dervish ceremony. Neither is in the operator's programme for this tour, and we will not promise either.
The Konya stop is a lunch break on a long return drive. If seeing Rumi's city properly matters a great deal to you, it is worth planning a separate visit on another trip rather than hoping the coach will make a detour.
Making the most of a lunch stop
- Listen for the meeting time. The coach has a long way still to go, and the group leaves together.
- Keep a little cash in euros or local currency handy for lunch and drinks.
- Stretch your legs. After the morning on the road, a walk around before you sit down helps.
- Ask the guide about Konya and Rumi on the way in; the guide's language depends on the group and season.
- Think about the evening. You arrive back late in the day, so a proper meal at lunch can make the rest of the drive easier.
Travelling with children or special diets
If you have children, or follow a particular diet, tell us when you book so we can pass the question on. We cannot list the menu here, as it is not on record. Our guide to the tour with children covers the long road days in more detail.
Book the 2-day tour
The tour departs on Tuesdays and Fridays from the Antalya coast. Choose your date on the booking form: nothing is paid online, payment is in euros, Turkish lira or US dollars on the trip, and a free cancellation stays open until 48 hours before departure.