turkey and greece travel itinerary

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Home > 14 Day Turkey & Greece Itinerary – Best 2 Weeks In 2024

14 Day Turkey & Greece Itinerary – Best 2 Weeks In 2024

Written by our local expert SJ

Sarah-Jane has lived in Croatia for 10+ years. SJ, as she is known, has been traveling the Balkans & beyond since 2000. She now shares her passion for traveling with her husband & kids.

Have a remarkable 14-day journey filled with history, culture, & breathtaking landscapes using our 14-day Turkey and Greece itinerary. 

If you want to go on a beautiful European holiday and make memories that’ll last a lifetime, consider touring Greece and Turkey.

Now, Turkey is actually in both Europe and Asia. Greece, on the other hand, is an entirely European country. Regardless of the technicalities, however, both countries are home to an incredible melting pot of cultures just waiting to be explored!

It’s not just about experiencing eclectic cultures and rich traditions. Both countries are known for their ancient history, and you can learn all about the past and visit fascinating historical sites.

And don’t forget about the gorgeous scenery and natural landscapes. Both countries – Greece in particular – are known for their pristine beaches and beautiful Mediterranean shorelines. But they also both have unique inland landscapes, including looming mountains, rolling hills, and some very unusual rock formations.

So, the question is, how many days in Greece and how many days in Turkey are ideal for your holiday? Well, you could easily spend a month in each, but for our purposes, a week in each country is sufficient to get a good feel for things.

A Greece and Turkey vacation will allow you to enjoy a little bit of everything – intriguing cultures, ancient histories, beautiful beaches , and beautiful scenery everywhere you look.

Skip Ahead To My Advice Here!

Why You Should Visit Greece And Turkey In One Holiday

The countries are near each other, and Greek and Turkish history is very much intertwined. The records of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires play a significant role in both countries’ heritages and histories, and there was even a significant amount of movement of people between the two countries.

Greece declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in the 1830s, and the Turks became independent in 1923 after the First World War. The two countries’ relationship has always been tense due to their shared history, but today, they’re both members of NATO, and they’re on reasonably good terms – at least for tourists traveling between the two nations!

Thus, a 14-day trip to travel Greece and Turkey is an excellent idea because the intermeshing of cultures and history undoubtedly makes for an exciting experience! From a practical perspective, it’s also reasonably easy to travel within and between the two countries. Many transport options are commonly used, so they’re efficient, reliable, and relatively cost-effective.

So, if this sounds like an epic holiday to you, you’re in luck because we’re here to help ensure your trip goes off without a hitch!

Without further ado, let’s dive right into how to plan a trip to Turkey and Greece for fourteen days.

Turkey And Greece Itinerary: 14 Days Of Adventure

When you’re planning a big trip like this, there are two main things you want to make sure you get right: going to the right places and doing everything in a logical order. The last thing you want to do is waste time and money traveling unnecessarily!

But luckily for you, I’ve already done all the hard work, so you don’t need to worry about how to plan a trip to Turkey and Greece. On top of getting the logistics right, I will give you all the extra insider info you need based on my personal experience of traveling to both countries.

Day 1: Istanbul

Start the best Turkey itinerary by flying directly into Istanbul Airport, the ultimate European and Asian travel hub that falls perfectly between the two continents. The city even has an international airport on each side of the continental border!

A few places will be most frequently recommended when it comes to where to stay, but I recommend the Taksim area – more specifically, Galata. It’s a beautiful, lively, and safe area with loads to do and see both during the day and at all hours during the night.

Start your day wandering around Galata and find a café for breakfast – make sure you try a traditional Turkish breakfast (Kahvalti) and Turkish coffee as you have a full day ahead. Then, make your way to the historic 14th-century Galata Tower. You can either pay to go up to the top or enjoy the view from the bottom.

Continue your walk down to Karaköy on the water’s edge and cross the bridge over the Golden Horn, past the local fishermen, towards Eminönü. From there, you’ll need to walk up to Sultanahmet – you can take a tram, but it’s far more interesting to wander the streets.

Sultanahmet is where you’ll find the city’s most visited tourist attractions: the iconic Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Basilica Cistern. They’re within a few minutes of each other, so it makes sense to try and see them in one day. You can spend the rest of the day in this area with ease.

Top tip: Buy a ticket for the Basilica Cistern online to skip the queue!

Head back across the bridge to your accommodation in Taksim. When you’re ready for dinner, take a stroll around the neighborhood and wander off the main streets to find the best local food spots .

Day 2: Istanbul

Your second day in Istanbul will take you a little further out of the main touristy spots to an area called Kadıköy (not to be confused with Karaköy), found on the Anatolian (or Asian) side of the city.

So, head back down to Karaköy on the shore front – this time, stick to the lefthand side of the bridge and head straight to the ferry station. From there, jump on the ferry heading to Kadıköy – best of all, it’s not just about the destination. You’ll cross the Bosphorus Strait during the ferry ride, a bucket-list item.

Spending the day in Kadıköy is about wandering around the stores, exploring the gorgeous coastline, and visiting the local markets. The highlight will be visiting the local Kadıköy Fish Market, where you’ll find vendors selling fresh fish and other local eats – make sure you try the stuffed mussels!

Take a walk down the coastal pathway towards Moda and visit Umbrella Street, a popular main street bustling with shops and vendors. It’s also known for its colorful aesthetic and historic tramline that runs through it.

The atmosphere feels quite different in Kadıköy than it does on the European side – everything is a little quieter, and you can wander into the mosques and see them in all their glory without being stuck in a noisy crowd. Just ensure you’re dressed appropriately; for women, always take a headscarf just in case.

Head back to your accommodation and try out some local seafood for dinner. There are several restaurants along the shoreline in Karaköy that are known, in particular, for their fish wraps.

Once you’ve eaten, wander down Istiklal Street – it’s sure to be full of people until the early morning hours, and you’ll find plenty of bars and live music venues up the alleyways. If you’re unsure, ask a local.

Day 3: Istanbul

It’s your last day and night in Istanbul , and it’s free time to hit up the bazaars. The Grand Bazaar is located in the Fatih district, and you can get there easily by foot if you walk up from the Eminönü area. The Bazaar was built in the 15th century and has been used by locals to sell spices, clothing, sweets, tea, food, and just about anything else you can think of for centuries.

Today, it’s an absolute hub of activity, and the atmosphere is electric – make sure you do some haggling before settling on a price !

Once you’ve had enough of the Grand Bazaar, return to Yenii Cami (the New Mosque) and check out the Egyptian Spice Bazaar. It’s also super busy and sure to overwhelm your senses with oodles of color and plenty of different smells – in the best way possible.

After the bazaars, catch a bus over to the charming little neighborhood of Balat. It’s a historic area full of colorful streets, plenty of artwork, and cultural heritage. This is a fantastic place to spend the afternoon and evening – Balat is known for its epic food scene and awesome nightlife. Or if you prefer palaces, head to Topkapi Palace and museum.

Getting back to Taksim is also relatively easy – the buses normally run until about 23:00, but you can even walk if you feel up to it.

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Day 4: Selçuk

Next up, you’re heading to Selçuk. It’s pretty easy to get there, and you have a few options – you can get there by bus, train, or plane – but I’d suggest flying.

But your one night in Selçuk is actually all about visiting Ephesus, the ruins of what used to be the largest and most important city in the ancient Mediterranean world.

You only have one day and a lot to see; you’re only a few minutes away from Ephesus, and you can easily get there via public transport. So, arrive at your accommodation in the morning, freshen up, and hit the road because the sooner you get there, the quieter it’ll be.

The Ephesus tour covers 415 hectares, and visitors can wander around from one site to the next, exploring the ancient ruins – you can also do a guided tour if you prefer.

Here are the top sites you ought to visit:

• The Library of Celsus
• The Temple of Hadrian
• The Temple of Artemis
• Ephesus Great Theater
• The Baths of Ephesus
• The Terraced Houses
• The Winged Nike
• Hercules’ Gate

…and last but not least, the Ephesus Museum if you really want the full experience. Of course, this is a lot to fit into one day, so you may have to pick and choose. But make sure you spend some time wandering around the city center .

• Complete Guide To Ephesus

After exploring the ancient city , head back to Selçuk before a relaxed dinner near your accommodation. Among my top recommendations would be SelçukKoftecisifor, a traditional Turkish meal of koftas and other delicious treats!

Day 5: Cappadocia

Head straight to the airport bright and early for a quick flight to Kayseri – the flight is about an hour and a half – and then a bus ride to the gorgeous, arid town of Göreme in the Cappadocia region.

Now remember, Cappadocia – the famous home to Turkish hot air balloons , fairy chimneys, underground cities, and interesting rock formations often called “lunar landscapes” – is a region, and there are several places you can stay. But I personally think Göreme is the best. It’s conveniently situated, the town has a lovely atmosphere, and the scenery is just breathtaking – every morning, you can see the hot air balloon rides take flight no matter where you are in the town!

When you arrive in Göreme, the best thing to do is explore on foot and take it all in. Wander the streets and hire some bicycles in the town center – it’s cheap and a great way to explore. Take a ride out to Love Valley and see the unique rock formations – you can even take a picnic along and enjoy a Turkish lunch out in the open.

If you still have energy in the evening, book a sunset horseback ride around the nearby valleys – this is more appropriate than you think because Cappadocia is known as “the Land of Beautiful Horses.” Afterward, pick one of the many local restaurants to enjoy a delicious meal with a view !

Top Tip: Try the testi kebab – it’s a traditional meal from Cappadocia, and it’s a yummy kebab cooked in a local clay pot.

Day 6: Cappadocia

Get ready for lots of sightseeing because today, you’re going on a tour! While in Göreme, you can do three main tours – red, green, and blue. They all involve different sites and main attractions, but I’d suggest the green – it involves attractions you can’t see without your own mode of transport.

You’ll be collected from your accommodation at around 9:30 in the morning, and you’ll visit a plethora of different attractions – some are scenic viewpoints, and others involve a little more interaction. A few of the tour’s highlights include:

• Ihlara Valley
• Pigeon Valley
• Derinkuyu Underground City
• Nar Crater Lake

At around 14:00, you’ll be treated to a lovely lunch right on the banks of the Melendiz River, and you’ll be able to choose between various delicious local meals.

Although this tour involves a fair bit of driving, it doesn’t feel like you’re spending ages in the car because you stop frequently and get to see and do various things. You also enjoy an easy-to-moderate hike at one point, so you get to stretch your legs and get out into nature.

Finally, the tour ends with a final stop at a local Turkish sweet shop, where you’ll get to taste a variety of traditional sweets, including Turkish delight and halva.

You’re unlikely to feel like a big meal when you get home, but if you want something small, I’d suggest picking a restaurant with a terrace and enjoying a light bowl of lentil soup – it’s a Turkish favorite and delicious.

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Day 7: Antalya

Get ready for a change of scenery because you’re heading to the South-East Coast of Turkey . Catch a quick, hour-long flight from Kayseri to Antalya (you can also take a bus that takes about 10 hours) and arrive in this Mediterranean haven. I’d suggest staying in Kaleici (also known as the Old Town) – it’s full of life, and there are loads to do and see!

Head out immediately and start exploring the old town and the Old Harbor – just walking there is a treat as you wind your way through the alleyways filled with shops and restaurants.

Find a local tour company at the harbor and book a boat trip – you can choose between a short, 45-minute trip to the waterfalls or a longer excursion that involves swimming, lunch, and more. It all depends on what you feel like, and the scenery is gorgeous regardless! Just make sure you bargain down the price.

Enjoy lunch at one of the local restaurants in the harbor afterward, and then make your way to Mermerli Plaji, about five minutes away. This is a paid beach, but it’s really nearby, and it’s totally worth it.

In the afternoon, visit Perge – the city’s most famous ancient Roman ruins only 20 minutes from Keleici. For dinner, find a friendly local spot in the Old Town and grab something delicious – you’ll find different types of kebabs everywhere you look.

Day 8: Antalya

Grab your beach gear and slip on your walking shoes because you’re heading to the beach. Arguably, the nicest beach in Antalya is Konyaalti Beach – it’s about a 40-minute walk, but it’s scenic, and you get to see the city simultaneously. You’ll wander along the old tram line and gaze out at the Mediterranean Sea over the cliffs.

Enjoy the beach park in all its glory – this is an excellent place to hang out all day on the beach, in the restaurants, and perusing the shops. There are plenty of public bathrooms and changing rooms, too. Also, if you’d like to get some exercise, the park has a cool pathway for runners and cyclists. There are also many pretty grassy patches in the shade if you want to picnic.

End your day back in Kaleici for dinner, and make sure you explore the alleyways through Hadrian’s Gate at night – you’ll find plenty of cool bars with live music.

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Day 9: Rhodes

Start your morning early and hop on a bus to Fethiye because you’ll travel from Turkey to Greece. Now, when it comes to Greek islands near Turkey , Rhodes is the closest, and that’s where you’re going – take a ferry from Fethiye to Rhodes Island and get ready to start your Greek adventure. It’s just less than two hours – at least it’s not a ferry from Turkey to Santorini!

You’ll arrive in Rhodes in the afternoon, so stretch your legs after your morning of traveling by exploring Rhodes’ Old Town. Walk through the Old Town city gates and climb to the top of the Roloi Clock Tower for a gorgeous view of the city. Afterward, make sure you visit the Palace of the Grand Master and the Knights of Rhodes and then stroll down the iconic Street of the Knights of Rhodes.

If you still have energy, end your afternoon off by checking out the Acropolis of Rhodes, the ruins of the upper part of the ancient Greek city . Make sure you check out the Odeon – the old marble theater.

End the day on your own terms and find somewhere cool in the Old Town for dinner – you certainly won’t be short of options!

Day 10: Rhodes

Head down to Mandraki Harbor and breathe in the fresh salty air – the old city walls and gorgeous blue sea will surround you. Make sure you have a look at the two deer statues at the entrance of the harbor. This is where the Colossus of Rhodes used to stand.

Wander around the streets near the shorefront, and if you’re in the mood for a morning dip, there’s a little beach near the harbor.

Take a walk around the outskirts of the harbor and check out the Rhodes Windmills, also known as the Windmills of Mandraki. The windmills are no longer in use, but back in the day, they were used to grind grain that was brought into Rhodes via ships. Today, you can wander around the windmills and catch a boat from there to explore other parts of the coastline!

Spend the rest of your afternoon at Akti Miaouli Beach, a gorgeous, spacious beachfront that stretches a few kilometers long.

For dinner, find yourself a lovely traditional taverna in the Old Town, and make sure you try the local dishes – Lacan is an absolute favorite in Rhodes!

Day 11: Karpathos

Start your day with a four-hour ferry from Rhodes to the gorgeous, lesser-known, beautiful island of Karpathos. Located on the southern side of the Aegean Sea , it’s the second largest of the Greek Dodecanese islands, and it’s known for its gorgeous greenery, golden sandy beaches, and traditional and colorful villages.

The best way to get around the island is by hiring a car or scooter, so try and get that sorted as soon as you arrive. Once you’ve got your wheels, head to Olympos Village and wander around the traditional town – you’ll find locals dressed in traditional clothing and getting on with old Greek tasks.

In the afternoon, go to Pigadia, the capital of Karpathos. You can decide what you feel like doing and see when you get there, but here are a few options:

• The Archaeological Museum
• Pigadia Acropolis
• Aperi Basilica

Spend the evening wandering around the restaurants, cafes, and bars – the area will surely be a hustling and bustling hive of activity!

Day 12: Karpathos

Enjoy your next day in Karpathos by doing beach hopping – that’s the point of visiting Greece , after all.

Begin at the gorgeous Apella Beach. It’s the perfect spot to spend all day relaxing, and the crystal-clear is breathtaking. There’s even a cute little 13th-century church down the end of the beach if you take a wander!

Next up is Ahata Beach – it’s known for its exquisite blue-blue waters and pebbly shore. It’s a great place to chill out, read your book, and take a few photos.

When you start getting hungry, make your way to Kyra Panagia – this is, arguably, the most popular beach on the island, so it’s sandier and has loads of tavernas and restaurants around. This is the perfect beach if you want to enjoy the Greek sun and a fun, bustling vibe.

If you want to get active, consider either Markis Gialos Beach or Agrilaopotamos – they offer windsurfing and kitesurfing, respectively.

Finally, enjoy the sunset at Agios Nikolaos – you’ll enjoy a gorgeous view of Kasos Island , and if you want to stretch your legs, you can walk up to Paleocasto. Head somewhere scenic for dinner – Gioma Meze is a gorgeous little spot near Agios Nikolaos where you can enjoy good food and a beautiful view.

• Guide To Karpathos Island

Day 13: Athens

Fly from Karpathos to Athens in just over an hour. Since you only have two nights in the city, I’d suggest you stay in Syntagma Square – it’s historically significant, and now, it’s just super central, and there’s always a buzz. Check out the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier while you’re there!

Head out to the Panathenaic Stadium, the location of the first-ever Olympic Games in 1896. If you want to walk on the track, you can pay to get in and get decent photos from outside.

Next up, make your way to the absolutely massive Temple of Olympian Zeus. The sheer size of the ruins is enough to make it worthwhile!

On your way to the Acropolis , you’ll pass by Hadrian’s Arch, a structure commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Note the link to Hadrian’s Gate you visited in Antalya!

The Acropolis was once the heart and soul of ancient Athens and is still a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Ensure you also check out all the main sites and the Acropolis Museum!

End your afternoon with a walk around the quaint (quintessentially Greek) Anafiotika neighborhood.

Top Tip: If you’re looking for an authentic Greek dinner spot, try To Filema in the Syntagma Square area.

Day 14: Athens

It’s the last day of your Turkey and Greece tour, and it starts with a visit to Monastiraki Square – there are lots of shops and even a little flea market. Just two minutes away, you’ll find Hadrian’s Library, another fascinating set of ancient ruins to wander around.

Head down to the Central Athens Market (also known as Varvakios) and check out where local vendors sell meat, vegetables, fruit, spices, and fish. It’s located close to the Psiri Neighborhood of downtown Athens , and going to the market will give you a really authentic feel for Greek culture.

After the business of the market, make your way to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, where you’ll see some of the oldest Greek artifacts from all periods of the country’s ancient history.

And finally, end off your holiday by watching an incredible sunset from the top of Mount Lycabettus, the highest point of Athens.

If you want to treat yourself to a special dinner for your last night, make a booking at Orizontes Lycabettus – you’ll be able to enjoy delicious Greek-style food and seafood.

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Final thoughts on your 14-day turkey and greece itinerary.

And that’s a wrap on your trip from Turkey to the Greek islands – and more! After fourteen days in two of the most beautiful countries in the world (in my humble opinion), you now know that deciding between Greece and Turkey isn’t necessary; you can do both!

Can I visit Greece and Turkey in one trip?

Absolutely – the countries are easy to travel between and have a connected history, making it great to explore both places together.

What is the best way to get from Turkey to Greece or from Greece to Turkey?

Taking a ferry from the Turkish mainland to one of the Greek islands (or vice versa) is the easiest way to get between the countries.

What Greek islands are close to Turkey?

• Chios can be reached from Cesme .
• Rhodes can be reached from Marmaris or Fethiye
• Lesbos can be reached from Ayvalik
• Kos, Patmos, Leros, or Kalymnos can be reached from Bodrum
• Samos can be reached from Seferihisar

How many days do I need to explore Greece and Turkey?

We’d recommend no fewer than ten days; however, 14 days or more is optimal.

• Choosing Between Greece And Turkey
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Comments (4)

PLEASE QUOTE ME FOR THIS TRIP IN 2024 SEPTEMBER, I LIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND MY CURRENCY IS RANDS

Sorry we do not do travel agency jobs.

how much per person for march 30 onwards? how many persons, minimum? do you have a shorter trip, like 10 or 12 days only?

I do not sell tours, so I can not give you a quote, sorry.

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TOURING GREECE AND TURKEY

Few places on earth can rival the incredible history of Turkey and Greece, yet their delights are certainly not only found in books about the past. Their proximity also means that it is easy to combine them both into an incredible itinerary to make the most of touring Greece and Turkey together.

Both countries are dynamic and lively, boasting culture and customs that are just as rich today as they were thousands of years ago. Add in immense natural beauty and delicious cuisine, and it’s no wonder they are both such popular destinations.

The following itinerary takes in the best of Turkey and Greece, with a variety of sights and activities that pay homage to the countries’ past, and present.

PLANNING A TRIP TO GREECE?

Whether you’ve been before or it’s your first time it can be hard to process all the information out there. Be sure to check out our complete Planning Guide as well as our FREE 13-page downloadable itinerary.

If you are feeling really overwhelmed you might like a Trip Consultation perhaps!?

And come join our private Facebook Group where you can ask questions and get advice from real travellers!

When to visit Turkey and Greece

Turkey is very much a year-round destination with something for everyone. There is a lot to see and do in Istanbul of course but also in the interior of the country where it can really be a magical winter destination .

On the coast, there are thousands of beautiful beaches and a few islands too so that is when warmer weather is a popular time to visit especially between June and September.

Greece is best known for the islands which are most popular from Greek Easter (April) until October with July and August being absolute peak season. The Greek mainland again is great all year round and in fact, there are 25 ski fields in the north that provide a very inexpensive alternative to many European ski destinations.

Day 1 – 3 : Istanbul

How to get to Istanbul 

 Istanbul is well-connected to cities all over Europe and the rest of the world and Istanbul International airport, is said to be one of the best in the world. The city is connected to the airport by bus,  seven routes via the Metro and three different types of taxi. A private transfer can be a great way to greet this incredible city, especially for first-timers.

Istanbul is a city that is quite literally a mix of the East and West. With one ‘foot’ on the continent of Europe and the other in Asia, Istanbul is a city like no other. The varied influences shine through Istanbul’s cuisine, architecture and culture, offering a unique and exciting blend.

While Istanbul is a sprawling metropolis, its sights are surprisingly easy to get around. Many are clustered together, and an efficient public transport network makes navigating the city a breeze. There are some excellent private walking tours of the city and a very good   Hop-on Hop-off bus to explore on too.

Istanbul sightseeing

• Sultanahmet , home to many of Istanbul’s most iconic sites. We suggest a walking tour (either self-guided or in the company of a professional guide) taking in the following sights:

• Topkapi Palace, the stunning palace that housed Ottoman sultans for some four centuries, and was the heart of the sprawling empire. A tour with an historian is the best way to see what is one of the best sites in Turkey. • Byzantine Hippodrome, the main sporting arena during Byzantine times when Istanbul was known as Constantinople. • The Basilica Cistern, an eerie underground water cavern that was famously featured in the James Bond franchise. • Hagia Sofia , the jaw-dropping 6th century Church that is one of the most iconic buildings in the world, and a symbol of Istanbul. • The Blue Mosque, another magical icon of Istanbul that is beautiful inside and out (note that it is closed during Islamic prayer).

• the incredible Istanbul Archaeological Museum , which provides a comprehensive and logical overview of Turkey’s complex history. Open 9am-7pm daily.
• An unusual way to heal those tired walking feet and muscles is to pay a visit to Turkey’s famous hammam baths. Usually consisting of a sauna, massage and body scrub, a visit to a Turkish hammam is sure to be a memorable experience that’s great for your skin. You will never feel cleaner! Fair warning: an authentic hammam usually means going sans clothing, however more touristic experiences will allow you to preserve some modesty with a bathing suit!
• shopping for souvenirs in the Grand Bazaar. This huge, colourful market is filled with incredible goods and charismatic shopkeepers, so there really is no better place to pick up some souvenirs of your stay in Istanbul. Be prepared to haggle the prices down, as it is definitely expected!
• experience a famous Bosphorous Cruise down the river that flows through the city. On the cruise, you’ll get a unique and beautiful perspective of the city, and then there’s the experience that is watching the birds that flock around the boat. A typical cruise is two hours, and you might like to splurge for one that includes refreshments. A sunset cruise is one of the best things to do in Istanbul at night.

There is so much to do and you may not get to all these things in only 3 days. As a minimum, we suggest the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sofia, and the Blue Mosque, but it can be altered depending on your interests. These are all close to together and near to the Grand Bazaar so combining them on a full day tour is a great idea.

Dinner with a view is a must, as Istanbul while the sun sets and during the evening is absolutely enchanting. The restaurant at the Galata Tower is a great option for excellent food with a phenomenal view as are many of the restaurants in the nearby Beyoglu dining precinct.

Where to stay in Istanbul

The most convenient area to stay in Istanbul is right near the main attractions which is why some of the best hotels in Sultanahmet, such as Romance Istanbul and Idyll Hotel are so incredibly popular. Neorion Hotel is fantastic for families whilst the Four Seasons is considered one of the most luxurious hotels in the world and has an unbeatable waterfront position.

When we visited with our family we stayed across the bridge near the Galata Tower and loved the authentic local experience. Check out the waterfront Wings Hotel  or the Bankerhan. 

Buy an Istanbul E-Pass

Buying an Istanbul E-Pass is a great idea. You can select from a 2,3,5 or 7 day pass that includes Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and the Blue Mosque plus places like the Grand Bazaar and a Bosphorus Cruise. Over 45+ attractions are included!

Day 4-5 : Ephesus

How to get to Ephesus

Ephesus is located about 530 kilometers away from Istanbul. The fastest way to reach it is to fly domestically between Istanbul and nearby Izmir, although it is also possible to travel between them by bus or car, which takes about 6 hours.

Turkey is, in many ways, a living museum and you can’t miss the exhibit that is Ephesus. This was once a powerful Greek city, but it also flourished under Roman rule. Laying eyes on the incredibly preserved ruins, it is almost impossible to believe that the city was first constructed in the 10th century BC.

From that time until it was abandoned in the 15th Century AD, many of the world’s great empires would leave their mark on Ephesus. In particular, the Ancient Greeks and Romans had a great impact on the city, although other empires including the Byzantines and Goths also influenced its construction and appearance.

You will need at least a full day to explore the large site. We also highly recommend doing so in the company of an experienced guide on a small tour who can explain the history of the most important temples and parts of Ephesus, such as the Library of Celsus and the Odeon.

Ironically, perhaps the most famous building at Ephesus is one that no longer exists – the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. Although it was destroyed centuries ago, you can still see hints of where it would have stood, including parts of the foundation.

Some of the artifacts from Ephesus have been relocated to the Ephesus Archaeological Museum to ensure they are preserved for future generations. It’s certainly well worth paying a visit to this museum and learning more about the area’s history.

Where to stay near Ephesus

There is no accommodation at Ephesus itself. People choose to either stay in Izmir or Kusadasi.

Kusadasi Hotels are best serviced by these Ephesus Tours from Kusadasi and people staying at Izmir hotels such as the incredibly well priced and located Key Hotel  will love this guided tour which includes a skip-the-line ticket.

Day 6 : Pamukkale

How to get to Pamukkale

Pamukkale lies about 190 kilometres east of Ephesus. Numerous buses leave from Izmir for Pamukkale daily, or it is a two-hour car journey.

The name Pamukkale literally translates to ‘cotton castle’, and its name will make sense once you lay eyes on it. This dazzling place is utterly unique, and you may not believe what you’re seeing as you look upon its striking features.

Pamukkale is most famous for its rows of cerulean blue natural pools, which are surrounded by striking white terrain. Warm, mineral-rich water flows into the terraces, pooling and tempting visitors to take a long, relaxing soak and enjoy the atmosphere and almost extra-terrestrial beauty. In fact, Pamukkale has attracted wellness-seeking tourists for thousands of years, and show no signs of slowing down.

While it is the natural pools that are the area’s most famous attraction, there are also well-preserved Roman ruins nearby, should you finish exploring the pools with enough time for another activity.

Pamukkale is most famous for its rows of cerulean blue natural pools, which are surrounded by striking white terrain. Warm, mineral-rich water flows into the terraces, pooling and tempting visitors to take a long, relaxing soak and enjoy the atmosphere and almost extra-terrestrial beauty. In fact, Pamukkale has attracted wellness-seeking tourists for thousands of years, and shows no signs of slowing down.

Where to stay in Pamukkale

Pamukkale is a mid sized rural town and is very affordable. Hotel Sahin and Hal-Tur are two of the nicest hotels whilst Melrose Viewpoint Suites have very comfortable family rooms.

Day 7 & 8 : Konya and Karapınar

How to get to Konya

Konya is located about 400 kilometres east of Pamukkale, so it is a long drive by bus or car. An alternative is to fly, as there is a daily direct flight with Turkish Airlines.

One of Turkey’s oldest continually-inhabited cities is also home to some of its most unique and famous customs. This is Konya, a city located in the heart of central Turkey, which boasts rich culture and tradition.

In particular, Konya is known for its “Whirling Dervishes” , a religious practice that was founded by Celaleddin Rumi (known later as Mevlâna) in the 12th Century. The Mevlâna Museum (complete with Mevlâna’s tomb) is the city’s greatest attraction while seeing the Whirling Dervishes in action is a spellbinding experience.

The city also offers a number of beautiful and historic mosques, while the Archaeological Museum offers up even more treasures.

About 90 kilometers south of Konya – therefore ideal for a day trip – lies Karapınar. This often overlooked region is well worth a visit, with its many magical crater lakes. This includes Meke Crater Lake, which has an imposing island in the middle.

Where to stay in Konya

Konya is another very affordable town and doesn’t have a huge variety of accommodation choices. The Ramada Plaza is one the newest and biggest choices and has a beautiful inhouse Hammam. For something smaller and more authentically Turkish Hich Hotel  and Araf Hotel are both lovely and very inexpensive.

Days 9 – 10 : Cappadocia

(pronounced Capa-dok-ia) 

How to get to Cappadocia

Cappadocia is about 192 kilometers, or two hours by car, from Karapınar. If catching public transport, it will likely be easier to circle back to Konya and get a bus from there to Cappadocia, as options are limited in Karapınar.

You may well have spent time gazing dreamily at photos of Turkey’s Cappadocia, the unique region famed for its “fairy chimneys” and dozens of hot air balloons that tower over them at dawn and dusk.

Cappadocia is most famous for these unique rock formations, which are found particularly around Goreme. Staring at these dizzyingly tall and perfectly sculpted formations, it’s almost impossible to believe they are the work of nature.

Indeed they are, although some have also been influenced by thousands of years of human settlement. Another famous feature of Cappadocia is the rock-cut homes and churches, while even visitors today can stay overnight in a unique cave hotel. Also below ground are huge complexes designed to hide entire cities away, such as Derinkuyu.

It’s totally bizarre yet enticingly beautiful – especially when seen from above in a hot air balloon at dawn or dusk. Although it could be condensed into one action-packed day, two will allow you to really experience the unique atmosphere of this enchanting place.

Things to do in Cappadocia

•   Hot air ballooning – an absolutely magical experience and highlight of our visit!
• a private day tour will take you through the Goreme Valley exploring the fairy chimneys, the Cardak Underground City and a local winery.
• the Devrent and Pasabag valleys including the Göreme Open-Air Museum are best done as a full day tour.
• Visit the crystal white salt at Lake Tuz as well as Tatlarin Underground City and Ağzıkarahan Caravanserai.

Where to stay in Cappadocia

Cappadocia has some of the most amazing accommodation in Turkey and indeed the world. Most visitors are very excited to stay in a famed Cappadocia cave suite and some the loveliest would have to be Vineyard Cave Hotel , Azure Cave Suites and Aren Hotel and Art Gallery. Visitors enjoying their honeymoon in Cappadocia should check out Kayakapi Premium Caves  or Sacred House  whilst budget travellers will be very happy at Monte Cappa Cave House.

Day 11 – 13 : Çanakkale

 (pronounced Chana-kalay)

How to get to Cannakale

Loop back up to northwest Turkey with the 1,000-kilometer trek between Cappadocia and Çanakkale. If a 14-hour bus or car ride doesn’t sound appealing, your best bet is to fly.

Unfortunately, there is no direct connection – the easiest way is to fly from Kayseri or Nevsehir to Istanbul, and then on to Çanakkale. There are numerous daily flights so your stopover is likely to be brief.

The city of Çanakkale is a must for lovers of history – both the ancient and modern variety is represented here. Perhaps most universally recognizable is the legend of Troy, immortalized in books and performances for thousands of years.

Things to do in Canakkale

• Visit Troy : Troy was the ancient city that was felled when enemy Greek troops snuck inside the city walls hiding inside a ‘Trojan Horse’, thus creating a legend and colloquialism still used today. Nowadays, a reconstruction of the alleged horse still stands in the area that is thought to have been part of Troy.
• Kaz Dağı National Park:  While it is history that draws many visitors in, they often stay for the natural beauty. We recommend spending some time exploring the stunning Kaz Dağı National Park south of Çanakkale. It is fitting that it is believed to be near the site of the world’s first beauty pageant, allegedly held between the famous Goddesses Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena.
• Temple of Athena in Behramkale. You can do a day trip here along with the ancient city of Assos, once home to Aristotle.
• Gallipoli: Moving forward many centuries in time, Çanakkale was also highly significant during World War I. The nearby beaches of Gallipoli hold particular significance to Australians, as they were the site of  a casualty record of 100,000 deaths and 400,000 wounded over a span of nine months. Moving remembrance services are held here annually, while people of many nationalities visit to pay their respects all through the year. Book tickets for a guided tour in advance to avoid the crowds. The Turkish domestic tour buses can be significant!

If you would like to be picked up and taken to both Troy and Gallipoli in one day in air-conditioned comfort then this tour is a great way to do it!

Where to stay in Canakkale

We really enjoyed the waterfront location of the small but charming Hotel Des Etrangers. Hotel Limani is right next door and also looks straight out over the Gallipoli peninsula.

If you would prefer to do an organised tour for your time in Turkey there are excellent tours on offer for both 7 days and 9 day small group tours that may be your cup of tea. Sometimes its nice to have someone else organise the lot.

And now, on to Greece.

Day 14 – 16 Touring Turkey and Greece: Lesvos, Greece

How to get to Lesvos from Turkey

Daily ferries run between Lesvos and Ayvalik in Turkey. Ayvalik is 3.5 hours by bus from Çanakkale, and the ferry then takes about 1.5 hours to arrive at Mytilene on Lesvos. Check Ferryhopper for up-to-date timetables and to book tickets.

Although it lies off the coast of Turkey, Lesvos is distinctly Greek. In fact, its biggest draw is the opportunity to experience traditional Greek Island life, as it has largely avoided the mass tourism of some other islands.

It is also somewhat of a microcosm of all that makes the Greek Islands so wonderful. The island is fringed by beautiful beaches, meaning spending a lazy afternoon or two relaxing in the sun is non-negotiable. There are many options, but Skala Eressos is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Greek Isles.

It is worth drawing yourself away from the beach (as difficult as it may be) to experience more of what the island has to offer. Traditional villages such as Xidera and Antissa offer quaint cafes and true Greek hospitality, making them the perfect place to stop for a lunch with a side of culture and perhaps some lively conversation.

Historians are also sure to be impressed by sites including the two castles of Molyvos and Mytilini, and a Roman Amphitheatre that once seated up to 15,000. Millions of years before this was constructed the Petrified Forest was also created; today it is one of the most unique attractions on the island.

Two days is a good amount of time to explore the island’s attractions and enjoy some relaxation on the beach. However, more time will allow you to explore even more of what it has to offer, and you certainly won’t be short of things to do and see.

Where to stay on Lesvos

Lesvos is the 3rd biggest island in Greece so it pays to chose somewhere central. The Aphrodite Hotel and the delightfully named The Schoolmistress with the Golden Eyes are both in the charming fishing village of Molyvos ( aka Mithimna) and are popular for good reason. So too are the Imerti Resort Hotel and Pasiphae Hotel in the protected harbour town of Skala. If you would prefer to stay in the main port town of Mytileme then its hard to go past Theofilos Paradise Boutique Hotel or Pyrgos of Mytileme.

Day 17 – 20 : Athens

How to get to Athens from Turkey:

There are ferries that travel between Lesvos, other Aegean Islands, and Athens regularly, especially during Summer. Ferryhopper is probably the best online booking platform at present. Timetables change each year and they can be weather affected so give yourself plenty of breathing space if catching them.

There is also an airport on Lesvos and regular flights from Athens, Thessaloniki, and other European destinations. Flights to Athens from Lesvos take less than an hour and Aegean Airlines and Turkish Airlines cover the most routes. You can also connect with trains between Turkey and Greece and there are a number of ships that cruise Turkey and Greece destinations on the Aegean Sea.

Highlights of Athens

• Visit the Acropolis, the ancient citadel perched on the hillside and overlooking the city and home to the famous Parthenon – the temple of Athena. Try and arrive either as as early as possible or as late as possible to avoid both the queues and the heat and book ahead for skip-the-line tickets.
•  the Acropolis Museum – arguable one of the best in the world!
•  the Erechtheion and the Temple of Olympian Zeus
• Explore the many museums which include the Children’s Museum, the Music Museum and the Jewish Museum
• Explore the Plaka. Whilst touristy and full of souvenir shops this neighbourhood has retained a village feel and is full of good  cafes, galleries and shops. Its also very central and largely closed to traffic.
• See the Evzones – the Greek presidential guards, during the main changing of the guard ceremony at 11:00 Sunday or every hour on the hour every other day outside Parliament House where they guard the Tomb of the Unkown soldier.
• Explore Ermou street, the main pedestrian shopping street and Syntagma Square and surrounds.
• Take a  free tour of Parliament house.

If time permits you may want to consider a day trip to either the extraordinary archaeological site of Delphi  or a tour the includes Mycanae, Epadaurus and the beautiful town of Nafplion, the first capital of Greece and one of our favourite places in the entire country. For more ideas for day trips and tours CLICK HERE.

Where to stay in Athens

There are some amazing places to stay in Athens including a number of stunning boutique hotels that have opened in the last few years and are some of the best I have stayed at anywhere in the world. Cool, funky, with incredible attention to detail and excellent service, these hotels are all centrally located and within walking distance of all the main sites. Two of the best are The Zillers and Egron House which is an amazing addition to the very successful food business it cohabits with. Something of a modern-day Agora. A little further away in the trendy and lively entertainment district of Psiri is The Foundry , another small design hotel built in, you guessed it, a former Foundry. All of these have rooftop bars or gardens and great views.

If you would prefer a large hotel and one with a swimming pool then the Electra Palace is excellent as is the famous Grande Bretagne Hotel, home to Hollywood movie stars, mobsters, and millionaires over the decades. Budget travelers will be very happy at Centrotel or Athenian Residences which are great for families. For more accommodation recommendations, see our Athens Accommodation page.

Day 21 – 24 : Santorini

How to get to Santorini

There are ferries that travel between Santorini, other Aegean Islands, Crete and Athens regularly, in fact several times a day in Summer. Timetables change regularly as do the carriers. There is also an International airport on the island with flights from Athens and many other destinations.

Santorini truly is one of those destinations that lives up to the hype. It might be crowded in parts and some would say being loved to death but it is very unique and there is nothing like it on the planet.

It can be expensive, particularly for accommodation with a Caldera view so most people don’t stay too long although it is possible to have an affordable stay on Santorini with a bit of clever planning.

Highlights of Santorini:

There are a lot of things to do on Santorini to suit all ages, budgets and interests. Dont miss;

• explore the villages of Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos and Kamari
• see the world famous SUNSET, especially on the water
• visit the unusual beaches including Red Beach and Black Beach
• do some wine tasting at a world famous winery. The Santorini whites are being hailed as some of the best in the world!
• Hike between Fira and Oia
• visit the neighbouring island of Thirassia
• hit the many shops and pick up some excellent produce, art and craft and world renowned precious jewellery
• explore the archaeological site of  Akrotiri , one of the most important prehistoric settlements of the Aegean. 

Where to stay on Santorini:

Santorini is home to some of the most spectacular hotels and villas in the world. It really does pay to splurge on a room with a Caldera view if you can afford it but if not it is possible to stay on Santorini on a budget and still have an amazing time. Read all our Santorini accommodation recommendations  here.   

Day 24 – 27 : Paros

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Welcome to Greece Travel Secrets! I’m Sandy, a tragic Grecophile married to a Greek, hoping to help you have the best possible trip to Greece. We want you to experience the famous Greek ‘Filotimo’ before you even get there.

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Turkish Delights and Greek Gems: A 14-Day Tour Itinerary

Are you dreaming of exploring the ancient wonders and vibrant cultures of Turkey and Greece? This 14-day itinerary will take you on a journey through some of the most iconic destinations in these two countries, from the bustling streets of Istanbul to the stunning beaches of Santorini. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or simply looking for a relaxing getaway, this travel guide has something for everyone.

Means of Travel

Embark on a memorable journey through Turkey and Greece with a variety of travel options. Experience the stunning landscapes and ancient wonders from a unique perspective. Sail the azure waters of the Aegean Sea on a cruise tour, exploring picturesque islands and coastal towns.

Or, soar high above the breathtaking landscapes in a hot air balloon tour, taking in panoramic views of historic sites and natural beauty. Choose the perfect means of travel to make your Turkey and Greece tour unforgettable.

Get in touch with the Leisure Website today and begin your planning stage of the trip to Istanbul. Learn more about the facilities available with us and read through the benefits of opting for the services provided by Leisure on the Flight Booking Page .

Things to Do in Istanbul

• Visit the iconic Hagia Sophia, a stunning architectural marvel with a rich history.
• Explore the grand Topkapi Palace, a former residence of Ottoman sultans, and admire its exquisite architecture and artifacts.
• Wander through the vibrant Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, for a unique shopping experience.
• Discover the beauty of the Blue Mosque, known for its intricate blue tiles and impressive domes.
• Take a cruise along the Bosphorus Strait, offering breathtaking views of Istanbul's skyline and historic sites.
• Enjoy a traditional Turkish bath experience for relaxation and rejuvenation.
• Explore the historic district of Sultanahmet, home to many of Istanbul's most famous landmarks.

Here Is How Many Days In Istanbul Is Enough

When planning a Turkey and Greece tour, allocating at least 3-4 days in Istanbul is ideal. This allows ample time to explore the city's iconic landmarks such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Grand Bazaar.

Additionally, consider adding a few more days to experience the rich culture and history of Turkey's other cities like Cappadocia and Ephesus. For Greece, a separate itinerary with at least 5-7 days is recommended to visit Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos for a well-rounded tour experience.

Famous Istanbul Beaches to Visit

Kilyos beach.

Located on the Black Sea coast, offering golden sands and clear waters, popular for water sports.

A private beach with luxurious amenities, perfect for a relaxing day by the sea.

True Blue Beach

Known for its stunning views and crystal-clear waters, ideal for swimming and sunbathing.

A man-made island with a beach club, pools, and restaurants, offering a unique beach experience.

Solar Beach

Offers a vibrant beach club scene with music, food, and drinks, perfect for a lively day at the beach.

Kilyos Black A

A family-friendly beach with calm waters and facilities for children, ideal for a day out with the family.

Where To Eat In Istanbul

When in Istanbul during your Turkey and Greece tour, explore the city's culinary delights. Start with the iconic street food, like simit (sesame seed bread rings) or balik ekmek (fish sandwiches) by the Bosphorus. For a traditional Turkish breakfast, visit iya Sofrasi or Van Kahvalti Evi. Don't miss the kebabs; try them at Hamdi Restaurant or Karadeniz Pide ve Dner Salonu.

For a taste of Ottoman cuisine, dine at Asitane. Satisfy your sweet tooth with baklava from Karaky Glloglu or knefe from Saray. Experience the vibrant food scene of Istanbul, blending Turkish and Greek influences for a memorable culinary journey.

Best Hammams In Istanbul

Indulge in the rich Turkish bathing customs by setting out on an opulent tour of Istanbul's top hammams. Discover the genuine Turkish bath culture at well-known locations like the emberlitas Hamami, where age-old customs revitalize the body and spirit. Indulge in luxurious treatments at the Ayasofya Hrrem Sultan Hamami, a breathtaking example of Ottoman architecture.

An ancient jewel in the center of Istanbul, the Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam offers a unique blend of Turkish and Greek culture. Savor customary practices, unwind in sumptuous surroundings, and let Istanbul's hammams take your tour of Turkey and Greece to new heights.

Top Palaces In Istanbul

• Topkapi Palace: Explore the former royal residence of the Ottoman sultans, featuring stunning architecture, courtyards, and a vast collection of artifacts.
• Dolmabahe Palace: Marvel at the opulence of this 19th-century palace, with its grand interiors, crystal chandeliers, and sprawling gardens.
• Beylerbeyi Palace: Visit this 19th-century palace on the Asian side of Istanbul, known for its exquisite marble faade and lavish interiors.
• Yildiz Palace: Wander through the gardens of this former imperial palace complex, which also houses the Yildiz Palace Museum today.

Shopping In Istanbul

Shopping in Istanbul is a delightful experience, with a mix of traditional bazaars and modern malls. Explore the historic Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, for a wide array of goods, including jewelry, textiles, and spices. For a more modern shopping experience, visit the upscale boutiques and designer stores.

Don't miss the Spice Bazaar for a taste of local flavors or the bustling street markets where you can find unique souvenirs and handmade crafts. Shopping in Istanbul is a true delight for any enthusiast.

Where To Stay In Istanbul

Istanbul offers a range of accommodation options to suit every budget and preference. For a luxury stay, consider hotels like the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet or the Ritz-Carlton Istanbul. If you're looking for a boutique experience, try the Witt Istanbul Suites or Georges Hotel Galata.

Budget travelers can find comfortable options at places like Cheers Hostel or Hush Hostel Lounge. For a unique experience, consider staying in a traditional Ottoman-style hotel, such as the Armaggan Bosporus Suites or the Ajwa Hotel Sultanahmet.

The Best Festivals in Istanbul

Istanbul hosts a variety of vibrant festivals throughout the year, celebrating its rich cultural heritage and diverse artistic scene. The Istanbul International Film Festival showcases the best of Turkish and international cinema. The Istanbul Music Festival features classical music performances in historic venues.

The Istanbul Jazz Festival attracts top jazz musicians from around the world. The Istanbul Biennial is a prestigious contemporary art exhibition. The Istanbul Tulip Festival celebrates spring with stunning displays of tulips across the city. These festivals offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Istanbul's culture and artistic creativity.

Best Museums In Istanbul

• Hagia Sophia Museum: Formerly a church and then a mosque, now a museum showcasing Byzantine and Ottoman history.
• Topkapi Palace Museum: Former residence of Ottoman sultans, featuring a vast collection of artifacts, including the famous Topkapi dagger.
• Istanbul Archaeology Museums: Three museums in one complex, housing artifacts from ancient civilizations.
• Chora Museum: Known for its stunning mosaics and frescoes depicting biblical scenes.
• Istanbul Modern: Turkey's first museum of modern and contemporary art, showcasing Turkish artists alongside international exhibitions.

Best Breakfast In Istanbul

• Van Kahvalti Evi: Known for its authentic Kurdish breakfast spread.
• Sutis: Offers a variety of traditional Turkish breakfast options.
• Kahve 6: A cozy cafe serving a delicious breakfast with a view.
• Namli Gurme: Offers a wide range of Turkish and international breakfast dishes.
• Mangerie: Known for its European-style breakfast menu and beautiful terrace.
• Van Kultur Evi: Another great spot for a traditional Kurdish breakfast.
• Gnesli Bahe: Known for its fresh and flavorful breakfast options.

Romantic Places In Istanbul

Istanbul is a city of romance, with many enchanting spots for couples to enjoy. Start your day with a visit to the Maiden's Tower, a picturesque lighthouse in the middle of the Bosphorus. Stroll hand in hand through the historic Sultanahmet Square, admiring the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.

Watch the sunset from the Galata Tower, offering panoramic views of the city. End your evening with a romantic dinner cruise along the Bosphorus, taking in the city lights and enjoying a delicious meal together.

Trip Highlights

• Explore the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace.
• Witness the unique rock formations and underground cities.
• Discover the well-preserved ruins of this ancient Greek city.
• Relax in the natural hot springs and terraces.
• Experience the breathtaking views over the Caldera.
• Visit the iconic Parthenon and other ancient ruins.
• Explore the ancient sanctuary and its treasures.
• Marvel at the monasteries built on towering rock pillars.
• Discover the ancient history and ruins of these legendary cities.
• Visit islands like Mykonos, Rhodes, or Crete for their unique charm and beauty.

A tour at a glance

Day 1: arrival in istanbul, turkey, day 2: istanbul, day 3: istanbul to cappadocia, day 4: cappadocia, day 5: cappadocia to pamukkale, day 6: pamukkale to kusadasi, day 7: kusadasi (ephesus), day 8: kusadasi to athens, greece, day 9: athens, day 10: athens to mykonos, day 11: mykonos, day 12: mykonos to santorini, day 13: santorini, day 14: departure from santorini.

Our private tours typically range from $500 - $1000 per person/per night depending on chosen hotels and room categories, vehicles used, types of tours, flight cost, time of year and other factors. Make an inquiry for a customized trip quote.

Detailed Itinerary

Arrive in Istanbul and check into your hotel. Spend the afternoon exploring the historic Sultanahmet area, home to iconic sites like the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Enjoy a traditional Turkish dinner at a local restaurant.

See the museums and gardens of the Topkapi Palace, which was formerly the home of Ottoman sultans. Explore the Grand Bazaar, one of the world's biggest and oldest covered markets, on foot. Take a Bosphorus boat in the evening to see the city from the sea and have dinner on board.

Fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia and check into your hotel. Explore the unique landscape of Cappadocia with its fairy chimneys and rock-cut churches. Visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see ancient cave dwellings and churches.

Start the day with an optional hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia's surreal landscape. Visit the Kaymakli Underground City, a complex of tunnels and rooms used by early Christians to escape persecution. Explore the town of Avanos, known for its pottery, and watch a pottery demonstration.

Travel from Cappadocia to Pamukkale, stopping along the way to see the Mevlana Museum in the historic city of Konya. When you get to Pamukkale, check into your accommodation. See the well-known Pamukkale white terraces, which are the result of mineral-rich hot springs tumbling down a mountainside.

Drive from Pamukkale to Kusadasi, a coastal town on the Aegean Sea. Visit the ancient city of Aphrodisias, dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite, and known for its well-preserved stadium and theater. Arrive in Kusadasi and check into your hotel.

Visit the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. Explore the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Temple of Artemis, the Great Theater, the Prytaneion, the Baths of Ephesus, the Terraced Houses, the Odeon, the Winged Nike, and Hercules Gate. Return to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight stay.

From Kusadasi, go to Athens, Greece, by ferry. After checking into your accommodation in Athens, go sightseeing in the afternoon. See the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike when you visit the Acropolis, an ancient fortress that overlooks Athens.

Explore the ancient Agora, the heart of ancient Athens, where Socrates and Plato once walked. Visit the National Archaeological Museum, home to one of the world's most extensive collections of ancient Greek artifacts. In the evening, take a stroll through the Plaka neighborhood and enjoy dinner at a traditional taverna.

Take a ferry from Athens to Mykonos, one of the most popular Greek islands known for its beaches and nightlife. Check into your hotel in Mykonos and spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach or exploring the town.

Explore the picturesque town of Mykonos with its whitewashed buildings, winding streets, and iconic windmills. Visit the archaeological site of Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important mythological, historical, and archaeological sites in Greece.

Santorini, another gorgeous Greek island renowned for its towering cliffs and breathtaking sunsets, can be reached by ferry from Mykonos. After checking into your Santorini hotel, spend the afternoon either lounging on one of the island's black-sand beaches or touring Fira.

Explore the ancient city of Akrotiri, a Minoan settlement that was buried under volcanic ash for centuries. Visit the village of Oia, known for its stunning sunsets and picturesque blue-domed churches. Enjoy a wine-tasting tour at one of Santorini's local wineries.

Depending on your flight schedule, spend your final morning in Santorini relaxing or exploring more of the island. Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or to your next destination, with unforgettable memories of your 14-day adventure in Turkey and Greece.

Make Plans to Explore Turkey and Greece

Make your vacation a seamless experience by taking advantage of the resources offered on our Leisure website . We provide everything you need, from booking the ideal flight tickets to handcrafted itineraries and expert advice. Let us be your trusted companion, ensuring you make the most of your journey while exploring the wonders of Turkey and Greece. With our guidance, you can sit back, relax, and fully immerse yourself in this enchanting destination's beauty and charm.

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Further Reading For Your Middle East Trip

Did you find this Middle East Travel guide helpful for you? If you're interested in finding out more about the Middle East, here's a selection of articles you might find intriguing:

Visit Biblical Sites in Turkey :  Experience The Spiritualism At Its Best With A Tour To These Biblical Places in Turkey

Explore the Ancient Middle East :  Experience the Best of the Ancient Middle East

Remember to follow Middle East Etiquette:   Etiquette You Should Follow While You Travel Middle East

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Greece and Turkey hold a defining role in the creation of the Mediterranean identity from their ancient roots as the cross-section of cultures. From their spectacular cultures to tantalizing cuisines, journey to these mystifying countries and discover something new and recognize something familiar with an immersive custom tour from Zicasso.

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14  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $4,643

Escape from the mundane on this 14-day expedition through the Aegean Sea. Don’t wait for a reason to get up and see the splendors of Greece, from the marbled walkways to the glowing white houses, the perseverant pillars to the Moorish designs. If the ruins could, they would speak for themselves, but you won’t know their story if you don’t visit. The beatitudes of the Aegean cannot be viewed from home and only experienced along the land and sea of your wildest dreams. It’s never too late to make those dreams come true. There’s no better time than now to make your escape to Greece.

16  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $6,443

Open the doors to historic wonderment on this 16-day Greece and Turkey tour that will unveil the best of the ancient world. Start in Athens, exploring the origins of Ancient Greece, then move from the coast to the mountains, where deeper connections with ancient heritage unravel from the extraordinary ruins. This history adventure in Turkey will introduce you to cultural influences that prevail from Izmir to Istanbul.

The tiles of the Blue Mosque capture the afternoon sunlight. The terraced pools of Pamukkale make the mountainside look like an ice palace. The medieval castle at Rhodes encompasses the island’s eclectic history and the Acropolis in Athens continues to captivate visitors from around the world. On this custom tailored tour through Turkey and Greece you will find engrossing history and majestic beaches, treasured ruins and breathtaking landscapes. From large cities to charming villages, you will find the remnants of myths, beautiful scenery, and remarkable culture.

13  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $4,311

There is magic in every step in Greece and Turkey. You smell the aroma of spices at the spice markets of exotic Istanbul and see it in the daring cliff-side settlements of Santorini. You hear it in the call to prayer echoing from the Blue Mosque, you taste it in Greece’s famous Mediterranean cuisine, you feel it everywhere you turn. This is a place where the past comes alive, where the majesty of nature collides with the might of civilization, and where every day brings something new and unforgettable.

11  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $3,647

As the Mediterranean twinkles and Roman splendor cascades down mountainsides, this family tailored vacation effortlessly combines two paradigms. Explore the riches of Istanbul and Turkey before crossing the Mediterranean and settling into the beach escapism of Rhodes, a quiet Greek island wallowing in the sunshine. Expertly crafted to entertain all ages, this itinerary is both historical captivation and indulgent getaway.

10  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $3,315

Ancient Greece and Roman Byzantine collided in modern day Turkey, the two great empires leaving behind mesmerizing odes to the earliest Western Civilizations. Ancient cities like Ephesus and Troy vividly unveil a Greco Roman affair. In Istanbul and Athens the heartbeats of two empires stand still, reflected in marbled pillars and resplendent domes that cascade from afar. Journey to a land where the mystery of legends and the beauty of antiquity are wonderfully preserved.

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Follow the path of Odysseus on this custom tailored tour of Greece and Turkey meant to give you the most amazing adventure through antiquity. From the ancient steps of the Parthenon to the sensational crumbled walls of Troy, you will stand with legends and gods, sailing through the incredible waters of the Mediterranean, and wandering along the path of history. Every adventure starts with that first step; come take it.

8  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $2,595

Step out of the ordinary and into unparalleled joy on this 9-day tour through Greece meant to make every day a delight. Mingle with the classics of antiquity, stroll along pristine beaches, follow the footsteps of saints, and possibly even find the Lost City of Atlantis. You spend enough time making sure others are taken care of; it’s time to let us take care of you on this tour through Athens and the islands that will prove to be nothing less than a taste of the deserved Grecian delight.

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• Turkey and Greece Tours

Turkey & Greece Highlights

Greece and Turkey are both fascinating countries and should be a definite on any travellers bucket list. This itinerary takes you from vibrant Istanbul through to Athens covering historical areas along the way such as Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale & the Greek islands of Mykonos & Santorini. This itinerary can also be done starting from Athens ending in Istanbul. • This is a flexible travel package for individuals  and you get to choose your own travel dates. It is NOT an escorted coach tour with a group of the same persons travelling together from start to end.   There is also the option to customize the itinerary to suit your particular interests and where you would most like to visit in each country. •   Package Rate starts from 2250 EURO per person:  based on 02 persons sharing in a double/twin room using standard 3* hotels during low/mid season. The final package rate varies depending on the number of persons travelling, exact dates of travel, category of hotel accommodation requested, along with any changes you might wish to make to the itinerary itself. Excludes international flight to starting point (Istanbul) & from ending point (Athens).

Tour itinerary

DAY 01 - Arrival Istanbul: As per your international flight arrival time, transfer from Istanbul Airport to the hotel. Remainder of the day / evening is then free at leisure for you to relax or stroll around on your own. Overnight Istanbul meals: none

DAY 02 - Sultanahmet Sightseeing Tour: Join on a full-day walking tour exploring some of the amazing sights that this historical area has to offer. Guided tour includes the Blue Mosque, St Sophia, Hippodrome and Obelisk, Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace (excluding optional extra entrance to Harem room). Evening free at leisure to stroll around. Overnight in Istanbul. meals: breakfast & lunch included *For the above day tour, please note the following when choosing your travel dates: Topkapi Palace closed Tuesdays: replaced with visit to Yerebetan (Basilica) Cistern Grand Bazaar closed Sundays: not visited when day tour falls on a Sunday On Fridays, the Blue Mosque is visited from the outside only due to special prayer day

DAY 03 - Bosphorous Cruise, flight to Cappadocia: Enjoy a cruise on the Bosphorous during which you have views from the vessel of various historical sights that line its shores. The guided tour also includes a visit to the famous Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar. Then transfer to the airport for  a domestic flight to Cappadocia, arrive and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia meals: breakfast included

DAY 04 - Cappadocia Tour with Goreme: *Optional extra: very early morning at sunrise, standard 1-hour hot air balloon ride with amazing views. Today emmerse yourself in the beautiful natural setting of Cappadocia. During this full-day tour explore Devrent Valley and Monk's Valley (Pasabagi) where you find the world famous fairy chimneys. Break for lunch in Avanos, then visit Goreme Open-Air Museum exploring numerous churches and monasteries with their frescoes. These churches and monasteries where carved from the soft volcanic stone and decorated by Medieval Orthodox Christian Monks around 1000-1200AD. Also view Uchisar Natural rock castle. Overnight in Cappadocia. meals: breakfast & lunch included

DAY 05 - Cappadocia Valleys & Underground City: Join on another full-day tour starting with a 4km hike (easy to medium grade, approx 2 hours) in Red Valley exploring rock-cut churches and colorful fairy chimneys along the way up to Cavusin (old Greek village). Then break for lunch after which visit Kaymakli Underground City. The day also includes panoramic views at Pigeon Valley with its famous dovecotes. End of the day tour with some free time, then transfer from hotel to the bus station for overnight intercity bus to Pamukkale.  *** There is the alternative to use flight instead of the overnight bus, please advise your preference meals: breakfast & lunch included DAY 06 - Pamukkale & Hierapolis ruins: Arrive early morning to Pamukkale (if by overnight bus) and transfer to a small hotel where a day room is provided for you to have a shower and breakfast. Then join on the tour visiting the natural formation of the travertens (cotton cliffs/cotton castle) in Pamukkale along with the ruins of Hierapolis. The day ends with arrival at the hotel in Kusadasi. meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner included

DAY 07 - Ephesus Sightseeing Tour: Last but definately not least, a full-day tour visiting the Ancient City of Ephesus. Here you have the chance to walk down marble streets, view the magnificent Celsius Library and the Grand Theatre, just a few of the many buildings and fountains that can be found in this open air museum. Also visit the House of Virgin Mary & remains of Artemis Temple. Overnight in Kusadasi. meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner included

DAY 08 - Kusadasi to Mykonos: Breakfast, check-out and transfer to Kusadasi Port or Izmir Airport. For the connection from Kusadasi to Mykonos we have 02 options, either by ferry (via Samos) or by flight (via Athens). The applicable option very much depends on your chosen travel dates and valid ferry/flight schedules for those particular dates. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Mykonos. meals: breakfast included

DAY 09 - Mykonos at leisure: You have a full day at leisure to explore Mykonos Town and other areas of the island on your own. Don't forget about the famous nightlife and the amazing beaches this island has to offer. Overnight in Mykonos. meals: breakfast included

DAY 10 - Mykonos to Santorini: Transfer to the port for a morning or afternoon ferry (as per your preference) to Santorini. Arrive and transfer to hotel with remainder of the day & evening free at leisure. Overnight in Santorini. *The ferry connecting Mykonos & Santorini does NOT operate during winter season (November to March). So during winter season we give you the option to either exclude Mykonos or travel between these two islands using flight via Athens. meals: breakfast included

DAY 11 - Santorini at leisure: Today is free at leisure for you to explore this magical island. Relax on one of its many beaches, visit its picturesque villages, stroll the scenic route from Fira to Oia, watch the romantic sunset over the caldera and more. Overnight in Santorini. meals: breakfast included

DAY 12 - Santorini to Athens: Transfer to the port for a morning or afternoon ferry to Athens ( 1hr domestic flights are also available, at extra charge ). Arrive and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Athens. meals: breakfast included

DAY 13 - Athens City Tour with Acropolis: Breakfast at hotel then join on one of the following regular group excursions (you get to choose): a) 5hr standard group coach tour: visit Acropolis, Acropolis Museum & panoramic drive in city centre b) 5hr small-group walking tour: visit Acropolis, Acropolis Museum & stroll in the city centre c) 5hr small-group walking tour: visit Acropolis, Ancient Agora & stroll in the city centre * Please note your preference when making your request, otherwise, we will automatically include the 5hr standard group coach tour. Other alternatives are also available, such as wine tasting and/or a foodie tour, etc. The afternoon and evening are free at leisure for you to further explore on your own. Overnight in Athens. meals: breakfast included

DAY 14 - Departure from Athens: As per your international flight departure time, transfer from the hotel to Athens Airport.

What's included?

• Hotel accommodation in the category of your choice
• Breakfasts at hotels throughout (dinners optional extra)
• Guided day tours on regular group basis (private basis on request)
• Guiding in English, main entrance fees, a/c tour transport
• Lunches during the full-day tours in Turkey, drinks extra
• Flight/ferry tickets from Istanbul through to Athens
• Arrival & departure transfers throughout
• Taxes and handling services
• Available in reverse order, starting Athens ending Istanbul
• Very flexible, can be customized to suit preferences
• Available on daily basis, year-round, you get to choose your own travel dates
• Optional extra excursions are also available in Mykonos & Santorini, on request
• Cappadocia offers many  adventure style excursions  such as horse riding, hot air balloon rides, atv safaris, bicycle safaris, canoeing & hiking. If you are interested in any of these please note which when completing our "get quote" form.

Create a tailormade package

Feel free to ask our professional travel planners any questions you might have so far. Receive reply as quickly as possible (max. 24 hours).

From our past customers

Hello, this is Brandon, we have arrived home now, and I wanted to let you know that everything was fantastic. The hotels, the tours and everything were well above what I expected. I would like to thank you very much for making this the trip of a lifetime!!! Thanks once again Aydin, and if I ever hear of anyone traveling to Turkey or Greece I will most definatly give them your contact information. Have a great day!!!

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14 Days Turkey and Greece Combination Tour

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14 Days Turkey and Greece Combination Tour to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Samos, Mykonos, Santorini and Athens

Day 1 Welcome to Istanbul

Day 2 istanbul old city walking tour, day 3 free day in istanbul, day 4 flight to cappadocia / north cappadocia tour (l), day 5 south cappadocia tour /flight to izmir (b,l), day 6 pamukkale tour ( b, l ), day 7 ephesus tour (b,l ), day 8 ferry from kusadasi to mykonos via samos ( b ), day 9 full day in mykonos ( b ), day 10 ferry from mykonos to santorini ( b ), day 11 full day in santorini ( b ), day 12 full day in santorini / flight from santorini to athens ( b ), day 13 haf day morning athens tour ( b ), day 14 end of your tour / transfer to airport ( b ), included services:.

Flight tickets mentioned in the itinerary. Ferry tickets mentioned in the itinerary. All accommodation mentioned in the itinerary. All mentioned transfers in the itinerary. All tours with transportation, lunch and entrance fees, except half day Athens tour. All tours with professional tour guide, licensed by the Ministry of Tourism. All meals mentioned by the itinerary Vegetarian meals available. Full travel insurance All domestic taxes.

What is not Included:

Drinks with meals (except the drinks served with breakfast) Transfer from Marmaris bus station to ferry port. Lunch in Athens half day tour. Any tips to guide, driver or staff at hotels. Items of a personal nature. Medical services.

Can be customized according to your wishes. This tour is available from 1st. of April to 30th. October There is no hidden cost. Departs daily.

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Our 2 Week Turkey & Greece Itinerary

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10-Day Turkey-Greece Trip Itinerary [Group Tour]

Enjoy a classic 10 day Turkey-Greece trip itinerary that has been expertly designed to showcase the very best historical attractions in Istanbul and the very best natural wonders that Turkey has to offer in places like Cappadocia. Fly to Greece and enjoy a guided tour of the top historical attractions in the capital’s historic Athenian Neoclassical Center, and then enjoy two absolutely fantastic and blissful days of relaxation and fun in the sun on the famous Greek island of Mykonos.

Experience a 100% flawless Turkey and Greece vacation in unparalleled comfort and style, with lifelong memories guaranteed!

NOTE: Our 10 day Turkey-Greece trip itinerary is a group tour that runs everyday.

10-Day Turkey-Greece Trip Itinerary

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DAY 1 – Welcome to Fascinating Istanbul

Regardless of what time you arrive at Istanbul Airport for your spectacular 10-day Turkey-Greece trip itinerary, one of our English speaking drivers will meet you at Gate Number 9. Once you have completed immigration procedures, your driver will then transfer you to your hotel in a clean and modern air conditioned vehicle.

On arrival at your hotel, you will be assisted with check in, and then you will have the rest of the day free to enjoy as you wish. Spend the day relaxing at your hotel or head out and begin exploring Istanbul on your own.

DAY 2 – Guided Istanbul City Tour

Begin the second day of your Turkey-Greece trip itinerary with a good breakfast at your hotel. Shortly after you have had your breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel and your Istanbul city tour will begin.

Your first stop of the day will be at the magnificent Hagia Sophia, a true architectural masterpiece that was built in the 4th century by Emperor Constantine. Later, When the Ottomans invaded and conquered the area they chose to convert the Hagia Sophia Into a mosque in 15th century. Much later in history it stopped functioning as a mosque and served as a museum instead. Today, it is once again a functioning mosque, but one which is open to visitors of all faiths.

Next, you will visit another one of Istanbul’s most famous and most popular tourist attractions: Topkapi Palace. This is another one of Istanbul’s most magnificent architectural masterpieces. The palace itself, along with its Haram and the Treasury is absolutely exquisite. The site is also home to a number of very attractive pavilions and courtyards and well-kept gardens.

Topkapi Palace once served as the official residence of numerous Sultans from the 15th to 19 th century. Today it is essentially a vast museum which is home to several huge collections of priceless antiquities.

After your visit to the palace, you will then make your way to Istanbul’s famous Blue Mosque. unique for its 6 minarets. This mosque is considered to be one of the most important religious buildings in the world. Its celestial interior which has been decorated with famous blue Iznik tiles is absolutely stunning.

After visiting the mosque, enjoy a delicious lunch at a good quality local restaurant, and then you will visit the Hippodrome which once hosted chariot races and circuses. Your last stop of the day will be at Istanbul’s famous Grand Bazaar which is one of the largest covered bazaars in the world. Enjoy some free time at the bazaar for shopping and/or people watching, and then you’ll be transferred to your hotel for the second night of your Turkey-Greece trip itinerary.

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 3 – Bosphorus Tour with a Cruise on the Bosphorus

Shortly after you have had your breakfast, you will once again be picked up from your hotel, and then you will make your way to the city’s famous Spice Bazaar. This is a definite must-see attraction and a great opportunity for you to stock up on some exotic spices which you may have difficulty finding in your own country.

After your visit to the bazaar, you will then be taken to board a Bosphorus cruise. During your cruise you will get to enjoy spectacular views of some of Istanbul’s most famous historical landmarks, including places such as the Palaces of Dolmabahce, Çiragan, the Castle of Rumeli Hisarı, and more.

You will also visit the Beylerbeyi Palace. This striking palace, which was built from white marble by in the 19th century by Sultan Abdulaziz is truly a sight to behold. It originally served as the summer residence for the sultan and also as a guest house for important foreign dignitaries.

Enjoy lunch at a good local restaurant and then you will enjoy a leisurely climb up Çamlica Hill which is also fondly known as Lovers Hill. From the top of the hill you will be able to enjoy absolutely breathtaking panoramic views of the Bosphorus and Istanbul before you descend for your transfer back to your hotel for the third night of your Turkey-Greece trip itinerary.

DAY 4 – Full Day Cappadocia North Tour

The fourth day of your Turkey-Greece trip itinerary will see you heading to the spectacular region of Cappadocia. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel in Istanbul and then at the confirmed time you will check out and you will be transferred to Istanbul Airport to board a domestic flight to Cappadocia.

An arrival at Kayseri Airport in Cappadocia, you will board a waiting coach and you will then visit “Devrent Valley” and “Pasabagi” which is also known as Monks Valley. After spending some time admiring and exploring these breathtaking places, you will then make your way to a good quality restaurant at Avanos for some lunch. Avanos Is a charming town located on the banks of the Kizilirmak Red River.

Once you and everyone in your group has finished eating, you will then visit the indescribable Göreme Open Air Museum and the equally indescribable Uchisar Rock Castle. Next will be a visit to the ancient Underground City of Kaymakli. This is one of Turkey’s deepest and best preserved subterranean towns.

After you visit to Kaymakli, there will be a brief photo stop at Valle de Tres Bellas where you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Urgup, a city famous for its vineyards, wine and apricot plantations. From here you will start heading back to your hotel, with another photo stop along the way, this time Goreme Panorama.

Finally, with a full day of amazing sightseeing behind you will be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia where you’ll be spending this night of your Turkey-Greece trip itinerary.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 5 – Full Day Cappadocia South Tour and Return to Istanbul

Shortly after you have enjoyed your breakfast, you will check out from your hotel and then you will be driven to Valle de Rojo y Rosado where you will enjoy a leisurely 4 km stroll through this picturesque valley.

After your walk, you will then be taken to a good quality restaurant for a delicious lunch near the Valle de las Palomas. Once everyone in your group has finished eating, you will visit another amazing underground city. The underground city which you will be visiting today is believed to have been carved out of the ground at some point during the second millennium BC. Besides its subterranean levels, it also has eight levels above ground which were carved out of soft volcanic rock.

During today’s tour you will also visit the Valley of love and the ancient Christian Village of Cavusin. This ancient site has been a victim of natural erosion and is today partially collapsed. However, this makes for some absolutely amazing photographic opportunities.

After your visit to the ancient village you will then drive to the Village of Uchisar to see an amazing natural stone castle. Your next stop will be at a carpet workshop where you’ll be able to see how the world famous Turkish rugs and carpets are hand woven. Your last stop will be at another workshop where you’ll be able to see craftsman making Onyx and silver jewelry.

With your sightseeing tour in Cappadocia now over, you will be transferred to the airport where you were board a short domestic flight back to Istanbul. When you arrive at the airport in Istanbul you will be met and then you will be transferred to the hotel where you will be spending the fifth night of your Turkey-Greece trip itinerary.

DAY 6 – Fly from Istanbul to Athens in Greece

The next phase of your Turkey-Greece trip itinerary begins today. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then at the appropriate time you will need to check out then you will be transferred to Istanbul Airport in time for you to board your flight to Athens.

When you arrive at the airport in Athens, you will be met by one of our travel representatives and then you’ll be transferred to the hotel where you will be spending this night of your Turkey and Greece vacation. There are no sightseeing tours scheduled for this day, so once you have checked into your hotel, you will be free to enjoy the rest of the day as you wish.

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 7 – Guided Athens City Tour

Begin the 7th day of your Turkey-Greece trip itinerary with a good breakfast at your hotel, and then at the confirmed time, you’ll be picked up and your Athens City Tour will begin. Your sightseeing today will begin with a visit to the Athenian Neoclassical Center where you will get to see several historical monuments.

Some of the monuments which you will see during your tour include: the Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Library, and National Academy, the University, the Temple of Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium and Hadrian’s Gate, to name just a few. Your professional English speaking licensed tour guide will be with you to tell you all about the history and cultural significance of the various monuments you visit.

Next, you will visit “Sacred Rock”, a truly unique and magnificent Acropolis. While you are here you will also visit the Acropolis Museum. Admission tickets for both of these sites are, of course, included in the price of your Turkey-Greece trip itinerary.

After your visit to the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, you will then have the choice of being transferred back to your hotel or you can choose to explore the absolutely charming and extremely picturesque streets of Plaka on your own.

DAY 8 – A Day of Relaxation on Mykonos

Today you will need to enjoy your breakfast quite early because you will be getting picked up from your hotel in time for an early morning ferry crossing from Athens to the island of Mykonos. We get you onto an early morning crossing so that you can enjoy some sun and the deep blue of the Aegean Sea before it gets too hot to be out on deck.

On arrival on the island of Mykonos you will be met and then you will be transferred to the hotel where you will be staying while you are on this laid back island. There are no sightseeing tours scheduled for today, so once you have checked in at the hotel, you will be free to enjoy the day as you wish.

DAY 9 – Leisure and Relaxation Day on Mykonos

The 9th day of your Turkey-Greece trip itinerary is again all about leisure and relaxation. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel, and then you will have the remainder of the day to yourself to enjoy as you wish. Spend the day lounging on one of the island’s famous beaches, relax and enjoy your hotel’s amenities, do some shopping or explore the island on your own.

The island of Mykonos attracts well-healed tourists from all over the world, and for good reason, given its famous beaches, its many dazzling shops, and its incredibly vibrant nightlife. No matter how you choose to spend your day, it’s bound to be a day you won’t soon forget.

DAY 10 – Mykonos to Athens by Air and Final Departure from Greece

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then at the appropriate time you will need to check out so that we can transfer you to Mykonos Airport for your flight to Athens. The departure time of your international flight out of Greece should ideally be no earlier than 12:30 p.m. This will help to ensure that you won’t miss your international flight back home.

Your Turkey-Greece trip itinerary has sadly come to an end, but you will be boarding your flight back home with memories that are guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Inclusions – What is included in our 10-day Turkey-Greece trip itinerary:

• Arrival and departure private transfers with assistance.
• Accommodation for 4 nights in Istanbul including daily breakfast.
• Accommodation  for 1 nights in Cappadocia with half board.
• Accommodation  for 2 nights in Athens with daily breakfast.
• Accommodation  for 2 nights in Mykonos with daily breakfast.
• Professional English-speaking guides during all sightseeing tours.
• All transfers by air-conditioned coach.
• Domestic fights (Istanbul/Cappadocia/Istanbul (15 KG + 8 KG handbag ).
• Regular ferry ticket seat from Piraeus to Mykonos.
• Meals as indicated in our Turkey-Greece trip itinerary.
• Entrance fees to attractions mentioned in the itinerary.
• All taxes are included.

Exclusions – What is not included in our 10-day Turkey-Greece trip itinerary:

• International Airfare.
• Turkey and Greece entry visas.
• Any optional tours, personal spending money, tipping or any extras not mentioned in the Turkey-Greece trip itinerary.

Accommodation Plan

• Celal Sultan Hotel, Istanbul  (4* or similar)
• Mustafa Hotel, Cappadocia (5* or similar)
• Polis Grand Hotel, Athens (4* or similar)
• Pelican Bay Art Hotel, Mykonos (4* or similar)

Per person starting from US$ 2,250

Turkey Tour Packages

Still searching for the perfect Turkey tour package ? Explore a wider range of exciting Turkey-Greece trip itinerary options below!

The Ultimate 16-Day Turkey and Greece Tour

11-Day Turkey Group Tour – The Best of Turkey

10-Day Turkey Small Group Tour – The 5 Cities

10-Day Turkey Private Tour – Provincial Capitals of Asia Minor

7-Day Istanbul and Athens Tour

7 Day Turkey Itinerary – The Seven Apocalyptical Churches

6-Day Turkey Itinerary – Istanbul and Cappadocia

4 Days in Istanbul Itinerary [Small Group Tour]

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13-Day Tour of Turkey and Greece

$ 2,740.00   per person

Start your journey in Istanbul and end it in Athens! The 13-Day Tour of Turkey and Greece is the perfect way to experience the old-world charm and traditions of both countries. Enjoy a range of carefully selected cultural highlights, from Istanbul’s ancient markets to Athens’ Acropolis, as well as meals, accommodation in a hotel, and domestic flights.

Obtain your tour price in USD by selecting tour dates and specifics below:

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• Detailed Itinerary
• Inquire About This Trip
• Reviews (1)

Day 1: Arrive and Overnight in Istanbul

Upon your arrival at Istanbul New Airport(IST) or Sabiha Gökcen Airport(SAW), our team will be waiting for you at the exit of the international line of the Airport, holding a sign with your name written on it. After which, you will be transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free for you to spend at leisure. Alternatively, you can join the Night Cruise on the  Bosphorus with Dinner & Show .

• Overnight in Istanbul

Day 2: Istanbul Old City Tour

After breakfast at approximately 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the full-day tour. Today on the tour you will visit Hagia Sophia Museum, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome , Grand Bazaar, and  Topkapi Palace . Lunch will be at a local restaurant. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 5:00 pm.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3: Bosphorus Cruise & Two Continents Tour

After breakfast at approximately 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to join a full-day tour of the Bosphorus Cruise and Two Continents. Today on the tour you will visit Spice Bazaar (Egyptian) , Bosphorus Tour on Boat , Dolmabahce Palace , Bosphorus Bridge, and Camlica Hill . After the tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel at approximately 5:00 pm.

Day 4: Fly from Istanbul to Kayseri/Nevsehir – North Cappadocia Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:30 am and will be transferred to the domestic airport for your flight from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir between 6:00 – 7:30 am. Upon arrival at Kayseri or Nevsehir airport, you will be picked up and transferred to Cappadocia . In Cappadocia, you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour will start with a visit to the Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy chimneys . Next, you will visit the Pasabag Monk’s Valley to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch, you will visit the beautiful open-air museum of Goreme where the remains of rock-cut churches and Christian settlements date back hundreds of years. Finally towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will be able to visit the natural castles of Uchisar. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in.

• Overnight in Cappadocia

Day 5: South Cappadocia Tour – Fly to Izmir

For an additional option, you can book an early morning   hot air balloon ride   and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please be aware that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Güllüdere (Rose) Valley. Next, you will visit Çavusin village which is famous for its houses and churches of the Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley . In the afternoon you will visit the Kaymakli underground city where early Christians lived. This will be the end of your full-day tour. After the tour, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your flight to Izmir through Istanbul. Upon your arrival at the Izmir airport, a representative will be present holding your name sign to pick you up and transfer you to your hotel.

• Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 6: Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour

After breakfast around 8:00 am, you will be picked up from your Kusadasi hotel and taken to the meeting point in Selcuk where the full group will first meet. You will then begin the Pamukkale tour with a drive from Selcuk starting at 8:30 am to Pamukkale which will be around 3 hours. En route to Pamukkale after 1.5 hours, there will be a 10-minute stop for a restroom break. Upon arrival around 11:45 am, the group will be first taken to have lunch and after lunch, at around 1:00 pm you will begin your guided tour of the Pamukkale and Hierapolis area with a professional licensed tour guide. In Pamukkale, you will see the Cotton Cliffs , one of the natural wonders of the world formed by deposits of calcareous salts. Also, you will visit the ancient ruins of the  City of Hierapolis with its basilica, theatre, and  Roman Baths . At the end of the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore the area on your own. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale antique pools (at your own expense) during this free time. The tour guide will inform you about the exact meeting point and time. At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel at around 7:00 pm.

Day 7: Ephesus Tour

After breakfast at the hotel around 8:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus . Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. You will first visit the Temple of Artemis which was once one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Next, you will visit the world-famous ancient  Greco-Roman City of Ephesus , the most well-preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will have a break for lunch. After lunch, you will visit the  House of the Virgin Mary , where it is believed she spent her last days. This is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims. Afterwards, you will visit the  Isabey Mosque . Next, you will be taken to the  Sirince Village;  which is an old Greek village and is well-know for its quaint beauty and wine tasting and production. Here you will have one hour free to explore on your own without a guide the different foods and wines of the area and visit various small traditional village shops. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel at around 4:30 pm.

Day 8: Fly from Izmir to Athens (Flight Not Included)

After breakfast, you will proceed to Izmir International Airport to board your international flight to Athens. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and will be transferred to your Athens hotel for check-in. The rest of the day will be free.

Note: You will have to purchase your own international flight ticket(s); international flight ticket(s) are not included in the cost of this package tour and will not be provided by us.

• Overnight in Athens
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 9: Athens City Tour

After breakfast, proceed for a morning city tour which includes Acropolis . Rest of the day is free for leisure on your own. Stay overnight at the hotel in Athens.

Day 10: Athens – Epidaurus – Mycenae – Olympia

Leave by the coastal road for the Corinth Canal (shortstop). Drive on and visit the theater of Epidaurus, famous for its remarkable acoustics. Then proceed to the town of Nafplion (shortstop), drive on to Mycenae, and visit the archaeological site and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Then depart for Olympia through the central Peloponnesus and the towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Dinner and overnight in Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games.

• Overnight in Olympia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

Day 11: Olympia – Delphi

In the morning visit the archaeological site with the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the ancient stadium, and the archaeological museum. Then drive on through the plains of Ilia and Achaia and over the magnificent cable stayed bridge which crosses the Corinthian bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque towns of Nafpaktos (Lepanto) and Itea, and arrive in Delphi. Dinner and overnight stay.

• Overnight in Delphi

Day 12: Delphi – Athens

In the morning visit the archaeological site and the museum. A couple of hours free time in Delphi before departing and drive through the village of Arachova, renowned for its colorful rugs and carpets. Return to Athens via Levadia and Thebes. Arrive in Athens early in the evening.

Day 13: Departure from Athens – End of Tour Service

After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel in Athens (hotel check-out is before 11:00 am) and will then be transferred to the Istanbul International Airport according to your flight details. This will be the end of our tour and services. • Included Meal(s): Breakfast

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Arrival, departure airport transfers and ground transportation
• Domestic flight tickets from Istanbul to Cappadocia and from Cappadocia to Izmir only
• 3 nights in Istanbul at Special Class or 4-star Hotels including breakfast
• 1 night in Cappadocia at a cave hotel including breakfast
• 3 nights in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel including breakfast
• 3 nights in Athens at Special Class or 4-star Hotels including breakfast
• 1 night in Olympia at a First Class hotel including breakfast
• 1 night in Delphi at a First Class hotel including breakfast
• Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
• Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED:

• International Flight Tickets.
• Flight ticket from Istanbul to Athens.
• Visa to enter Turkey and Greece.
• Stayover hotel tax in Greece (to be paid directly to the hotel) it depends on the hotel (3€ to 5€ per night).
• Tips & Personal Items.
• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride .
• Any optional tours.
• Drinks with meals (except the drinks served with breakfast).
• Travel insurance.

IMPORTANT INFO:

• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• Please be advised that the order /sequence in which the daily tours occur within the above day-by-day package tour itinerary can be subject to change depending on the availability of domestic flight tickets per the itinerary, opening/closing of various historical sites, etc.
• For 2 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room Accommodation.
• For 3 travelers: 1 Triple Room Accommodation.
• For 4 travelers: 2 Double/Twin Rooms Accommodation.
• For 5 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room and 1 Triple Room Accommodation.
• Please note that the Blue Mosque is not open for visitation on Fridays as it is closed for religious prayer services. You will only be able to visit the outside of the Blue Mosque area on tours operated on Fridays. No visitation will be allowed inside the Blue Mosque for tourists on Fridays.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with the  Basilica Cistern  (Yerebatan Sarnici).
• Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays.
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.
• During religious holidays, the spice market and Grand Bazaar are closed.

Inquire About this Trip

Please fill out the information below and we will be in touch shortly with your personalized quote.

1 review for 13-Day Tour of Turkey and Greece

Pavit K – November 11, 2018

We used One Nation Travel to book our recent trip to Turkey and Greece. Our guides, activities and accommodation were wonderful. We would definitely recommend one nation travel and would be more than happy to tour with them again!

Book now, you’ll love it!!!

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• Tour Itinerary
• Inclusion & Rate

Customizable Itinerary Daily departure from April to October   

DAY 01 : Arrival istanbul       (Meals: No) Upon arrival in Istanbul (Istanbul Airport), our representative will meet you & transfer to the hotel. (Check-In after 13:00pm) and check in to hotel. Rest of day is leisure and Overnight in Istanbul. 

DAY 02 : Historical Istanbul Tour ( Walking tour)  (Meals: Breakfast+Lunch) Breakfast, 08:30am visit to the ancient Byzantine Hippodrome where you will tour the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, Fountain of Wilhelm II, the elegant Blue Mosque famous with its heavenly six minarets and the Hagia Sophia Museum, built during the reign of Emperor Theodosius and burned down in the fire of Nika Revolt . After lunch, visit the Topkapi Palace (excluding harem), residence and administrative center of the Ottoman Sultans. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 03 : Morning Bosphorus cruise / Fly to Cappadocia (Meals:Breakfast) Breakfast, 08:30am short drive to Spice Market, Egyptian Bazaar heaped with various sweets & spices is one of the world’s largest spice bazaars since 1665. Then embark on the Bosphorus ferry for an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the beautiful strait that divides Europe from Asia. After tour back to hotel to collect your luggage and 15:30pm transfer to airport for flight to Cappadocia at 18:55pm. 20:10pm Arrival to Cappadocia, transfer to hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

DAY 04 : North Cappadocia   (Meals: Breakfast+Lunch) [OPTINAL: This morning an hour hot-air balloon ride available with extra cost ] Breakfast, 09:30am, start for the guided tour to visit Uchisar Castle (Byzantium period), visiting Devrent Valley and Monk's Valley (Pasabagi) where you find the world famous fairy chimneys and Zelve Open Air Museum, the most famous tourist attraction in Cappadocia.. Break for lunch in Avanos then on to visit Avanos which is famous for its potteries. You can see their demonstration and you can try to make it. Visit Goreme Open-Air Museum to explore the numerous churches & monasteries with their frescoes. After tour back to hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia. 

DAY 05 -South Cappadocia / Flight to Izmir     (Meals: Breakfast+Lunch) Breakfast, 09:30am, start to visit Goreme Panorama, Visit Cavusin (old Greek village)  the day also includes panoramic views at Pigeon Valley with its famous dove cotes then time for lunch before heading to visit one of the Underground City. Continuing on to the Love Valley Panorama. Today las stop is Gulludere valley One of the nicest and most most beautiful places to go walking in Cappadocia in Gulludere Valley. After tour transfer to Kayseri airport for flight to Izmir at 22:30pm  23:55pm Arrival to Izmir, meet and transfer to Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi. 

DAY 06: Ephesus tour:   (Meals: Breakfast+Lunch) Breakfast, visit Ephesus Ancient City - Enter through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route takes you past the Odeon, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan. The Grand Theatre, where Saint Paul preached, is the largest theatre is antiquity. Next visit the ruins of the Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary's. Overnight in Kusadasi

DAY 07: Day trip to Pamukkale    (Meals: Breakfast+Lunch) Breakfast, 07:30am head to Pamukkale and enjoy a visit to the natural travertens (Cotton Castle) formed by lime deposits, one of the most visted of Turkey's natural wonders. Also explore the ruins of Hierapolis. Then If you like to swim in the Ancient Pool which is also called Cleopatras Pool they charge extra entrance fee. Please note that drive to/from Pamukkale is around 3hours each way. Overnight in Kusadasi. 

DAY 08: Izmir to Santorini Via Athens/Flight     (Meals: Breakfast) Breakfast, free time until transfer to Izmir airport for flight to Santorini via Athens at 18:00pm.  22:30pm, Arrival to Santorini, meet and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Santorini.

DAY 08 : Free day in Santorini       (Meals: Breakfast) Breakfast, a free day at leisure to relax on one of the many different beaches of Santorini (gold, red or black sands) or explore the capital town of Fira. There are also various excursions available, by bus and boat, to take you to visit the ruins and tour the volcano. Overnight in Santorini.  DAY 10 : Santorini to Mykonos ( By Ferry)       (Meals: Breakfast) Breakfast, check-out and free at leisure till transfer hotel to port 10:45am Depart on ferry to Mykonos 13:05pm, Arrival to Mykonos, meet at the port and transfer to hotel. Remaining day is leisure and Overnight in Mykonos. 

DAY 11 : Free day in Mykonos       (Meals: Breakfast) Breakfast and a full day free at leisure for you to explore Mykonos Town and other areas of the island. Dont forget about the famous nightlife which is on offer. Overnight in Mykonos. 

DAY 12 : Mykonos to Athens (By Ferry)       (Meals: Breakfast) Breakfast, check-out and free at leisure till transfer hotel to port 14:00 pm Departure on Fast ferry to Athens 17:00 pm Arrival to Athens, meet and transfer to hotel,  Remaining day is leisure and overnight Athens  

DAY 13 : Athens City Tour       (Meals: Breakfast) Breakfast, 07:45am depart for half day morning Athens tour which includes a visit to the Acropolis, its museum and the Parthenon. Also view the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier, National Library, Evzones in their picturesque uniform, the Presidential Palace, the Panatheanic Stadium (where first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896), the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch. Afternoon day at leisure and Overnight in Athens.

DAY 14 : Tour ends in Athens/ Departure       (Meals: Breakfast) Breakfast, check out from hotel, transfer on to Athens airport as per your flight departure time.

This tour is available from 01st of April to 25th. October Tour Can be customized.

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• Itinerary Ideas

How to Plan a 12-Day Greece Trip: 5 Top Itinerary Ideas

A 12-day time frame would allow you to explore a region of Greece deeper or enjoy the remarkable sights and unique local activities of an all-round destination mix. 

Here are five 12-day Greek itineraries that are popular with families and couples, covering history, culture, food, and special activities. 

You could also opt to combine a neighboring country with Greece, such as Italy or Turkey, within 12 days, experiencing two very different countries in one journey. We are always ready to customize your private tour, and are dedicated to making sure that a trip meets all of your needs.

Itinerary 1: 12-Day Classic Highlights of Greece for a First Visit

Itinerary 2: 12-day greek summer vacation for families with teenagers, itinerary 3: 12-day romantic greek island-hopping for active couples.

• Itinerary 4: 12-Day Trip to Greece and Italy

Itinerary 5: 12-Day Trip to Greece and Turkey

From famous antique ruins, such as the Acropolis, to sunny beaches and the tranquil Aegean Sea, this itinerary balances historical sites, outdoor adventures, culinary experiences, and water activities, and contains the must-sees for first-timers to Greece.

Below is the itinerary breakdown:

• Day 1: Athens arrival
• Days 2–4: Santorini (the town of Fira, the blue-domed churches, the frescoes of Akrotiri, and a caldera cruise)
• Days 5–7: Paros (a cycling tour, village walks, and free days for day trips or relaxation)
• Days 8–10: Athens (the Acropolis, Syntagma Square, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and take a cable car ride to Mount Lycabettus)
• Day 11: Meteora (the hermit caves of Badovas, three active monasteries on the cliff, and some light hiking)
• Day 12: Departure

Your adventure begins in Athens with a warm welcome at the airport. Enjoy an authentic Greek dinner before jetting off to explore Fira in Santorini, blue-domed churches, and Minoan archaeological sites accompanied by a knowledgeable guide.

For a serene Santorini experience, we recommend taking a caldera cruise, allowing you to bask in panoramic views, snorkel in pristine waters, savor the sun, dip into volcanic hot springs, and witness the island's breathtaking sunset from the deck.

After relishing Santorini's unique red and black sand beaches, venture to Paros for cycling and village walks. Consider day excursions from Paros, such as embarking on a full-day cruise to Antiparos and Despotiko for water activities and cliff diving, acting like a local in the Venetian harbor and Mykonos town, or to Naxos for some hiking in the childhood home of Zeus.

Return to Athens , a city steeped in history and culture, featuring architectural marvels like the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. With your private guide walking alongside you, you would find out the charming stories behind those silent monuments that transport you back in time.

Before bidding farewell to Greece, spend 1 day in Meteora , renowned as "the city in the sky". Explore strange rock formations, marvel at cliffside monasteries, and embrace breathtaking vistas that would linger in your memory.

If you are interested in this itinerary, reach out to us and we will customize it perfectly according to your personal preferences and travel desires to ensure a wonderfully fulfilling journey.

When you first arrive in Greece, your children may only have a vague impression of the country, so why not start with enjoying the wonderful summer sunshine and then gradually create a clear picture by engaging with the locals?

Begin in Crete , the cradle of European civilization, move on to stunning Santorini , and conclude in Athens , the cornerstone of European heritage, to delve into Greek history and culture.

• Days 1–3: Chania, Crete (Elafonisi Beach, Balos Lagoon, Gramvousa Peninsula, Samaria Gorge, and a family cooking class)
• Days 4–5: Heraklion, Crete (explore the old town, the Koules fortress, the Agios Minas Cathedral, and the Minoan Palace of Knossos)
• Days 6–8: Santorini (red and black sand beaches, a panoramic boat tour, a sunset at Oia, a wine-tasting experience, and a day trip to Mykonos)
• Days 9–11: Athens (the Acropolis, Syntagma Square, Panathenaic Stadium, hike on Mount Lycabettus, and a day trip to Delphi)

In this itinerary, you would start your journey in Crete , with 3 days enjoying natural beauty and sunny beaches based in Chania , and 2 days exploring historical sites in Heraklion .

From Chania, you and your family could soak up the Aegean sunshine at Elafonisi Beach, take a boat tour to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa, and embark on a day trip to Samaria Gorge for some trekking and streamside natural beauty.

In Heraklion, enjoy a slow-paced walk in Heraklion's old town while appreciating the historical sites, including the Koules fortress and the Agios Minas Cathedral. Visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos to add some mysterious Greek mythology to your trip.

Then, hop on a 2-hour ferry to Santorini for iconic white buildings and volcanic caldera views. The stunning sunset at Oia and a book hunt at Atlantis Books with your children are highly recommended.

Finally, you would fly to Athens , the birthplace of European culture, where you could show your kids amazing sites once learned about from history books, including the Acropolis and Panathenaic Stadium. We could also arrange a day trip to Delphi adding more fun about Greek history and breathtaking views.

This itinerary is perfect for families traveling with teenagers. It focuses on three locations, providing diverse activities and adventures while avoiding constant hotel changes. And it lets you immerse yourself in the Aegean vibes so that you could cherish a Greek-style summer vacation. 

If this itinerary doesn't meet your requirements, feel free to contact us. We would be happy to personalize a private tour for you.

If you particularly love island-hopping and sunny beaches while spending some romantic time with your loved one, then this itinerary could be perfect for you, maybe to celebrate an anniversary or honeymoon.

You would embark on an island-hopping trip of the Cyclades visiting at least four islands with remote but stunning beaches, various activities, natural beauty, and romantic moments we have prepared for you. 

• Days 1–2: Athens (the birthplace of European culture)
• Days 3–4: Santorini (one of the most romantic sunsets in the world)
• Days 5–6: Ios (less visited with various activities)
• Days 7–10: Paros (slow-paced lifestyle and a perfect day-trip hub)
• Day 11: Mykonos (lively nightlife and a carnival atmosphere)

One of the highlights of this itinerary is that you could enjoy different island vibes within one island-hopping trip, which is perfect for beach lovers. Immerse yourself in Santorini's romance, soak up endless sunshine at Mylopotas in Ios , walk through the magical village of Naoussa in Paros , and join a lively beach bonfire in Mykonos .

Another highlight not to be missed is savoring local wine with your loved one while looking out on a stunning Santorini sunset. With the sun slowly setting and candles lit, the moment is yours to savor happiness quietly and keep it as an unforgettable memory of a lifetime.

And with 3 days in Paros, we would like to recommend spending 1 day on a day trip to Milos, the island of lovers. Appreciate its fascinating rock formations and lunar-like landscapes, and enjoy a cozy sunny day with your loved one by your side.

Contact us now and we would be happy to personalize a private tour for you, ensuring a hassle-free and tailored experience.

Itinerary 4: 12-Day Greece and Italy Trip 

For the charm of arts in Italy and unique natural beauty in Greece, this 12-day itinerary would take you to explore two different countries, admiring famous historical sites and enjoying picturesque islands.

• Days 1–3: Rome, Italy
• Days 4–5: Florence
• Days 6–7: Venice
• Days 8–9: Athens, Greece
• Days 10–11: Santorini

Your journey in Italy begins with Rome , a city bursting with vibrant culture. Feel the echoes of the past through the ruins of the Roman Forum. A tasty Italian dinner after your arrival provides the warmest welcome.

Florence , the cradle of the Renaissance, is renowned for its art. Stroll through the colorful streets and admire the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The city's rich history and splendid architectural style leave many in awe.

The City of Water, Venice , is famous for its romantic canals and gondolas. Drift across the lagoon, taking in the sights of grand palazzos and bridges that seem to float on the water. A visit to Piazza San Marco is a must, where you could admire the Basilica di San Marco and its intricate Byzantine mosaics.

In Greece, Athens and Santorini offer their own unique charms. 

Athens reveals the ancient Greek civilization through the Acropolis and museums with rich ancient collections. Santorini , with its whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches, creates a postcard-perfect scene with its dreamy sunset views.

Contact us now and we'll create your own personalized, hassle-free private tour.

With a well-planned itinerary, 12 days are adequate to explore Greece and Turkey. Indulge in their renowned cuisines and immerse yourself in their rich historical rhythms.

• Days 1–3: Istanbul, Turkey
• Days 4–6: Cappadocia
• Days 7–9: Athens, Greece

To make your trip memorable, we recommend saving the European cultural origins of Athens and the serene moments in Santorini for last, while delving into Turkey's cultural mosaic in Istanbul and the unique natural beauty of Cappadocia to begin your tour.

Istanbul , a city blending cultural heritage, modern marvels, and delectable cuisine, is famous for its diverse offerings. The best way to enjoy it is by taking a Bosphorus sunset cruise that we have carefully selected for you — appreciate the view of Dolmabahce Palace while feeling the warm sea breeze.

Cappadocia is famous for its moon-like landscape and strange rock formations. A hot-air balloon ride to witness the "fairy chimneys" from above is a must. Celebrate this enchanting and magical adventure with a champagne toast after your descent. 

Let us know your specific interests if you would like us to personalize a private tour just for you.

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Savvy Travel Advice

2 Weeks in Turkey: The Perfect Turkey Itinerary

Last updated: April 17, 2024 - Written by Jessica Norah 92 Comments

If you are planning a trip to Turkey, our 2 week Turkey itinerary will help you plan the perfect trip. Turkey is a large country, but if you have 14 days in Turkey you have time to explore many of the country’s most famous highlights.

Our suggested 2 week Turkey itinerary includes visits to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Fethiye, Pamukkale, Kuşadası, Ephesus, Troy, Çanakkale, Gallipoli, and Ankara. You’ll have time to explore Turkey’s most cosmopolitan cities, marvel at its ancient archaeological sites, relax on its beaches, shop at its traditional bazaars, visit several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and enjoy its scenic landscapes. The detailed day-by-day itinerary covers some of the most famous and iconic places in Turkey as well as some lesser known spots.

Each day we provide a range of suggestions for what you might want to do to suit just about any person’s travel style, budget, and tastes. Activity suggestions include hot air ballooning, food tours, hiking, museum visits, boat trips, cable car rides, art tours, Turkish hamam experiences, watching the sunset, cultural performances, and enjoying the local night clubs.

Laurence and I have visited Turkey several times and wanted to share this 14 day itinerary to help you plan your own trip. With 2 weeks in Turkey, you can see and do a lot, but you do need to be choosy as Turkey is a big country with lots of interesting attractions!

This itinerary can work no matter how you plan to get around Turkey. We have provided advice for those planning to travel by bus, car, train, plane, or as part of a guided tour. If you are thinking about booking a tour, we also give some recommendations for tours of Turkey that are similar to our itinerary.

Our 2 week Turkey itinerary includes day-to-day transport details, sightseeing highlights, activity options, and lodging recommendations. In addition, we’ve also included loads of tips, advice, and recommendations to help you get the most out of your Turkey vacation!

Table of Contents:

Preparing for your Trip to Turkey

Before we share our suggested 2 week Turkey itinerary, we wanted to share some tips and advice and answer some frequently asked questions about planning a trip to Turkey.

These include travel basics like knowing the local language and currency, the best time of year to travel to Turkey, how to get a visa, how to budget for your trip, and the best ways to get around Turkey.

The most important things you need to decide before planning out your itinerary is when you plan to visit, how long you plan to visit, and how you plan to get around the country.

Best Time of Year to Visit Turkey?

Turkey is a year-round travel destination. Generally, the months that are considered the best months to visit Turkey are April, May, September, and October. They are months when it is warm but not super hot outside.

The summer months of June through to August are often very hot in most parts of Turkey and can make it uncomfortable to spend long periods of time exploring outdoors. So be prepared for the sun and heat if you visit during the summer.

The busiest time of year to visit Turkey is from April to September. So if visiting during this period, just note that places will be busy. So expect crowds at the most popular sites.

The least busy times of the year are the winter months. If you don’t mind a bit of cold weather, you might consider traveling between November and March. Just note that these also tend to be the windiest and wettest months as well as the coldest. Also some attractions in Turkey are seasonal and may be closed for part of this period.

It should also be noted that Turkey is a large country so the weather in Istanbul may be very different than that of Antalya, Bodrum, Ankara, or Kars at the same time of year. So best to check average temperatures and weather for the specific places in Turkey you plan to visit.

We’ve been to Turkey at many different times of the year, and for those who don’t love hot weather, we’d definitely recommend against visiting in the summer if you can. The spring and autumn are definitely ideal for temperature.

We have also visited in late November and early December and found it cool but pleasant and crowds were much more manageable. But you do need to be more prepared for rain and bad weather.

How Much Does it Cost to Visit Turkey?

Turkey is a relatively inexpensive country to travel to and it is easy to find affordable lodging, food, clothing, and transportation.

In Istanbul, you can pay USD $8.00 for a hostel bed or you can pay USD $500 for a luxury hotel room. Turkey can be a great destination for budget, mid-range, and luxury travelers alike.

If you are traveling on a budget, you can easily travel in Turkey for very little. You can get a bed in a hostel for under USD $10 and meals in inexpensive restaurants for under USD $5.00. Bus fares and train fares are also inexpensive. Even domestic flights are generally reasonably priced, especially if you book in advance.

To find out an idea of the current prices for things in Turkey we recommend checking out a site called Numbeo. Here you can check for the average prices of basic goods (bananas, taxis, gasoline, restaurant meals, wine) in Turkey or check on prices of goods for a particular city (see here for Istanbul ).

Although most things in Turkey that travelers are likely to be purchasing are inexpensive compared to say the USA, Canada, Australia, and Western Europe, imported goods are often the same price or more expensive. This includes imported grocery items, electronics, alcohol, and cars. Fuel can also be expensive.

Turkey Travel Practicalities?

Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a huge country of over 75 million people and its capital city is Ankara. The largest city is Istanbul. Turkey straddles Europe and Asia and is a place where eastern and western cultural practices mix.

Here are some things you should know about Turkey before your trip.

Language in Turkey

The official language is Turkish and that is the first language of most Turks. Many people in Turkey also speak Kurdish.

You’ll find English speakers in the larger cities and in all the main tourist hot spots; however, most Turkish people speak little or no English. If you are planning to travel independently, it is a good idea to have a Turkish-English phrasebook or translation app with you.

Religion in Turkey

There is no official religion in Turkey but the vast majority of the people are Muslim, with Sunni Islam being the largest sect. However, it is common to also see Christian and Jewish places of worship.

It is important to follow local customs regarding modesty and dress when visiting religious places. Both men and women are asked to dress modestly and you may also be asked to remove your shoes. Women will be asked to cover their heads.

We recommend that women always carrying a scarf or travel wrap with you to cover your head and shoulders as needed.

Electricity in Turkey

In terms of electricity, Turkey operates on 220 volts / 50 Hz and uses round-prong Type C or Type E plugs that fit into recessed wall sockets. If your devices do not have Type C or Type E plugs (common in many European countries), you will need to take some plug adapters such as these ones .

If you are traveling from a country with 120v voltage (such as the United States or Canada), you will want to make sure to only bring electronics that will support 220v voltage, or you’ll need a separate voltage converter. You can see more in our guide about choosing a travel adapter for travel .

Currency in Turkey

The currency used in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TRY). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Turkey, with Mastercard and Visa being the most commonly taken.

However, many small businesses, street vendors, taxi drivers, and market sellers do not take credit cards. You also will need cash for tipping. So it is always wise to have liras on you when traveling.

The best way to get liras is from a local ATM once you arrive in Turkey. But you can also get them from a currency exchange bureau or bank before or during your trip. You can check the current exchange rate here .

Drinking Water in Turkey

There are mixed reports about whether the tap water is safe to drink in Turkey. The tap water in some areas is considered safe to drink but not in other areas. So it is generally recommended that travelers do not drink tap water in Turkey. However, the water is considered safe for bathing and cleaning.

Although bottled water is available everywhere, the environmental impact of these plastic bottles is terrible. So we recommend instead that each person takes a reusable water bottle along with a water filtration system or purification tablets. Then you can fill it up with tap water from just about anywhere.

We use the LifeStraw water bottle and it not only filters out any bacteria and dirt, but also filters out chlorine and other chemicals that cause the water to taste bad.

Getting Online in Turkey

Wireless Internet is freely available at most hotels and other types of accommodation in Turkey. So that can be a free way to stay in touch and get online. If you want to be able to use your phone’s service, you might want to consider getting a local SIM card .

If it is important for you to be able to get online easily during your trip, you might consider taking along a mobile hotspot. On our last 2 week trip to Turkey, we used a mobile hotspot from MyWebspot and it worked very well.

You can read our guide for more tips on staying in touch and using the Internet while traveling . For those concerned about online safety, we also recommend using a VPN while traveling in Turkey if you plan to use WiFi.

Safety in Turkey

Turkey has generally been considered a safe country for travelers. However, you should always check the latest travel advisories in your country and those issued in Turkey

There has been a lot of unrest in countries neighboring Turkey, particularly Syria, and there has been noted instances of violence, protests, and fighting along its borders. So you will likely see some travel advisories advising against travel to some of the border areas.

As with any country, we always recommend protecting your valuables, protecting yourself against pickpockets, and being aware of your surroundings at all times.

The main thing we have experienced is that you need to be very careful when handing over cash or exchanging money. Be sure to carefully count what you hand over and say the amount out loud, and make sure you get the correct change back.

We’ve had a taxi driver in Istanbul scam us by claiming we gave them a much smaller denomination note than we did and would not give us back the correct change. We ended up paying about 4 times the regular amount for a taxi ride. We’ve heard similar stories from many other travelers as well.

Do I need a Visa for Visiting Turkey?

Yes, most people, but not all, will need a visa to visit Turkey. Turkey has recently changed its policy so that residents of most European nations can enter Turkey without a visa.

You should check the current requirements for your particular country. Some countries may also have additional entry requirements.

Most nationalities that require a visa are eligible to apply for an e-visa in advance which is what we’d recommend doing. There are visa application places at the main ports of entry in Turkey but these can take longer and if your application is refused for any reason, you will be in a very undesirable situation. Best to apply and have it before you leave home.

With the e-visas, at most places the border patrol and authorities can check it in their system. But you will also want to bring along a digital and/or paper copy of your approved e-visa as well for back-up documentation.

How to Get to Turkey

Most visitors will arrive into Turkey via the international airport in Istanbul, but there are several ways to get to Turkey.

The main international airport in Turkey is the recently built Istanbul Airport in Istanbul. However, there are several major international airports in Turkey, including ones in Ankara, Mugla, Izmir, and Antalya.

There are direct or indirect flights to Istanbul from most parts of the world. The main airline operator in Turkey is Turkish Airlines.

It is possible to drive to Turkey via Bulgaria or Greece or to by taking a car ferry.

At the border you will need to provide a valid passport, visa (if needed), international driving license, vehicle license, international green card, vehicle registration details, and proof of insurance. Make sure your car insurance is valid for travel within all of Turkey. If the vehicle is not registered in your name, you may need a power of attorney document.

It may be possible to also enter by car from other countries to the east such as Iran or Georgia; however, the eastern borders are sometimes closed to private drivers and sometimes an authorized tour guide is required. Many rental car agencies will also not allow many of these border crossings. So do your research before your trip as it is often much easier to take a bus or train to make the crossing is there is one available.

If you want to travel to Turkey by bus there are regular services between Turkey and several European and Middle Eastern countries. You can check bus routes and book tickets on  BusBud .

There are ferry connections to Turkey for both cars and passengers, mainly from Greece and Cyprus.

Turkey has train links with eastern Europe and the Middle East; however, they are fairly limited and most trains are not daily so you will want to plan ahead. Wars and economic issues have closed a number of the long-distance international routes.

Currently, the two main places you can regularly get to Turkey directly by train are from Bulgaria and Iran.

If you are traveling in Europe by train and including Turkey in your trip, you will probably need to head to Sofia, Bulgaria and then connect to Istanbul via the Istanbul-Sofia Express train service. We took this train a couple of years ago.

If you are planning travel around Europe by train then you might want to consider a Eurail Global Pass (European rail pass for non-Europe residents) or Interrail Global Pass (European rail pass for residents of Europe). The Global Passes work for travel in over 30 European countries, including Turkey. The pass includes the Istanbul Sofia Express train service.

The most famous train service in the world, the Orient Express, once linked western Europe with Istanbul. It was a favored train by many famous writers, and we recommend taking along a book or two to enjoy if traveling by train.

A couple of novel suggestions include Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie and Stamboul Train by Graham Greene. For a travel memoir, Paul Theroux writes about his experiences traveling by train in 1973 from Paris to Istanbul and from Istanbul to Tehran in his book The Great Railway Bazaar . He then retraces his train journeys over 30 years later in Ghost Train to the Eastern Star .

The terminus train station for the old Orient Express service is still there and once a year the Venice Simplon Orient Expres luxury train still makes this trip from Paris (or London) to Istanbul.

How to Get Around Turkey

You have a variety of options for getting around Turkey. These include traveling by bus, train, or plane, renting a car, or joining a guided tour.

The easiest way is to take a tour, where someone else handles all your transport, accommodation, and sightseeing. The cheapest is to travel by bus and train.

In terms of public transport, Turkey has a good bus system which connects much of the country. There are both daytime and overnight buses, and there are usually a few services to choose from if you are heading to some of the more popular destinations, including those on our suggested itinerary.

There are several bus companies in Turkey. Many of the buses have amenities such as power outlets, WiFi, and onboard entertainment. Bus prices are very reasonable.

In places where the regular buses don’t have a route (such as to suburbs or to tourist attractions located outside of a city) there are often dolmus that run in these areas. These are shared taxis or minivans that run a set route for a set price. Passengers can then get out of the dolmus at any point along its route by notifying the driver. See advice for using a dolmus here .

For most of the regular buses, you can check the routes and buy tickets online in advance. The best tool we’ve found for comparing timetables and booking bus tickets in Turkey is BusBud and you can check prices and book online here .

There is a train network in Turkey, but it is not as comprehensive as the bus network. However, it is sometimes faster to take a train than to drive or take the same bus route when it is an option. So while you can use it to get to some of the main travel destinations in the country, you will likely need to also use the bus.

The railway network in Turkey is run by the government-operated Turkey State Railways (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryollari or TCDD). This includes a network of long-distance, regional, commuter, and high-speed trains. You can check routes and buy tickets here .

If you are planning to take a few train journeys in Turkey then you might want to consider a Eurail Pass (European rail pass for non-Europe residents) or Interrail Pass (European rail pass for residents of Europe). You can get a Global Pass that works for 32 countries in Europe (including Turkey) or a Turkey Select Pass (only valid for Turkey). The Eurail and Interrail passes are valid on all trains in Turkey operated by Turkey State Railways.

You will probably find a combination of train and bus will be the optimal way to get around if you are taking public transport. Bus and train prices are often similar, so in those cases, you’ll want to take whichever option is more time-efficient.

If you’d prefer to drive yourself, you can rent a car in Turkey. This can be a good way to get around if you want to have a more flexible itinerary and don’t want to take public transportation.

To rent a car in Turkey as a foreign visitor, you will normally be required to show a valid passport and visa, have a valid credit card, a valid drivers’ license in a Latin alphabet, and be age 21 or older (some age requirements may be as high as 27). If you don’t have a driver’s license in a Latin alphabet you will need to get an International Driving Permit prior to your trip.

The main roads in Turkey are in good condition and there are roadside services along the way. However, Turkey is known for a high number of accidents and bad traffic, especially in the cities. It can be a stressful experience for tourists not familiar with driving in Turkey. This is not to say you shouldn’t consider renting a car in Turkey, just be aware of the situation, get insurance, and be prepared to drive defensively.

Many of Turkey’s fastest highways and bridges have tolls. To drive any of these roads, you will need to first sign up for Turkey’s high-speed toll system called Hizli Geçis Sistemi (HGS) and have an electronic toll payment device on your car. You can’t pay the toll with cash or credit card at the toll booths. If renting a car, your rental car will likely come with the sticker and you should ask about it and any associated fees.

Just note that driving a car is generally the most expensive way to get around Turkey. You can often purchase 2 or 3 bus or train tickets for the cost of just the fuel between two cities. Given that drivers also have to take into account rental fees, insurance, parking, and highway tolls, driving a car is often even more expensive than flying.

Drivers should always keep local cash on hand as most of the tourist sites have paid parking fees and payment at some of these places is only accepted in cash.

You can rent a car in any of Turkey’s main cities, and many people rent a car in either Istanbul or Ankara. If you want to rent a car, you can compare and check prices online with Discover Cars here .

Finally, as Turkey is a big place, there are a number of domestic flight routes which can help you to get between some of the major locations quite quickly. There are over 50 airports in Turkey.

Flights are relatively inexpensive if booked in advance, although they are usually more expensive than taking a train or bus. The main airline in Turkey is Turkish Airlines.

So flights can help you cover large distances in a relatively short time. Just don’t forget to account for the time required to get to and from the airport and to check in and go through security. It is also important to think about the environmental footprint of taking numerous flights versus other modes of transportation.

However, airports are often located a fair distance from the tourism destinations so you will still need to combine flying with other modes of transportation such as a bus, train, car, taxi, or tour.

By Carpooling or Ridesharing

You can use carpooling or ridesharing services like BlaBlaCar to find rides in Turkey. However, given that the established bus network will get you to almost anywhere you need to go, that bus tickets are so inexpensive, and that carpooling is not that popular in Turkey means that you are probably better off using the bus (or train).

One of the most popular ways to explore Turkey is to join a guided tour. We can definitely recommend it if you are considering a trip to Turkey similar to the one we suggest in this itinerary.

A tour makes travel in Turkey much easier. You don’t have to figure out public transportation schedules or how to buy tickets, you don’t have to spend long periods of time driving or figure out where to park, and everything is planned ahead for you.

The best thing about joining a tour is that you have a tour guide who can help explain all the things you are seeing and give you lots of great advice for places to go, dishes to eat, and things to see.

Many attractions in Turkey include very little posted explanations so having some sort of guide (whether a person, audioguide, or book) is important to get the most from your visit.

Private tours in Turkey with a guide are also possible and can be a good value for those traveling with a family or small group.

We have a selection of recommended tours that are similar to this itinerary in this guide. We also suggest taking a look at Turkey tours on TourRadar here , where you’ll find a range of tours from various tour operators at different price points and durations.

How Long Should I Spend in Turkey?

It really depends on what you want to do and see in Turkey. Turkey is a huge country and it would take months to see all of its highlights.

I would say an ideal amount of time for a first trip would be 10 to 14 days. This will give you plenty of time to get a taste of Turkey and see some of the country’s most famous cities, historical attractions, and beaches.

Most first time visitors spend most of their time focused on the western part of Turkey and this is what we’d recommend. If you have 2 weeks, you can cover many of the highlights. If you have more time, or come back a second time, you can cover the lesser-known destinations of the west or expand your trip into the lesser-explored eastern part of Turkey.

For what to see with 2 weeks in Turkey, see our suggested itinerary below for an itinerary and day-by-day suggestions for what to see and do.

If you want to spend less time moving from place to place, you can easily just split your time between two places, for instance spending several days in Istanbul and then several days in another town or city, like Antalya, Fethiye, Ankara, or Izmir. You can spend time exploring the cities and take day trips to visit nearby attractions.

We’ve visited Istanbul several times now and still haven’t seen everything the city has to offer!

Tours of Turkey

Turkey is a big place and it is often a long distance between popular tourist attractions, resulting in quite large amounts of time transiting. While there is a fairly good public transport network and it’s possible to hire a car, we think for many people a tour is the best way to get around.

This way you can let someone else handle all the logistics of your trip, from transport to accommodation, and you can just enjoy yourself and focus on the sightseeing

. It also means you don’t have to worry about booking individual day trips for out of town sights, as most tours will already include stops at these attractions. You’ll also get a tour guide for the duration who can help explain all the amazing things along the way.

You can also spend the time on the coach reading, chatting with your travel companions, catching up on sleep, or surfing the Internet rather than driving or negotiating public transit.

Turkey is a popular destination, and there are a huge number of tours to choose from, varying from a few days to a few weeks. Most are offered at a reasonable price, with lots of budget and mid-range options.

When choosing a tour, it’s important to pick the style of tour that is right for you. Some tours are smaller groups, others are quite large. Some are geared to a younger traveler whereas others are more focused on a more mature traveler. Some include more time at historical and cultural sites whereas others may spend more time at beaches and seaside destinations. Check the comfort level of the accommodation and transport included.

It’s also important to read what is included when comparing tours. For example, some tours might include all your entry fees and meals whereas others will allow you to choose whether you want to pay for those things or not. So don’t just look at the price of the tour but also check what is and what isn’t included.

A good tour company should also be able to give you an estimate of the costs for all the optional activities and attractions that aren’t included, so you can budget accordingly.

For instance, we have taken a tour with Travel Talk Tours in Turkey and most of their budget-oriented tours work out to being about $50 to $80 per day per person for all inclusions, including transport, guide, attractions, meals, and lodging. You can read about our 12 day Turkey tour experience here .

We’ve put together a selection of tours of Turkey below which are quite similar to our itinerary, so you can pick a tour that is right for you. Most start in Istanbul but a couple start in Ankara.

• This 10 day small group tour includes visits to Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, and Cappadocia
• This 12 day tour includes visits to Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Fethiye, and Cappadocia.
• This 12 day Turkey by gulet tour includes visits to Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Fethiye, and Cappadocia. It also includes 3 nights on a gulet boat. You can read all about our experience taking this tour of Turkey here .
• This 12 day private tour from Ankara includes visits to Ankara, Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, Antalya, Kaş, Fethiye, Pamukkale, Efes, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Troy, and Gallipoli
• This 13 day tour which includes Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Fethiye, Bodrum, Pamukkale, and Ephesus
• This private 14 day tour of Turkey which includes Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya, and Cappadocia
• This 19 day tour could be great for those with more time in Turkey. It includes visits to Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Fethiye, and Cappadocia, plus 7 nights on a gulet to visit nearby seaside towns and islands.

As you can see, there are lots of tours to choose from so you can probably find a tour that suits your travel needs. You can see lots more tours in Turkey from various tour operators on TourRadar here .

You can also consider mixing independent travel with a tour as we find this a good way to enjoy some time sightseeing on our own (such as in Istanbul) and then taking a tour to explore further afield.

14 Days in Turkey Itinerary Summary

Here’s a summary of our suggested 2 week Turkey itinerary to help you visualize what your two weeks in Turkey will look like:

• Day 1: Istanbul
• Day 2: Istanbul
• Day 3: Gallipoli
• Day 4: Troy & Kusadasi
• Day 5: Kusadasi & Ephesus
• Day 6: Pamukkale & Fethiye
• Day 7: Fethiye
• Day 8: Antalya
• Day 9: Antalya
• Day 10: Cappadocia
• Day 11: Cappadocia
• Day 12: Ankara
• Day 13: Ankara
• Day 14: Istanbul

2 Week Turkey Itinerary

The goal for this two week Turkey itinerary is to visit some of the many highlights the country has to offer.

Obviously, in a country with such a rich history, there’s no way to see everything on offer in two weeks. In addition, Turkey is a big country, so you also will want to factor in distance and travel times.

However, we feel that this itinerary would make a great starting point for anyone planning to spend between 10 days and two weeks in Turkey. It can, of course, be tweaked and adjusted based on how much time you have and your own personal interests, but we hope it gives you some inspiration for your own trip.

If you are planning to book a tour, this 14 day Turkey itinerary can help you decide which destinations you want to make sure are included in your tour itinerary. For those not taking a tour, we give travel suggestions for those traveling by bus, train, plane, and car throughout the itinerary.

Turkey Itinerary Day 1: Istanbul

We think the best place to start (and end) your trip to Turkey is in Istanbul. The city has the best international connections, especially by air, meaning it’s easy to get here from elsewhere in Europe and further afield.

As an introduction to Turkey, Istanbul is also a great starting point. Known as the “bridge” between Europe and Asia, the city is literally split between continents. The Bosphorus Strait separates Europe and Asia, and Istanbul spreads across both sides of this divide.

Istanbul is the largest city in Europe by population; however, it’s not the capital of Turkey—that would be Ankara. Founded over 600 years before the birth of Christ, Istanbul has literally seen the rise and fall of empires. It is a city that has been known by many names over the centuries, including Byzantium and Constantinople.

In terms of what to see when you’re in Istanbul, two full days will let you see many of the highlights, but it will definitely leave you wanting more! So you will want to prioritize what you want to do and see most in the city.

We’d suggest that you spend your first full day exploring the most famous of the historical sites and attractions in Istanbul, most of which are part of the World Heritage Site in Istanbul . Most of the main historic sites in Istanbul are located in the Sultanahmet area of Istanbul within the Fatih district which is where we recommend you start.

Some of the highlights you might want to visit in this area include the 6th century Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya), the 17th century The Blue Mosque (officially the Sultan Ahmed Mosque), Topkapi Palace , the ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople , the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici), and the Istanbul Archaeological Museums . A bit further away is also the impressive 16th-century Süleymaniye Mosque which is well worth a visit if you have the time.

These sites are all relatively close together and are easy to visit on foot, although taxis, public buses, and sightseeing buses are also options. As you visit these sites and wander the streets of the Old City, you will be taking a journey across thousands of years of history, including the Roman, Egyptian, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods!

You’ll also want to make time for a visit to the Grand Bazaar , which began in the 15th century and is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. Here you can buy a lot of things, including ceramics, lanterns, rugs, clothing, tea, jewelry, and books. But do be careful of what you are buying as you’ll find everything from locally handcrafted rugs and jewelry to cheap Chinese made souvenirs, so price and quality varies widely.

Another market you might want to visit is the Egyptian Spice Bazaar , or Misir Çarsisi, which is another large market in Istanbul. Vendors here are known primarily for selling spices, but you can also find sweets, tea, dried fruit, Turkish delight, souvenirs, etc.

If you are looking for a guided walking tour of the historical area of Istanbul, there are several tours you can join that cover all the highlights of the historical area of Istanbul. A few options include this full day tour with lunch , this small group highlights tour , and this customizable private tour .

After a day full of sightseeing, we recommend ending your day with a relaxing Turkish dinner at a local restaurant or consider a sunset cruise on the Bosphorus Strait.

A cruise on the Bosphorus allows you to truly appreciate the incredible size of the city. The Bosphorus separates the European and Asian parts of Istanbul so you will be floating along the continental divide. Many of the cruises include dinner and entertainment, such as this cruise and this one .

Where to Stay in Istanbul

We suggest staying in or near the old part of the city (the Sultanahmet neighborhood in the Fatih district) for easy access to the city’s most popular sights.

Here are some accommodation options to consider in Istanbul across a range of budgets. Istanbul has a huge number of properties to choose from and prices are very reasonable.

• Big Apple Hostel & Hotel – This well-reviewed good-value hostel offers both shared dormitory rooms and private rooms. Breakfast is included in room rates, and there’s an on-site restaurant for other meals. A good budget option as dorm beds are usually around $17 with breakfast. Located a 10-minute walk from the highlights of the Old City
• Agora Guesthouse – This is a well-reviewed guesthouse offering both dormitory and private rooms. An included breakfast is served on the rooftop terrace. Located just a few hundred yards from the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia
• Tulip Guesthouse – This guesthouse offers good value private rooms with either shared or en-suite bathrooms. Breakfast is included and is served on the top floor terrace which offers lovely views. It is about a 5 minutes walk from attractions like the Hagia Sofia.
• Berk Guesthouse – Grandma’s House – A well-rated guesthouse with en-suite guest rooms, included breakfast, and a rooftop terrace with nice views over the city. A 2-minute walk from the Blue Mosque.
• Meserret Palace Hotel – A well-reviewed 4-star hotel offers en-suite rooms with tea/coffee making facilities and flat-screen TVs, 24-hour desk, room service, and an included breakfast. Located near the Spice Bazaar and about a 10 minute walk from the Old City.
• Obelisk Hotel & Suites – This well-rated 4-star hotel offers en-suite rooms with tea/coffee making facilities, 24-hour front desk, and an on-site restaurant. Breakfast is included with rates. Located just a few hundred hard from the Hagia Sophia.
• Boutique Saint Sophia – This 4-star boutique hotel offers private en-suite rooms with breakfast included and an on-site cafe and bar. The hotel is located near the Hagia Sophia with some rooms offering views of the attraction.
• Régie  Ottoman – This stylish boutique hotel is set in a 150-year  old  renovated  Ottoman building and offers all the normal modern amenities and breakfast is included. The hotel has an on-site restaurant and is located about a 10-minute walk from the historic Sultanahmet area. We’ve stayed here and really enjoyed our stay.
• Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul – This 5-star luxury hotel centrally located hotel offer guestrooms with modern amenities, 24-hour desk, room service, and an on-site restaurant. A great option if you are looking for a luxury property in this part of Istanbul. Located near the Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia.

If you are looking for a self-catering stay, options include these apartments in the Fatih district on Booking.com and these Fatih district apartments in Istanbul on Vrbo. If you are not finding what you want, you can see this list of apartment booking websites .

Turkey Itinerary Day 2: Istanbul

For your second day in Istanbul we recommend crossing across the Galata Bridge and exploring this part of the city. The Galata Bridge, which crosses the Golden Horn, is often seen as the link between the traditional and the more modern areas of Istanbul.

Highlights include the Galata Tower , a restored 15th-century tower that has an observation deck on top, enjoying the European style buildings and shopping along the picturesque Istiklal Avenue (Istiklal Caddesi), and the Taksim Square area which features the Republic Monument and is a lively area for shopping and nightlife. There are a lot of art galleries and museums in this area including SALT Galata , Pera Museum , and the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art Museum .

We can also recommend visiting Dolmabahçe Palace , this beautiful 19th-century palace was once the home of the sultans as well as the first President of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. It is the largest palace in Turkey and today is a museum.

If you are looking for a place to relax and have a coffee, you might want to make a stop at the cafe or tea lounge at the luxurious Pera Palace Hotel . The hotel is one of the most famous historical hotels in the city having such past guests as Agatha Christie. Or find a street cafe along Istiklal Avenue to people watch or wander over to a seaside cafe to enjoy the view over the water.

Or maybe you’d like to try a traditional Turkish hamam experience such as this one at Aga Hamami , which is the oldest hamam in Istanbul. Note that this is a traditional Turkish bathing practice, not a spa but it is a relaxing and cleansing experience.

Depending on what you want to do and see on this side of the bridge and how far you are willing to walk, you can explore entirely on foot or you can take public transit just about everywhere. Transport options include public buses, trams, taxis, and sightseeing buses . Or you can join a tour that includes transport.

For those on foot, note that Turkey has a lot of hills and there is a steep hill to get from the Galata Bridge to Istiklal Avenue. However, you can take the Tünel funicular that will take you up this incline. This is one of the oldest subway stations in the world.

If you are looking for a guide on your second day in Istanbul, this walking tour focuses on this area north of the Golden Horn, this small group art expert-led tour covers the main modern art museums and art spaces in this part of Istanbul, and here is a guided tour of the palace .

For your second evening in Istanbul, you might want to finish your day with an evening food tour, sampling some local nightlife, or a cultural event in the evening.

Those interested in seeing and sampling more of the local food scene in Istanbul may want to consider a food tour. There are several food tours in Istanbul to choose from such as this evening food trail tour and this small group food tour .

Those looking for an evening cultural performance might see what is playing at the local theaters, Süreyya Opera House , or see a Turkish dance performance or whirling dervishes show at the Hodjapasha Cultural Centre. Those looking for a more wild night out might want to check out the nightlife in and around Taksim Square or join a local-led pub crawl .

We then recommend spending a second night in Istanbul. This works well for those taking a tour, flying, or those driving themselves. However, those taking a bus may want to consider heading to Çanakkale today instead so you have more time to explore Gallipoli the next day.

How to Get to from Istanbul to Gallipoli

If you are not joining a tour in Istanbul, you have three main options for getting from Gallipoli from Istanbul. If you decide to take a flight or bus, you’ll want to head to Çanakkale (or Eceabat) and then take a tour or find transport to the nearby historical sites at Gallipoli.

By Car: It is about a 186 mile (300 km) drive from Istanbul to the Gallipoli peninsula which takes about 4 hours. If you leave on the morning of your third day, this will give you time to stop and see the main sights in Gallipoli before overnighting in Çanakkale.

By Plane: The fastest option is to fly. Flights take around an hour from Istanbul to Çanakkale and are usually reasonably priced if booked well in advance.

By Bus: The bus journey is generally about 6 hours from Istanbul to Çanakkale, or a little less if you go to Eceabat. Check bus times and prices, and book online here . Depending on bus schedules, those wanting to explore Gallipoli may want to catch a late afternoon or evening bus on Day 2 to have more time to explore Gallipoli on Day 3.

Turkey Itinerary Day 3: Gallipoli

Today we recommend leaving Istanbul after breakfast and heading southwest to the Gallipoli peninsula. The peninsula lies between the Dardanelles and the Gulf of Saros and is best known as being the location for the Gallipoli Campaign during World War I.

Most of the area is part of the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park which was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998. Whereas most historical attractions in Turkey date back thousands of years, this is a place where you can learn about more recent history.

On the Gallipoli peninsula in 1915, Allied Forces (which included British, Australian, New Zealand, Indian, French, and Newfoundland troops) mounted an ultimately doomed attack on the Ottoman Empire to try to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul) and take control of a vital supply route. After about 9 months of fighting and minimal gains, and with around 250,000 casualties on each side, the Allies withdrew.

The event was a huge disaster for the Allied war effort, and had lasting repercussions. For Winston Churchill , then First Lord of the Admiralty, his promotion of the failed campaign would lead to him having a demoted role in politics and the failure would haunt him for years. It would have been difficult for anyone to imagine him as a later wartime Prime Minister!

Turkey was at that time part of the Ottoman Empire and was fighting on the side of Germany. For the Turks, one of the army officers for the Ottoman defense at Gallipoli, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk , would later become the first president and founder of modern Turkey.

The Gallipoli Campaign was one of the most important events in the war to take place from an Australian and New Zealand perspective. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) were deployed, and like many of the countries involved, suffered heavy losses. The campaign is largely regarded as the trigger for the national consciousness of both countries, and to this day both countries formally remember their fallen on ANZAC Day (April 25th) each year.

For Australians and New Zealanders visiting Turkey, a trip to the Gallipoli peninsula is usually high on the priority list. However, we think this is a trip that should be of interest to anyone, regardless of nationality, in order to learn more about this event and reflect on the effects of war.

There are a number of places to visit across the Gallipoli Peninsula, including landing sites, memorials, and graveyards. A few of the more popular places for visitors include ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery and Memorial, and Canakkale Martyrs’ Memorial. What you want to visit probably depends on your specific interests and your nationality, and y ou can see a full list of the sites here .

There are also a few museums in the area that focus on the Gallipoli campaign, including the Kabatepe Promotion Center And Museum in Kabatepe, Salim Mutlu War Museum (Salim Mutlu Özel Harp Anilar Koleksiyonu) in Alçitepe, and the Gelibolu War Museum in Gelibolu.

If you want to know more about the battles that took place here, we recommend getting a book such as Gallipoli: The Battlefield Guide . We would definitely recommend some sort of guidebook if you are planning to explore on your own without a tour guide.

Expect to spend a few hours here. It is a challenging place to get around unless you have your own vehicle, and we would definitely suggest taking a tour if you don’t have your own transport. There are a lot of tour options so it is usually easy to find a good value tour.

Here are some day tour options to consider, some also include Troy, which is on our itinerary for the next day.

• An 8 hour tour of the Gallipoli sites with lunch from Çanakkale
• A 6 hour tour of Gallipoli with lunch from Çanakkale
• A full day tour of Gallipoli and Troy with lunch from Çanakkale
• Another full day tour of Gallipoli and Troy with lunch from Çanakkale
• A private tour of the Gallipoli sites from Çanakkale
• A 6 hour Gallipoli tour with lunch from Eceabat

Now if you have extra time in Çanakkale, there is a fortress (Çimenlik Castle), an enclosed market called the Mirror Bazaar, a few museums you can visit (Military Marine Museum, city history museum, and Ceramics Museum), and a harbor area you can stroll around where you can find the wooden Trojan horse from the 2004 film Troy starring Brad Pitt. There is also Kilitbahir Fortress located just across the strait.

If you are staying in Eceabat, you can also spend some time relaxing on the beach there.

Where to Stay in Gallipoli

We would recommend spending the night in either Çanakkale (a short ferry ride from the Gallipoli Peninsula) or Eceabat. Eceabat is slightly closer to the Gallipoli sites, but Çanakkale has more services and attractions.

If you are traveling by bus, you’ll probably want to choose a place near the bus station.

It is easy to find good value accommodation in this area. Here are some options to consider at both locations:

• Set Özer Hotel in Çanakkale – A centrally located good value hotel that offers private en-suite rooms with breakfast. Very close to ferry, waterfront, and main town attractions.
• Kinzi House in Çanakkale – A well-reviewed and centrally located self-catering accommodation that offers a full kitchen, laundry facilities, and flat-screen TV. This is a great value option if you are traveling with a few people and want to cook yourself.
• Artur Hotel in Çanakkale – A popular and well-reviewed hotel in the center of Çanakkale with private en-suite rooms and an on-site restaurant.
• Kolin Hotel in Çanakkale – A 5-star hotel with all the modern guestroom amenities, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, spa, fitness center, multiple restaurants and bars, and a free airport shuttle. A good option for those looking for more amenities.
• Eceabat Gezen Hotel in Eceabat – A very well-reviewed value hotel offering private rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Has a private beach area and a garden, as well as a bar and inclusive breakfast
• Villa Bagci Hotel in Eceabat – This is a well-reviewed hotel offering private en-suite rooms with breakfast. Located a few hundred yards from the beach.
• Hotel Casa Villa in Eceabat – Another well-reviewed hotel in Eceabat a few hundred yards from the beach. Features private rooms with en-suite facilities and breakfast is included.

How to Get from Çanakkale to Troy and Kusadasi

Your next stop of the trip is going to be Troy, after which you’ll head south via Izmir to Kusadasi. If you happened to already visit Troy today, then you can skip that stop and head straight to Kusadasi.

If you are not taking a guided tour, you have a few choices today:

By Car:   It’s around a 30 minute drive to Troy from Çanakkale, and then a little over 5 hours down to Kusadasi. We’d suggest spending a couple of hours at Troy, and then aiming to arrive in Kusadasi mid-afternoon if you are driving yourself.

By Plane: You can do part of the day by plane if you wish as you can fly from Çanakkale to Izmir. However, you will need to take a bus, car, taxi, or tour to get to and from Troy and then from Izmir to Kusadasi. Those planning to fly may want to base in Izmir instead of Kusadasi.

By Train: Part of today’s journey can be done by train as there is a train that you can take between Izmir and Selçuk (town next to Ephesus).

By Bus: There are regular buses (approximately every hour) from Çanakkale to Troy, the journey takes around 45 minutes. To head onto Izmir, you’ll need to backtrack to Çanakkale or head to Ezine, and from either you can get a bus to Izmir (about a 5.5 hour journey). From Izmir, it is about a 90-minute bus journey to Kusadasi.

You might consider taking a local private or shared taxi (called dolmus) to and from Troy. Then connect to the intercity buses in Ezine or Çanakkale onwards to Izmir and Kusadasi.

Check bus times and prices, and book online here .

Turkey Itinerary Day 4: Troy & Kusadasi

For your fourth day in Turkey, you’re going to visit the ancient city of Troy and then head down the western coast of Turkey to the city of Kuşadası. You may also want to make a stop in Izmir, along the way.

We recommend heading out straight after breakfast so you have time to explore Troy in the morning.

The first stop of the day is Troy which is only about a 30-minute drive south of Çanakkale. A city has been at this location known as Troy from around 3,000 years B.C. right up until about 450 A.D.

Of course, as it existed for almost four millennia, Troy saw a lot of changes in its time. In fact, there were in fact no less than nine cities on this location, which was favored due to its waterfront location. Reasons for its demise are unclear, but the fall of the Roman Empire was likely a factor in its final abandonment.

The main reason that Troy is famous today is that it was the main setting of Homer’s Iliad about the Trojan War. This ancient Greek epic poem gave us the famous story of the Trojan Horse and the disastrous love triangle between Helen of Troy, King Menelaus, and Paris. The historical accuracy of the tale is highly debated but many historians do believe there was some sort of war and siege of Troy by Spartan and Achaean warriors in the 12th or 13th century BC.

The actual location of the ancient city of Troy was lost to history in the subsequent centuries. Later travelers and archaeologists searched for the location of the famous city and many believed it was somewhere in the Anatolia region of Turkey, particularly the Troad peninsula. It was Englishman Frank Calvert who would first excavate the hill at Hisarlik and find what is now believed to be the remains of the ancient city of Troy.

Whether the events of the Iliad took place here or not, UNESCO notes that the archaeological findings at Troy are the “most significant demonstration of the first contact between the civilizations of Anatolia and the Mediterranean world”. Structures have been found at Hisarlik from a number of periods including the Bronze Age and the Roman and Greek periods.

Today, Troy is a protected archaeological site, a national historical park, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a visitor, you can wander around and learn about the history of the place while seeing the various layers of the different cities. Naturally, there’s a giant wooden horse you can take a photo of as well. The recently opened Troy Museum (Troya Müzesi ) holds a number of artifacts from the archaeological site. We’re recommend allowing 2 to 3 hours to visit Troy.

From Troy you’ll continue south along the coast to the city of Kusadasi. Along the way, you’ll go through Izmir. Izmir is one of the oldest settlements in the Mediterranean, and was originally believed to have been settled in 6500 BC! It is now the third-largest city in Turkey by population.

Izmir offers lots of attractions and services. Some of the main tourist sites include the Roman Agora of Smyrna , the hilltop castle of Kadifekale (the “Velvet Castle”), the seafront and Kordon esplanade, Konak Square and its clock tower, several museums, and the Kemeralti shopping district. There is also a rich Jewish heritage here with several synagogues and other Jewish landmarks to be found here, especially in the Kemeralti district.

So Izmir may be a good place to stop and stretch your feet, and maybe visit an attraction or two. You could also decide to overnight in Izmir; however, our advice is to press on to Kusadasi as it’s closer to upcoming highlights and also has its own attractions.

Kusadasi is a popular coastal town in Turkey, which offers a wide range of accommodation options as well as beaches and attractions. It is also very close to Ephesus, one of Turkey’s most famous ancient ruined cities.

Today will be a long journey, regardless of your means of transport, so we recommend having a relaxing evening once you arrive in the Aegean seaside town of Kusadasi. Perhaps a stroll around town or a dip in the hotel pool, and then a nice dinner.

We recommend spending two nights in Kusadasi. However, those who are traveling by public transportation may also want to consider Selçuk (town next to Ephesus) as a base instead for the two nights as the transit connections are a bit easier there.

Where to stay in Kusadasi

Kusadasi is a popular resort town and there are a great many hotels to choose from, the majority of which offer excellent value. Most have pools and some are next to a beach.

Kusadasi is pretty spread out and we generally recommend staying within walking distance of the city center and seaside. Those traveling by bus will want to stay within walking distance of the bus station and bus stops. Some options to consider for your 2-night stay are as follows:

• Hotel Stella – A well-reviewed good value 2-star hotel that offers en-suite rooms have balconies, a pool, an on-site restaurant, and inclusive breakfast. Located about 100 yards from the harbor.
• Sezgin Boutique Hotel – A popular budget hotel with en-suite rooms, inclusive breakfast, and a swimming pool. Located about 150 yards from the city center.
• Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel – This well-rated 4-star hotel offers ensuite rooms with views over city or water, a rooftop swimming pool, fitness center, and inclusive breakfast. Located near the city center and water.
• Grand Sahin’s Hotel – This well-reviewed 4-star hotel offers ensuite rooms with balconies, an inclusive breakfast, on-site restaurant and bar, outdoor swimming pool, private beach area, and free parking. Located next to the seaside.
• DoubleTree by Hilton Kusadasi – A popular city-center hotel offering 5-star facilities, ensuite rooms with balconies, a rooftop restaurant and bar, 2 swimming pools, fitness center, and a spa.
• LaVista Boutique Hotel & SPA – This is a very well rated centrally located boutique hotel that offers large en-suite rooms, an on-site bar and restaurant, a fitness center, inclusive breakfast, and a lovely outdoor pool overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Where to stay in Selçuk

Those traveling by bus or train may prefer to spend the two nights in Selçuk instead of Kusadasi. For those using public transit, we recommend staying in central Selçuk within walking distance of the bus station and train station.

Here are a few accommodation options in Selçuk:

• ANZ Guest House – A budget-friendly hostel that offers dorm beds as well as private rooms and family rooms. Breakfast is included and there is a rooftop terrace. Centrally located, about a 12-minute walk to bus station and train station.
• Queen Bee Hotel – A good value bed-and-breakfast that offers rooms with private bathrooms and included breakfast. There is also a cafe on the ground floor here.  Centrally located, about a 12-minute walk to bus station and train station.
• Celsus Boutique Hotel – A boutique hotel featuring outdoor swimming pool, garden, shared lounge, and inclusive breakfast. Centrally located, about a 10-minute walk to bus station and train station.
• Vinifera Vineyards Hotel – If you are looking for something different and don’t mind being outside Selçuk, this hotel sits next to a vineyard and offers large ensuite rooms with patios, onsite restaurant and winery, a swimming pool, and inclusive breakfast. Located well outside of Selçuk so is best suited for those who plan to get around by car or taxi; however, you can get to Selçuk by train as the Çamlık station is about a 7-minute walk from the hotel.

Turkey Itinerary Day 5: Kusadasi & Ephesus

Today, we recommend heading to Ephesus after breakfast to explore the archaeological sites there. Then return and spend the latter part of the day exploring Kusadasi itself. Ephesus is very popular and can get very crowded, so going early is a good idea to avoid some of the crowds and the afternoon heat.

Many people visit Ephesus as part of a tour, but it is also easy to get to on your own. It is about a 25-minute drive, bus, or taxi ride away. If you are taking public transport, you can take a dolmus (shared taxi or minibus) from Kusadasi which can drop you at the lower gate of Ephesus.

Ephesus is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Turkey so it is on many visitors must-see lists. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was an ancient Greek city, founded in the 10th century BC, and only abandoned around the 15th century AD after centuries of decline, mainly due to the harbor silting up. At its height, it was second only to Rome in size and importance in the ancient world.

Today, Ephesus is a large and important archaeological site where you can see the remains of temples, theaters, wide marble streets, agoras, bathing complexes, tombs, aqueducts, fountains, terrace houses, and more. Some of the main sights include the spectacular Library of Celsus , the Temple of Hadrian, and the Great Theatre.

Ephesus is an important religious destination too, especially for Christians. It was the location of one of the Seven Churches of Asia (or Seven Churches of the Apocalypse), the seven major early Christian communities, as noted in the New Testament Book of Revelations in the Bible.

It is believed that the Gospel of John may have been written here, and that Mary, mother of Jesus, lived out her final years nearby in the care of John. Important early Christian sites in Ephesus include St. John’s Basilica , Church of the Virgin Mary , and The House of the Virgin Mary .

Also located nearby is the ruins of the Temple of Artemis , one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Unfortunately today, very little remains of the ancient temple.

For those interested in seeing some of the artifacts found here, you may want to take time to visit the nearby Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Selçuk after visiting the archaeological sites. It contains a number of statues, columns, coins, sarcophagi, tools, and other artifacts uncovered in Ephesus.

Most visitors just visit the main archaeological complex which contains over 25 main points of interest. There is an entry fee that covers all the sites (there is an additional ticket required if you want to go inside the terrace houses), and you can enter at the upper or lower gates and exit from either side. There are taxis, shuttles, and carriages that can transport you between the two if you wish.

It’s quite a large site, which runs from the top of a hill to the bottom, but once you get here you can visit everything on foot. Just be prepared for a bit of walking by wearing comfortable shoes and bringing your water bottle.

As you would imagine, there is a lot to see and take in here, and there isn’t a lot of information on display. We would recommend renting an on-site audioguide, joining a guided tour such as this one , or bringing a guidebook (like this one ) so you have an idea of what you are looking at. Most people spend 2 to 4 hours exploring the complex.

There is more to explore outside the main archeological complex for those with more time and interest. Sites located outside the main archaeological complex include the Temple of Artemis, House of the Virgin Mary, St. John’s Basilica, and the Ephesus Archaeological Museum. Other attractions in Ephesus include Selçuk Castle, Ayasuluk Citadel, and Isa Bey Mosque.

If you are considering a tour from Kusadasi (or Izmir), there are a variety of tours of differing lengths. We think that around 4 to 5 hours would work and then give you time to sightsee in Kusadasi in the afternoon, but you could also do a full-day tour if you want more time in Ephesus. Some tours to consider to Ephesus from Kusadasi are:

• This 4 hour small group morning tour of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis
• This 3.5 to 4.5 hour private tour of Ephesus
• This 5 hour small group tour of Ephesus , which includes the house of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus Terrace Houses, and the Temple of Artemis
• This 6 to 8 hour small group tour of Ephesus , which includes the house of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis, and Isa Bey Mosque.

Once you have finished touring Ephesus, it’s time to return to Kusadasi. Kusadasi is a popular resort town and has a lot of cafes and restaurants as well as beaches. Depending on how you are feeling and how much time you have, you might want to visit one of the beaches (Ladies Beach is the most popular public beach), spend some time exploring the city’s attractions, or just relax by the hotel pool.

Our favorite thing to do is to take a walk over to Güvercinada , or Pigeon Island, a small island linked to the mainland by a causeway. There is a castle here that you can visit if you wish.

How to get from Kusadasi to Pamukkale & Fethiye

The next part of the trip involves a long day of travel, no matter what method of transportation you choose as the attractions are spaced far apart.

If you are not taking a tour, your best options are to take public transit or drive.

By Car: If you are driving, Pamukkale is about a 120 mile (190 km) drive from Kusadasi, and that drive takes about 3 hours if taking the toll roads (about 4 hours if not). From Pamukkale, it is another 125 mile (200 km) drive to Fethiye which is around another 3 hours of driving.

If that sounds like too much driving, you could skip Pamukkale, and just head south along the coast from Kusadasi to Fethiye. Then you would have more time to spend in either Kusadasi or Fethiye.

By Plane : You can fly from Izmir to Denizli (town near Pamukkale) and then from Denizli to Fethiye (airport in Dalaman). However, many of these flights connect via Istanbul meaning the flights often take as long (or even longer) than taking public transit or driving.

By Bus: From Kusadasi, it’s relatively easy to get to Pamukkale by public transport. You can go by bus, either directly from Kusadasi or via Selçuk. The bus takes between 3 to 4 hours.

Note that some of the bus companies (and the train) terminate in the town of Denizli and do not go directly to Pamukkale. So you may need to take a short 25-minute minibus or taxi ride to get from the bus station to Pamukkale which is located just outside Denizli. Just be sure to ask so you know if you need to transfer or not.

Then from Denizli, you can then take a bus to Fethiye, which will take around 4 hours. Check bus times and prices, and book online here .

By Train: You can do part of the route today by train. Take the local bus from Kusadasi to Selçuk (the town next to Ephesus), from where you can catch a train to Denizli. The train takes around 3 hours, and the first departure is usually around 9:00am. You can check train times and tickets here .

Then from the Denizli station, you can get a 25-minute minibus or taxi ride to Pamukkale. There is no train between Denizli and Fethiye, so you will have to take a bus from Denizli.

Turkey Itinerary Day 6: Pamukkale & Fethiye

For your sixth day in Turkey, our suggestion is to head east inland to Pamukkale and then south to the coastal town of Fethiye.

Pamukkale, which means “cotton castle” in Turkish, is another of Turkey’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s famous for two reasons. First, it well-known for its photogenic natural white travertine (a type of limestone) terraces which are filled with thermal water. Second, the ruins of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis are located here.

Springs in a cliff above the terraces provide the mineral-rich waters which have created the incredible landscape of petrified waterfalls and terraced basins of thermal water at Pamukkale. The milky white water is due to the large amount of calcium carbonate found in the water.

A thermal spa at Hierapolis was built on top of Pamukkale to take advantage of the hot springs in the 2nd century BC by the kings of Pergamon. It grew into a small city and you can see the Greco-Roman ruins here today. Pamukkale has been a popular tourist destination for about two thousand years.

The main reason people visit Pamukkale today is to see the white limestone terraces here, which are really quite incredible. These terraces cover a large area of almost 2 miles (3 km) in length. Although the terraces are natural, the bathing pools are artificial and have been created for tourists. Some of these are open to bathing or swimming.

Unfortunately, the thousands of years of tourism, as well as the more recent rise in mass tourism, has taken its toll on the location. Large sections of the pools don’t look like you see them in photos as many often have little water in them and the ones open to the public are often crowded with people.

To protect the site, most of the pools are now closed entirely to bathers, with only a small area accessible for swimming at one time. The water can be a bit dirty with all the people in them and they can also be very slippery so do be careful if you plan to go in them.

In addition to the small terraced pools, you can pay extra to swim at Cleopatra’s Pool, a former Roman pool, which is a thermal pool and spa that is privately run and includes locker rooms and showers. You need proper swimwear to enter this pool.

However, the good news is that the Pamukkale site is very large, and if you move away from the main crowds you can enjoy lovely views of the terraces with hardly any people around you.

After seeing the thermal spa and perhaps dipping your toes into one of the thermal pools, you can then take some time to explore Hierapolis. Many people come and just see some of the thermal pools and leave, but if you are going to take the time to come all the way to Pamukkale, we recommend taking some time to explore the rest of the site.

The city has Greek and Roman ruins, including ancient bathing complexes, gates, a huge theatre, temples, shrines, a martyrium, and an extensive Necropolis. The site has the Tomb of Philip the Apostle and the earliest evidence of the use of a crank and rod mechanism (as depicted on a sarcophagus). Housed in the former Roman Bath building is the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum which you can see some of the many artifacts unearthed at the site.

If you don’t have a guide but want to learn more about the history of Pamukkale and Hierapolis, we recommend taking along a good guidebook like this one .

There’s lots to see here, and it’s all included on the entry ticket, so take advantage of it. Most people spend about 3 hours here, but you’ll want to plan to spend longer if you want to fully explore Hierapolis.

Once you are done sightseeing in Pamukkale, continue on to Fethiye where we recommend you spend the night. Fethiye is a city (and district) located in the southwestern area of Turkey along the Aegean Sea. It is a popular tourist area and there are a lot of attractions in and around the city.

Given that you will likely be coming from a long day of travel and sightseeing, we recommend using your first evening in Fethiye to relax. We recommend spending two nights here.

Where to stay in Fethiye

You have two main options for where to stay in Fethiye. You can stay near the marina and old town for easy access to the sights, or you can stay a little further north on the 4km long Çalis Beach. So just depends if you prefer to be near the city center or have easy beach access.

Here are some options for places to stay in Fethiye:

• Turunç Hostel – If you’re looking for a hostel, this is a great value and well-reviewed option in the heart of the town. Private and dorm rooms are available, with a good value breakfast on offer.
• Infinity Exclusive City Hotel – A great value budget to mid-range option offering private en-suite rooms in the city center.
• Orka Boutique Hotel – This popular and well-reviewed mid-range boutique hotel offers en-suite rooms, an on-site restaurant, and inclusive breakfast. Located a few yards from the sea, and a short walk from the city center.
• Ece Marina Suit – This well-rated beachfront hotel near the old town overlooks the marina and has a private beach. Rooms are designed to be family-friendly and offer good value comfortable accommodation with living area and apartment-style facilities.
• Hotel Delta – Found on Çalis Beach around 3 miles north of the old town, this well-reviewed hotel offers en-suite rooms with balconies and an on-site restaurant. Breakfast is included.
• Eyna Hotel – This popular beach front property on Çalis Beach has great reviews, en-suite rooms, an on-site restaurant, and breakfast is included.

Turkey Itinerary Day 7: Fethiye

Fethiye is a beautiful coastal city and resort town on Turkey’s Aegean Sea. The area is known as the Turquoise Coast because of the incredible color of the water you’ll find here.

Fethiye has a lot to offer, but one of the most popular things to do here is to get out on the water and take advantage of the scenic coastline, beautiful waters, and nearby islands. Popular water activities include boating, swimming, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, fishing, and water skiing.

The Travel Talk tour we did included 3 nights on a traditional gulet boat. This might be too much boat time for many, but we definitely recommend considering spending part of a day on the water here.

On a boat trip, you can take in the scenery, swim, snorkel, and sightsee at a relaxed pace. Then you can return to your hotel, take a shower, and head out to watch the sunset and enjoy a bit of the city’s culture and nightlife.

Or if a day on a boat sounds like too much, you can just find a pretty beach to lie on! Çalis Beach is a popular beach that stretches along the city or you can find a smaller and less crowded one further away.

Alternatively, if you are up for some more sightseeing and cultural sites today, there are a number of attractions in and around Fethiye. These include the Fethiye Museum, Saklikent National Park, the rock tomb of Amyntas, the Roman theatre above Fethiye, ancient Lycian hilltop citadel of Tlos, ancient Lycian city ruin of Cadyanda, Butterfly Valley, and the spectacular beach at Ölüdeniz Lagoon. Paragliding is also a very popular activity in this area.

Of course, many of these attractions and activities are located outside the city, so you’ll either need to have your own transport, take a bus, or take a tour to experience them.

Below, we’ve put together some recommend boat tours, as well as other day tours from Fethiye you might consider. Alternatively, feel free to just wander the city itself, which is very beautiful and has a number of sights worth visiting.

• A full day boat tour from Fethiye with swimming and snorkeling opportunities. Lunch included.
• A full day boat tour from Fethiye to Ölüdeniz with swimming, lunch, and stops at Butterfly Valley and St. Nicholas Island
• A popular tandem paragliding tour over beautiful Ölüdeniz

Hopefully, this gives you some inspiration for your day in Fethiye. We recommend enjoying the sunset from the beach, a seaside cafe, or your hotel balcony. Lots of nightlife opportunities here in the evening to enjoy in this popular resort town.

How to Get From Fethiye to Antalya

We recommend heading to Antalya on the next part of your trip. If you are not taking a tour, you have three options for getting from Fethiye to Antalya:

By Car: If you are driving, it’s about a 125 mile (200 km) drive if you take the most direct route which takes about  2.5 to 3 hours.

However, you can take the more scenic coastal route along the D400 between Fethiye and Antalya if you have more time and want to enjoy the scenery. It’s a nice drive. Taking the scenic route will add another 2 hours to your drive so I’d estimate about 4.5 hours.

By Plane: It is possible to fly from Fethiye (Dalaman Airport) to Antalya . Most flights are 3.5 to 4.5 hours long as most make a stop in Istanbul.

By Bus: In terms of public transport, there are regular direct buses from Fethiye to Antalya, with journey times taking around 3 to 3.5 hours on average. You can check bus routes and ticket prices online here .

Turkey Itinerary Day 8: Antalya

Today, we recommend leaving Fethiye in the morning and heading to the southern coastal city of Antalya. But there’s no rush today so feel free to spend some more time in Fethiye if there is something you missed yesterday.

It takes about 3 to 4 hours to get to Antalya, depending on route and transport. So if you leave in the morning, you’ll still have half the day left to explore Antalya. Those traveling by car or tour bus may take the coastal route along the D400 which is slower but a very nice scenic route.

Antalya is believed to have been founded by King Attalus II of Pergamon around 150 B.C. and so has a long history. Most of the historical architecture in the city now dates to the medieval Ottoman period. The city is situated along the Turkish Riviera and has become Turkey’s most important international seaside resort.

There is a lot to do in Antalya and we recommend spending two nights here, giving you about 1.5 days to explore Antalya and the surrounding area. Once you arrive in Antalya and check into your hotel, we recommend spending your first afternoon exploring the town of Antalya and its city center attractions and perhaps spending some time on the beach.

In the town itself, we can recommend exploring the old town (Kaleiçi) on foot as there are a number of things to see here including Hadrian’s Gate, the Roman Tower (Hidirlik Tower), Yivli Minare Mosque (Fluted Mosque), and the Antalya Museum (regional history museum).

The Old Marina area is also worth exploring and is a great place to enjoy a meal or drink. You can also take a sightseeing boat tour from here.

Elsewhere in town you’ll also find a panoramic elevator for views over city, several city parks, a toy museum, and lots of other historical attractions.

If you prefer something more relaxing, you may also want to head to one of the area’s beaches. There are also some nice beaches within 10km of the city center, including Lara Beach (sandy beach) and Konyaalti Beach (pebble beach).

In the evening, Antalya is a lively place with lots of restaurants, bars, cafes, and nightclubs. The city also has cinemas and some movies are shown in their original English (with Turkish subtitles). There are also regular shows which include traditional Turkish music and dance and belly dancing performances.

Those who enjoy the theater or opera will also find the Antalya State Theater and the Antalya State Opera and Ballet here. There is also the popular Fire of Anatolia Dance Show that is regularly held at the Gloria Aspendos Arena.

If you are visiting in the summer months, you may want to see if the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival is taking place during your visit. Throughout this popular festival, regular performances are held at the ancient Aspendos Roman theater.

Where to Stay in Antalya

Antalya is a large city and there is also a lot of accommodation throughout the Antalya region along the coast. We have two different recommendations depending on your interests and budget.

Our first recommendation is to either stay close to the Antalya Old Town center so you are within walking distance of the majority of attraction in the city itself. This is great for those who are are interested in the city attractions and nightlife here, and for those needing the public transit connections here.

Our other recommendation is to consider spending these two days at a nice coastal resort outside of the city. Antalya boasts some of the nicest hotel resorts in Turkey and if you are looking for an all-inclusive resort, you have a lot of options. These all tend to have multiple restaurants and bars, swimming pools, spas, fitness centers, and kids’ activities. Some also have beach access.

Here are some lodging options near the Antalya Old Town:

• Hostel Vague – If you’re looking for a budget option in Antalya, this hostel is a great option. It’s centrally located, offers shared and private accommodation and an on-site kitchen, lounge, terrace, and garden for guest use
• Beyaz Butik Hotel – A well-reviewed homestay option offering private en-suite rooms and breakfast. A short walk from the old town.
• White Garden Hotel – With a rooftop terrace, outdoor pool and easy beach access, this is a great value and well-reviewed hotel near the old town
• Tekeli Konaklari – Located in a restored Ottoman Pasha’s residence, this property features private rooms set around a central courtyard, with easy access to the old town. Rooms are en-suite and breakfast is included.
• Cap d’Perge Hotel – This well-reviewed adults-only hotel offers private en-suite rooms with lots of amenities, a private beach, and an on-site restaurant. This one feels a bit tucked away but is still within easy walking distance of the historic center of the city
• ATICI Hotel – A popular and central hotel located right in the heart of the city center offering private en-suite rooms.

Here are a few resort hotel options to consider near Antalya:

• Xanadu Resort – This 5-star resort near Belek includes swimming pools, water slides, a kid’s club, fitness activities, several restaurants, a spa, and access to a private beach.
• Gloria Serenity Resort   – This 5-star resort includes swimming pools, a fitness center, sports center, several restaurants and bars, a spa, a game room, kids’ club, and beach access. We have stayed in one of the villas here and it is a great place if you want a relaxing place to stay on your trip.
• Land of Legends Hotel – This family-friendly hotel is geared to kids and all guests get free access to the Land of Legends theme park. The hotel and park feature roller coasters, a water park, pools, restaurants, children’s shows, and more.

Turkey Itinerary Day 9: Antalya

Today you’ll spend a second day exploring Antalya. There are lots of options for how you can spend your day, depending on your interests.

If you didn’t explore the historic city center and Old Marina areas yesterday, you might want to do that today. You can wander this area easily on foot.

Or perhaps head to the Beydaglari Coastal National Park. Here you can take the cable car (Olympos Telferik) to get a great view of the area. The park offers opportunities for hiking, paragliding, climbing, and other outdoor activities. In the winter there is skiing and snowsports.

For those interested in waterfalls, there are several waterfalls in the area. The most popular are the Upper Duden Falls and Lower Duden Falls. We can also recommend a visit to Kursunlu Waterfall.

For those looking for historical and archaeological sites outside the city, we can recommend the ancient Greco-Roman city of Aspendos . Here you can see the impressive remains of a Roman theatre, aqueduct, and basilica are well worth the visit. Another option is the ancient Greek city of Perga (or Perge) that contains a Bronze Age acropolis among many other of its ruins.

Those who like theme parks may want to spend the day at The Land of Legends , which is an amusement park with roller coasters, water slides, live shows, a surf pool, and a cinema. Very popular with families visiting the area.

Golfers may want to hit the links and try one or two of the many golf courses in the area. Belek and the surrounding area is considered the top golf destination in Turkey with over 20 different golf courses in Antalya. In 2012, the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final was hosted at the Antalya Golf Club in Belek.

If you are feeling like a lazy and inexpensive day out, consider just heading to a beach and having a relaxing day in the sun. Or if you are staying a resort, you can just spend your full day enjoying the resort amenities.

Note that many of these attractions, like the waterfalls, Aspendos, and the national parks, are located outside of the city center. Some you can reach by public bus, but many you will need to either hire a taxi or join a tour if you don’t have you own transportation.

Here are some day tours you might consider taking today:

• This 8 hour tour includes a guided city tour of Antalya, a boat tour, a visit to Duden Waterfalls National Park, and lunch
• This full day tour includes the Tunektepe cable car ride, visit to Duden Waterfalls National Park, Antalya city tour, lunch, and a boat ride
• This 9 hour tour from Antalya includes visits to the ancient cities of Aspendos, Perge, and Side as well as a stop at the Kursunlu Waterfall
• This 5 hour waterfall tour includes visits to three different area waterfalls in the Antalya region plus lunch
• This full day jeep safari includes Saklıkent Gorge, Patara beach, and Kaputaş as well as a buffet lunch

In the evening, we recommend enjoying more of the Antalya nightlife. There is something to suit just about any taste whether you are looking for a relaxing seafood dinner at the harbor, a dance performance, a sunset cruise, or a night out at the clubs.

Those traveling by bus may want to consider taking an overnight bus to Cappadocia tonight instead of spending the night in Antalya.

How to Get from Antalya to Cappadocia

Your next destination in Turkey is Cappadocia. Note that Cappadocia is the name of the region, rather than a specific city. The main tourist destinations in the region are in and around the town of Göreme.

By Car: It is a long 310 miles (500 km) drive from Antalya to Göreme, and the drive will take you about 7 hours. So this will use up most of your day. You may want to stop to visit the Derinkuyu Underground City before heading into Göreme today.

By Plane: Flying is the quickest option to get from Antalya to Cappadocia. Direct flights take about 1 hour, but those with connections usually take about 3.5 hours. In the summertime, there are often direct flights, but off-season you’ll likely have to connect through Istanbul.

The two main airports in Cappadocia are Kayseri Erkilet Airport in Kayseri, around a 1 hour drive from the main tourist sights, and Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport in Gülsehir, around a 40 minute drive away. From the airports, you can book an airport transport service to hotels in the region here .

By Bus : If you are traveling by public transport, there are a number of buses from Antalya to Göreme. The buses take about 9 hours, and most are overnight buses although there are some daytime routes as well. Check bus times and prices, and book online here .

Turkey Itinerary Day 10: Cappadocia

Today we recommend leaving Antalya after breakfast and heading to Cappadocia . Cappadocia is one of Turkey’s most well-known tourist regions and it is definitely an area worth exploring.

Cappadocia is a region of central Turkey that has been inhabited since at least the 5th century BC. It is best known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys” and rock formations formed by erosion, the many rock dwellings carved into the rock valleys by the troglodytes (cave dwellers), and the carved rock churches, some of which still have existing frescos. There were entire underground villages here.

Cappadocia today is one of the most popular and visited areas of Turkey by international travelers. Visitors come to see its surreal landscapes, interesting rock formations, and ancient cave dwellings. It is also one of the most popular places in the world to take a hot air balloon flight!

The main town is Göreme and we recommend using this as a base to explore this region. There is a lot that you can see and do in the region, so you’ll want to prioritize your time here.

One of the most popular places to visit in the area is the Göreme Open Air Museum . The large outdoor complex contains ancient rock-hewn homes and some of the area’s most important rock churches and chapels. Many contain well-preserved frescos dating back to the 9th to 12th centuries. This site is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, along with several other locations in the region, including the underground cities of Kaymakli and Derinkuyu.

A number of underground complexes built in this area. In terms of ones you can visit, Derinkuyu and Kaymakli are both partially open to visitors. The two underground cities were once connected. At Derinkuyu, it is believed that as many of 20,000 people could have lived there at one time!

Most of the area’s rock formations are made of soft volcanic tuff, which made it easy to carve and some of the dwellings were quite large. One of the better-known formations is the so-called Uçhisar Castle which is a mountain-castle that served as both a monastery and residential housing for up to 1,000 people in the Byzantine era.

Natural erosion of the rock has also lead to the interesting rock formations found throughout the region. There are lots of places to see these formations as they are scattered throughout the region.

For seeing local rock formations, you can visit one or two of the many valleys that feature a large concentration of these formations. These include Pigeon Valley (or Valley of the Dovecotes is full of dovecotes carved into the volcanic rock), Ihlara Valley (canyon full of cave dwellings and rock churches), Love Valley (full of phallic-shaped pillars), and Monk Valley (full of fairy chimneys and other rock pillars).

Most of these valleys offer plenty of opportunities for hiking as well. Some valleys also permit quad biking tours which are also popular.

This region is also known for its traditional arts and crafts, particularly pottery, and earthenware pottery has been made here for centuries. If you are interested in pottery and handicrafts, you’ll want to visit the town of Avanos which has a number of shops and galleries. We recommend a visit also to the Güray Museum in Avanos, which is an underground cave museum filled with antiques, ceramics, and pottery.

This is also an important region for those interested in the Hittites who were a people in the central Anatolia who established a Bronze Age empire in the region. The empire’s capital was in Hattusa, and the ruins of the ancient city can be visited today and are another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hattusa and the main Hittite archaeological sites are about a 2.5 hour drive from Göreme.

As Cappadocia is a bit spread out, again you will either need your own transport or to take a tour for the majority of these attractions.

There are lots of tour options around Cappadocia so they are all pretty competitive with each other so you should be able to find one at a decent price. Most include lunch in the tour price. Here are some tours of Cappadocia to check out:

• A full day small group tour of Cappadocia which includes lunch and visits to Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley, Selime Monastery, and Göreme Valley
• A full day private tour of Cappadocia which includes Göreme Open Air Museum, Pigeon Valley, Kaymakli Underground City, and other highlights
• A 6.5 hour tour of Cappadocia , including Devrent Valley, Zevle Open Air Museum, Pasabag, Göreme Open Air Museum, and Pigeon Valley. Lunch is included.
• A 6 to 7 hour tour of Cappadocia, including Uchisar Castle, Love Valley, Göreme Open Air Museum, Monks Valley, Avanos, and Devrent Valley. Lunch is included.
• A full day private tour of Cappadocia , includes lunch and visits to Göreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar Castle, Pigeon Valley, and Kaymakli Underground City.
• This full day tour with trekking explores south Cappadocia and includes visits to Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley, Belisirma, and Selime. It also includes a 4 km trek in Ihlara Valley and lunch.
• This private Anatolian art tour focuses on the local art and handicrafts of the region, particularly in Avanos. This includes carpet weaving, pottery, Ebru (water marbling), and jewelry. You get a chance to watch some of the art being made and chances to shop for local pieces.

Depending on how you travel to Cappadocia, you are likely spending a large portion of today traveling between Antalya and Cappadocia. So you may not have much time to explore on your first day.

If you don’t get into Cappadocia until the late afternoon or evening, there are still some activities you might consider on your first day.  For example, you might consider a sunset ATV tour, sunset horseback riding tour , or night show performance and dinner . Or maybe just heading to Sunset View point to watch the sunset before dinner.

We recommend going to bed early so you can be up to take a hot air balloon flight or watch them take off from afar in the morning!

Where to Stay in Cappadocia

Our recommendation for your time in Cappadocia is to stay in Göreme, Ortahisar, or Ürgüp. These three towns are next to each other and all feature a wide range of accommodation options.

You can see the hot air balloons from all of them, depending on weather conditions, with Göreme being the closest to the main launch sites.

Our recommendation is to stay in one of the many cave hotels on offer in this area, which is a unique experience! Just be aware that many of the cave hotels offer a range of accommodation options, and not all of them will be in a cave, so do double check before booking a specific room type if this is important to you.

Here are some accommodation options to consider in Cappadocia:

• Hostel Terra Vista in Göreme – This is a well-reviewed budget hostel option that offers both dormitory and private rooms with included breakfast. It’s not in a cave, but it does offer lovely views across Göreme.
• Homestay Cave Hostel , Göreme – This is a well-rated hostel with some of the dormitory rooms located in a cave. Breakfast is included.
• Guzide Cave Hotel in Göreme – This good value cave hotel offers a range of en-suite cave room types with breakfast included.
• Grand Elite Cave Suites in Göreme – This well-reviewed cave hotel offers room types to suit most budgets, and also has an outdoor swimming pool and breakfast is included.
• Aydinli Cave Hotel in Göreme – This cave hotel offers ensuite rooms, inclusive breakfast, and a lovely rooftop terrace that offers great views across Göreme.
• Zara Cave Hotel in Göreme – This is another wonderfully reviewed cave hotel offering a range of en-suite cave rooms across a variety of budgets. Breakfast is included and the hotel has a shared lounge and terrace area for nice views.
• Kayakapi Premium Caves in Ürgüp – This upscale cave hotel offers stunning cave rooms in restored historical caves, a magnificent view across the surrounding landscape, an on-site restaurant, a swimming pool, a spa, and breakfast is included. We’ve stayed in this cave hotel and really loved it.

Turkey Itinerary Day 11: Cappadocia

This morning we recommend getting up early to enjoy a hot air balloon flight. Cappadocia is very well-known for hot air ballooning and up to 100 balloons fly here on most days (weather permitting). Due to the unusual landscapes and wide open places, it is considered one of the best places in the world to experience a balloon flight.

If you want to take a hot air balloon flight, just be sure to book once in advance. If you are traveling with a tour, almost all tours offer this as an optional activity.

You’ll need to get up early as the balloons fly in the morning around sunset. How early will depend on the time of year and this can range from a very early 4:00am to 7:00am. Most balloon companies offer pick-up from your hotel and many also include breakfast (or at least coffee and a snack).

Most flights last between 1 hour and 1.5 hours in the air and you travel slowly over the scenic landscape. It is great to see all the interesting rock formations from above as well as see all the other hot air balloons in the sky. If you are looking for a splurge experience in Cappadocia, this is a good one to consider.

We’ve been to Cappadocia twice and have done hot air balloon flights with two different companies, and we can say that some companies definitely are better than others. We can wholly recommend booking a flight with Royal Balloons based on our experience. The staff, food, and safety precautions were all excellent.

Hot air balloon flights are widely available from many companies, but you will want to book in advance to secure a spot. Here are some few suggested options to consider for a hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia.

• This 2.5 hour experience with Royal Balloons includes flight, hotel pickup, champagne toast, and breakfast. We did this trip and it was excellent; highly recommend!
• This 2 hour experience includes breakfast, champagne, souvenir flight certificate, and hotel pickup
• This 2.5 hour experience includes breakfast, champagne, and hotel pickup
• This private balloon experience is exclusively just for you and your group and includes hotel pickup and champagne toast.

Just remember that hot air balloon flights are weather dependent so cancelations are common if the winds are too strong or the weather is bad. So we recommend trying to have flexibility in your schedule for the next morning to do the flight if it is canceled. This will allow you to reschedule and hopefully get a chance to go up the next day.

If you are not interested in taking a balloon flight or the flights are a bit above your budget, you might still want to get up to watch them take off in the morning. The majority of hot air balloon flights launch from around Göreme. You can see them from many of the hotels (ask at yours specifically) and from many parts of the city.

The Sunset View point we mentioned for sunset is also a good place to watch sunrise and the balloon launch, and take photos.

After your morning balloon experience, you may be tempted to crawl back into bed for a nap, but we’d recommend using the rest of your day to see more of the wonderful landscapes and explore the local cultural attractions. There is plenty to see and do in the region to keep you busy all day!

If you are planning to take a balloon flight and then join a day tour today, just make sure that you will have time to get back from your flight before the tour departs.

For those who do want a more relaxing day time activity, you might consider shopping, spending time at one of the local spas (some hotels have their own spas) or hotel pools, going hiking in one of the valleys, or enjoying a mud bath at the Cappadocia Mud Baths & Spa . Laurence found a visit to the mud baths invigorating after a day of travel.

In the evening, we recommend enjoying the sunset and having a nice dinner. There are plenty of evening experiences you can enjoy as noted on Day 10. But if you got up early today, you are probably ready for an early night!

How to Get from Cappadocia to Ankara

Your next destination in Turkey is Ankara, the country’s capital. You have several options on getting between the Cappadocia area and Ankara. If you are planning to use public transportation, we’d recommend checking the schedules in advance.

Those with less than 2 weeks in Turkey may want to skip the stop in Ankara and head onwards to Istanbul today.

By Car : It is about a 180 mile (290 km) drive from Göreme to Ankara, which takes about 3.5 hours.

By Plane : You can fly from Cappadocia (Kayseri or Nevşehir airport) to Ankara, but there are rarely direct flights so you will likely need to layover in Istanbul. Flights often take 4 to 5 hours.

By Train : There are usually two regular trains a day that run from Kayseri to Ankara, one during the day and one overnight train. They are not high-speed trains so the journey takes about 6.5 hours. Check train times and book online here .

By Bus : You can take the bus from Göreme (or other town in Cappadocia) to Ankara. The bus journey takes about 5 hours on average. Check bus times and prices, and book online here .

Turkey Itinerary Day 12: Ankara

If you had a really early morning the day before, you may want to enjoy a relaxing later breakfast to start the day. Then it is time to head onward to Ankara.

If you weren’t able to take a balloon flight on the previous morning for any reason, you could do that this morning. Also if there is anything else you missed in Cappadocia, you could fit it into your morning and then head to Ankara in the late morning or early afternoon.

Ankara is the capital of Turkey, and the second-largest city after Istanbul. Like most cities in Turkey, it has a long and rich history and has been inhabited since at least the Bronze Age. The city became the capital of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 and is today a major center of government, industry, and culture.

Despite being the capital city, Ankara is not nearly as well-known to travelers and is not as touristy as Istanbul. Many of its attractions are focused more to Turkish people than to international visitors, giving the city a much different feel than that of Istanbul and the more touristed regions of the country.

It is a great place to see and learn more about how Turkish people live, eat, work, and play. We recommend taking the time to explore this city and to consider hiring a local guide or joining a local walking tour during part of your time here.

The most popular visited attractions in Ankara is the Anıtkabir or the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Atatürk was the first president of Turkey, and is regarded as the founder of modern Turkey and was a leader of the Turkish War of Independence. He died in 1938, having served 15 years as President. Anıtkabir is a monumental complex of plazas, towers, statues, and a museum.

The city’s second most visited attraction is the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and this is probably the one must-see place for most foreign visitors. The museum’s galleries tell the story of Turkey’s people in the past 8,000 years in chronological order, including the Neolithic, Early Bronze, Assyrian, Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian, Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuq, and Ottoman periods. The museum is especially known for holding the most comprehensive exhibition on Hittite artifacts in the world. It was named the first “European Museum of the Year” in 1997.

Ankara has many archaeological and historical sites. These include the Ankara Castle (a.k.a. Ankara Citadel), Roman Theatre, Temple of Augustus and Rome, the Roman Baths, and the Roman Road. Most of the Roman ruins can be found in or near the Ulus quarter in central Ankara.

The largest mosque in the city is the Kocatepe Mosque which has become a landmark of the city. Other impressive mosques the 16th-century Yeni Mosque, the 15th-century Haci Bayram Mosque, and the 12th-century Alâeddin Mosque.

Ankara offers a lot of shopping opportunities, from traditional bazaars to modern shopping malls. The street bazaar along Cikrikcilar Yukusu, also known as the “Weavers’ Alley”, is one of the best places to go in the city for traditional shopping. Another nearby popular market is Bakicilar Carsisi which is famous for its copper products. Those looking for more modern stores may want to head to the Kızılay area.

We also recommend a wander around the Hamamönü, which is a restored late Ottoman neighborhood in the center of Ankara. The area has been restored and amongst the historical structures are handicraft markets, shops, cafes, and restaurants.

If you enjoy museums, there are about 50 of them in and around Ankara. They focus on everything from war to art to steam locomotives to technology. In addition to those already mentioned, some museums you might consider are the Ethnographic Museum, Çengelhan Rahmi Koç Museum (technology), Independence War Museum, and Republic Museum.

Ankara is also a cultural performance hub. You can see the state opera and ballet companies of Turkey perform, as well as classical music orchestras and theatre performances.

For those looking for a different type of nightlife, the large student population of Ankara means there are also things happening in the bars, clubs, and cafes located in the more student-friendly areas of the city.

Here are a few tour ideas in Ankara:

• This private full-day tour of the city’s highlights is designed to help you understand the history of Ankara with visits to some of the city’s main attractions including the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara Citadel, Ataturk Mausoleum, and the Old Copper Market.
• This private tour with a local guide can be booked from 2 to 6 hours and focuses on introducing visitors to Ankara. This tour is designed to show you the local side of Ankara and help you plan the rest of your time in the city.
• This full day private day tour visits the Hittites sites of Yazilikaya and Hattusas. Includes hotel pick-up and lunch.

As you can see, there are plenty of things to do to fill a couple of days in Ankara!

Where to Stay in Ankara

Ankara is a big city, so ideally you will want to stay relatively close to the center to minimize transport times. We recommend staying near the city center, so in the area around Ankara Castle and the train station, as this will put you in walking distance of most of the main sights in the city.

Here are some accommodation options in Ankara to consider:

• Deeps Hostel – This budget-friendly hostel offers both dormitory and private rooms, an on-site shared kitchen, and a dining room. It is also centrally located and is about a 5 minute walk from the main train station.
• Sahinbey Hotel – This great value central 2-star hotel offers rooms with private bathrooms and an included breakfast. It is located about a 5 minute walk from the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and also near Ankara Castle.
• Kahya Hotel Ankara – This centrally located 4-star hotel offers en-suite rooms, 24-hour front desk, free on-site parking, terrace, and an on-site restaurant.
• Güvenay Business Hotel – This well-rated central business-focused hotel offers comfortable en-suite rooms, an on-site restaurant, a terrace, a 24-hour front desk, a business center, and inclusive breakfast
• Divan Cukurhan – This very well-reviewed historical hotel offers lovely en-suite rooms, with an on-site restaurant, 24 hour front desk, and optional breakfast. Located directly opposite of Ankara Castle and a 5 minute walk from the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
• The Ankara Hotel – Another well-reviewed 4-star hotel offering modern en-suite rooms with lovely views of the city, an on-site bar and restaurant, free on-site parking, and inclusive breakfast. Located within the train station so a great place to stay for train travelers.

If you are looking for a self-catering option in Ankara, there are a number of options to rent a private room, apartment, or villa. You can check out these city center apartment options on Booking, and these city center options on Vrbo.

Turkey Itinerary Day 13: Ankara

For your second day in Ankara, we recommend you use it to do the things that you didn’t have time to do on the first day.

If you visited many of the most popular attractions like Anitkabir, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and Ankara Castle yesterday, you might want to spend a more relaxing day wandering around one of the neighborhoods, doing a local food tour, and shopping. Ankara is a good place to search out any Turkish foods you haven’t had the chance to try yet or buying any last minute souvenirs or gifts.

Also a good time to do anything you had been wanting to do in Turkey that you hadn’t been able to do yet. For instance, if you had been wanting to try a Turkish hamam, you could do that today. One central historical hamam to consider is Şengül Hamamı .

If this is your final night in Turkey, we recommend planning something nice to do in the evening!

How to Get from Ankara to Istanbul

As the two largest cities in Turkey, Istanbul and Ankara are very well connected so you have lots of options on how to travel between them. The fastest way to get from Ankara to Istanbul is to fly although taking a direct high-speed train is also a good option.

By Car: If you’re driving, it’s around a 280 miles (450 km) drive from Ankara to Istanbul, and the drive takes around 5 hours.

By Plane : There are many daily direct flights between Ankara and Istanbul and these flights take about 1 hour.

By Train: The direct train takes around 4 to 4.5 hours. Several trains run this route each day and there is also an overnight sleeper train.

By Bus: Bus journeys between Ankara and Istanbul take between 6 and 7 hours on average. There are a great many bus services to choose from, including overnight options. Check bus times and prices, and book online here .

Turkey Itinerary Day 14: Istanbul

You’re back in Istanbul, having completed your fantastic 2 week trip in Turkey!

If you have more time in Istanbul, you can see anything that you didn’t have time to see during your first visit here. There are plenty of things to see and do in the city. You can also do some final souvenir shopping and enjoy a final Turkish meal.

If you are flying home from the Istanbul airport, you may want to pre-arrange an airport transfer .

Our 2 Week Turkey Itinerary Map

We have marked out our suggested route for our 2 week Turkey itinerary on Google maps. This should help you more easily visualize the route over the 14 day trip through Turkey.

You can access our route map  here or by clicking on the map image below:

There you have it, our suggestions on where to travel in Turkey for 2 weeks!

Like what you see above but don’t want to book the transport, hotels, and activities yourself? Considering booking a guided tour, you can see our list of recommended tours of Turkey earlier in the post.

Which of these places would be on your Turkey travel itinerary? Have you been? If so, we’d love to hear about your favorite places or tips on traveling in Turkey.

If you have any questions about traveling to Turkey or our 2 week Turkey itinerary, just leave them as a comment below and we’ll try our best to answer them. As always, we love to hear from you!

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Isha Post author

March 24, 2024 at 3:23 pm

I will be in Turkey on Tuesday. This guide has been an extremely useful resource in planning my 14 day trip. I will be starting from Istanbul to Izmir (stay in kusadasi) – Cappadocia – Antalya (from Antalys day trip to Heirapolis and Permukkale). Thank you very much

Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

March 25, 2024 at 4:26 am

So happy to hear our Turkey itinerary has been helpful in planning your own 14 day trip. Sounds like you hae a great trip planned. Hope you have a wonderful time and just let us know if you have any questions!

Best, Jessica

April 10, 2024 at 2:02 am

Hi, thanks again for this blog which was the best resource in planning my trip. I am back. I had an amazing time. The only thing i did not need was a water bottle (which i packed). I also downloaded the vpn.

Istanbul – toured by myself and didnt need a tour guide as most places are accessible by wandering around-4 days flew to Izmir-kusadasi-ephesus. did a tour with a guide. 2 days

flew to cappadocia did the green and red tours, skipped the balloon. Also did the turkish night dance which was overpriced in my opinion. 4 days

flew to Antalya. did day tour and went to permukkale and hierapolis by road.

Thank you so much for this amazing blog resource.

April 14, 2024 at 1:00 am

You’re very welcome and thanks for taking the time to tell us about your travels in Turkey. So glad you had such a great trip to Turkey and that our Turkey itinerary was a helpful resource in planning your trip and thanks for letting us know where you went and how you organized your time. Sounds like you did a mix of independent travel and guided travel, which sounds nice. I am sure it might be helpful to future readers looking to plan a similar trip.

Hawa Post author

February 20, 2024 at 4:33 am

Thank you so much for sharing your 14 day itinerary as well as tips! Extremely useful and no doubt that you guys had an amazing time! My hubby and I are planning to visit Turkey in September. Overall itinerary is 16-17 days. We want to visit the following places but are not sure which way to plan the routing. Can you please advise/assist us based on the places that we want to visit. We also not keen to hire a car and would prefer flying wherever possible. If there are no flights available for certain routes, then we opt to take a bus. The places are: Istanbul, Izmir, Pamukkale, Cappadocia and Antalya. Please assist us. Also we were planning to spend 3 full days in Antalya and about 2 and half days in Cappadocia. Is this okay? Or would you suggest us staying longer in Cappadocia then Antalya. Thank you! Kind regards,

February 20, 2024 at 12:44 pm

Happy to try to help with your trip. I am going to assume you are flying in and out of Istanbul? In that case, you could do Istanbul – Izmir – Pamukkale – Antalya – Cappadocia – Istanbul or do that in reverse ordering, leaving Istanbul and going to Cappadocia first. It really makes little difference which way you go, just that you on in an order that makes logical sense.

So a trip based on those locations and some of your plans you stated might be:

Istanbul – 3 nights Izmir – 4 nights Pamukkale – visit as part of a day trip from Izmir? Antalya – 4 nights Cappadocia – 3 nights Istanbul – 2 nights

Above is 16 nights in total

So it is easy to fly from Istanbul to Izmir. When in Izmir, you can either use local buses, taxis, or join day tours to visit places like Epheseus and Kuşadası. I’d also consider taking a day tour from here to Pamukkale. You can see a number of day tours available from Izmir here on GYG and here on Viator .

For Pamukkale, you can visit by public bus, join a day tour from Izmir (or Antalya), fly into Denizli airport and then take a taxi or bus. I’d probably opt to just join a day tour as you don’t have to worry about getting to the actual sites from a bus station or airport. Most of the tours include stops at both the hot springs and the ancient city of Hierapolis.

Then from Izmir, you can take a flight to Antalya and then taxi to your hotel. Then from Antlaya, you can take a flight to Cappadocia (2 different airprot options). Then from Cappadocia, fly back to Istnabul for a couple of days before your flight howm.

Our suggested itinerary has lots of info on things to do at each of these locations, but feel free to ask if you have further questions.

Anyway hope that helps answer your questions and get you started in planning out your itinerary and starting to book your trip.

Just let us know if you have more questions as you continue to research your trip!

Linda Post author

January 14, 2024 at 6:50 pm

Hi Jessica and Lawrence, Your post is so amazing and helpful for me to understand traveling in Turkey! My partner and I are thinking of hiking the Lycien Way. Do you have any recommendation regarding tour group and how to do it? This will be our first time going to Turkey. Thank you! Linda

January 15, 2024 at 4:49 pm

So glad that our Turkey itinerary has been helpful to you and your partner. So are you looking to extend a 2 week trip around Turkey by adding in the hike, or are you going to to focus on doing the hike? The full hike is about a month but you can easily do a shorter section of it which can range from 1 day to a couple of weeks.

So if you want to do a general trip around Turkey (similar to the one we wrote about) and hike the Lycien Way as part of a guided tour, I’d probably do a regular guided tour around Turkey first, exploring places like Istanbul, Epheseus, Antalya, Troy, Cappadocia, etc. first. We give lots of suggestions for tour companies that do similar itineraries to the one above as well as those for slightly shorter or longer trips.

Then after that ends (almost all begin and end in Istanbul) add on a second hiking specific tour of the Lycien Way after that you can get a flight down to Dalaman Airport (DLM) or Antalya Airprot. Most of the hiking trips end/begin at the Dalaman Airport (or in nearby Fethiye) or in Antalya. Domestic return flights within Turkey are normally pretty cheap (about $150 to $250 per person). You just need to be sure to book your tours in advance and leave a little leeway in case there are delays or anything, so I’d probably leave a full day at beginning and end (also nice to have a day to relax in between tours).

So as you probably already know the Lycien Way is an approximately 760 km (472 mile) way-marked footpath around the coast of Lycia in southern Turkey, stretching from Fethiye to Antalya. However, the exact length and such is different depending on map and guidebook, and has changed over time. But generally it takes about 30-40 days to walk the full path. It is generally recommended to do it in the Spring by most sources although autumn also can be nice. I can’t give any specific personal advice on hiking it or a tour group as we have never tried hiking any more than a short section.

Now if you are looking for a tour group, I don’t know of any that regularly do the full path from start to finish with English speaking guides (I would check local hiking/trekking companies in Turkey or ask in a Turkey hiking forum) but there are several companies that do group or private 6-10 day hiking highlights tours of the Lycien Way so that you experience some of the main and more scenic and easy to reach sections. But they also arrange your transport, food, luggage, accommodation, etc. Tour companies like Intrepid, Explore, and UTracks all seems to offer them, and the Explore one in particular seems to get a lot of really good reviews online. You can compare various tours here that include the Lycien Way.

If you want to do the Lycian Way, I would recommend getting a copy of the English guidebook on this by Kate Clow (she is the authority on the route as she waymarked and promoted it). Note that the latest version of this guidebook was published in 2022 (it can be hard to find so you may need to order it directly from her website Trekking in Turkey). This guidebook along with free online resources and mapping apps should help inform and guide you whether you choose to do it on your own or with a guide.

Hope the above helps, but let me know if you have more questions as you research and plan your trip to Turkey!

Charles Post author

December 15, 2023 at 4:18 pm

Istanbul, Turkey is such a captivating destination, love the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar. This website offers such valuable insights into these attractions, as well as local cuisine and practical travel advice. Had such an enjoyable visit to this enchanting city. Would love to return to follow your whole itinerary but not the time on this trip. Thanks so much and Happy travels!

December 16, 2023 at 8:18 am

Hi Charles,

So glad you had such a wonderful visit to Istanbul and glad you found our Turkey articles helpfull. Hope you get a chance to return to Turkey soon and see more of the country beyond Istanbul – lots of great places to visit!

Georges Chahoud Post author

October 11, 2023 at 11:09 am

Thanks a lot for the precious informations two weeks in turkey , what do you suggest me if I would like to visite the princesses islands ( Istanbul) and more excursions tour three weeks .

October 12, 2023 at 11:30 am

Hi Georges,

Glad you are finding our 2-week Turkey itinerary helpful in planning your trip. So with three weeks, I would probably just spend some more time at the cities and stops that are of most interest to you. It can also give you more time to do day trip and excursions from those places such as Istanbul, Antalya, Cappadocia, or Kuşadası. Or if you are planning to join a tour, it will likely allow you to choose a longer tour with more stops.

I think you mean the Princes’ Islands in Turkey, near Istanbul (I am not familiar with any Princesses Islands)? For that, I would probably just do it as a day trip and allocate a morning and afternoon for the visit. We have visited as part of a day trip and the main island is easy to get to by taking a ferry boat. I think it is the equivalent of a couple of dollars for a ticket each way and most people head to Büyükada (Big Island). You can book tickets in advance or just buy once you are there. You can also join as part of a tour, and here are some day tour options that you can book in advance. In addition to your transport, some of the tours also include a guided walking tour, lunch, bike rides, music, and/or fishing.

If you are looking for a 3 week guided tour, it is hard to make a recommendation without knowing more about your budget, age, interests, and who all is traveling together. But a couple of options would be this 19-day tour with TravelTalk or this 18-day tour with Intrepid Travel. But here are several more tour options that are between 18 and 25 days in length. If you decide to do a tour like those that is less than 21 days, then plan a couple of extra nights on your own in Istanbul at the end (where you can visit the Princes Islands for instance).

Hope that helps and just let us know if you have further questions as you plan your trip to Turkey!

October 15, 2023 at 12:55 pm

Hi Jessica. Thanks a lot for your reply, I found it very useful. I’m happy to find you and to be one of your followers. Concerning my voyage to turkey, my budget is about 5000C$, do you think is enough for 21 days, I’m 61 years old and for me it’s a discovering voyage, most probably I gone be alone . Thanks again.

October 16, 2023 at 8:19 am

You’re very welcome. Glad the information was useful in planning you vogage to Turkey.

Yes, $5000 CAD (about $3700 USD) is enough for a comfortable trip around Turkey for 3 weeks if you plan it well. Turkey is not that expensive. Flights are the biggest cost, if the $5000 is in addition to your international flight then that is a very nice budget to have, but you’ll need to be more budget focused if your flights will come out of that sum. You’ll have about a $230 CAD budget per day (currently about $170 USD or 4700 Turkish lira).

Just a side note, the Turkish lira (the official currency of Turkey) is very unstable and so most tourist places prefer you to pay in euros (or sometimes GBP or USD). A lot of tourist activities will be priced in euros so good to know the CAD to EUR conversion rates once in Turkey. So while you may want to have a small amount of Turkish lira cash on you for small establishments/markets/gratuities/etc, you can pay with most things with your credit/debit card or in euros.

You can stay in comfortable moderate hotels or guest houses, visit attractions, do some excursions, and eat well within your budget. You can choose to plan the full trip yourself and do your own travel (by car or public transit) or join a tour with a tour guide where that all is taken care of for you with that budget. If doing it on your own, you should be able to book most big things in advance (flights, hotels, car rental, excursions) so you’ll know the cost and be able to stick to your budget and then allow for all the needed extras (food, attraction tickets, public transit, taxis, souvenirs, gratuities, etc.).

If you want to do it on your own, you certainly can, but if you prefer some company and a guide, there are lots of tours within your budget as well. We’ve used Travel Talk in Turkey but they definitely cater to a younger demographic but Intrepid Travel’s Comfort or Premium tours might be nice fit. We’ve used Intrepid Travel in Morocco and the age range was from late 20’s to 70’s on their more Premium category tours.

One thing you might consider is to do a mix where you are part of a tour for some parts of your travels and you are on own for other parts so you get the ease of group travel for the more far flung destinations and can do it on your own in places like Istanbul.

I am not sure when you are planning to visit, but if you are flexible, I would probably recommend avoiding the hottest months in Turkey (particularly July and August) as it can be pretty uncomfortable to sightsee, especially the historical sites and gardens, in the summer heat.

Hope that helps! If you have further questions as you get further into planning your trip, just let us know.

Georges Post author

October 17, 2023 at 9:46 am

Hi Jessica, i hopeI do not bother you with my questions, but I find that your instructions are very useful. I have two questions,since I am planning to visit the western part of Turkey. In your opinion, is it better for me to start in Ankara and end with Istanbul, or vice versa, or to start and end in the same city (to avoid distances). Secondly, in your opinion, is it better for me to book hotels In advance, such as a flight ticket, or to leave hotel reservations until I arrive in Turkey to avoid unpleasant surprises (I heard that, as for some hotels, you book a room and are surprised when you arrive that your room does not look at all like what you saw in the picture, and perhaps it is from another hotel. What do you think? Thanks a lot.

October 18, 2023 at 12:31 pm

Sure, no problem. So I would probably recommend flying in and out of Istanbul as that is normally the cheapest option as Istanbul is the larger international airport. If you are planning to take domestic flights in Turkey, Istanbul is also a good hub for that. But flying in and out of Ankara can also work if prices are better there. So definitely price compare across airports, dates, and routes. We’ve generally flown Turkish Airlines on round-trip tickets into Istanbul. Then I’d just recommend planning your itinerary in a circular fashion around the Western part of Turkey starting and ending in either Istanbul or Ankara.

We do generally recommend booking your accommodation in advance (before you leave for your trip) if you know your dates. Trying to find accommodation on the same day once in a location is not the best idea and can waste a lot of time. It is also easier to stick to a budget if you know your lodging cost beforehand. But it is of course up to you and I would do what best fits your travel style.

But if you want to stay in a comfortable hotel and have that set and know the price in advance, I would just book in advance once you know your dates and itinerary and I would generally recommend booking with a free cancellation option just in case you needed to cancel your trip or change dates. Of course if you have travel insurance, you can normally do a claim there if you couldn’t make your trip due to illness or flight cancellation or something, but having the free cancellation for your hotels just makes that easier.

We normally book online via Booking.com (or Hotels.com) with some kind of cancellation option. We have not had any unpleasant surprises in Turkey but I think if you stick to well-reviewed hotels on an international booking website like Booking or Hotels with plenty of reviews (especially from other Western travelers) and photos, you should be fine. We give some hotel recommendations throughout the itinerary across budgets and that should get you started on your search, at least in those areas. But Turkey has a lot of decent mid-range options in the main tourist cities and towns in the west part of the country that are not very expensive, but I would avoid the very cheap/basic ones and any that have no or few reviews.

gezilecek yerler Post author

August 9, 2023 at 7:01 am

Thank you for this great Turkey itinerary. Greetings from Turkey!

August 10, 2023 at 10:49 am

Thanks for taking the time to comment. You are very welcome and glad you found our 2 weeks in Turkey itinerary helpful! If you have any questions, just let us know. And enjoy your travels around Turkey!

Anne Post author

July 28, 2023 at 8:13 am

Thank you for so generously sharing this itinerary in such detail! We are planning to spend the entire month of May, 2024 in Turkey. For most of the first week we’ll be staying with friends in Istanbul, and after that we will travel by bus. We would love to follow your itinerary, expanding on it to fill out our month. Which of these options would you recommend as the best ways to spend our extra time: 1. Spending time in the Black Sea region on our way back from Capadocia? 2. Adding a multi day boat tour while we’re in the Mediterranean region? 3. Spending additional days in one or more of the Mediterranean towns along the route? 4. Adding stops along the Mediterranean? 5. Taking the ferry and spending time in Greece? So many ideas!

July 30, 2023 at 4:22 pm

That is wonderful that you have a full month here and have friends in Istanbul. So it sounds like you have 3 weeks to cover the rest of the itinerary (excluding Istanbul of course) and that gives you time to add some extra time to all the stops and to add an extra stop or two to the trip. So I would recommend going through the itinerary and seeing which places you want to add time in the existing places, taking into account bus travel times/stops. Then see how much extra time you have leftover and then that can help you decide which of the options might work best.

I would first add an extra day or two to the places along the route that you are most interested in visiting. As the itinerary covers a lot of ground in 2 weeks, you have extra time to add an extra day or two to any of the stops. Even if you don’t want to spend 3 days in the town itself, it nice to have the longer stay without needing to move hotels and you can do day trips (either by public bus or join a bus tour) to neighboring towns and attractions. You already have a lot of time in Istanbul, but you might want to spend extra time for instance in Kusadasi, Fethiye, or Cappadocia. Maybe spend a night in Denizli/Pamukkale to make that day not so long and more leisurely. So I would go through the 2 week itinerary you already have and make it slower first of all.

If interested in cultural sights/cities, you might want to add an overnight stop in Konya – a lot of people stop to see a whirling dervishes performance at the Culture Center but also a number of mosques and museums. If you like more the beach vibes, you might want add more of those such as Bodrum or Marmais.

If you like time on the water, then yes, I would definitely recommend a boat cruise. Laurence did a multi-day gulet trip and enjoyed it a lot. It’s a great way to see some of the islands, swim, etc. Options range from budget group trip to luxury private ones, and from a few hours to 2 weeks in length. You can take boat trips from a number of places such as Kusadasi, Kas, Fethiye, and Bodrum. If you want to do a multi-day trip, you would want to book that in advance before you leave. Boat day tours you can normally arrange the day before or even same day if needed (although still a good idea to book those in advance too).

If you want to see a bit of Greece and plan to do a boat trip, some of the boats also go to Greek islands given that some of them are so close to Turkey. But the ferry could also be an option if you wanted to make a short visit to Greece. To be honest with 3 weeks outside of Istanbul to explore, I’d probably recommend focusing on Turkey and saving Greece for a future trip. But if you don’t think you’ll ever return to the area, it could be worth the extra time.

The Black Sea region is not as popular with international tourists as most of the other places on the itinerary but can definitely be a nice extra place to spend some of your time if you have at least a few extra days to spare in your itinerary. The beaches are not going to be as great as the ones in the south but it has some lush green hilly areas, alpine areas, forests, waterfalls, castles, coastal cities, tea plantations, historic mosques, lovely lakes, etc. So if you are looking for a more off the beaten path area or just a green area this can be a good choice and you could head there after either Ankara or Cappadocia before heading back to Istanbul. But just be sure you have plenty of time to add this and that there are good bus connections to the parts of the region that you would like to visit. Depending on which part of the region you visit, it can take you a day (~12 hours) to get from the region to Istanbul, and also most of a day to get there from Cappadocia (a little less if leave from Ankara) so you’d probably need 5 days free to be able to spend 3 days here so may or may not work with your schedule. The biggest Turkish city in the Black Sea region, Samsun, definitely has regular connections to both Kayseri, Ankara, and Istanbul by bus so you can look at that route to get an idea of connections and timing. You can check them on Busbud and FlixBus .

Anyway, hope that helps a little! Just let us know if you have further questions as you plan your 2024 trip to Turkey.

Radhika Bayanwala Post author

May 1, 2023 at 9:56 am

Hello, for a 12 day trip what part of this trip do I cut down on?

May 1, 2023 at 12:48 pm

Hi Radhika,

I think it really depends on what you are most interested in doing/seeing in Turkey. I would maybe look at the itinerary day by day and see which places seem less interesting and take 2-3 days out of the itinerary. So for example if not very interested in the coast, you might cut the 2 nights in Antalya or if not as interested in more city/cultural stuff you could cut the stop in Ankara and go directly back to Istanbul from Cappadocia, which would save you two days. It is really just up to you!

If you have any questions as you plan your trip to Turkey, just let me know!

Ferhana Abader Post author

February 11, 2023 at 12:51 pm

Hi Jessica, Thank you so much for this, it really is helpful. My husband and I want to visit Turkey towards the end of April from South Africa. We will be staying for 2 weeks. We want to go to Istanbul, Cappadocia and Antalya. Do you think it’s a good idea to stay in Istanbul for 2 nights, Cappadocia for 3 nights, Antalya for 3 nights and back to Istanbul for another 6 nights. We not really into history so we won’t be visiting quite a few of the places mentioned here. If 8 days in Istanbul is too much where do you recommend we go to where there’s other things to do besides visit historical sites?

Thank you so much 🌹

February 13, 2023 at 8:43 am

Hi Ferhana,

Glad you have found our Turkey itinerary helpful!

So yes, I think if historical and cultural sites are not that interesting to you, you might find that 8 full days in Istanbul might be too much. That is a pretty long time. Istanbul has a variety of things to do, but the main appeal to many visitors is of course the historical sites, churches/mosques, museums, etc. Of course there are also loads of other things including the markets, shopping, art, boat rides, evening entertainment, food tours, etc. So I think 4-6 days in total would probably allow you to see much of what you wish to see perhaps? But it really depends on what you enjoy doing. I’d maybe make a list of what you really want to do there and see how much is on it. That should help you decide.

If you feel you are spending too much time in Istanbul, the simplest thing would perhaps be to just add a night or two to your time in both Cappadocia and Antalya. This way your time is still divided by just 3 places.

If you like the beach and/or outdoor activities, another idea would be spend more time along the Turkish coast. In addition to Antalya, you might want to spend a few nights in either Fethiye or Bodrum. In the coastal cities, in addition to beaches, shopping, and the local historical attractions, you can do things like hiking, boating, golfing, water parks, and adventure tour activities like sailing, paragliding, rock climbing, or dirt biking. Gulet boat tours are popular and you could even consider an overnight trip where you get to sleep on the boat – they range from budget to luxury experiences.

Anyway, hope that helps give you some ideas! If you have any further questions as you plan your trip to Turkey, just ask.

February 13, 2023 at 10:07 am

Thank you so much for your response 🌹 This definitely helps me to make a more informed decision about my itinerary. Take care

February 13, 2023 at 11:58 am

You’re very welcome! Wishing you a great trip, and just let us know if you have further questions.

Jonathan Abrahams Post author

February 11, 2023 at 1:54 am

Thanks so much for this great write-up and itinerary for Turkey. It has definitely helped make my upcoming trip a lot easier to plan.

I’m visiting Turkey in April from the 22nd of April to the 6th of May this year. I’ll be mostly using public transport since I’m traveling solo.

My current schedule is as follows: 01. Istanbul (I arrive 7pm first day so it wouldn’t really count) 02. Istanbul 03. Istanbul 04. Istanbul 05. Selcuk (catch an early morning flight to Izmir and train to Selcuk – visit Ephesus and whatever else I can fit in) 06. Denizli (catch an early train from Selcuk and visit Pammukkale and whatever else I can fit in) 07. Antalya (take a bus to Antalya from Denizli – This time can be flexible if I want to see a bit more of Denizli) 08. Antalya 09. Antalya (taking an overnight bus from Antalya to Cappadocia – 9 hours) 10. Cappadocia 11. Cappadocia 12. Cappadocia 13. Ankara (take a bus from Cappadocia to Ankara – probably early in the morning) 14. Ankara 15. Ankara (take early afternoon flight from Ankara to Istanbul and catch my early evening flight out of Istanbul back home)

Normally when I travel I like to stay in one location for about 3 days to explore it and the surrounding areas, but I had to fit Selcuk in (for Ephesus) and Denizli (for Pammukkale). Do you think I’m spreading my time alright or should I perhaps move around a day or two here or there? Also, have you ever used AirBnB in Turkey and if so, how has it been?

Many thanks Jonathan

February 13, 2023 at 8:18 am

Hi Jonathan,

I think your proposed Turkey itinerary looks fine and glad to hear that our post made it easier for you to plan your trip and itinerary.

I do think that you will be a bit rushed for the 1 night visits as you say but that really can’t be helped unless you borrow time from elsewhere to stay longer in say Selcuk. Days 5 & 6 are definitely going to be longer/busy days for you. So it just depends if you are OK with this or not. If you wanted more time in those places, I’d suggest removing one of the other longer stops (say Antalya or Ankara).

In terms of how to spend your time, I would just review what you really want to see/do in each place and make sure you have enough time to do that. For example, as yourself what are the three main things you really want to do? How much do you want to see Pammukkale? What do you plan to do in Cappadocia/Ankara? etc. If you find that you are having to skip something you really wanted to see or feel it is too rushed, see if you can remove time elsewhere where maybe there are lower priority places. It is really about your priorities and how you want to organize your time, so really only you can decide if the alloted time and itinerary is a good fit for you or not. It is always good to also go with the mindset that hopefully you will return another time so you don’t feel like you have to see everything this trip.

Traveling by public transit is definitely your cheapest option; however, it does of course have the drawback as taking the longest and you will lose some travel time and have to be sure to check the bus/train schedules to be sure to make the most of your time. The overnight bus is a good way to maximize time (and saves you from paying for a hotel that night).

We have used Airbnb in a lot of places around the world, but not in Turkey. In Turkey, good value lodging is easy to find and often includes things like free breakfast, a front desk, a restaurant, and housekeeping so we have found it more appealing to stay in hotels here. I am sure Airbnb is good in Turkey, and if you use it just make sure to stick to places that have consistent good reviews and will be within walking distance of any needed public transit stops. We tend to only find Airbnb worth it for 3 night or more stays.

Anyway, hope that helps and wishing you a great trip to Turkey. If you have any further questions, just ask!

Jonathan Post author

February 13, 2023 at 3:16 pm

Thanks for the feedback Jessica. I’ve only made one change by flying out of Istanbul on my 4th day so I can spend two nights in Selcuk. Other than that I’m happy with my itinerary. Again, I can’t help but say thank you again for this awesome write-up that you’ve done.

Regards Jonathan

February 14, 2023 at 12:59 am

That sounds great to have that extra night in Selçuk so that you don’t have to feel rushed there. Ephesus is a large and important site so it is good to have a full morning and afternoon – having a tour guide can be a good idea here to better understand the ruins.

Having 2 nights will also give you time to see other things in that area. Depending on your interests, Kusadasi is a fairly easy minibus or taxi ride away (about 20 minutes), so that would be an option on the day you are not visiting Ephesus.

Wishing you a great first trip to Turkey!

Mona Post author

January 25, 2023 at 9:58 am

HI! Loved getting all the ideas from your trip! We’re travelling early March this year with our 9 month old! i wanted to know if they would allow him to be on the hot air ballloon with us in a baby carrier strapped to us since were traveling alone and cant leave him anywhere ! would love to know while i plan! def want to do the air balloon though

February 1, 2023 at 4:32 am

Glad you are finding our advice and Turkey itinerary helpful in planning your upcoming trip!

So you can not and should not take a baby in a hot air balloon. It would not be safe to do so as your baby could easily be injured, whether strapped to you or not. Landings can be rough and we’ve seen a number of injuries over the years we’ve been ballooning, luckily most are minor and it is not usual.

There are generally age and/or height requirements for hot air ballooning and these vary around the world and by the operator. Minimum age generally is between 5 and 10 years of age. In Cappadocia, I think the minimum age for most operators is 7 years of age.

So if you want to take a hot air balloon in Turkey, I would choose a hotel in Cappadocia that offers well-reviewed babysitting services. Many hotels in the area do this. For example, the hotel I last stayed at in the region, Kayakapi Caves hotel , offered family rooms, children’s menus, and babysitting services to parents. I would check on these services before booking any hotel.

But if you don’t want to leave your baby, I would choose an alternative activity that you would be able to do safely together. Then you can always return in several years and do a hot air balloon ride together as a family.

Anyway, hope that helps and wishing you a wonderful trip to Turkey!

Ashwani Post author

November 17, 2022 at 4:10 am

Very very detailed article. As someone who lives in Turkey, I really appreciate your travel information. it was a good guide.

November 18, 2022 at 3:57 am

Hello Ashwani,

So glad to hear from those in Turkey that they have found the travel information useful and accurate. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Wishing you happy travels!

Ustun Post author

October 7, 2022 at 2:18 pm

Very very detailed article. As someone who lives in Turkey, I really appreciate your travel information. it was a good guide. You can also contact me for any help.

October 12, 2022 at 2:43 pm

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and let us know that you enjoyed our Turkey travel guide. Always glad to hear from locals that our travel information is accurate and helpful.

If you have any questions, just ask but I am sure you have your own local contacts!

Preeti Post author

September 30, 2022 at 1:10 pm

Extremely helpful blog! We planned our itinerary quite similarly to the one mentioned above. Super in-detail and insightful. Thanks!

October 1, 2022 at 10:27 am

So glad you found our 2 weeks in Turkey guide helpful in planning your itinerary. If you have any questions, just ask!

Wishing you a wonderful trip! Jessica

Dominic Martin Post author

August 29, 2022 at 7:53 pm

Hi Jessica & Laurence, I am glad to have come across your blog. I am planning a 30 day budget trip to Turkey (end Oct to End Nov). We are a couple and will be using Istanbul for arriving and departing in to Turkey. Could you suggest an itinerary for the same? We are open to exploring all options.

Jessica Post author

August 31, 2022 at 12:14 pm

Hi Dominic,

The first thing to determine is how you plan to get around Turkey. We talk about all the options above.

If traveling on a smaller budget, the cheapest way to get around Turkey is definitely by bus. Buses go to most destinations in Turkey. Since you have a lot of time, you can be flexible and would have the time to work with a bus schedule.

Another good option to consider is a budget-oriented tour for part of your trip. For instance, you could do a week in Istanbul on your own, join a tour for a couple of weeks that will take you to all the tourist highlights (Ephesus, Pamukkale, Troy, Cappadocia, beaches, etc.) and then return you to Istanbul to spend another week on your own. One example of a tour company we have used for budget trips is Travel Talk Tours . Some of the tours average out to about $50 to $100 per person/per day so can be a good value, depending on your budget and if any of the itineraries match the main things you want to see/do. Some include time sailing on a boat for a few days.

It is easy to find inexpensive and good value hotels or hostels in most places in Turkey and food is also not very expensive (in comparison to Western countries anyway). You can book your lodging in advance to make sure you stay within your budget.

It is really hard to say what would be the best itinerary for you as it will depend on what you like to do, what you really want to see, your budget, etc. A person most interested in history and ancient sites may have a very different itinerary and priorities than someone more intersted in beaches and sailing. So here is a suggestion that is basically just adding nights to our itinerary and making day stops into overnight stays:

Istanbul – 5 nights Gallipoli/Çanakkale – 1 night izmir – 2 nights Troy/Şirince – 1 night Kusadasi – 3 nights Denizli/Pamukkale – 2 nights Fethiye – 3 nights Antalya – 3 nights Konya – 2 nights Cappadocia – 4 nights Ankara – 2 nights Istanbul – 2 nights

Hopefully, the above gives you an idea of how to get started in booking your trip to Turkey.

Dominic Post author

August 31, 2022 at 6:03 pm

Thanks for the detailed information Jessica. Will work around this.

September 1, 2022 at 1:52 pm

You’re very welcome and hope this helps. Just let us know if you have further questions as you plan your trip to Turkey!

Jay R Post author

August 29, 2022 at 6:22 pm

Hey Jessica & Laurence!

Thanks for putting together such a great guide. We are planning to go to Turkey in October for an engagement. We were trying to keep it to 14 days but finding it difficult. Also, we were hoping to squeeze in Mount Nemrut but it does not seem practical.

We are planning to rent a car.

Here is what we are thinking:

Istanbul – 3 nights Safranbolu – 1 night Hattusha – few hours Cappadocia – 4 nights Antalya – 2 nights Kas – 1 night Fethiye – 1 night (Paragliding) Pamukkale – 1 night Selçuk – 2 night Istanbul – 1 night

We really want to try and squeeze in Epheseus but we are already over the 14 day stay we were planning.

Do you have any suggestions based on this proposed itinerary? Would you remove any stop or shorten any days?

Also, for renting cars, the reviews seem all over – do you have any suggestions?

Thanks again to both of you for putting together such a great resource!

August 31, 2022 at 11:45 am

Glad that our suggested 14 day itinerary was helpful in putting together your own. Happy to try to give advice about your upcoming trip.

My biggest advice especially if trying to decide what to try to fit in and what to cut, is to just make a list of your top must-see places and then order them by how much you and your travel partner(s) want to visit. Then you can cut the places you want to see least and spend more time on the places that are a must-see. With only 14 days you can only see a bit of Turkey as its a huge country with so much to see/do but you can certainly see a number of places in 2 weeks. Hopefully you have the chance to return some day and see those places that don’t make it on this trip 😉

I would definitely not recommend adding to your current itinerary if you are trying to keep it to 14 days unless you remove some of the stops as you currently already have 16 days/nights by what you listed. If you want to bring it down to 14, some suggestions would be to skip Safranbolu/Hattusha, remove one night from Cappadocia (3 nights is probably enough), skip the 1 night in Kas, and/or remove the last night in Istanbul (and just fly home that day). What you remove will of course depend on how much you want to see each place. Removing the 1 night stops is generally a good place to start if needing to pare down an itinerary.

You might also consider dropping off your car at the Izmir airport and flying home from Izmir (via Istanbul) to avoid that long drive back from Selçuk and avoid the need to spend an extra night in Istanbul. Also you could potentially stop in Ephesus that day if you had time as it would be on your way to the airport.

So if you want to include Mount Nemrut, you can do so, but you are going to have to skip some of the other places. That will take you much further over to eastern Turkey and is about a 7 hour or so drive from the most eastern place on your itinerary at the moment. If you want to do that I’d probably end your itinerary as you have it above in Fethiye and fly home from there via Istanbul (skipping Pamukkale, Selçuk, and extra night in Istanbul). That would put you at about 14 days in total if you add a couple days for driving and visiting Mount Nemrut.

I am not sure if your question about rental cars is about where to check rates/companies or safety of driving a rental car in Turkey? We cover some of this above in the article. But in terms of where to look for rates, I’d recommend this comparison website to get a good idea of prices as they compare a lot of brands, both international (Sixt, Hertz, Europcar) as well as more local Turkish companies. Make sure you read all the terms of the rental. In Istanbul, you can pick up a car at the airport or in the city, so if exploring the city first, you might want to compare prices as you can sometimes save by not getting it from the airport.

In terms of driving/safety, the road network in Turkey and road safety are not the best in general, but if you stick to main routes to tourist destinations in western Turkey, it is OK, well-signed, and doable. But the further east you go and the more you go to rural and offbeat places, the less great the road system is. It also depends where you are coming from, your comfort with driving, and the road conditions you are used to in your home country. If safety is a concern, I’d definitely do your own research and read the latest stats/reports to make your own informed decisions.

Alternatives are taking buses or trains (buses go to most/all of the places you list, trains to a few), flights, or guided tours that include transport. Buses for most popular destinations are easy to book online these days (see some links above in article). The issue of course with taking public transit or flights is you’d have to keep to a schedule and you’d probably want to remove the 1 night stops (and maybe do them as guided day trips instead).

Anyway, hope the above helps give you some direction and answers to your questions. If you have further questions as you book your trip, just ask.

Wishing you a safe & fun trip to Turkey!

Ivelisse Garcia Post author

August 26, 2022 at 3:17 pm

Hi, Jessica am going to Turkey for 15 days , arriving in Istanbul then capadocia, konya, Antalya, Pamukale, but my question is from pamukale what other city I need to stay to see the churches and then returning to Istanbul, please advise( no tour company on our own)

August 27, 2022 at 5:17 am

Hi Ivelisse,

Happy to try to help. So there are a lot of churches in Turkey, so it depends of course on which ones in particular you want to see.

I am guessing you might be talking about the Seven Holy Churches of Asia (as mentioned in the Bible in the Book of Revelation) as those are popular places for tourists and pilgrims? Those would be the seven churches located in the ancient cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

I’d probably recommend splitting your time between Denizli and Izmir to see the 7 churches and Pamukkale (which is near Denizli). So maybe two nights in Denizli and then three nights in Izmir.

If you are looking for a single base to see all 7 churches, I would recommend Izmir. You’d probably need at least 3 days to see them as day trips plus I’d recommend another day to explore Izmir itself. So I would maybe do 4 nights there if trying to see all 7 churches from there.

Then from Izmir, you can then head north to visit Troy, Gallipoli, etc. before returning to Istanbul.

Ivelisse Post author

August 27, 2022 at 7:24 am

Thank you so much that helps me so much

August 28, 2022 at 3:44 am

You’re very welcome, happy to help. Yes, if you are wanting to visit all seven churches, the best solution would probably be to split your time between Denizli and Izmir.

Wishing you a wonderful trip to Turkey.

Ana Post author

August 10, 2022 at 5:02 pm

Hello Jessica and Lawrence! Thank you for such nice detail explanation in what to do in Turkey. I am planning a trip by the end of October 2022 and I’m traveling solo ( I’m a female 54 old and have traveled before by myself but I’m a bit rusty.. haven’t traveled in the last 4 years)I like the options provided, but was wondering if I have 14 days to spend there what would be the best for me? I was thinking about using air to move from one city to another in order to save time and get to know more places. I was thinking arriving to Estambul from USA Florida and get a flight to start in Capadocia so I could finish in Estambul. Do you have any plan for a solo female traveler??

August 11, 2022 at 6:49 am

Glad you are finding our 2 week Turkey itinerary helpful in planning your own 14 days in Turkey. We are happy to try to help.

If you are wanting to get between places by plane, then I’d recommend choosing 4 to 5 places to base with nearby airports and from those cities/towns you can explore the city and take day tours to places you want to visit from those places (e.g.,Epheseus, Pamukkale, Troy, etc.). Note that you will of course need to take a taxi, bus, or book a transfer to get from airports to towns.

So I would first recommend making a list of any must-see places and planning based on that. For example Izmir can be a base for places like Ephesus, Pamukkale, Pergamum, Kusadasi, etc. You can visit some places by bus on your own and others are going to be best by day tour.

Then you’ll want to check the nearest major airport to those sites. Some of the places with regular flights are Istanbul, Izmir, Konya, Antalya, the Cappadocia area, Bodrum, and Ankara.

So for example if you have 14 days, you mights do something like: 3 days Cappadocia, 3 days Antalya, 4 days Izmir, 4 days Istanbul. But it of course depends on where you want to go and your travel preferences (e.g., beaches versus museums versus ancient sites).

You might also want to look into tour options if you don’t want to make all the arrangements on your own and don’t mind some travel companions. For example you could join a tour for the first 10 days and then spend the rest of the time on your own in Istanbul. Tours are generally a good value in Turkey and can make life simpler if you don’t have a lot of time to plan.

Hope that helps! Jessica

September 24, 2022 at 3:10 pm

Thank you so much!!! Your ideas have helped a lot!😀

September 25, 2022 at 6:01 am

You’re very welcome! If you have any further questions as you start planning and booking your trip, just ask and we’re happy to try to help.

VINCE YIP Post author

August 10, 2022 at 12:19 am

I, fortunately, stumbled upon your blog. Its super informative and comprehensive – THANKS so much for that. Just hoping you can help give me some advice, It will be my first trip to Turkey and I will be travelling solo, arriving either Istanbul or Izmir on 25SEP22.

I will be flying into Turkey from Santorini and am thinking of flying straight into IZMIR (although it will take a good 8 hrs including transits in Athens and Istanbul.

I would like to cover Istanbul, Izmir/Selcuk/ Ephesus , Pergamon & Ayvalik, Miletus / Prienne (Kusadasi as base ?), Fethiye, Pamukkale, Antalya, Konya and Cappaodicia – 3 nites at least (for last, then fly back to Istanbul and spend a week in Istanbul). I do not have a time constraint so do not need to rush as such but do not wan to “over-stay” unneccesarily either in areas that do not warrant more time.

My “dilemma” is between Izmir and Cappadocia – what do you propose is the best way to move from one place to another and which cities would you recommend flying between instead of public transport ? Are buses well-served for your destinations – going anti-clockwise from Izmir. I am thinking once i arrive each town, i will look local guided tours as necessary.

Are there tours originating from Izmir to Ephesus and Pergamon where they pick me from my hotel. Any suggestions or insights you can offer with regards to travelling efficiently in time and logistics would be appreciated.

Thanking you in advance.

August 11, 2022 at 5:48 am

Glad that you found our Turkey itinerary and travel advice helpful in planning your upcoming trip to Turkey.

Yes, I don’t think it really matters if you start in Istanbul or Izmir, as it just depends if you want to spend some time in Istanbul at the beginning or your trip or not. As you note, you will likely fly to Istanbul either way, you just need to decide if you want a connecting flight to Izmir or not.

I would consider skipping Ayvalik as this seaside town is about a 2.5 hour drive north of Izmir and while you can get there by bus pretty easily, it will eat up a lot of time unless there is something here you really want to visit. It is also in the wrong direction based on your travel plans.

So an itinerary might look something like this:

Izmir – 3 days (visit Ephesus/Selcuk from here, perhaps also Pergamon or Ayvalik if going there) Kusadasi – 3 days (visit Miletus and Priene on day tour from here, visit Pergamon if haven’t done so from Izmir) Pamukkale – 1 day – (you can either visit by taking bus from Kusadasi to Denizli and stay overnight and just do on own, or just join a guided day tour from Kusadasi) Fethiye – 2 days Antalya – 3 days Konya – 2 days Cappadocia – 3 days Istanbul – 7 days

Since you have a lot of time, buses are cheap and pretty easy. You should be able to book regular buses (see section above about transport and buses) to any of the above. You can book online in advance in most cases. The nearest station I think to Pamukkale is Denizli so that one might be better done as a day tour unless you want to stay overnight there. Between Cappadocia and Istanbul, I’d probably recommend flying as it will save you time but you can also take a bus.

The easiest way to book tours is to just do so online in advance once you know your dates of travel and when you want to go. Most tours by both GetYourGuide and Viator offer free cancelation if done so 24 to 48 hours in advance if you needed to change your trip. Just be sure to check the cancellation policy before booking. This way you will know you have a tour booked and will know price in advance.

Tours to Ephesus, both group and private tours, are available from Izmir, Kusadasi, or Selcuk. If you are basing in İzmir you can see tour options here .

Similarly, tours to Pergamon are offered from Izmir, Kusadasi, or Selcuk. Izmir makes the most sense as it is the closest one to the city, but it will depend on tour availability what might be best for you. This is one of the reasons it makes sense to book any tours in advance to help determine how many nights you need in each town or city.

Vince Yip Post author

August 11, 2022 at 11:31 am

Hi Jessica,

Thank you so much for responding with your recommendations-really appreciate your generosity. Your suggestions sound great and sensible. I am overwhelmed by the number of similar tours on offer …but will get there. I was initially thinking of driving but at the same time didn’t want the hassle. I will let you know how I go…in due course.

Thanks again n all the best !! Vince

August 12, 2022 at 1:31 am

Between Izmir, Kusadasi and Selcuk – which town would you suggest as a better base , also which of these 3 would have more to offer apart from being a good base to Ephesus, Pamukkale etc.

August 12, 2022 at 3:15 am

You’re very welcome for the help.

As for the best town to base of the 3, as I said, you could do the tours to Ephesus, Pergamon, and Pamukkale from any of those three towns/cities. So any would work. However, if you were to choose just one, I’d personally say Kuşadası just as there are a lot of tours on offer from there (probably more than from Izmir) and it also has the seaside location, beaches, resorts, nightlife, tourist services, the castle, and some other sites of historical interest, etc. It is also a popular place from which to do boat tours or buggy tours. So you could definitely spend a day or two enjoying the town in between the tours.

When choosing tours, there are going to be a number of competing options to all the popular places like Ephesus and Pamukkale. So I would just recommend reading the details, see what is included for the price, make sure it is available on your date of travel, and check the cancellation policy. I would also recommend booking ones with good recent reviews from the past year and good cancellation policies. For example from Kusadasi, you can see a number of tour options here from GYG.

If flying in from Izmir and basing in Kusadasi, it is about a 1 to 1.5 hour drive by car, bus, private transfer, or taxi to get to Kusadasi. With luggage, I’d probably just book a private transfer for convenience. But you could also go by bus which takes a little longer but is much cheaper. I think the Havas airport shuttle is currently only about $5 (USD).

If just staying in one and considering 3 tours, and you have a lot of time, I’d probably spend 5 days there. That would give you 3 days out and 2 days to spend exploring and relaxing in the town/city.

Div Post author

June 27, 2022 at 2:52 pm

Hi Jessica and lawrence, You have a wonderful blog full of useful information. I stumbled upon it while researching about Turkey. I would like to know if last week of November will be a good time to visit Istanbul and Cappadocia. I am looking for a family trip 3 days in each location. This will be our first time in Turkey and not planning to do too much all at once. I would like to fly hot air balloons and visit the historic sites in Cappadocia and also do the high profile locations in Istanbul as you have listed above. Is Antalya doable in one week time frame? will be traveling from west coast of US and hence want to leave time for jet lag and travel delays. Any recommendations much appreciated.

June 28, 2022 at 10:39 am

November can be a good time to visit Turkey as the weather is cooler so you don’t need to worry about the hot temperature in the summer and it is not as popular a time to visit so less tourists. But you’ll want to bring along long sleeves and some warmer clothes as it can get chilly, especially in the evenings. I’d be sure to check the predicted weather in both places before your trip so you can pack accordingly.

So if you have 1 week in total for your trip and 6 nights, then splitting it between Istanbul and Cappadocia is a good idea. I wouldn’t really recommend trying to visit anywhere else as it will make for a rushed trip. If you are driving, you might consider a stop in Ankara on the way between them (since it is on the way), but since flying is probably a better option to save time (it is an 8 to 10 hour drive), I’d probably just split your time between Istanbul and Cappadocia. Taking the short flights in between them.

Three nights in Istanbul will give you plenty of time to see many of the highlights as we describe in the article. If you stay in the city center, it is easy to walk to many places. There are also a lot of walking and driving tours you can join for sightseeing.

For your time in Cappadocia, I’d recommend flying to save time (you can get a domestic flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia, and then book a shuttle or taxi to the town where you are staying). If the hop-on hop-off bus is running when you are there then that is a good option to get around as it stops at all the main tourist sites (Göreme is probably the best place to stay if doing bus). Or you can just book a guided tour (group or private) that goes to the places you want to go. And yes, we’d definitely recommend also booking the hot air balloon flight for one morning as that is definitely a highlight for many people. If staying 3 nights, I’d book the balloon flight for your second morning so that if it gets canceled due to weather you’d be able to potentially rebook on your third morning.

Antalya is not close to Istanbul or Cappadocia, so unless you have more than 1 week, I would probably not recommend also trying to go there. But if you have more time, it is a good option if you want to add some beach time to your trip. But you’d probably want 2-3 nights there to really enjoy it.

Hope that helps, and if you have more questions as you plan your Turkey trip, feel free to ask!

Kownain Andrabi Post author

June 21, 2022 at 8:02 am

Hi! We have planned our 2 week Turkey trip in the third week of August this year. I have been reading and re-readinh this blog so many times! 🙂 We have planned a few places – Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Konya, Bodum, Selcuk and Antalya. I am just a bit confused as to the sequence of the places. Like which place should we visit first. This itinerary is being really helpful but since we are not going to all the places listed, I am a bit confused

June 21, 2022 at 9:32 am

Hi Kownain,

Glad you are planning a trip to Turkey and that our blog has been helpful!

All of these places you mention are in the itinerary except Bodrum. Selçuk is just the town next to Ephesus (which as we note could be a good overnight stop instead of the suggested Kusadasi. The order you would probably want to visit them based on their geographical locations would be Selçuk, Bodrum, Pamukkale, Antalya, Konya, and then Cappadocia.

Now, it is also going to depend on where you are going to enter into Turkey (if you are coming from abroad). Most international flights land in Istanbul (or possibly Ankara). So if planning to fly in and out of Istanbul, then you can start your trip there.

But if you are not planning to actually visit Istanbul and do sightseeing there, you might consider taking a regional flight onward to Izmir to start your trip there and fly out of one of the airports in Cappadocia. This will allow you to skip several hours of driving or buses to get to the starting point of your trip from Istanbul.

Hope that helps, and I would definitely recommend that you start planning and booking your travel now (e.g., flights, hotels, tours, car rentals) as your trip is only a couple of months away.

Just let us know if you have further questions as you plan your trip!

June 23, 2022 at 1:08 pm

Thank you so much ch Jessica. Yes I forgot to mention that we are landing in Istanbul and leaving back from there as well. So the beginning and end of our trip will be Istanbul. We have already booked to and fro flights but we might have to book some domestic ones. I am trying to finalize the itinerary by this weekend. I might have more questions to follow😅

June 24, 2022 at 5:03 am

You’re very welcome!

Yes, so your itinerary would likely be Istanbul, Selçuk, Bodrum, Pamukkale, Antalya, Konya, Cappadocia, and then Istanbul. I would check to see what makes sense in terms of price and time on how to get to Selçuk and from Cappadocia. You have the options of flying, renting a car to drive, or taking a bus.

Your other option of course if you don’t want to plan and book all your transport, accommodation, and activities is to book a private tour that starts and ends in Istanbul such as this one .

Yes, happy to answer any further questions you might have. Wishing you a great trip to Turkey.

July 3, 2022 at 3:24 pm

Hi Jessica! I am here again 🙂 I made the itinerary and had to skip Pamukkale and Konya because they just didn’t fit. Also we are traveling with our 2-yr old for the first time so we don’t want to rush through places. Following is our itinerary (as of now). Can you please see and check if there’s anything we can change/improve. Day 1,2: Istanbul Leave for Cappadocia on Day 3 by air Day 3,4: Cappadocia Leave for Antalya on day 5 by air Day 5,6: Antalya Leave for Fethiye early on Day 7 by car Day 7,8: Fethiye Leave for Bodrum on day 9 in bus/car Day 9,10: Bodrum Leave for Selcuk on day 11 in car/bus Days 11,12: Selcuk/Ephesus Leave for Istanbul on day 12 via air Day 12,13: Istanbul Leave for home on day 14

We want to spend one more day in Istanbul, but not sure how to do that. Waiting for your insight Thank you so much

We have booked the main flights to and from home but not any other ones. We really want to finalize the plan in a couple of days so that we can book the hotels and domestic flights

July 4, 2022 at 4:24 am

Glad you have an itinerary drafted now for your Turkey trip. It looks OK to me and makes sense in terms of the order. Skipping Pamukkale and Konya is probably a good idea given traveling with a 2-year-old. But as you say, it may be a bit rushed with a young child, as you’ll only have 2 nights at any location with a lot of travel time getting from place to place.

So if you are wanting to simplify it a bit, I would probably take out one of the three coastal stops. I guess it depends on what you speciically want to do in Antalya, Fethiye, and Bodrum, but if it is mainly beach and water related, then I’d recommend cutting out at least one (if not two of them). If you have 4-5 nights in the same place it would make for a much more relaxing time, especially with a 2 year old. It might also mean you won’t need to rent a car and you could have the extra day in Istanbul.

Antalya is a great family destination and has good flight connections. A lot of the hotels and resorts have a kids pool, children’s activities, beach access, and offer babysitting services. Antalya has lots of beaches, historical sites, family theme parks, water activities, day tours you can take, etc. So unless you have things that you really want to see/do at Fethiye or Bodrum, I’d consider spending more time there and taking them out of the itinerary. Or you could alternatively just split your time between Antalya and Fethiye and skip Bodrum.

Another idea to save time and reduce stops is to group together all your time in Istanbul at the beginning of your trip and spend the first full 4 or 5 days there at once, rather than splitting it into 2 separate shorter stays. This would mean less moving and changing hotels, and less time going back and forth from the aiport. So for example, at the end you could book a flight from İzmir back home (likely will connect via Istanbul airport) rather than going back into Istanbul itself.

P.S. You are probably already aware of this, but many popular activities and tours have minimum age limits. So for example, hot air ballooning in Cappadocia is not possible with a 2 year old due to safety regulations. So just be sure when planning activities, that you check the age limits.

Anyway, hope that helps and gives you some ideas.

August 14, 2022 at 11:30 am

Your suggestions and advices have been really helpful. We are leaving in 5 days so everything is pretty much booked. We skipped Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Konya and are doing Istanbul, Izmir, Bodrum, Antalya and back to Istanbul. As I had mentioned earlier, going to Cappadocia with our toddler doesn’t make much sense and Pamukkale and Konya were too hectic. I just want some final suggestions. In Istanbul we have 3 full days in the beginning and another 3 full days at the end. I was wondering how to split the Istanbul itinerary effectively. We want to visit as many places in the city as we can (including the cruise) since there is plenty of time but not sure how about the order. About Izmir, we are planning to do one half day in Ephesus and then visit the town of Izmir and for the next day. In Bodrum, we will mainly be relaxing and then we have two full days know Antalya. How do you suggest we go about our itineraries for each of these cities effectively without getting over-exhausted? Really looking forward to your valuable suggestions.

P.s: Also I am all nerves because this will be our first vacation as a family and don’t know what to expect from the little one😥

August 15, 2022 at 2:28 am

So glad to hear that you have decided on your itinerary and have a lot of your trip booked now. I think splitting your time between just 4 cities makes sense if traveling mostly by plane and traveling with a toddler.

Yes, given the age restrictions I mentioned, Cappadocia may not be the best place to visit now with a 2-year-old and so taking it out gives you more time in the other places.

We give suggestions for about 3 days worth of things to do in Istanbul and since you have 5 to 6 full days, I’d consider just doing them slowly over time. With a toddler, you are not going to want to try to squeeze stuff in all day, so since you have the time, you can go more slowly and be more flexible. For instance you might plan 3 hours of sightseeing after breakfast, come back to have a big break in the afternoons and then go out for a few more hours later in the day. I am not sure the order makes much difference although you’ll want to check opening dates/hours but most of the major attractions are open most days.

Izmir, I think splitting time between Ephesus and visiting the city is good. For Antalya, if you have two days, you might spend one day walking around the old city, perhaps a cable car / gondola ride for the view, and maybe a tour out to Aspendos (Roman amphitheater). Then the second day just relaxing, whether that be one of the water parks, beach, or pool. You could also consider a boat ride. But this does depend a bit on where you are staying in Antalya as the resorts are a bit spread out and many also have their own activities on offer.

I think the best thing to do to not become over-exhausted is to just plan ahead and make sure you have time for breaks in your trip each day. I would also check the weather and see how hot it will be on your trip. If it is going to be really hot on some parts of your trip, it is best to avoid being outside (especially in unshaded places) during the hottest parts of the day (usually from about noon to 5pm). This is particularly important obviously with a baby. So if doing say a tour to an ancient ruined city or amphitheater or an outdoor walking tour, these might be best done in the mornings. Then taking a break in the afternoon in your hotel or some other air-conditioned or shaded area. And then coming out again in the late afternoon or early evening.

Hope that helps, and wishing you a wonderful trip to Turkey with your family!

Mr. Prakash Chandra Devkota Post author

May 19, 2022 at 1:31 am

What an incredible itinerary. we are planning a road trip in Turkey of this nature. Thank you very much for sharing this information.

May 19, 2022 at 4:46 am

Hi Mr. Devkota,

Glad our Turkey itinerary and travel information is helping in planning your own road trip in Turkey. If you have any questions as you plan your trip, just ask.

Wishing you safe and fun travels!

Sid Post author

May 17, 2022 at 5:48 am

Thank you so much for this post. We are planning a 12 days trip to Turkey in Beginning the 4th of July week (aware it will be pretty hot). The places we plan to cover are Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Fethiye/Oludeniz and Pamukkale.

We were not sure which way would work best. Whether we do the circular country tour left to right (beginning with Pamukkale) or right to left (beginning with Cappadocia) from Istanbul.

Request you to please share your thoughts on the same

May 17, 2022 at 6:07 am

Glad you enjoyed our post! So it sounds like you are planning to visit most of the places we list in our 2 week Turkey itinerary on your 12 day visit. The direction you do the trip really makes no real difference as you are essentially doing a circular trip. You just want to make sure that things are in logical order based on location as you go around. So you can follow the order as we list it or you can just reverse it.

Now, it does depend of course on how you plan to get around Turkey. As it may be easier to go one direction or the other depending on available flights, bus schedules, etc. Or if you are joining a tour or hiring a driver, they will of course have a set route. But if you are driving, then you’ll rent your car in Istanbul and return it in Istanbul so it wouldn’t make much difference. The only thing you may want to check on is accommodation availability as that could sway the direction.

If all is equal, I’d personally recommend leaving Cappadocia for last. Just as the scenery there is really unique and stunning, and if doing a hot balloon flight that is something special to look forward to doing towards the end of your trip.

And yes, expect it to be hot. You will want to be prepared for the heat so just be sure to pack accordingly, protect yourself from the sun, and always have plenty of water with you. But as long as you know the temperatures and weather and are prepared, you should be OK.

If you are planning to visit in early July, I’d highly recommend booking the main parts of your trip soon, particularly any international flights, rental cars, tours, and accommodation. You will be visiting at the height of the High Season for tourism to Turkey so good to make advance bookings, especially if working with a set trip budget.

Hope that helps and just let us know if you have any further questions as you plan your trip to Turkey!

May 18, 2022 at 7:34 am

Thank you so much Jessica!!

ALEX THOMPSON Post author

November 16, 2021 at 4:01 am

Nice article on Turkey, it helped us a lot to explore. I am an entrepreneur by profession and a traveler by heart. Your article made our stay exciting. Very attractive information.

November 16, 2021 at 4:13 am

Thanks so much and glad you had such a wonderful trip to Turkey and that our article could help provide some helpful information.

Wishing you safe & exciting future travels!

Sandra Post author

November 16, 2021 at 3:23 am

Thank you for all your useful information. Our Turkey trip was great.

We didn’t end up staying at a big resort in Antalya but drove one hour from Antalya to Milyos Hobbit Hotel . This hotel was situated on a mountain with great views and nice staff.

We will go plan a new trip to Turkey at soon, there is so much to see!

Best regards Sandra

November 16, 2021 at 4:12 am

So happy that you found our 2 week Turkey itinerary helpful, and that you had such a wonderful trip to Turkey!

Glad you enjoyed your time in the mountains. I think a lot of people enjoy the time along the coast, but certainly, some might prefer the mountains for a more peaceful time. For those reading this, the hotel she stayed in is about an 1 hour and 20 minute drive from Antalya and the coast. So a great location for getting away in the mountains but not so great if you want to be on or near the coastal area. Can be good for car drivers but not so convenient to reach by public transit.

So glad that you are considering another trip to Turkey soon. There is so much else to see in the country, particularly in eastern Turkey!

Wishing you safe & wonderful future travels! Jessica

Jack Hall and Sam Montgomery Post author

October 26, 2021 at 8:41 am

Great and informative article on visiting Turkey for two weeks or so. We went for 18 days in 2016 in the spring. Everything was organized by toursturkey which we found online. Their agent Tujan did a wonderful, detailed job. Our itinerary was almost identical to yours, but did not include Ankara. It did include the 4 day gullet cruise out of Fethiye, which we would not have missed. All hotels and guided tours were included ( we specified top grade hotels, not luxury) and breakfasts included at the hotels. Some other meals at sites outside cities. A great trip.

October 28, 2021 at 9:18 am

Hi Jack & Sam,

So glad you enjoyed our article about traveling to Turkey! And happy to hear that you have been to Turkey back in 2016 and went to many of the places we recommend. We definitely tried to give people a sense of what they could see with 2 weeks and tried to include a variety of the most popular places in Turkey.

Yes, I think that if people have the extra time, spending some time on a gulet is really nice and my husband spent several days on one as well once as part of a tour and really enjoyed it. Most people just do a day cruise (which is a nice way to spend a day), but you can definitely see a lot more of the coast/islands if you do a multi-day cruise and stay aboard the boat. But if you only have 2 weeks, it definitely takes away some of the time that could be spent doing other things so it is something people would need to weigh the pros and cons of doing. We are lucky to have been to Turkey a few times but most people just visit once so will need to prioritize what they want to see given the big distances in the country.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts on your own visit to Turkey. Perhaps you will have a chance to return to see more of the country and also explore the capital city 😉

Saleem A Bikanerwala Post author

September 2, 2021 at 2:00 pm

Extremely informative. Thank you so much. Can you kindly point me to folks who do package tours. We are interested in a 14 day tour and want to know how much it would cost. We are 16 in total.

September 3, 2021 at 1:05 am

Yes, just scroll down to the “Tours of Turkey” section of our article and we list a number of tour providers and specific tours, including one that is 14 days in length. That should get you started, but there are a number of options out there. It will depend on your budget and where you want to go.

In places like Istanbul, you can also book day tours easily as there are a lot of options. But you would want a longer guided tour to explore the rest of Turkey.

LYNETTE SANTIAGO Post author

May 19, 2021 at 6:20 am

Hello! Thank you so much for the valuable information.

I am planning on going to Turkey in June (after school is out, I am a teacher.). I live in Doha and this will be my first adventure. My husband and I want to do the road trip, starting at Istanbul and finishing the trip there as well.

Your information is so important to me. Are hostels easy to find? Do you suggest I get a sim card for the phone, so that I can use Waze and research things easily? Should I rent a car at the airport or is it ok to get a rental outside of the airport?

Thank you in advance for sharing all of your knowledge! 🙂

Best, Lynette

May 20, 2021 at 5:01 am

Hi Lynette,

So glad to hear that our 14 day Turkey itinerary has been helpful to you in planning your summer road trip in Turkey with your husband!

Yes, if you are flying into and out of Istanbul, then I’d follow the itinerary as is since it starts and ends in Istanbul. If you have less than 14 days, however, you’ll likely need to cut out some of the stops and rework the route a bit.

So hostels are easy to find in the larger cities for sure and many of the popular tourist towns. However, in smaller towns and cities, there may only be one hostel so options may be limited. But if you are on a budget, I’d also recommend checking out guesthouses, B&Bs, and budget hotels in Turkey as many offer a really good value, especially for a couple traveling together. Many of the guesthouses are not too much more expensive than a private hostel room.

If you are trying to stick to a budget for your accommodation, I’d recommend booking in advance so you know the price in advance and know where you will be staying. We list a number of hostels, guesthouses, and hotels for each place in the itinerary so you can book online in advance once you know your dates.

For the rental car, you can either rent from the airport or from Istanbul as there are rental car offices in the city as well. If you don’t need a car in Istanbul (we never use one there), you can save money by waiting to pick up your rental after you have already spent time exploring Istanbul. I’d just be sure to book your car in advance once you know your dates and where you plan to pick it up.

Yes, if your mobile phone works on the same frequency as used in Turkey and it is unlocked, you should be able to just use a local Sim card. You should be able to purchase these in many places in Istanbul or at the airport (or you can order one online before your trip). Just be sure to check the Sim card data rates. For more information about this, you can read this post about options for getting online when traveling .

Hope that helps, and just let me know if you have further questions as you plan your road trip. Wishing you a safe and fun trip to Turkey!

Sylvia Dsilva Post author

May 13, 2021 at 7:16 am

Hi Jessica & Laurence,

I’m really glad to have come across your post and its helps me plan my trip to Turkey. My boyfriend and I are going to be travelling in June’21 and I would like to know if I can start my journey from Cappadocia onwards and follow the same itinerary backwards and arrive to Istanbul.

Thank you for all the answers in advance, Sylvia

May 14, 2021 at 4:25 am

First, I am happy to hear that our Turkey itinerary has been helpful to you and your boyfriend in planning your summer trip to Turkey.

I would like to just note, as you are probably already aware, that Turkey is currently in a strict lockdown due to a surge of coronavirus cases over the past few months so almost all businesses are closed and travel is very restricted. The current strict restrictions will last at least until May 17th but some restrictions are likely to remain for the near future. So I would keep watching that situation to make sure that you are able to travel in June and that the things you want to visit will be open and it is safe to travel to those areas. I would make sure that any travel plans and bookings are able to be changed or canceled or that you have good travel insurance that would cover you in the event that you were not able to travel to Turkey in June.

Now, in terms of where to start your Turkey itinerary, you can start it anywhere along the route as it is a circular route. I would probably base it on where you are entering the country. Most foreign travelers will arrive into either Istanbul or Ankara, which makes them the best places to start the trip. It might also depend on how you plan to get around the country (e.g., car, train, bus, guided tour, etc.) as routes and dates may affect your itinerary.

But yes, you can, of course, start in Cappadocia. So you can go from Cappadocia to Antalya to Fethiye, and so on, going backwards through the itinerary. Just note if you start in Cappadocia and end in Istanbul, you will have to decide what to do with the days in Ankara – you can either skip Ankara or head there from Istanbul, perhaps by train as there is a good connection between the 2 cities, and spend the 2 days there before heading back for your time in Istanbul. Then you can depart from Istanbul.

Hope that helps, and just let me know if you have any further questions.

Shek Ahamed Shadhik Post author

March 25, 2021 at 4:49 pm

Such an amazing Itinerary. Me and my lady are planning on such a road trip experience. Is it ideal for a couple where only I will be driving the car the whole time? Also, do I have an option of airport pick up and drop at Ankara for car rentals?

March 26, 2021 at 9:06 am

Glad you found our Turkey itinerary helpful in planning your future road trip around Turkey. Yes, I think it is fine for someone driving but you also have the option of course to do public transit or take a guided tour instead. It just really depends on what you prefer and how much you want to spend behind the wheel driving as some of the distances are pretty great.

Yes, if you are arriving to Turkey through Ankara airport, you can rent your car there as there are several rental car agencies located at the airport as well as in the city center.

If starting in Ankara, I would just adjust the itinerary to start in Ankara and you can start there and then move to Istanbul and follow the itinerary until you are back in Ankara.

You don’t really need the car to explore Ankara (or Istanbul) and especially in Istanbul, I wouldn’t really recommend one. So you might want to explore Ankara and Istanbul on foot and using public transport (the 2 cities are well linked by train), and then pick up a car in Istanbul if you want to save some money on a rental car and not have to worry about parking/driving in the larger cities.

Hope that helps, and just let me know if you have any other questions as you plan your trip.

Wishing you happy and safe travels, Jessica

Blaž Dobravec Post author

March 21, 2021 at 4:28 am

Dear Jessica & Laurence,

Me and my girlfriend are traveling to Turkey in the middle of April, we were also thinking of doing a similar route as you guys did. I have a question about the current situation about the overnight busses and the domestic planes, since there is a curfew. Are there any other restrictions?

thank you for all the answers in advance, Blaž Dobravec

March 21, 2021 at 8:57 am

Hello Blaž,

Glad that our Turkey itinerary has been helpful in planning your upcoming trip to Turkey. If you have a similar amount of time, this can be a good route to try to see some of the highlights.

Unfortunately, Turkey is seeing an increase of coronavirus cases right now and many believe that there will likely be travel restrictions throughout the Spring and perhaps the summer months as well. Many governments, including ours here in the UK, are urging people to not travel there and to cancel any non-essential travel plans there for now.

So yes, I think not only will there be restrictions regarding transport in Turkey as you are seeing, but you are likely to see a lot of travel attractions closed or with travel restrictions. A lot of bars and restaurants are currently allowed to operate with reduced capacity (I think many that are open are at 50%).

I would check the latest news and also check to see what your home country has to say about travel to Turkey. Depending on your thoughts on this information, you might want to consider rebooking your trip for a later time when things are more stable there and you are going to be more able to travel freely and visit more places. There has been a lot of speculation about another short lockdown in Turkey by multiple news outlets recently given the spiking cases which could occur during your trip.

Sorry for the bad news, but I hope it helps and encourages you to check out the latest news and restrictions in Turkey and make an informed decision regarding your travel plans. If you do still plan to go in April, I would make sure that everything you book is able to be canceled and/or you have travel insurance that would cover disruptions due to Covid-19.

Let me know if you have any further questions about planning a trip to Turkey!

Josh Clement-Sutcliffe Post author

July 18, 2020 at 5:54 am

We love Turkey and feel like you should go for at least two weeks, partly because its such a large country but also because there is so much to do! Istanbul is magnificent, I loved exploring Topkapi palace and learning about the Ottoman history

July 18, 2020 at 6:55 am

Yes, we agree! 2 weeks is a great introduction trip to Turkey to explore Istanbul and see some of the highlights of the western part of the country. If you wanted to cover the highlights of the entire country, we’d recommend adding an additional 2 weeks to your trip.

Glad you enjoyed your time in Istanbul!

Marc Forrest Post author

April 6, 2020 at 6:56 am

This is a very impressive and detailed itinerary for Turkey – very helpful indeed! My wife and I are dreaming about a tour to Turkey and we now have a good draft of what to see and do! However, one place we may want to add is a stop in Konya to see some of the spiritual places and things. Have you been ? Would this be easy to add to this itinerary? Are there tours that go there or how might be the best method?

Thanks for any help and keep up the good work. Hopefully we will all be traveling again soon once we beat COVID-19!

Keep safe! Marc

April 6, 2020 at 8:36 am

We have not visited Konya yet, but it is one of the places we’d love to see on a future visit.

If you are planning to follow our suggested Turkey itinerary, then you could stop at Konya between Antalya and Cappadocia. I would recommend adding a night in Konya to your trip so you have plenty of time to visit some of the highlights there. Or you could do a day trip from Ankara as you should be able to easily hire a guide and do a guided day tour to Konya from Ankara.

If you are driving or taking the bus between Antalya and Cappadoccia, you will drive right past Konya so it makes a convenient place to stop. It is about a 4 to 4.5 hour drive from Antalya or about 6 hours by public bus.

Once you get to Konya, there are guided tours you can join such as this one of the city highlights and this one focused on Sufism .

In terms of guided tours of Turkey that include Konya, not many of the English ones stop at Konya. However, it is a regular stop for Turkish people and people interested in Sufism and archaeological sites like Çatalhöyük. So if you want a tour that stops in Konya in English, you will likely need to book a private tour or you can just add on a private day tour from Anakara. There is this private tour that is for 12 days and includes Konya.

If you want to join a guided tour and it doesn’t include Konya, you can fly from Istanbul to Konya pretty easily and spend a couple of days there to explore Konya on your own (or join day tours around the city from there) before or after your tour. I’d probably recommend a local guide or getting a good guidebook to the sites for exploring Konya to get the most of the visit (as with many places in Turkey).

Hope that information helps, and wishing you a wonderful trip to Turkey once travel opens back up and is safe again!

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The Ultimate 7 Day Turkey Itinerary

My Turkey fascination started years ago with my son’s school report on the Hagia Sophia Mosque. Our Turkey trip exceeded every expectation and we’re sharing our 7 Day Turkey Itinerary so you create your own incredible adventure.

Turkey travel has something thrilling for everyone. With 7 days in Turkey , you can experience Cappadocia hot air ballooning, Turkish Riviera beaches, historic biblical sites, iconic Grand Bazaar shopping, and the bustling metropolis of Istanbul.

In this Turkey itinerary, you will find all the practical information from the best time to visit Turkey, safety in Turkey, and exactly what to see and do with one week in Turkey . Get ready for one exciting globetrotting moment after the next!

Planning Your Turkey Trip Itinerary Last Minute?

If you are trying to pull together your Turkey itinerary quickly, here is a quick reference guide to the tours and hotels we recommend, along with practical travel information.

You can get more detailed information on What to Wear in Turkey with a packing list , the Best Istanbul Boutique Hotels and the Best Cave Hotels in Cappadocia .

This site uses affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. You can read our full disclosure policy  here .

• From Istanbul: 2-Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flights (fully organized tour to Cappadocia)
• Istanbul private city tour (top private day tour tour in Istanbul)
• Cappadocia Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight (#1 selling balloon tour in Cappadocia)
• Soho House Istanbul  – ISTANBUL (one of the coolest places to stay)
• Hotel Poem – ISTANBUL (well located near the Bosphorus and many tourist sights)
• Artemis Cave Suites & Spa – CAPPADOCIA (more luxurious with a spa)
• Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum – BODRUM
• Visa for Turkey
• Travel insurance with Safety Wing
• Skyscanner is great for booking flights to Turkey and Cappadocia
• A Turkey plug adapter and a step down voltage converter for anything that’s not dual voltage.

Table of Contents

7 Day Turkey Itinerary Days 1-3: Istanbul

The first stop on our Turkey itinerary was 3 days in vibrant Istanbul. Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia and is a mesmerizing mix between ancient and modern.

In the city center there are historic mosques and buildings right near hipster cafes and designer shops.

With a population of 15 million, Istanbul is the largest city in Europe. You will likely spend most of your time on the European side but you can take a Bosphorus cruise right down the middle to see both sides.

Even with its enormous size, if you like finding your way around the city, it’s very easy to walk or take an Uber to most of the sightseeing spots. If you prefer having a guide, this Istanbul private city tour comes highly recommended.

Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque are “Must Sees” on Your 7 Day Turkey Itinerary

To put this “historic” city into perspective, the oldest buildings in Istanbul are more than 600 years older than oldest buildings in Paris.

Our first stop was the Hagia Sophia since I had been captivated years prior by it’s complex religious history. This 6th Century cathedral was transformed into mosque in the 15th century.

You can take a Hagia Sophia Guided Tour to learn more about its fascinating history.

RELATED POST: 15 BEST ISTANBUL BOUTIQUE HOTELS & WHERE TO STAY

The photo above and indoor shot below are the Hagia Sophia. Below right is the Blue Mosque , the neighbor to the Hagia Sophia, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful mosques in the world.

In case you’re thinking “a mosque is a mosque.” These two mosques could not be more different from the inside.

The Hagia Sofia (above left) is very dark and dramatic in black and gold while the Blue Mosque is a stunning display of intricate tile work and windows as seen in the photo of the ceiling below. It’s an architectural masterpiece.

Topkapi Palace

In this same area, you can check out Topkapi Palace, a former royal residence that is now a museum. This UNESCO Heritage site is the oldest surviving palace in the world. Make sure to check out the harem rooms.

Skip the line with a Topkapi Palace guided tour to learn about the history of the Ottoman Era.

Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar

Still in the old city, we headed to the Grand Bazaar and found this cute, colorful street. You can grab a quick bite to eat before you delve into the biggest shopping area you’ve ever seen.

The Spice Bazaar was my favorite. It conjures up images of traders traveling the Silk Road to bring precious and exotic spices to market.

The Grand Bazaar is a great place to pick up souvenirs. Some Turkey souvenir ideas: ceramics • lamps • kilim Rugs • spices • Turkish Delight • Turkish coffee & tea • jewelry • Turkish towels

Add a Bosphorus Cruise to Your Turkey Itinerary to See the Best of Istanbul

You can take a Bosphorus Cruise through the middle of 2 continents, Europe and Asia.

We hopped on from the area called Ortaköy. For $5 it’s a delightful, hour long cruise that gives a completely different view of Istanbul.

You will see Ciragan Palace, the beautiful church at Ortaköy, amazing waterfront estates, city scapes with famous mosques, bridges and palaces. Plus, it’s such a lovely experience being out on the water.

There are a few Bosphorus cruises you might like to take that are a bit more expensive but very affordable.

The first is a sunset cruise on a luxury yacht . This is what we would have done if we had planned ahead.

Many people opt for an evening Bosphorus cruise with dinner and entertainment . It’s actually one of the most popular activities in Istanbul.

It’s such a romantic view of Istanbul lit up at night and they offer an unlimited drinks package too.

Out of 7 days, cruising the Bosphorus Strait was one of our favorite activities on the Istanbul part of our Turkey itinerary.

Galata Tower and Galata Bridge

Galata Bridge connects two major parts of the European side of Istanbul over the waterway known as the Golden Horn.

There have been 5 iterations of this bridge dating back to the 6th century. If you walk across the bridge, you get a great view of both sides.

Galata Tower, which was built in 500 A.D. as watchtower to help defend the city stands taller than everything else.

Get a 360 degree view of Istanbul from the upper viewing deck and check out the museum with artifacts from all periods of Istanbul’s storied past.

Local Life & Night Life – Istiklal Caddesi, Karaköy, Besiktas & Nisantasi

We love to ditch the travel guide and walk between tourist spots to see what cool local hangouts we can find. This is where Istanbul shines.

The restaurant culture and plethora of awesome places to go is outstanding. Istanbul is full of trendy cafes and bars. We spent time in each of the areas below.

You might also want to make time for this Whirling Dervish show that visitors LOVE!

• Istiklal Caddesi – On Sundays, the Grand Bazaar is closed so it’s the perfect day to check out this lively pedestrian shopping area by Taksim square with tons of restaurants and stores. We had the yummiest healthy lunch at EK BİÇ YE İÇ. For lunch or dinner with a view, check out 360 Istanbul.
• Nisantasi – The posh area with designer stores. A fun place to people watch, shop and grab lunch. Check out the rooftop bar at Swisshotel for a killer sunset over the Bosphoros.
• Besiktas – We accidentally ended up finding this super cool area on our way way from Ortakoy. Definitely a great place to go out for dinner and drinks. It was packed and so much fun at this bustling part of town. There are a zillion choices of restaurants and bars here.
• Karakoy – A revitalized neighborhood, total hipster spot where you’ll find great galleries, charming coffeehouses like Karabatak. This area is really close to Galata Tower.

7 Day Turkey Itinerary Days 4-5: Cappadocia

Cappadocia (pron. Cap-uh-dokia) is a region in the middle of Turkey comprised of multiple towns and villages.

We almost didn’t include Cappadocia in our 7 day itinerary because it seemed so inconvenient to everything else in Turkey. That would have been a huge mistake – it was definitely a trip highlight.

You can check out a short video with things to do in Cappadocia on our YouTube channel.

Getting from Istanbul to Cappadocia is easiest by plane. Take a 1 hour flight into Kayseri or Nevsehir airports and then an hour drive to your hotel. If you plan ahead, the flights are inexpensive.

If you are on a tight budget, there is an overnight bus from Istanbul to Gorëme, the main downtown area. The train is inconvenient so – a plane, bus, rental car or a guided tour are your options.

You should plan at least 2 nights here so you have 2 chances to watch or take a hot air balloon flight in case there are weather issues.

Cappadocia has some really interesting and fun things to see. Two to three days will give you plenty of time.

RELATED POST: 12 MAGICAL CAVE HOTELS IN CAPPADOCIA WITH AMAZING VIEWS

A Hot Air Balloon Ride is a Highlight of a 7 Day Turkey Itinerary

Cappadocia is world famous for hot air ballooning. The experience was spectacular. There are 2 take off times so you are able to fly and enjoying watching them afterwards.

Tip: Book your flight in advance . We had to scramble at the last minute because we didn’t realize that the 150 balloons a day are regularly full.

After waiting hours, we got word that someone missed their flight to Cappadocia and we got their spot.

The prices vary between $200-400 per person for a Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Flight and champagne toast.

Visiting the Valleys

If you plan to take a hot air balloon flight, you will get a bird’s eye view of the Cappadocia valleys. One of the top things to do in Cappadocia is see all the different valleys from the ground level too.

The landscape is otherworldly and there are interesting caves everywhere. We did a 2 hour sunset ATV tour with some local guides to Love Valley, Red Valley and Rose Valley.

It’s a great place to hike and experience the fascinating landscape. But I’m not going to lie – riding the ATVs was super fun! Our guide took me on the back of his and made it go on 2 wheels.

Plan to get dirty and wear something that can cover your face. We recommend bringing a lightweight neck gaiter that will keep dust out of your mouth or work as a headband for your hair.

Pasabag (Monk’s Valley) above right is a popular spot to visit. You’ll see excellent examples of fairy chimneys and you can walk into the caves where monks lived.

RELATED POST: 27 ADVENTURES TO ADD TO YOUR EUROPE BUCKET LIST

Underground Cities

There are 200 underground cities in Cappadocia. The most famous and largest is Derinkuyu. Going 200 feet underground, it could house 20,000 people including their livestock stables. If you are claustrophobic, skip this.

Kaymakli, an underground city that’s further away, was discovered in 1963 when a local found a room behind a wall in his house.

I’ve had dreams where I find a hallway and think that my house was so much bigger than I thought, but could you imagine finding a whole city!!

Downtown Goreme

Downtown Goreme is a great place to walk around and shop for souvenirs like Turkish rugs, beautiful lamps and more. You’ll also find delicious restaurants.

We ate at Peking Chinese Restaurant and had an unexpected delicious Chinese meal in Turkey.

Work off lunch by taking a 15 minute walk to Goreme Open Air Museum and see churches from the 10th-12th centuries.

Cappadocia Red, Green & Blue Tours Are a Great Way to See the Area

There are 3 main tour routes in Cappadocia. They are full-day, small group tours in a minivan. The hardest part is deciding which tour to take.

The Red Tour stays the closest to Goreme and will take you to Dervent Valley, the Open Air Museum, Uçhisar Castle, Pasabag and more.

The Red Tour covers all the places that are close proximity to Goreme. You can easily do these places on your own and choose a different tour for the places that are harder to get to.

The Green Tour takes you to the underground cities, Selime Monastery, rock carved churches and cave houses among other sights.

The Green Tour goes to places that are much harder to see on your own unless you have a car. The underground cities are the highlight.

Lastly, the Blue Tour is the furthest off the typical tourist track and visits Turkish villages and beautiful landscapes.

For those that want the most authentic Turkish experience, the Blue tour is the best choice. You will see more locals and see what real life is like in Cappadocia.

Staying in a Cave Hotel is Must for your 7 Day Turkey Itinerary

Staying in a cave hotel is a prime attraction in the area.

We stayed at Local Cave House because they had the coolest pool (see above) and we were only staying for a day so we wanted to be walking distance from shopping and restaurants in town.

Here are some Cappadocia cave hotel tips and other great cave hotel choices that are a little more upscale:

• Sultan Cave Suites is also centrally located and very popular because of the incredible view. They have a beautiful set up for you to get amazing balloon photos at the crack of dawn.
• Museum Hotel – This is probably the most sought after upscale cave hotel because of the stunning balloon views and beautiful pool.
• Our Blog Post on the Top 12 Cave Hotels in Cappadocia will help you pick the perfect hotel at your price point.

7 Day Turkey Itinerary Days 6-7: Bodrum & Ephesus

Bodrum is known for its luxurious seaside hotels, and the Susona Bodrum LXR Hotels & Resorts (former Nikki Beach hotel) is a total stand out!

The private pool, turquoise coast villas have “to die for” unobstructed views of Torba Bay. Our first thought, and honestly every thought after was – we want to live here!

Go totally low key and just enjoy the villa or the hotel’s infinity pool. If you have kids, there’s a nice family beach.

Fun Things to Do in Bodrum

• Spend an afternoon in Bodrum town. The charming harbor has restaurants and souvenir shopping.
• Take a day cruise from Bodrum harbor on a wooden Gulet boat and spend a leisurely afternoon exploring the coastline and bays.
• This is a great place to hop over to Greece. You can do a full day trip to the island of Kos. It’s only a 40 minute ferry ride to be in another country. Even though it’s so close, it really feels like Greece and different from Turkey. You can also start your journey to Santorini if you are planning a Turkey and Greece Itinerary.
• Take a day trip to Ephesus or Pamukkale.

RELATED POST: 3 Days in Santorini Itinerary

Ancient City of Ephesus – 1/2 Day

From Istanbul or Cappadocia, fly into Izmir airport. Ephesus can also be visited as a day trip from Bodrum.

This UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important ancient ruins in Turkey was the 4th largest city in the Roman Empire.

A veritable who’s who of famous figures spent time in Ephesus including Paul the Apostle, Alexander the Great, Anthony and Cleopatra. Pretty mind blowing, right!

The thing that really struck me here with the grand size of everything.

The theater that held 25,000 spectators, the Arcadian Way, a 500 meter marble road lined with 50 streetlights and shops that connected the theater to the sea and the ancient Library of Celsus that housed 12,000-15,000 scrolls shown above.

You should definitely use a tour guide here to learn all of the historical significance. Either find a guide at the gate or book a Small Group Tour of Ephesus with the House of the Virgin Mary Hours: 8am – 5pm (7pm April to October).

Plan your visit to be at the opening or the late afternoon to avoid big tour groups and the heat.

Why We Left Pamukkale Off Our 7 Day Turkey Itinerary

7 days in Turkey is a whirlwind trip for a country with so many things to do, so you have to pick what to include and leave off of your itinerary.

We opted not to go to Pamukkale because it’s a trek to get there and many of the pools that look beautiful in photos were dried up at the time of our visit.

Before you head to Pamukkale, check out Trip Advisor where people post current conditions and photos so you can decide if you want to visit.

How to Get a Turkish Visa

Getting a Turkish Visa was really easy. Just fill out the online application , make the payment and you will get your document emailed to you. At the airport, just show your passport and visa document to enter Turkey.

Electronics in Turkey

Turkey uses a 220V voltage supply that uses a Type F converter. Here is a quick list of what you will need for your electronics in Turkey.

• Portable Charger Power Bank – You will definitely need back up power for long sightseeing days.
• Turkey plug adapter with USB Ports – Type F outlet converter for mobile phones and computers.
• Step Down Voltage Converter  – very important for anything that’s not dual voltage. We never travel without this.

Wondering what to wear in Turkey? We put together a comprehensive Turkey Packing List with everything you need to bring including outfit ideas, the dress code for women and men and things you might be forgetting.

Transportation in Turkey

• Air travel – the flight system within Turkey is very affordable and there are a surprising amount of flights The 2 main airlines that fly to almost every airport are Turkish Airlines and Pegasus.
• Rental Car – Many people choose this option because the roads are good. One thing to keep in mind is that you will be looking at some long drives. Cappadocia to Istanbul is 10-12 hours. Cappadocia to Ephesus is 12-14 hours. If you don’t mind and you have time for a 7 to 10 day itinerary, then this would be a great way to see Turkey.
• Bus – The distances are the same as the car rides but someone else is doing the driving and you can take the bus overnight. If you are looking for the budget option, this is it.
• Train – The train doesn’t easily go everywhere in Turkey but it does go to some places. It seems too complicated to get around this way.
• Turkey Tour – Some people opt for a 7 to 14 day Turkey tour so everything is planned out for them. It will definitely involve bus travel.

Is Turkey Safe to Travel?

The #1 question we were asked about traveling to Turkey – is it safe? The #2 question – did we feel safe?

All of the areas we visited in 7 days on this Turkey itinerary were safe according to the Travel.State.Gov website. The area of Turkey near the Syrian border is and has been off limits for some time but we were no where near there.

Here are the links to the the current status of Turkey for American citizens and British citizens . My advice for anyone is to look up any country you plan to visit and follow the Government recommendations.

As things can change, it’s always a good idea to purchase travel insurance in case you need to change your trip due to some unfortunate change.

SafetyWing is a great travel insurance plan that will cover you for trip cancellation or emergency medical expenses and they have 24 hour assistance when you need help.

Best Time to Visit Turkey

We went to Turkey in May and the weather was perfect! The most comfortable months are April-May and September-October. Visiting during the shoulder season will allow you to avoid crowds and hot temperatures.

• Istanbul is hot and swarming with tourists in June-August. The shoulder season of April/May and September/October is pleasant weather wise but expect some rain like we had in May. November – March has cooler temps and rain but you’ll be free of the tourist crowds.
• Cappadocia – You can go year round, but balloon flights can be cancelled due to weather. If you are going during an iffy weather time, stay an extra day to get an extra chance at flying or seeing the balloons fly. Best months are April, May, September and October. June – August is HOT! The winter gets snow. We had perfect weather in May.
• Bodrum – High season in Bodrum is July and August. If you prefer a more relaxing vacation with great weather, go in May, June, or September. Some hotels shut down during the off season.

Final Thoughts About This Turkey Travel Itinerary

If you’re planning 7 days in Turkey, we hope this itinerary helps you plan your trip and fall in love with this country the way we did. To make a shorter trip, you’ll have to decide between Cappadocia and the Turkish Riviera.

Other Great Itineraries You Might Like:

• GREECE: 3 Days in Santorini Itinerary & Travel Guide
• CROATIA: The Ultimate Guide to Croatia Island Hopping
• EGYPT: 15 Egypt Travel Tips You Need to Know
• PORTUGAL: How to Spend 2 Perfect Days in Lisbon
• ICELAND: Iceland Ring Road Itinerary

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About Jenifer

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57 comments.

Hi Jenifer Thanks for sharing your experience. Is it affordable to visit Cappadocia and visit the Blue and Green tours by renting a car? Any idea about the parking situations at tourist sites?

Hi Romita – it is definitely affordable and if you want something even less expensive, you can rent a scooter. That’s what we did, because it was easier than a car. There was plenty of parking at tourist sites.

Turkey trips

Thanks for sharing such an informative piece; it’s been incredibly helpful.

Sutoyo Sugiharto

We just came back from a road trip in Turkey 7-15 September 2023. It is safe to rent a car and drive in Turkey. We drove from Istanbul , Izmir, Antalya , Ankara and back to Istanbul no problem. Thank you for your information.

Thanks for letting us know. We will make sure to recommend a rental car to other travelers.

Turkey tours

Thank you for the blog post. I really appreciate it. Fantastic!

Hi! Loved this so much! Just curious if you had more time when would you have squeezed in Pamukkale? We would like to add that to our trip and based on your knowledge what would you say is the best route to see istanbul, Pamukkale, Cappadocia, and Bodrum if we have 8 days?

We had originally planned to visit between Cappadocia and Bodrum on our itinerary. To get there you can rent a car, take a tour or bus from Izmir (which has plenty of flights) or there’s an overnight bus from Cappadocia. It’s definitely worthwhile, especially if the pools have water.

padmini sharma

Hi jenifer. I plan on visiting turkey end March early April your itinerary looks amazing. How do you go from capadocia to bodrum. Thanks so much

You can either fly from Cappadocia to Bodrum with a stopover in Istanbul on Turkish Airways. It takes about 8 hours and is the fastest option. Or you can take the overnight bus, which is what we did – very inexpensive and a funny experience, plus you sleep for most of it. I don’t think I would do it again but I’m glad we did it once because it was an interesting insight into life in Turkey and it worked best with our schedule. We started looking into the bus because we wanted to go to Pamukkale and the bus was the best way to get there. Since the water was low at Pamukkale, we opted to go to Izmir instead to see Ephesus. From there, we went to Bodrum.

Thanks for sharing this. Did you book a round trip from Istanbul? I need to fly from SFO to Istanbul. But our last stop can either be Bodrum of Cappadocia. I am thinking if it might be better to book the return from one of the cities, that way, we do not have to come back to Istabul and stay at a hotel there!

Also, do you recommend going to Cappadocia first?

Hi Anna – We flew LAX – Istanbul and then departed Turkey from Bodrum on a ferry to Greece. My best advice would be to set your itinerary based on whatever works best with the flights you find. If you can get to Cappadocia easily, it’s a great place to start. We had planned to do that but our flight got into Istanbul late and we missed our flight to Cappadocia. We ended up eating the cost and going to Cappadocia 3 days later. There are tons of flights to Cappadocia every day. Just leave enough time for your connection or book one airline straight through so they can get you on a different flight if you miss the connection.

This exact itinerary inspired me to book our 15 yr anniversary trip… and we followed it to a T! We are going in June and cannot wait!!

Thank you so much for your help!!

How exciting! You’re going to have the best trip.

Tammi Kaeberlein

I so appreciate this detailed and thoughtful post. And the photos are a dream! I’ve never been to Turkey but it keeps popping up in conversations and I”m taking that as a sign. Pinned and will revisit for later. Thanks so much!

Thanks Tammi. You will love it when you get a chance to visit!

Hi Jennifer, This is truly an elaborate and helpful post for anyone looking to visit Turkey. I am planning to visit Turkey this month and would love to your recommendations or tips for winter travel. Any places to add/replace/avoid from this itinerary?

Winter would be a great time to go, especially to Cappadocia when there’s snow that will make it even more beautiful. Istanbul will be chilly but have less tourists and lower hotel rates. You could add skiing at Uludağ (near Istanbul) to your itinerary. If you choose to go to the Turkish riviera, some resorts will be closed for the season but you can still find places to stay.

Amazing photos! Is it safe to travel alone as a woman?

Hi Kala – I personally felt safe 100% of the time in Turkey. Definitely use the same good judgement you would use at home. I’ve heard some weird things about cabs from the airport so you might want to set up a transportation service ahead of time. Also, it’s always good to check for any state department travel warnings.

Love your posting on Turkey. Just wondering is it safe to travel in Turkey on our own – drive on our own with friends in cappadocia, oludeniz and just purchase activities when we reach their or should we join a tour group. What tour group can you recommend . Thanks!

It seemed safe to drive a car, however we flew and took busses. We aren’t really the types to do multi day tours. If you’re the same, you will have an easy time booking excursions and day tours. In Cappadocia there is no shortage of tour operators and our hotel helped connect us with one that had space on a balloon. I recommend booking that as early as possible because they sell out. If they don’t fly for weather reasons, they will refund you. I recommend talking to the hotel because they have good local connections. Turkey is very well set up to accommodate tourists and you’ll have the best trip!

Loved your post!

aditi oberoi malhotra

Such amazing pictures, hon! I’d love to visit Turkey someday. Adi xx

It’s such an amazing trip. You are going to love it when you get a chance to go!

The Exclusive Beauty Diary

Istambul is such a magical city. Architecture and colors are amazing. Also Acient city of Ephesus, Cave Hotel as well as Cappakdocia are on my list for visiting for such a long time. After your photos I thing that I definitely need to go there. Thank you so much for sharing.

Glad you liked it. We were enthralled with Turkey and would love to go back again to see more.

All you’re shots are truly amazing! I’ve seen so many pictures of Cappadocia with all those balloons and it looks very stunning. I do love Turkey so much but I’ve only been to the beaches and Istanbul so far. The country has so many gorgeous sights to discover.

Thank you. I agree that Turkey has so much to offer. I’d love to go explore more!

That Topkapi Palace is absolutely stunning! Lovely snaps you have here dear. Thanks for sharing your itinerary!

Thank you so much!

What a beautiful post! And your pictures are stunning. Who would not want to go after seeing and reading this article. You have totally inspire me! I am going to check out your other posts as well.

Thank you so much! Turkey is such a beautiful and interesting country.

Looks like the trip of a lifetime! xo

Thank you. It’s truly an amazing trip.

Grace Liang

Looks like such a incredible place to visit! I’ve always wanted to go to Turkey. Thank you for sharing this great Itinerary!

https://colorandgrace.com/

So glad you liked the itinerary. You’ll absolutely love Turkey!

Phyllis Lerner

My husband spent time in Turkey many years ago when a connecting flight got delayed. He had an amazing time there. I would be a little nervous to go now but you certainly make it sound like an awesome experience!

It is such a terrific trip. I know some people are nervous to travel but I didn’t feel unsafe at all. I used the state department website to make my decision about the safety.

Allie Mackin

Oh this looked likes such a beautiful trip! Your photos are stunning and really bring the trip to life. How cool to go here and capture it so well.

Sakshi Sharma

Hi there Jenifer , what a lovely itinerary. I just had a doubt can you please suggest the best and cheapest way to get from Cappadocia to Bodrum ? And between Izmir and Ephesus which place would you suggest we combine with Bodrum ? We want a little bit of history and beach both Thank you

The easiest way to get from Cappadocia to Bodrum is to fly. It takes 4 hours with a 1 hour stopover in Istanbul. If you book ahead, it’s very affordable. You can also fly non-stop from Cappadocia to Izmir and Izmir to Bodrum. We ended up taking the overnight bus from Cappadocia to Selçuk (Ephesus). It’s 13 hours and approximately $30. It turned out to be the most convenient since it leaves right from Downtown Goreme and most of the travel happens while you are sleeping. The seats are comfortable and if you can handle a little roughing it, it’s approximately $30 and you save one night of hotel costs. From the bus station, you can take a quick taxi to Ephesus. I really recommend going to Ephesus. It’s one of the largest cities from ancient times and referred to in the Bible. Then you can catch the bus to Bodrum which takes around 3 hours for $7.

Wow, thank you so much again for this insight and help but last and not the least , if I want to enjoy some beach and sun for one night and 2 days Where do you suggest I go ? We have only 7 days and we are doing 3 days in Istanbul and 2 days in cappadocia , wud we enjoy the see in Izmir / ephesys or bodrum or somewhere around the Bosporus side of Istanbul

We personally chose Bodrum. It’s beautiful. Izmir would also be a good choice. We never went to any of the Bosphorus beaches.

Thanks for touring me to Turkey!

Grace Louise

Gorgeous post Hun, I really want to go to Turkey soon! x

It’s definitely a worthwhile trip!

Thanks for sharing Jennifer!

I’ve been to Turkey once and it was certainly mixed in terms of how we felt about it, I feel there are really beautiful areas which you’ve showcased here I would love to visit 🙂

Thanks for your wonderful feature and tips!

We definitely had an amazing experience. The only thing we didn’t love was that Cappadocia was touristy but it was easy to escape it and that’s why we felt 2 days was enough there.

Barbara Eskowitz

Oh how I love your travel blog posts Jenifer! Always so informative and the photos are absolutely amazing. Saving this one. xx

Thank you so much! Turkey is a fascinating and fun trip!

Thanks for these precious tips, I’d like to visit places like these!!

https://julesonthemoon.com/

Definitely a great place to visit!

I love this place❣

This is really great information for a trip to Turkey. Thanks!

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Celestyal Launches New Choice-driven Pricing Model & Itineraries for 2023-24

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ATHENS, GREECE (October 7, 2022) – Celestyal the award-winning, number one choice for travelers to the Greek Islands and the Mediterranean, is introducing a new pricing model and 2023-24 itineraries that go deeper and stay longer in the destinations it visits. Following feedback from guests and its valued travel advisor partners, Celestyal will provide guests with more choice and a new, two-tiered pricing model. The entry-level, “inclusive” fare offers complimentary dining and select drinks with meals, entertainment, daily activities, port charges and gratuities. This entry level fare also comes with a pre-bookable shore excursion discount of $80, per person. For those wishing to upgrade their experience, Celestyal offers an “enhanced” tier with an unlimited premium drinks package, daily hour of complimentary Wi-Fi, 25 percent discount on Specialty Dining and a pre-bookable shore excursion discount of $160, per person. There are also several additional commission earning opportunities for travel advisors and discounts for guests pre-booking various drink and shore excursions packages. “Inclusive” experiences will start as low as $339, and “Enhanced” vacations begin at $479. Celestyal Expands Shore Time in Santorini and Mykonos; Introduces New “Legendary” Voyages to Montenegro, Turkey and Corfu, Kos, Chios and Samos in Greece In response to guests desire to spend more time in the marquis islands of Santorini and Mykonos, Celestyal is pleased to announce that on its popular seven-night Idyllic Aegean itinerary it will now arrive early morning in Santorini for an extended whole-day opportunity to explore this unique destination, along with late departures in both Mykonos and Santorini. In addition, this itinerary will visit Thessaloniki, Crete (Heraklion), Milos in Greece and Kusadasi (Ephesus) in Turkey. To further position itself as an immersive, multi-destination-focused company, Celestyal will continue its tradition of introducing travelers to undiscovered destinations not visited by other cruise lines. In 2024, Celestyal will launch its new, five-night “Legendary Aegean” itinerary visiting Santorini, Rhodes and reintroducing Samos in Greece and Istanbul in Turkey . Samos is an island steeped in legend and natural beauty, the home of the father of mathematics, Pythagoras, the astronomer, Aristarchus and the philosopher, Epicurus, and is also known for its sweet Muscat wine. Prices start at $549. The four-night “Legendary Aegean” calls upon Chios, Kos and Mykonos as well as Istanbul. New destinations on this itinerary include Chios and Kos . Chios is a hidden treasure in the Aegean, known best for its Masticha Trees, which produce the famed mastic spice, used in the production of liqueurs and desserts. 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We also know that our core guest is more of an explorer and true traveler,” said Celestyal’s Chief Commercial Officer, Leslie Peden. “In response to this feedback we are charting a new course for Celestyal next year with a flexible pricing model that gives guests more choice and freedom in creating a truly customized vacation experience. We are also reimagining our positioning, itineraries and shore excursion experiences to be aligned with the expectations of our guests, which is none other than to immerse themselves in the destinations we serve. Being a local expert underscores our depth of destination knowledge and itineraries that take travelers to the hidden gems of the Mediterranean and stay longer in these wonderful locations so guests touring our part of the world can truly enjoy them to their fullest.” Celestyal Also Returns to Egypt and Israel with “Three Continents” Itinerary; Features “Steps of Paul” Itinerary and Special Holiday Voyages In 2023, Celestyal returns with its “Three Continents” seven-night itinerary calling on Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Cyprus. Prices start at $679. The “Steps of Paul “seven-night itinerary also returns in the fall of 2023 and visits Thessaloniki, Kavala and Patmos in Greece along with Istanbul, Dikili and Kusadasi in Turkey. Prices start at $1289. This will be followed by an exclusive holiday sailing, in 2023 the 19-night Christmas special sailing calling on Thessaloniki, Volos, Rhodes and Crete (Greece), Izmir, Kusadasi, Antalya, Istanbul (Turkey), Limassol (Cyprus), Alexandria (Egypt) and an overnight visit in Haifa (Israel) to spend both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the “Holy Land.” Pricing on this itinerary starts at $2,259. This can also be split into eight- or 11-night itineraries. In fall 2024, we will also see the return of the seven-night “Eclectic Aegean” itinerary which calls upon Istanbul, Kavala, Thessaloniki, Volos and Santorini, and this itinerary is priced starting at $679. It will also be featured a 14-night special holiday voyage including calls on Egypt, Haifa (Israel), Limassol (Cyprus), Rhodes (Greece), Volos (Greece), Thessaloniki (Greece), Istanbul (Turkey), Kavala (Greece) and Syros in Greece. Prices start at $1799. This voyage can be spit in to a seven-night itinerary. 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