music trip turkey episode 10

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• حامیم - مرور
• تورال صدالی - آنا
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• مهراد جم - بسلامت
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• مجید فتحی : فقط بگم وای از این آهنگ البته ورژن قدیمش بسیار دوست داشتنی تره اما شیر همون شیره...
• مانی : واقعا دمتون گرم دیوانه شدم از این همه حال از عاشیق زولفییه...
• فصل پاییز : عالی پادشاه شادمهرعزیز بهترینی اسطوره شادمهرجان ؛ چشم حسودا کور بشه استادشادمهرع...
• فصل پاییز : عالی اسطوره پادشاه شادمهرعزیز♥️♥️♥️ استاد شادمهرتکرارنشدنی💖💖💖...

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10 Unforgettable Days in Türkiye: Full Trip Itinerary

Adventure Travel , Europe , Travel , Turkey | September 24, 2023

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission if you buy anything mentioned here. It doesn't cost you anything extra.

One of my favourite adventures to date is an epic 10 day road trip through Turkey that was packed with bucket list experiences and otherworldly destinations.

This is my complete itinerary for ten days in Turkey, including our five day self-drive tour from Marmaris to Cappadocia and back down to the south of the country.

As we carved our way through the patchwork landscape on our Turkey road trip, we passed makeshift honey stalls and impressive mosques at what felt like hundred metres intervals.

There were balconies strung with chilli peppers left to dry in the sun outside of Konya, huge swathes of land littered with pumpkins in Cappadocia, and acre upon acre of farmland and greenhouses in Antalya, where some of Turkey’s tastiest produce is grown.

Our Turkish road trip road was never boring, and each of our destinations were bewilderingly beautiful.

This trip gave me so many incredible memories. I’m glad that having accidentally let ten years pass since my last visit to Marmaris, I finally took the time to explore Turkey’s true delights.

During our ten days in Turkey, we stopped at famous tourist attractions like Pamukkale, Cappadocia and the Düden Waterfalls in Antalya .

We concluded our trip with a few days of downtime in sleepy Dalyan , which is close to Dalaman airport and therefore a practical place to end any Turkey itinerary.

Read on for more information about visiting each of these amazing Turkish destinations!

Our Turkish adventure was jam-packed with jaw-dropping sights, sunshine and countless çay and gözleme stops in establishments which ranged from crude roadside shacks to spectacular riverside restaurants.

I thought I’d share my itinerary for ten days in Turkey and the exact route we took on our road trip from Marmaris to help anyone planning a trip to Turkey who, like myself, wants to see the best bits in less than two weeks.

My travel itinerary for 10 days in Turkey

Watch my full-length Cappadocia video on Youtube

You can tailor this comprehensive ten day Turkey itinerary to suit you – pack the highlights into a busy seven day Turkey trip or stretch it out and spend two or even three weeks in Turkey, you lucky thing!

In case you have more time to play with, I’ve mentioned the best places to go in Turkey where you might like to extend your stay, and how long to spend in each place.

Of course, if you’re just planning a beach getaway and dashing around the country seems a bit too strenuous for you, you can still see some of these Turkish destinations during your holiday.

The stops on this Turkey travel itinerary encompass some of the best trips to do in Turkey for holidaymakers and I’ve included links for tours to some of the most popular sights, in case you won’t be driving in Turkey.

At the bottom of this guide, I’ve shared all of my Turkey travel tips and essential information.

I travelled with locals, so I’ve got loads of insider tips to share.

Days 1 – 3: Relaxing for three days in Marmaris (with a cultural day trip if you want it)

Before we set off on our road trip through Turkey, we spent some time unwinding in Marmaris .

If you’ve got ten days in Turkey, a short seaside holiday here is a great way to start your trip.

Located at the meeting place of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, Marmaris is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the country.

While we were there, we did a blissfully relaxing boat trip.

I’ve been to Marmaris a few times, and a day out on the sea is always the highlight of my stay. 

You can book your boat trip in advance and look forward to a terrific day on the water with unlimited drinks and a BBQ lunch.

I definitely recommend enjoying a few lazy days in Marmaris before you begin a big adventure in Turkey.

You can do a jeep safari , get an authentic Turkish bath or spend a day at Atlantis Water Park .

If you’d like to pursue culture during your stay in Marmaris, book a day trip to the Ancient City of Ephesus .

There are loads of restaurants in Marmaris and you’ll find pulsating nightlife, but it’s a very family friendly destination.

Marmaris has a plethora of all-inclusive hotels, some of the best being Green Nature Diamond and Hawaii Hotel .

It’s cheap enough to eat out in Marmaris, so I’d suggest opting for self-catering accommodation or Bed and Breakfast there.

Some good options are Club Aida , Grand Azur and Grand Pasa .

The one thing that lets Marmaris down is its beach so while you’re there, jump on a bus to İçmeler beach and spend the day there for your sea and sand fix.  

Let me know if you would like a separate post on stuff to do in Marmaris!

Find hotels in Marmaris

Day 4: hitting the road – marmaris to pamukkale.

The drive from Marmaris to Pamukkale takes around three hours. If you’re going on a road trip from Marmaris, you might as well stop here!

Pamukkale , literally “Cotton Castle” in Turkish, is the most visited attraction in Turkey thanks to its Instagram-worthy snow white calcite travertine terraces filled with thermal water.

The ancient spa city is a fascinating place to explore, so it’s worth spending a bit of time here to make sure you see everything.

Pamukkale is amazing, but it gets very busy so it’s best to do your research before you go in order to enjoy it fully.

For a truly unforgettable experience in Pamukkale, book a hot air balloon ride over its sparkling white landscape.

Find hotels for Pamukkale

Once we had drank in everything we could at Pamukkale, we hopped back in the car and began the five hour drive to Konya, where we stopped for the night.

We stayed at a fantastic hotel called Gherdan Gold Hotel .

It has a spa with a hammam, the rooms are very comfortable and the breakfast buffet offers lots of traditional Turkish favourites.

Since we had only dedicated five of our ten days in Turkey to our road trip, we left Konya early the next morning.

If you have more time than we did, you could spend a day in Konya before continuing on your journey towards Cappadocia.

Konya is a very religious city and among the top attractions there are Mevlana Muzesi , which is the mosque where the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a Persian Sufi mystic is located.

You can see the whirling dervishes there in the summer months.

Find hotels in Konya

Day 5: driving from konya to göreme, cappadocia.

The drive from Konya to Göreme takes approximately three hours.

Whether you're planning to do a lot of sightseeing or you just want to see the iconic hot air balloons, Göreme is the best area to stay in Cappadocia.

We were in Cappadocia for just 24 hours and managed to squeeze a lot in to that time.

Luckily, the hot air balloons flew the morning we were there – which was extra fortunate because they hadn't been able to fly for three days before our stay!

We stayed at Arch Palace Hotel , which I'd 100% recommend if you're unsure where to stay in Cappadocia. The location was perfect.

If you have a larger budget, try Sultan Cave Suites for some serious photo opportunities (it's the hotel where those gorgeous breakfast shots all over Instagram are taken).

Outside of Göreme, Museum Hotel in Uçhisar has a swimming pool overlooking the valleys.

For more information about visiting Cappadocia , you'll need to read my dedicated blog post because this magical destination warrants a space of its own.

Find hotels in Cappadocia

At this point, a lot of people would probably continue on from Cappadocia to Istanbul, but we had other plans.

We wanted to begin and end our five day Turkey tour in the south of the country, as we had booked return flights via Dalaman.

If you're going to Istanbul from Cappadocia, the distance is around 750km and the drive takes 8-9 hours.

Day 6: Cappadocia to Antalya

I was reluctant to leave Cappadocia so soon, but we had planned to be in Antalya so we began the drive shortly after the last hot air balloon landed on our second day in Göreme.

We were in Antalya only for the night before we continued our journey further southwest but by this point the car was getting a bit tiring, so travellers with more time should definitely pause to enjoy Antalya before they get back behind the wheel.

It had been cooler up in Cappadocia so the Antalya sunshine was very welcome!

Lara has some gorgeous hotels, including Liberty and Asteria Kremlin Palace . I recommend staying in Belek , if you're looking to party in Antalya.

Find hotels in Antalya

Day 7: exploring antalya en route to dalyan.

Our local guides took us to a few surprise stops on the drive from Antalya to Dalyan. I'm so glad we had their insider knowledge, because these are places we probably wouldn't have found ourselves.

We started out early in the morning and were lucky enough to visit the magnificent Düden Waterfalls while the park that the upper waterfall is located in was completely empty.

This is a gorgeous, tranquil place and would be the perfect spot to munch on a picnic in the shade.

If you go to Antalya, you can't miss this place. I've found a guided tour that will take you there, plus other must-see sites in Antalya.

As we crawled along the Turkish Mediterranean coast, which is also aptly known as the Turquoise Coast, we passed paradise-like sandy coves.

Tired and in dire need of a boost during our long journey, we were pleased to happen upon Kaputaş Beach, a small beach between Kaş and Kalkan.

The perfect place to spend a few hours outside of the car on a long, hot afternoon!

There was one more unscheduled stop on our self-drive Turkey tour when we got to Muğla: a quick dip at Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon in Fethiye.

This is a popular spot for paragliding .

Find hotels & tours in Oludeniz

Days 8 to 10: dreamy dalyan.

Finally, we poured back into the car for the drive from Ölüdeniz to Dalyan , which takes around 1 hour and 25 minutes.

Dalyan was the ideal place to chill after a rather hectic Turkey trip!

It's a quiet town on the river, with a much slower pace and slightly older crowd than Marmaris attracts.

We chose it because my mum and her husband have holidayed there a few times and it's very close to Dalaman Airport, which made the trip home to the UK that little bit quicker.

During our stay in Dalyan, we rented a lovely apartment in a complex called Manuela Apartments. Each of their four apartments sleeps six and we basically had the shared swimming pool to ourselves.

I'm already planning another trip to Dalyan and I hope to stay at this apartment again.

Find hotels & tours in Dalyan

Check out my guide to what to do in Dalyan if you're planning a trip!

Our five day Turkey road trip route

Planning to drive around Turkey? Here's a look at the route we used.

I didn't actually do any of the driving myself (I'm still not very confident behind the wheel so driving on the right would have been too daunting), but I found the roads on our trip to be very well maintained and surprisingly quiet.

When is the best time to visit Turkey?

The summer season is the busiest time to go to Turkey on holiday, and we deliberately avoided the summer months because we didn't want to contend with crowds and searing heat during our road trip.

We did this trip in October, and I think it's the best month to travel in Turkey.

Cappadocia in particular was a lot less crowded than I feared it would be and we still had blazing sunshine – it was just a little cooler after dark in Cappadocia.

Typically, visiting Turkey in Spring or Autumn is the best way to beat the crowds and still enjoy good weather.

What is the best way to travel around Turkey if you have 10 days?

We rented a car in Marmaris for our ten days in Turkey. Our local drivers did the last leg from Dalyan back to Marmaris by themselves. If you pick up from the airport, that would solve this problem!

Check car hire prices for Turkey here

The freedom having our own car gave us really made this adventure what it was.

We passed tour buses at some of the main tourist attractions and felt relieved we weren't on one!

I've heard that at Pamukkale especially, tours are very rushed and you don't get much time to enjoy the place.

While we were in Marmaris, we used the local buses to get around. They're cheap and you just pay the driver before you get off at your destination.

How many days should I spend in Turkey?

For this trip, ten days in Turkey felt adequate, but I would have definitely liked to have spent more time in Cappadocia and perhaps a little time in Konya – it's not super touristy but I think it would have been an interesting place to explore.

If you're going to proceed on to Istanbul after Cappadocia, I'd recommend extending your stay in Turkey to two weeks at least.

The journey is very long and while I've yet to visit Istanbul myself, I know the city requires at least three days.

How to get to Marmaris

I flew direct from Newcastle to Dalaman Airport with Jet2. In order to get the lowest possible price for my flights, I always use Skyscanner's price alert function to book when the price drops.

I booked a shuttle from Dalaman Airport to Marmaris. The drive takes about two hours and they usually stop for a break halfway through.

Of course, the shuttle stops at various hotels so if you want a quicker transfer from Dalaman airport to your hotel, it's best to book a private transfer.

Useful travel advice for Turkey

Travellers in Turkey need to carry their ID and visa with them at all times, but this rule is only really enforced outside of tourist resorts.

We were asked for ours once, at a police checkpoint near Konya.

Travel insurance is essential for visiting Turkey as medical care is expensive there.

My brother had to get an X-ray in Marmaris about 10 years ago and even then, it was extortionate!

Travellers all over the world use World Nomads as they offer the best level of protection. Use the box below to get a quote for your Turkey trip.

If you're travelling around Turkey, learning a few phrases of Turkish will go a long way, especially in restaurants or if you're pulled over by the police (we were once, but we drove through many police checkpoints).

Locals appreciate tourists who make the effort.

Arm yourself with a Turkish phrase book and start making local friends.

The Lonely Planet Turkey guide is bound to come in handy too!

Our ten day Turkey tour is a trip I'll never forget. I had been to Marmaris a handful of times in my early teens so it was brilliant to go back and actually see some of the country as an adult.

I hope you've found my Turkey tour itinerary helpful, but please don't hesitate to shoot me a message if you have any questions. I'll do my best to answer them, or I'll hit up mum's husband and get his local input!

I'm making a travel vlog about this Turkey trip, so subscribe to my Youtube channel to ensure you don't miss it.

Melis Living says

October 21, 2019 at 7:30 pm

I am so glad you enjoyed it – I loved following your trip on Instagram! Gorgeous pics! Melis x

October 24, 2019 at 11:28 pm

This honestly looks so incredible. Loved following your trip! X

abdel ilah says

November 5, 2019 at 12:45 pm

wow!! This looks pretty amazing … Thanks a lot 🙂

The Ultimate 7 to 10 Days in Turkey Itinerary

Published on December 21, 2023

by Brittany Scott-Gunfield

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

A 7 to 10-day Turkey itinerary is an exciting prospect as it’s located in one of the most diverse geographical areas, with a beautiful Mediterranean coastline, green valleys, snowy mountains and sparse volcanic areas spread out within its borders.

So for your trip to Turkey, we’ll try to encompass as much of the landscape as possible, while taking you through its most renowned historic sites and cities and sampling its excellent array of local cuisine.

Table of Contents

How Many Days in Turkey?

In an area twice the size of Germany and a population of over 85 million people, Turkey is a huge country with a unique culture, blending cuisine and traditions from the Middle East and Greece, and boasting a long and intriguing history. From the Mediterranean coast to the Iranian border, Turkey has so much to offer tourists.

You can see a lot of the country in one go if you take a month-long road trip from Istanbul, down the west coast, across the centre and back via the green landscape of the Black Sea shore in the north.

But for a shorter trip, you can also stick to the west coast to see the remains of several Ancient Greek settlements and open-air museums as well as utilise the cool, clear Mediterranean Sea to cool off in the heat, by renting a car for your Turkey trip.

If you’ve only got 7 days in Turkey, you can still see a great amount of the major cities and beautiful Western coast, but it’s advisable to fly some distances such as Istanbul to Izmir to shorten your journey and make the most of the time you have.

If you’re more interested in city life and taking day trips from a city base, you can happily spend a few days in Istanbul, 2 days in Izmir and 2 days in Bodrum, Fethiye or Antalya to make up a short but diverse itinerary without having to rush around from place to place. You can also easily fly into each of these cities.

For those who would like to spend a bit longer exploring, then plan to spend at least 10 days. Though you’re still not going to be able to see everything, it will give you enough time to get a feel for Istanbul, spend some time along the beautiful coast and also enjoy the splendours to be found in the incredible Cappadocia region.

Getting To & Around Turkey

Istanbul is a huge transport hub, with two major airports, Istanbul IST and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen SAW, where you can enter the country or transfer on to other cities. You can also arrive by bus from Eastern Europe easily in Istanbul to start your trip to Turkey if you’re on a longer trip.

For our Turkey itinerary, it’s best to rent a car to get from place to place, although if you don’t drive or don’t want to risk driving in a foreign country where the road rules can be slightly different, you can also easily get around by aeroplane and bus.

There are very few trains in Turkey so it’s best not to rely on these for transportation, but stick to coaches. Kamil Koc and Pamukkale are very reputable coach services taking you throughout Turkey, serving water and snacks on board for free. You can view schedules here.

Within cities like Istanbul, Izmir or Bodrum it’s best to use public transport, especially the metro and tram system, as they are much quicker than trying to travel on the roads.

Istanbul is three times the size of London, straddling two continents with approximately 15 million people living there, so you can always guarantee the city will be busy, and not worth trying to drive in – especially from one side of the Bosphorus to the other.

You can arrange your rental car in the city for the day you leave Istanbul for Izmir, so you don’t waste any more and can travel down at your own pace. You can browse options here.

You can expect police stops all over the country, whether you’re in your own car, a public bus or walking in the street, so keep your passport on you at all times to avoid any difficulty identifying yourself.

In some cases, the police will also check the date of the entry stamp in your passport to ensure you haven’t overstayed your 90-day visa-free travel in the country.

7 to 10-Day Turkey Itinerary

Following the Western coastline from Istanbul to Antalya before heading inland to Cappadocia, our itinerary will show you some of the country’s highlights and best-kept secrets.

Day 1 – Istanbul

Istanbul is a spectacular city and one with international prestige among tourists, so you’ll want to spend at least 2 days in Istanbul while you’re in Turkey to be able to see the main highlights and soak in the chaos of city life in one of the world’s largest metropolises.

The most famous attractions are located on the European side of the city, with many concentrated in the Fatih (meaning conqueror) district, so this is where you’ll want to spend most of your first day.

Visit the enormous and beautifully decorated Blue Mosque built in the 17th century by order of Sultan Ahmet who is laid to rest with his family in a mausoleum within the gardens. Then a short walk away is Istanbul’s most famous and one of its oldest attractions, the Hagia Sophia.

Now a mosque, you will have to dress appropriately to enter and avoid prayer times, but the visit remains awe-inspiring as you can gaze up to the layers of history adorning the high ceilings, where large gold medallions decorated with the names of Allah, Prophet Muhammed, four caliphs and two grandsons of Muhammed are hung in front of 6th century Roman mosaics depicting Mary and Jesus.

Then move a short distance again to discover the amazing Cistern Basilica with its Roman medusa heads under pillars in the ancient underground reservoir and the historic bazaar where you can enjoy a kebab or Turkish coffee as well as browse the small shops selling everything from spices to carpets and gold jewellery.

If you have time, the Topkapi Palace is also located in the Fatih district and showcases life in the Ottoman Empire with its exhibits. This visit can take a few hours so make sure you have enough time to cover everything you want to see.

Thanks to the excellent metro system, you can stay wherever is most cost-effective in Istanbul; the European side can be more expensive than the Asian side, but it depends on your tastes.

Because you only have a short time in Istanbul, it can be worth taking a walking tour to ensure you’re able to see all of the top highlights of the city. If you plan to enter several attractions, then consider  getting a Museum Pass.

Where to Stay in Istanbul

Kupeli Hotel – This 3-star hotel is situated in the central Fatih district within easy reach of sites such as the Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. They have plenty of rooms and a very good breakfast.

Cronton Design Hotel – Also situated in the Fatih neighbourhood, this luxe hotel has several plush rooms, an inviting spa to relax in and a wonderful breakfast to enjoy each morning.

MySuite Istanbul Cihangir – Located in the cool and central Cihangir neighbourhood, these apartments are perfect for those after a self-catering option. There are plenty on offer and there is A/C in all of them.

Cheers Hostel – This hostel is great for backpackers and budget travellers. Located within a stone’s throw of attractions like the Blue Mosque, there are plenty of room types, social events and good common areas.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Istanbul hotels!

Day 2 – Istanbul

With still plenty to cover in Istanbul, your second day in the former capital of the Ottoman Empire should take you further around the city.

Still on the European side, you should visit the famous Galata Tower where the first unpowered flight took place from the tower across the Bosphorus and enjoy the wonderful views over the rooftops to the sea.

Then move along the coastline to the exquisite Dolmabahçe Palace, designed in the style of Western European palaces such as Versailles and later serving as First President of the Republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s residence.

Crossing the Bosphorus in a small public ferry, you’ll get great views over the two sides of the city and usually a taste of more modern Turkish music thanks to a resident busker.

In Kadikoy, you’ll also see the more modern side of the city, with trendy cafes, bars and restaurants dotted around, frequented by the younger population. This is a great area of the city to stay in and enjoy some great traditional meals with a modern twist and a few Efes beers.

Day 3 – Izmir

Flying or driving down to Izmir for the 3rd day of your Turkish adventure, there’s plenty of history and culture waiting for you. If you choose to drive, plan to get as early a start as possible as it can take about 5 hours.

Once in Izmir, visit the centre of the city, Konak Square, with its iconic clock tower, before heading into Kemeralti, Izmir’s historic bazaar to browse the local products and enjoy a great kebab.

Besides the bazaar is the ancient site of Agora, which was previously the economic centre of Ancient Izmir known as Smyrna.

If you enjoy discovering the country’s history, head on to the Alsancak Tekel Factory which has been turned into the Archaeology and Art Museum of the city, located in the great neighbourhood of Alsancak.

In the museum, you can discover many ancient treasures that have been uncovered in the region, from Foca in the north to Ephesus in the south, making it a perfect introduction to what you can expect to find the following day in Ephesus.

Alsancak is also a great neighbourhood to stay in, with plenty of great places to eat from pizza to sushi, and many bars and pubs as well.

The public transport in Izmir is great, but for one day in the city it’s beneficial to stay more centrally. However, you can expect a lot of noise overnight, from the early morning calls to prayer to the bin collectors and people drinking in the nearby bars. 

Where to Stay in Izmir

Zeniva Hotel – Situated in the centre of Izmir close to Cumhuriyet Square, this hotel is perfect for mid-range visitors. They have an array of cool and modern rooms and a fab breakfast available daily.

Key Hotel – Those looking for a bit of luxury will love this intimate seaside hotel in a central area of Izmir. They have a great view of the sea, a wonderful restaurant and a delicious breakfast each morning.

Lotus Garden Hostel – Great for backpackers or for those looking to experience a great social atmosphere, this hostel has both dorms and private rooms and great common areas.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Izmir hotels!

Day 4 – Ephesus

Just an hour driving south from Izmir you’ll get to the incredible historic site that is the Ancient City of Ephesus. You can stay in nearby Sirince or Selcuk where you can also go wine tasting, or stay in Izmir and join an organised tour to Ephesus for a day trip.

This major archaeological site is still being uncovered, although what has already been discovered will surely impress you and it is a fascinating place to visit.

You can spend a whole day wandering amongst the ancient pillars and friezes, dating back to the 10th century BCE when the Greeks founded the city, and others from the Romans’ take over in the 2nd century CE.

Discover the fantastic 24,000-seater amphitheatre and the ornate facade of the Library of Celsus which was rebuilt in the 1970s.

If you have time you can also head to the nearby museum dedicated to the site, with many more artefacts and information explaining their significance. However long you have, a month or just 7 days when you visit Turkey, you can’t miss out on a trip to Ephesus.

Day 5 – Bodrum

A couple of hours further south or 3 and a half hours on the coach from Izmir, is the sweet seaside town of Bodrum . With its long coastline full of restaurants and bars, and shining white stone streets with shops open until the early hours of the morning, this is a lively summer town and a great place for daytime relaxation and nighttime action.

Although the overall atmosphere is of sunbathing, drinking cocktails and cooling off in the clear water, you can also discover the ancient history of Bodrum, from the amphitheatre and ruins of the mausoleum of Mausolus (a structure once so impressive it gave above-ground tombs their name) to Bodrum castle built by the Order of the Knights of Saint John.

Bodrum Castle uses many historic pieces of rubble from the ancient mausoleum and juts out from the coastline giving visitors amazing views over Bodrum marina and beach. It also houses the underwater archaeology museum, so there’s plenty to discover within the castle walls before heading off into the town for some sun, sea and sweet and savoury delights.

As a popular destination for tourists and cruise ships, you’ll find plenty of hotels and B&Bs across the town for all budgets.

Where to Stay in Bodrum

Hotel Centro Bodrum – This lovely hotel is a great mid-range option in Bodrum. They have a range of gorgeous rooms along with a fantastic swimming pool, on-site restaurant and daily breakfast.

Casa Nonna Bodrum – The perfect hotel for a romantic escape, this adults-only hotel has an excellent location in Bodrum. Situated on the beach, they have a spa and numerous restaurants along with lovely rooms to choose from.

La Luna Hostel – This hostel is great for those visiting on a budget or are after a great social atmosphere. They have lots of dorms and good common areas and self-catering facilities.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other options in Bodrum!

Day 6 – Day Trip to Kos

Staying in Bodrum, you should also make the most of the incredible coastline as well as your proximity to one of the most popular of the Dodecanese Islands. It may seem unusual or even sacrilegious to include a day trip to Greece in an itinerary for Turkey, however, the two countries share a great deal of culture and history.

A ferry ( can be booked here ) can take you out to the island of Kos in around one hour, making it perfect for a day trip, as you see the fortress in the harbour, built by the same Knights Hospitaller as Bodrum Castle, and the 2,500-year-old Plane Tree of Hippocrates.

Walk around the marina or take a little train or taxi to the other ancient Greek sites located on the island such as the 3rd century BCE medical centre, the Asklepieion.

Kos has plenty to see in a day, and some wonderful restaurants to enjoy as you look over the azure sea back to Turkey.

Day 7 – Kabak

For the end of 1 week in Turkey, you’ll want to set off early to reach the beautiful area of Kabak or the city of Fethiye.

Just north of Fethiye is Dalaman Airport, the main airport for the region, so if you’ve just got 7 days in Turkey, this is a great place to finish and take your flight back home or back up to Istanbul to transfer on further afield.

If you’re lucky enough to spend more time in Turkey, this is a beautiful location for either sunbathing or getting adventurous while en route to Antalya.

Kabak is located in a famous valley with a beautiful seafront; you can stay in one of the many hotels located in the area, each with fantastic views over the sea to the front and the green mountainsides behind.

Spend your day hiking through the valley to reach the pretty waterfall or swim around the coast to the cave. The trails are well marked and your hotel staff give you basic directions. If you do want to hike, the middle of summer may not be the best time to visit this area due to the intense heat.

Or, head to the nearby small town of Ölüdeniz where you can go paragliding for a very reasonable fee, or enjoy the long beaches while watching the paragliders land all around. There’s also a small inlet with shallow water, perfect for families with young children.

If you’re spending 10 days, continue for another few hours driving and plan to spend a couple of nights in Antalya.

Where to Stay in Antalya

Mai İnci Hotel – Located just 800 metres from the beach, this is an excellent mid-range option in Antalya. There is free parking, 2 on-site restaurants, a spa and wellness centre and much more.

Hotel Lykia – This luxe hotel located in the old town of Antalya is another perfect place to make as your base. They have plenty of classic rooms, a lovely swimming pool and countless other amenities available to guests.

City Moonlight Aparthotel – A great option for those after a self-catering accommodation. They have a range of flats to choose from and a great location for exploring Antalya.

Hostel Vague – This hostel is a good budget option for backpackers visiting Turkey. They have a great location in Antalya and lots of room and bed choices available.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Antalya hotels!

Day 8 – Antalya

Further south along the coast is the popular destination of Antalya. With its incredible coastline, historic communities dotted around the area, archaeology museums and sand sculpture open-air museum, there’s loads to see and do in a day in Antalya.

Lounge on the beaches, take a day trip out to the cable car in Kemer for fantastic views over the forests and coast or hike into the canyon, you won’t be short of activities in Antalya, whatever your interests.

Antalya is also the start (or end) point of the famous Lycian Way, a 520-mile trail connecting 18 ancient sites along the coast to Ölüdeniz, so a great day out would be to hike along part of the trail.

There are some fantastic hotels and villas in the area surrounding Antalya as well as in the city centre, so you can choose according to your tastes and budget.

Antalya is a walkable city and you can visit the beautiful old town, Kaleiçi, Hadrian’s Gate, the modern centre and the coastal fortress wall easily on foot if you’re staying centrally.

You can also take organised tours to see some of the epic Roman amphitheatres and ruins along the Lycian Way if you don’t have your own transport or enough time for hiking in your Turkey itinerary.

Day 9 – Cappadocia

Quickly becoming one of the most popular tourist attractions in Turkey is the historic site and national park in the region of Cappadocia. In central Turkey, you’ll either need to spend 6 hours on the road or a couple of hours on a plane from Antalya via Istanbul to Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport.

Since it may take a while to reach if you’re on a Turkey road trip and there’s so much to see, you should definitely spend 2 to 3 days in Cappadocia if possible.

For your first full day, you’ve got to visit Göreme National Park. Wander around the open-air museum, seeing the caves built into the strange volcanic sculpture-like rock formations and visiting the chapels built by the post-iconoclastic former inhabitants, feasting your eyes on the colourful seccos adorning the walls and ceilings for the last 800 – 900 years.

There are many great hikes in this area so feel free to take off and discover the rock formations as a small group, or join a guided tour(such as  a green tour  or  red tour ) to learn about the history of the troglodyte communities that created the communities and why they were forced to do so.

You can stay nearby in the town of Nevşehir to easily get around the region by bus or private taxi if you don’t have a car.

Where to Stay in Cappadocia

Aysel Inn House – This guesthouse in Avcilar is a great base for exploring Cappadocia. They have breakfast, free parking and even provide bikes for guests who want them.

Divan Cave House – Located in Göreme, this hotel is perfect for those who want to stay in a fairy chimney while in Cappadocia. They have several classicly-decorated rooms and a great daily breakfast.

Diadem Cappadocia – Another cosy budget option in Göreme, they have great double rooms along with some dorm rooms to suit all kinds of guests.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Cappadocia hotels!

Day 10 – Cappadocia

To put the cherry on the cake, or the final sprinkle of pistachio on the baklava, of your 10 days in Turkey, you have to finish it off with a magical hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia.

Taking off at sunset, these trips take a couple of hours and show you how vast the volcanic region is and how incredible it looks as the sun rises, before settling back down and providing you with a traditional Turkish breakfast and often a glass of champagne too.

You can either  choose a group trip or splash the cash for  a private trip  you’re looking for a romantic trip.

If the winds are not in your favour and you’re not able to take flight, there’s a fantastic alternative; the Derinkuyu Underground City. 85 metres underground is the almost 3,000-year-old dwelling that can hold up to 20,000 people, with small rooms dotted around, joined by steep staircases.

The underground city is even more impressive with its air circulation system, its plumbing and its own chapel. If you have enough time on your final day in Turkey, check out this fantastic place before catching your flight back to Istanbul.

Have More Time?

If you’ve got more than 1 week in Turkey, there are plenty of other historical sites and beautiful parts of the country to discover. From Cappadocia, you can continue driving for 7 hours to the amazing site of Göbekli Tepe. You can also fly via Istanbul within 5 hours, but this is a great stop on a Turkey road trip.

This ancient site is still being uncovered, but from the statues and engravings of animals and people found so far, it’s possibly the oldest civilisation in the world, showing how prehistoric communities were farming animals and crops even over 11,000 years ago.

If you want to have a round trip from Istanbul, you should also come back via the northern Black Sea coast. This area is much greener than other parts of the country thanks to the sea and surrounding rivers and is a great place to go hiking and camping. Or, continue northeast to Erzurum or Sarıkamış for a ski trip!

Turkey is a huge country with a diverse range of attractions and activities, so it’s impossible to see everything in Turkey in 10 days. But taking a week-long road trip along the west coast or flying from Istanbul to Izmir, to Antalya and Cappadocia, are great ways of discovering the best of the beautiful country.

Are you planning to visit Turkey? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

Related Posts:

Izmir or Bodrum: Which Turkish City to Visit?

The Perfect One Day in Pamukkale Itinerary

The Ultimate 2 to 3 Days in Cappadocia Itinerary

About Brittany Scott-Gunfield

Brittany is a writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from Colchester, England, she is slowly but surely travelling the world as a digital nomad. She loves to hike around different landscapes and has a deep love for travelling around France (and elsewhere in Europe).

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About Istanbul, Turkey - Travel in 10 - Travel Podcast Episode 13 Episode

This week's travel podcast takes us to Istanbul, Turkey with Chris Christensen, the host of the Amateur Traveler.He will takes us from the Grand Bazaar to the Sultan Ahmet Mosque giving great travel tips for those planning a first trip to Istanbul. Today's travel podcast also features a great song from the podsafe music network, Istanbul, 7am by Berlin based songwritter Anne Young. We hope you enjoy today's travel podcast and our travel blog. Please send any questions, comments or suggestions to [email protected] Past travel podcasts have included visits to Tokyo attractions such as Ginza, Tokyo Sea Life Park, Ninja Restaurant, and Shibuya and other destinations around the world such as Luang Prabang, Hip Hotels in Thailand, Bali Indonesia,  Portugal, Africa and other great destinations for Adventure Travel and luxury travel. Look for upcoming travel podcasts on Cuba, Vietnam, Singapore, Vancouver and more great destinations around the world. The Travel in 10 Travel Podcast is one of the most subscribed shows on both itunes and the zune marketplace. Listen on your ipod or zune or watch on the new ipod touch or apple TV.

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The Ultimate 10-Day Turkey Itinerary: Must-See Destinations

This 10-day Turkey itinerary covers popular and offbeat spots, complete with things to do, hotels, restaurants, how to get around, and all our best tips ! Follow this itinerary on your Turkey trip to visually feast on grand architecture in Istanbul , be mesmerised by surreal landscapes in Cappadocia , walk on the white terraced spa pools in Pamukkale, relax on a beautiful beach near Alacati, be mentally teleported to ancient Roman times in Ephesus, and experience the best of Turkiye.

Feel free to tweak this itinerary to your own tastes, flight timings, etc. No itinerary is perfect till it suits you!

For a complete Turkey Travel Guide, also read: 20 Things to Know Before going to Turkiye

10-day Turkey itinerary

Days 1-3: istanbul.

Start with spending 3 days in Istanbul . is a bustling metropolis where the old and the modern beautifully exist side by side . It’s a super interesting city steeped in history and stunning architecture, as it was once not only the capital of the Ottoman Empire, but also of the Eastern Roman Empire . But it is also a fantastic city for delicious food, parties, and shopping. Truly, Istanbul has it all.

How to Get Around Istanbul

Istanbul is very well connected by public transport. You can take the tram, ferry, metro, bus or cab to get to all of Istanbul’s tourist spots. The two main tips for public transport would be to get an Istanbulkart card near a tram or metro stop to access public transport in the city. And also to download the Bitaksi ( iOS | Android) app to hire cabs if need be.

Where to stay in Istanbul

For your first time in Istanbul, it is best to base yourself in Sultanahmet/Fatih (to be close to most of the sightseeing) or in Beyoglu/Karakoy (if you like partying and good food) . Just ensure your stay is within walking distance (less than 500 m) of a tram station. This will make getting around that much easier!

Great View : Mest Hotel Istanbul Luxury : AJWA Sultanahmet Mid-Range : Romance Hotel Budget : Riverland Suites: We stayed at here Hostel: Hostel Le Banc (Beyoglu )

Day 1: Historical Istanbul

Start with the historical side of Istanbul because this area gives you a true feel of the olden days. It used to be the walled city of Constantinople, now referred to as the Sultanahmet/Fatih area.

Take a tram to Sultanahmet Tram Station, then walk about 350 metres to the Hagia Sophia. You’ll see carts of Simit (hard pretzel-type bread with sesame seeds) and roasted chestnuts (they’re delicious) on the road. Gorge on some on the way.

Hagia Sophia: Start your day by seeing the most iconic building in Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia, which was constructed as a cathedral and is not a mosque.

The Basilica Cistern, just a 3-minute walk from the exit of Hagia Sophia, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns beneath the city of Istanbul. The interiors are lit up in different colours and decorated with several sculptures and the effect created is very eerie yet pretty cool.

Lunch: For lunch, you can go to the Seven Hills Restaurant, from which you can see a beautiful view of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, and the sea from the rooftop. The activity that is famous here is feeding the seagulls, if you like. You don’t necessarily need to eat here to enjoy the view, as they have a separate section to shoot photos, feed seagulls, etc. Other restaurant options include Gulhane Sark Sofrası, Olive Anatolian Restaurant, Gulhane Sark Sofrası

Topkapi Place : The palace gives a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Ottoman sultans as it served as their main residence and administrative headquarters for four centuries. Go here to see vibrant pavilions, a jewel-filled Treasury, a sprawling Harem and get beautiful views of Istanbul.

Hippodrome of Constantinople ( Sultanahmet Square ): Walk through this beautiful area towards the Blue Mosque. Back in the days of Constantinople, the Hippodrome area was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, which was decorated with art from across the Roman Empire. Today, you’ll see the remnants of some of this art throughout your walk: Serpent Column, Obelisk of Thutmose III, and the Walled Obelisk.

Blue Mosque: The blue mosque has 6 minarets and beautiful blue interiors. The scaffolding which was there previously has been removed and now you can see the striking central dome from the inside too!

Hamam : It’s time to pamper yourself with a spa experience at Cagaloglu Hamam , a 300-year-old hamam that is also pretty popular with celebrities. So what is a Hamam? A hamam is a Turkish bath where you are given a sauna, a scrub, and a massage after being doused with foam. All of this is done in a communal setting, with separate sections for men and women. If you’re staying on the Beyoglu side of the city, you can also opt for Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam . However, do note that they have different timings for men and women.

Book your hamam experience:

Dinner: Have dinner at Old Ottoman Cafe and Restaurant. It is just a 1 min walk from Cagaloglu Hamam and is very famous for its Turkish food. Another good option is the Secret Garden Restaurant. After dinner, you can walk 500 m to Hafiz Mustafa for some delicious Baklava, Baklava desserts, and puddings.

Tip: While choosing places to eat in the area of Fatih, ensure they have a good rating on Google/TripAdvisor . This is the main tourist area, you’ll find restaurants with overpriced, mediocre food. Plus, some restaurant hosts will offer you free appetisers and desserts. Don’t go for it no matter how much they insist. The food will, in all probability, suck!

Day 2: European Istanbul

Take a tram to Kabataş Tramvay Istasyonu and then a bus/cab to Ortakoy Mosque .

Ortakoy Mosque : The Ortakoy mosque is built right beside the water, with a bridge in the background. You don’t necessarily need to go inside the mosque but the area is so beautiful you’ll want to spend some time here to take it all in, click a few photos, and grab some street food.

Dolmabahce Palace : Take a cab or bus to Dolmabahce Palace , the first European-style palace built by Ottoman Sultans in the 19th century in a very elaborate and ornate fashion that cost a lot—35 tonnes of gold. It was later used by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk , the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey and is also where he died.

Galata Tower: Built as a watchtower at the highest point of the Walls of Galata, this tower has served as a jail as well and was rebuilt a few times. It is now an exhibition space and museum. Just walk around the area and maybe even head up the tower for fantastic views over the city of Istanbul. Buy tickets to Galata Tower to skip the enormous queue

Lunch : Have lunch around Galata Tower or at your next stop, Taksim Square. You’ll find plenty of options at both. We actually ate food at Velvet Cafe near Galata Tower and the food was excellent. They provided complimentary Helwa, which was so good. Their great-grandfather was the African Coffee Maker of the Palace so you are guaranteed amazing Turkish coffee! Later, have the San Sebastian cake at Sirin Firin Bakery.

Taksim Square and Istiklal Street : You’ve got nothing else on today’s agenda except walking around Istiklal Street, shopping, eating and enjoying the vibe. The street is lined with restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs and shops. Walk the length of it to Taksim Square or ride the historic tram. In the evening, have dinner at Ficcin, go bar hopping or head to one of the clubs.

Day 3: European and Asian Istanbul

Today is your last day in Istanbul and you’ve still got a lot to see. However, if you have only 2.5 days in Istanbul due to flight timings, I’d suggest skipping the first half of this day and only doing the cruise/ferry and the Asian side of Istanbul.

Breakfast in Balat: Start your morning around 7-8 AM and head to Balat for breakfast. Balat is lined with colourful houses and beautiful cafes. Spend your morning walking around from Merdivenli Yokuş Evleri to Balatte Gelato and grabbing a bite at a cafe of your choice.

Sulimaniye Mosque : The Süleymaniye Mosque crowns one of Istanbul’s seven hills, providing a landmark for the entire city. It is one of the grandest and most beautiful mosques in Istanbul commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent- the longest-ruling Sultan.

Shopping in Grand Bazar : Constructed in 1455, the Grand Bazar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops. You’ll find everything here, from souvenirs to counterfeit luxury brands (Turkey is the third largest producer of counterfeit goods). The Grand Bazaar is huge and the lanes are confusing; don’t get lost 😛

Ferry ride to Moda/Bosphorus Cruise: You have a few options for this evening. Decide based on what you like more – relaxation and entertainment, or exploring the Asian Side.

Option 1: Ferry to the Asian Side- Take the ferry from Eminonu to explore Kadikoy and Moda. Enter Kadife street on Google Maps and just walk towards it enjoying the vibe of Istanbul’s Asian side. There will be cute stores, lots of eateries, bars, clubs, restaurants and people just chilling. It’s a total vibe and not to be missed.

Option 2: Bosphorus Night Dinner Cruise (departing from Kabatas on the Beyoglu side) or Bosphorus Dinner Cruise ( departing from Eminonu on the Fatih side) for a night of entertainment, food and brilliant views.

Read our Complete Guide to Istanbul

Days 4-6: Cappadocia

For most people, Cappadocia equals a dreamy hot air balloon flight. But Cappadocia is so much more than that; it’s also about the strange volcanic rock formations called fairy chimneys, underground cities, cave churches, epic hikes, interesting history, cave hotels and more.

The reason we are recommending 3 days in Cappadocia is the hot air balloon flights. These are weather-dependent and can be cancelled on the day of the flight. Hence, it is best to have at least 2-3 mornings in Cappadocia. And don’t worry, there is lots to do in Cappadocia during this time.

How to reach Cappadocia

You can reach Cappacodica by taking a flight to the Kayseri or Nevsehir airports or by taking an overnight bus from Istanbul or other locations. It is also possible to get there by car from Istanbul, which will be about a 730 km and 7 to 8-hour drive.

How to reach your hotel in Cappadocia

You can either rent a car at the airport, take a taxi (expensive unless you’re 3 people or more), or take a shuttle (best option). The shuttle is arranged by the hotel and approximately costs 4–10 euros per person (the price depends on your hotel). Please tell the hotel to reserve your space on the shuttle beforehand.

Where to stay in Cappadocia

Cappadocia is not a city but a vast region comprising various towns. Most tourists stay in Goreme as there are plenty of restaurants and shops and hot air balloons fly close by in the morning. It is the most centrally located as well. You could also consider the towns of Uchisar and Urgup to stay away from all this. But do so only if you’re renting a car.

One unique thing to do in Cappadocia is to stay in a cave hotel —in an actual cave dug into a fairy chimney. But do note that cave hotels may also have rooms made of stone so not all rooms are cave rooms. If you’re staying in a cave room, ensure the room has AC or you are provided with a fan; otherwise, it’ll be very suffocating. Read this list of the best cave hotels !

How to get around Cappadocia

Public transport isn’t the most flexible in Cappadocia so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re on a shoestring budget. Most people take tours to see Cappadocia. These tours pick you up from the hotel and drop you off back there so typically, you don’t need a vehicle. The most famous full-day tours are: Red Tour, the Blue Tour and the Green Tour.

The third option is to hire a self-driven car which is what we did. We hired our car directly through our hotel but we also saw some great deals on Discover Cars .

Book Tours in Cappadocia

Day 4: cappadocia- love valley, red and rose valley.

Settle in your hotel in the morning. Most flights arrive early in the in the morning so you will probably be tired. If you’re allowed early-checkin great. If not, you can choose to head out or relax in the seating area or take a dip in the pool of there is one. Have lunch before you check-in the afternoon and leave.

Lunch: You can try the Rocks Terrace Restaurant in Goreme or eat at Cavusin Village after visiting Love Valley.

If you haven’t rented a car, then I suggest doing one of the following tours this evening: ATV Quad Safari and Sunset Horseback Riding. If you have rented a self-drive car, then continue reading.

Love Valley: It is called so because of the phallus-shaped rocks dotting the valley. To see the valley, you can either head to Love Valley Viewpoint or hike the valley, which will take an hour or so. The Love Valley Trail starts here – a little before the actual viewpoint.

Rose Valley : Now drive 5 km to Rose Valley. We literally just stumbled upon the Rose Valley Hike start point by chance and it turned out to be perfect because there was hardly anyone there and the area was beautiful. You cannot miss this place on your Cappadocia trip. We didn’t do the whole trail through the valleys (hello, heat!) but just walked around a bit and had a great time.

If you do wish to do the whole hike, read the guide to hiking the Red and Rose Valley .

Red Valley Sunset Point: For sunset, drive 5 km to the Red Valley Sunset Point . We sat at Crazy Ali Cafe which has fantastic seats to view the sunset. But you could also choose to sit at any of the other cafes (Sunpoint Cappadocia or Cafe Sunset) nearby or head directly to the public viewpoint.

Dinner: Head back to Goreme and have dinner at Gurme Kebab Restaurant . We had veg Pide (got it done extra spicy), Lentil Soup, Lemonade, and Orange Juice. Everything was delicious and relatively inexpensive compared to other restaurants in Cappadocia.

Day 5: Cappadocia – Hot Air Balloon & Red Tour

Hot Air Balloon Ride : Start the morning with a hot air balloon ride over the other-worldly landscape of Cappadocia. It was our second time on a hot air balloon and we weren’t expecting much. We were actually planning to skip it considering the cost, but boy, we were wrong and so happy that we went ahead anyway. We were left speechless ! It’s going to be a super early morning starting at about 4 AM and ending at about 7:30 AM.

Here are 20 tips and must-knows for plannning your hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia .

Red Tour: Today, you can visit the Red Tour locations, which include most of the main sights of Cappadocia. Book your Red Tour here or go ahead with the below-mentioned itinerary in your rented car.

Start by visiting the Goreme open air museum which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a rocky settlement that hosted a monastery between the 4th and 13th centuries A.D. and has super well-preserved rock-cut churches with frescoes. Then head to Uchisar Castle which stands proudly as the highest point in Cappadocia and hence the views from here will be the best you’ll get.

After your visit, eat lunch with a view of the castle at Sensa Restaurant or cheap local food at Çiko’nun Yeri .

You’ll be tempted to visit both Uchisar and Ortahisar. I’d suggest you choose only one of them since both look similar. If you’d like to visit both visit Ortahisar later in the day for Cay (tea) at ETHEM USTANIN YERİ SEYİR TEPESİ.

The head to Pasabag by typing “Paşa bağları” on maps. Pasabag is one of the most popular fairy chimneys areas of Cappadocia.

Next up is Devrent Valley is also known as ‘Imagination Valley ‘ because here you’ll find animal-shaped rocks and fairy chimneys, among other interesting formations. Look out for the camel, dolphin, snake, seal, alligator and more. 

Optional if you have more time this day: Zelve Open Air Museum and Ortahisar ( Ethem Ustanin yeri)

Sunset: Head back to Goreme to watch the sunset from Sunset Hill – a huge area and has beautiful views of the town, fairy chimneys, and surrounding mountains.

Dinner: Try İnci Cave Restaurant Göreme . If you want to head to a place with live music afterwards and events, try One Way . Don’t go here for the food, just a drink and the Turkish music if it is on that night.

Day 6: Cappadocia: Chase Hot Air Balloons & Green Tour

Watch Hot Air Balloons : Start the morning by seeing hot air balloons from your hotel rooftop. It’s a magical experince. If your hotel doesn’t have a good rooftop view, you can chase balloons at one of the following valleys: Goreme Sunset point, the official viewpoint in the Love Valley, Sword Valley; or Sunset viewpoint in Rose Valley. Here is a blog post that might help .

Green Tour : Today is the day you follow mostly the Green Tour route. Book your green tour here or go there in your rental car. You’re going to be driving a lot since these locations are a bit far away from Goreme.

Start with Derinyuku Underground Cit y- an ancient underground city that has 18 levels and is 85 metres deep. It was built to protect its inhabitants from wars and religious persecution and housed about 20,000 people.

Next up is the Ihlara Valley , a 10-km long canyon with a river flowing through it. It’s a nice shaded walk through the green valley that has cave churches decorated with colourful frescoes. You have two options for exploring Ihlara Valley: do the 4 km one-way hike that everyone does starting at entrance no. 2 or parking at Belirisma village and hike a few a few kilometres inside and then back. We did the second option and had a wonderful time.

Selime Monastery : Selime Monastery is the biggest religious building in Cappadocia, with a cathedral-size church cut directly into the volcanic tuff. It’s a very interesting place to visit and is quite empty later in the day.

End your day at Nar Lake – small volcanic crater lake which looks brilliant as the colours change when the sun sets. You can drive around the whole lake and even stop by the banks and at the viewpoint.

Drive back to Goreme. Have your last dinner at Dibek Restaurant which is quite famous though a tad bit expensive.

Read our detailed Cappadocia guide and itinerary

Day 7: Pamukkale via Kaklik Cave and Lake Salda

Take a flight from Cappadocia (either Kayseri or Nevsehir airports) to Izmir (Adnan Menderes Airport) this morning. For the purpose of this itinerary, we are going to assume that you’ll be renting a self-drive car. So, take a rental car at the airport itself (please pre-book this online ) and drive off to your next destination – Pamukkale which is 224 km (3 hours away)

Pamukkale is a very small town with only a few hotels. People usually only stay for one night to see the white limestone terraces of Pamukkale and the historic city of Hierapolis.

Hotels in Pamukkale

Great View : Hotel Sahin is located only 20 m from the travertines and lake. It offers an outdoor pool and a terrace with extensive views of the same.

Semi-luxury: Pamukkale Whiteheaven Suite Hotel – As luxurious as it can get in this small town. If this doesn’t cut it for you, I’ll suggest you stay in Denizli which will have many more options.

Mid-range: Venus Hotel has modern rooms and is just a 5-minute walk from the travertines

Budget : Melrose Viewpoint Hotel – This is where we stayed. Though the Melrose Viewpoint hotel is inexpensive, they have a restaurant, a swimming pool, decently sized rooms, and the kindest hosts. We arrived very late at night and checked out early morning (at 6:00 am) to head to the travertines first thing. When they heard of our plans they offered to give us some breakfast early morning (sandwich, fruit, juice) so we wouldn’t go hungry, told us to leave our bags at the hotel itself and that we could come back and shower if we’d like (they would make special arrangements). They were incredible.

Book tours around Pamukkale

There are two options for this day:

• You can head directly to Pamukkale which is a 249 km or 3 hr drive. Check in and rest in your hotel. This option is best if your flight arrives after 1 PM at Izmir.
• Or you can drive beyond Pamukkale to Lake Salda (301 km / 4 hours) and Kaklik Caves (on the way to Lake Salda). We had planned to go with option 1 but ended up going ahead with option 2. No regrets.

Tip: If you go for option 2, eat at Denizli/Pamukkale before heading here. We didn’t find any nice eateries beyond Pamukkale. This way you can also check in at the hotel timely.

Kaklik Cave

Located around 45 km ahead of Pamukkale, the Kaklik Cave was discovered after the collapse of its roof and has only been open to the public since 2002. The cave is quite small but very unique since there are Pamukkale-like travertines underground. Since hardly anyone visits here so you’ll have ample space and time to yourself.

Entry Fee: none Time Needed: 15 mins- 30 mins

Tip: Wear slippers/open-toed shoes that you don’t mind getting wet since the cave water overflows onto the viewing platforms.

Lake Salda wasn’t even on our itinerary. It popped up suddenly when I was researching things to do around Pamukkale during the drive to Kaklik Caves. So a sudden decision was made to head here and we loved it during sunset time.

Lake Salda is a crater lake another 65 km ahead of Kaklik caves which translates to a one-hour drive. The lake has white sand/fine stones and blue water. So much so, that it is often referred to as the Turkish Maldives or even Saldives. However, what is interesting is it has geological similarities to a crater on Mars!

You can go to the lake bank from either Salda Golu Plaji or Doganbaba Plaji Isletmesi

Entry Fee: none Time Needed: 1-1.5 hours

Day 8: Pamukkale and Selcuk (for Ephesus)

Pamukkale Gates open at 6:30 AM. So be ready for an early start so that you can enjoy the travertines of Pamukkale without a lot of people. Trust us, this is so important because when the tour groups come in by 8:30 AM, there is no point in visiting this place. We were told that even visiting in the evening is pointless because a lot of people come here to watch the sunset.

Explore Pamukkale and Hierapolis

The travertines – Pamukkale is known for mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces on a hillside. The white formations look like cotton castles which is also the meaning of the word Pamukkale. Since this is the main attraction head here first.

You can click photos without people, take a dip in the pools and walk around. Know that you aren’t allowed to walk on the terraces with your shoes on. Walking on the limestone formations actually hurts so look for the smooth spots to walk on!

Tip: Carry a shoe bag to store your shoes in your backpack. We carried this bag and strapped it onto our backpack.

Hierapolis : After you’re done with the terraces, walk through the ancient city of Hierapolis. Founded around 190 BC by Eumenes II of Pergamum, it prospered under both the Romans and Byzantines. Recurrent earthquakes brought disaster, and Hierapolis was abandoned after an AD 1334 tremor. When visiting, don’t miss the Roman Theatre, the agora and the on-site museum.

Lastly, take a dip in the Antique Pool. It is a beautiful artificial pool with blue thermal water and submerged Roman columns (the result of an earthquake). It is said that the pool was a gift to Cleopatra from Marc Antony and hence is also called Cleopatra’s pool.

It will be around 11 AM -12 PM now. So grab a bite back in Pamukkale and get ready to hit the road again!

Entry Fee: TL 200 (~ INR 885) Ticket with Audio Guide: TL 275 (~ INR 1220) Time Needed: 3-4 hours

Drive 190 km (2 hr 40 min) to Selcuk , a city close to Izmir. Selcuk is a small town known as the gateway to Ephesus – an ancient Greco-Roman city and the reason why you’re visiting.

Semi Luxury: Livia Hotel Ephesus (Adults Only) and Akanthus Hotel Ephesus are super charming and located at walking distance to the Ephesus Museum and Temple of Artemis.

Mid-range: Celsus Boutique Hote l and Ibri Hotel both have tasteful interiors and offer very good value.

Budget: Hotel Urkmez – This is where we stayed. It is a small hotel is in the town centre. While the room was pretty tiny it had everything you could ask for including a small balcony. The location was excellent with shops and restaurants all around and just 2-min away from both the bus stop and train station. The hosts were also very nice and helpful! Nilya Hotel has a very cosy setup surrounded by greenery.

Book Tours in Selcuk

Explore ephesus.

You have two options, you can either explore Ephesus this evening if you’re still up for the next morning. It is your choice. We chose to relax this evening, walk around town and explore Ephesus the next morning at opening time.

Ephesus was one of the 12 mighty cities of the Greek Ionian League when it was built in the 11th century B.C. As the capital of Roman Asia Minor, Ephesus was a vibrant city of over 250,000 inhabitants, the fourth largest in the empire after Rome, Alexandria and Antioch. So important and wealthy was Ephesus that its Temple of Artemis was the biggest on earth and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Now, you’ll walk through the ruins of this ancient city that is only 20% excavated. It hosts one of the best examples of an ancient Roman library dating from the early 2nd century AD. It was the third largest at its time only after Alexandria and Pergamum!

How we explored: We download the free Rick Steves Audio Guide beforehand and followed it. We entered from the lower gate (South Entrance) since most of the main sites are located near it. We did our photoshoot first to avoid the crowd and then walked to the upper gate where the audio guide starts. We walked back down while listening to the audio guide.

Entry Fee: TL 200 (~ INR 885)

Time Needed: 2-4 hours

Day 9-10: Alacati

Today you can explore some sites in Selcuk in the morning and then head over to Alacati.

Important sites in Selcuk

After breakfast, head over to some important sites in Selcuk.

Ephesus Museum : A museum dedicated to preserving all the discovered artefacts found around Ephesus. Opens at 9 AM.

Temple of Artemis: The temple of Artemis is in ruins and only a lone pillar stands today. This temple used to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World so even visiting its site is significant.

Other sites include the Isa Bey Mosque and the Ayasoluk Castle which can be skipped!

Drive down 150 km (1 hour 30 mins) to Alacati (pronounced  aa-LAA-chaa-tuh ).

Alacati is a charming, old, Greek town on the Aegean Coast of Turkey. It’s quite sleepy by day but comes alive at night. You’ll find Greek stone houses with colourful wooden doors and bright pink bougainvillaea all over, cobbled streets, trendy restaurants, cafes and bars, and upscale boutiques. You can’t drive cars on the main market streets since they’re narrow and the restaurants spill over on them. That’s the whole fun of it – you walk everywhere and immerse yourself in its beauty and vibe! Alacati is known to be expensive but we found prices quite comparable to Cappadocia.

Get ready for two slow days!

Hotels in Alacati

Luxury: Biblos Resort Alaçatı has a private beach and eight swimming pools or Alacatı Port Ladera Hotel – Adult Only which has views of the sea.

Mid-range: Sakin Ev -This is where we stayed. It is an old greek Stonehouse with unique rooms with one-of-a-kind pieces and a cute backyard where you’ll be served delicious Turkish breakfast. It is located close to the main street with all the hustle and bustle but away enough so that the noise isn’t crazy if you’re trying to sleep early. The parking is about 100 metres away from the hotel. The hosts are accommodating and will also help you with your luggage, make suggestions on what to do around Alacati etc.

Budget: Rebetiko Hotel offers tremendous value for the price and Aliko Hotel is so charming.

Day 9: Alacati – Greek Windmills, Cafe and Bar Hopping

After checking in at your hotel this afternoon, just walk around town admiring how beautiful it is. Grab lunch at one of the many excellent restaurants. We were recommended Sailors by our hotel and we absolutely loved the food and ambience.

After lunch, stroll around town to your first and only destination of the day in Alacati – Windmill Park . The park has 4 stone windmills built in 1850 that stand tall at the highest point in the city centre. Because of its location at the highest point, the windmill park is also where you can stunning views of the old town, and modern windmills on the other hills around. No better place in Alacati for sunset.

Do not miss having ice cream from Alaköy Pastanesi – it was soooooo good.

Dinner and Drinks

There are plenty of superb bars around and you’ll have a tough time choosing. We sat at Traktor one evening (it is on the main road) and really enjoyed ourselves – the food, drinks, music and people watching 😛 was excellent. If you want to go for fine dining, head to Papazz .

Day 10: Alacati- Cesme Castle and Kleopatra Beach

Wake up late and eat breakfast/brunch at your hotel. If your hotel doesn’t serve you one, you can go to Zeytinalti .

You have two options today

• Beach Club: Spend your day at a beach club. You’ll find sunbeds, restaurants, bars, water sports, DJ-pumped parties and more. Famous ones include – Fly in Beach Club, Fun Beach Club, and Sommer Klein Beach Club . There are many more. Enquire at your hotel and decide which will suit you best,
• Cesme and a beautiful beach: Drive 14.5 km to Çeşme – a town with historical significance. It is bigger and more popular than Alacati. Then head to a beautiful beach frequented by locals. This is the option we went with.

Çeşme Castle

There are many paid parkings near Cesme Castle. However, they were all full so we found a parking spot at the side of the road hence can’t really recommend it. Just drive around till you find a parking space.

Cesme Castle is a 16th-century fort built by the Ottomans to fend off attacks by Venetians. Today, it is a museum where you can learn all about local history and see exhibits that commemorate the 18th-century Battle of Cesme. We only went here to see panoramic views of the city and sea but ended up being super fascinated by the displays.

Entry Fee: TL 50 (~ INR 220)

Time Needed: 1 hour or so

Lunch at Cesme Town

There are plenty of nice restaurants around the Cesme Marina. Leave your car where you parked it. Head to the marina area and walk around admiring the views till you find a restaurant to your liking. We ate at Ozsut and liked our food but you could also go to ÇARK balık Çeşme (very well-rated on TripAdvisor).

We started the day very late – at 3 PM- so didn’t have time for much else. But if you do, head to Cesme Bagcilik – one of Turkiye’s leading vineyards . Sip on wine and the splendid views of the rolling vineyards. 

Evening and Sunset at Kleopatra Beach

As evening approaches, drive 12 km to Kleopatra Koyu (beach). It is a beautiful beach with calm waters nestled amidst cliffs. Mostly only locals were here. The water was cold even in peak summer but once we got in, we didn’t wanna come out. Though the sun doesn’t set on this side, the colours of the sunset just made the evening so much more beautiful.

Carry your own beach mat (we used a sarong) as there are no shops, cafes, and beach beds here.

Alternatively, you could head to the famous Ilica Beach – a Blue Flag beach that’s famed for its warm water.

Drinks and Dinner at Alacati

Head back to Alacati (15 km – 25 min drive). However, rest a bit and get ready for your last evening of fun as your 10 days in Turkey come to an end.

Dinner: Asma Yapragi, Zeytinalti, Avula Alaçatı

Bars: Tektekçi Alaçatı, Octa Bar and Zeplin Alacati are good choices.

Day 11: Head Home

Head back to your country. Drop your car at the İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport and take a flight from there. You may have a layover in Istanbul!

Hope you found this 10-day Turkey itinerary helpful. Do drop your questions below in the comments section. Will be happy to help.

READ NEXT >>>>>>> 20 Things to Know Before Going to Turkiye : This has all the details you need before planning a trip to Turkey like the visa process, budget, when to go, how to get around, what to carry and wear, etc.

This blog post on ‘10 Days in Turkey Itinerary’ has affiliate links that enable us to earn a small commission when you make a purchase, with no extra cost to you. We only recommend products that we like and those that might interest you. If you like any suggested product, do buy from the given links.

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5 thoughts on “The Ultimate 10-Day Turkey Itinerary: Must-See Destinations”

Hi Trisha. Could you give an approx idea of the total expense incurred on your Turkey trip.. including airfare and visa. You guys are wonderful by the way! Love your reels.

Hey, thank you. We will be providing these details in our next blog post-Turkey Travel Guide.

Hi. What are your views on Bursa Island tour or Princess island tour ? I see none of these are covered on your itinerary.

Hey, it’s just that there are so many important sites in Istanbul itself. With such limited time, we didn’t even have a chance to think as far as Bursa or Princess Islands 😅 Selecting places to visit totally depends on your preferences. Bursa seems more interesting since it was the first major capital of the early Ottoman empire. It’s also a ski resort so if you’re visiting in the winter you’ll find snow and splendid views. A lot of people stay in Bursa overnight to see it properly. Princess Islands doesn’t have much to do and can be selected if you want to have a relaxed day- just ride in a horse carriage around the island soaking in the view of the palaces and walking around. Hope this helps.

Hi Trisha and Modi, your exploration of Turkey is so inspiring. Anxiously awaiting your next batch of travel articles!

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10 Day Turkey Itinerary – The Ultimate Turkish Adventure

Turkey is one of my favorite travel destinations. Breathtaking geographical landscape, grand historical buildings, unique archaeological sites, rich culture, appetizing local cuisine, and generous local hospitality – the country has it all! It offers you an incredible diversity in nature, history, and culture. After exploring the neighbouring countries like Georgia , Armenia , and Azerbaijan , I wondered how this beautiful bridge of a country between Asia and Europe would be like. And I must admit, it exceeded my expectations. If you’re planning a visit to this country, then I have the best 10-day Turkey itinerary  for you.

Ultimate 10 Day Turkey Itinerary

There are many places worth visiting in Turkey but 10 days isn’t enough to cover them all. So, I have personally curated a 10 day Turkey itinerary in which you’ll explore  three places-  Istanbul , Pamukkale , and Cappadocia . Each place is completely different from the other and has it’s own individualistic personality.

Day 1-4: Istanbul

“If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul” – Alphonse de Lamartine. 

I strongly agree with Alphonse. Istanbul is a fabulous melange of history and modernity , making it an absolute must-visit in any Turkey itinerary.

You’ll be exploring the following places-  Hippodrome of Constantinople , Blue Mosque , Hagia Sophia , Topkapi Palace , and Spice Bazaar. 

The two activities you can do on this day are  TurYol’s Bosphorus day cruise and  Bosphorus dinner cruise with entertainment . I did both of them and enjoyed myself thoroughly.

I’d suggest you do them as well. Why? Because they are completely different experiences! On the day cruise , firstly, you get to see the lovely Bosphorus strait. Secondly, you get to enjoy enchanting views of the Asian and European sides of Istanbul in natural daylight.

In the dinner cruise , you get to see the historical buildings on either side come alive thanks to the night lighting which gives them a scintillating glow. This is also the time when the Bosphorus bridge is lit up with LED lights and is a sight to behold. Add to that the royal Turkish wine and dine experience, and you have a night to remember!

You’ll be covering the following places-  Little Hagia Sophia , Basilica Cistern , Kariye Museum , Pierre Loti Hill & Cafe , Suleymaniye Mosque and Galata Tower .

After all the sightseeing during the day, you can relish a “dinner with a view” experience at the  Alexandra Cocktail Bar . Raise a toast to the view of the sparkling suspension bridge lighting up the Bosphorus and enjoy a night filled with scrumptious food, delicious cocktails, and foot-tapping music.

On your third day in Istanbul, you’ll be exploring the following places-  Dolmabahçe Palace , Taksim Square and  Grand Bazaar. 

In terms of activities, you can rejuvenate yourself by visiting a traditional  Turkish Hammam . Hammam is a term used for a “Turkish bath”.  It’s basically a Middle Eastern spa tradition that uses steam to reinvigorate tired muscles. So gift yourself a much deserved Turkish therapy session and get rid of all the stress and physical exhaustion.

On your last day, you’ll be visiting the  Beylerbeyi Palace . After that you can enjoy an appetizing lunch at Ioki Asia which is just 4.5 km away from the palace. The place specializes in Asian cuisine so you can rest assured that the best Asian food in Istanbul is on your plate.

Spend the rest of your day bar hopping around the Taksim Square . To leave the magical city of Istanbul without experiencing it’s dazzling nightlife would be a sin. So go out there, let your hair down, and end your Istanbul sojourn on a high!

Where To Stay In Istanbul

• Best value luxury hotel –  Fer Hotel – Check out the accommodation and book your stay by clicking here.
• Budget hotel –  Hotel Tulip House – Check out the accommodation and book your stay by clicking here.
• Boutique hotel –  Hotel Sultania Boutique Class – Check out the accommodation and book your stay by clicking here.
• Luxury hotel –  Raffles Istanbul – Check out the accommodation and book your stay by clicking here.

Day 5-7: Pamukkale

Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is the white heaven of Turkey . It is mainly famous for the pristine white travertines with beautiful terraced spring pools that contain warm mineral-rich water.

Pamukkale can be defined as “a desktop wallpaper that’s come to life” . It’s paradisiacal beauty leaves you spellbound. There are many things to do in Pamukkale  besides the travertines and you’ll be covering almost all of them in this itinerary.

You’ll be covering the following places- Karahayit Red Springs , the ancient city of Hierapolis and Archaeology Museum , Travertines of Pamukkale and Pamukkale Natural Park, and Mineral Lake .

In terms of activities, I’d suggest you try paragliding over the stunning landscape of Pamukkale. Imagine getting a chance to fly over the travertines and antique pools, soaking in the terrific natural views from above. That’s bucket-list stuff right there!

Pamukkale Tandem Paragliding ,  with it’s expertise in the paragliding domain, provides you with the best paragliding experience you can ask for. Fair pricing, experienced pilots, excellent service, great communication , and optimal safety standards make the company an absolute favorite of the tourists. To make a booking, simply  click here.

On your penultimate day in Pamukkale, you’ll be covering two beautiful archaeological sites-  Laodicea and Aphrodisias . They aren’t as touristy or popular as Hierapolis but their historical significance makes them worth visiting.

If Biblical history excites you and exploring a destination on foot is your thing, then these two gems have to feature in your Pamukkale itinerary. While Laodicea was an ancient Roman city that once became a seat of Christianity, Aphrodisias was a royal Greek city that was named after  Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.

Both these sites have their own distinctive personalities and standing amidst their ruins makes you wonder what life in ancient times would have been like!

On your last day in Pamukkale, you’ll be exploring the following places- the  House of Virgin Mary , the ancient city of Ephesus , and the Isa Bey Mosque .

Don’t miss out on writing a wish (on a fabric or paper) and tying it on the “wishing wall”  at the House of Virgin Mary. It’s believed that the wishes made here eventually come true. Also, don’t forget to visit the “Terraced Houses”  section in the ancient city of Ephesus. This particular section requires a separate entry ticket.

W here To Stay In Pamukkale

• Ozbay Hotel – Check out the hotel and book your stay by clicking here.
• Venus Suite Hotel – Check out the hotel and book your stay by clicking here.
• Hotel Sahin – Check out the hotel and book your stay by clicking here.
• White Heaven Suite – Check out the hotel and book your stay by clicking here.

Day 8-10: Cappadocia

Cappadocia is an otherworldly region in Turkey that takes your breath away with it’s strange yet gorgeous landscape.

The place is mainly known for it’s fantastical cone-shaped rock formations called “Fairy Chimneys”. There’s a ton of interesting things to do in Cappadocia and in this itinerary, you’ll be covering most of them.

On your first day, you’ll be exploring the following places in northern Cappadocia (as part of the  Cappadocia Red Tour  program)-  Göreme Open Air Museum , Uchisar Castle , Carpet shop , Love Valley , Rose Valley , Ceramik Kapadokya Pottery Workshop , Urgup Fairy Chimneys , and Devrent Valley .

The activity that I strongly recommend you to do and that may or may not be a part of your Red Tour (depending upon the travel agency you choose) is wine tasting in Urgup. 

Why do I recommend it? Because firstly , wine is an integral part of Turkish cuisine. And secondly, Urgup is the heart of the wine-producing region of Cappadocia.

On your penultimate day, you’ll be traversing the southern part of Cappadocia. This region, according to me, is the best part of Cappadocia as it has a fascinating mix of valleys, underground cities, and monasteries.

The places and activities that you’ll be covering (as part of the  Cappadocia Green Tour  program) are-  Göreme Panorama Viewpoint , Kaymakli Underground City , Ihlara Valley hike , Selime Monastery , Pigeon Valley , Turkish delights tasting and Kapadokya Onyx Stone Centre .

You must be aware of the popular quote- “Save the best for last” . The activities that you’ll be doing on your final day in Cappadocia justify this quote.

No trip to Turkey is complete without an epic Hot Air Balloon ride . Royal Balloons Cappadocia is an expert when it comes to hot air balloon rides.

Best quality balloons (ensuring no compromise on safety), pre-flight breakfast buffet , experienced pilots , exclusive launch sites (which distances you from the other balloons), and lovely post-ride surprises are some of the reasons which make Royal Balloons the preferred choice of most tourists. Contact them to book your ride by clicking here.

The other activity that I would recommend you to do is an  ATV Bike tour of Göreme . Besides these activities, you can visit the Red Valley , Sword Valley , and enjoy a spa treatment at a local Turkish Hammam.

W here To Stay In Cappadocia

• Aydinli Cave Hotel – Check out this cave hotel and book your stay by clicking here.
• Mithra Cave Hotel –  Check out this cave hotel and book your stay by clicking here.
• Charming Cave Hotel – Check out this cave hotel and book your stay by clicking here.
• Grand Elite Cave Suites – Check out this cave hotel and book your stay by clicking here.

Turkey was on my travel wish-list ever since I first saw the picture of a hot air balloon flying over a peculiar landscape that looked similar to that of Mars . Little did I know that one day I’d be on a hot air balloon myself, living that very image in reality.

Turkey is not just a place, it’s an emotion . I’ve made some of my best travel memories during my time in Istanbul, Pamukkale, and Cappadocia. Istanbul, in fact, is one of my favorite cities in the world.

Turkey won me over with an amazing amalgamation of natural beauty, rich history, cultural diversity , and warm hospitality. And I hope that my  10 day Turkey itinerary  helps you experience this remarkable amalgamation too. So go ahead, book that trip to Turkey and brace yourself for the experience of a lifetime!

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Vaibhav Mehta

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Whoa I can definitely use this! You know… Someday lol

Hopefully, it happens sooner rather than later Tiffani

I would love to visit Turkey! I have yet to go, but it’s certainly on my list. I love how you have really simplified this itinerary to make it to easy to read. And beautiful photos too!

It is a must-visit indeed! I’m glad you liked the article and found it resourceful. Thanks!

Hello! Came across your itinerary and wanted to find out if you travelled around Istanbul with public transport of private hire?

Hi Joy! I travelled around with a guide so it was private hire (when required) for certain places and public transport for others. I’d recommend you get a guide as they’ll help you immensely as far as navigating through the bustling streets of Istanbul is concerned. Much more convenient and time-saving option. I’ll give you the contact of a wonderful gentleman who runs a travel agency and can give you the best guide at a reasonable price. His name is Avni and you can get in touch with him on Whatsapp (+90 532 612 3159). Hope that helps. Cheers man!

Hi Vaibhav , I would like to know how you got to Pammukale from Istanbul and then to Cappadocia from Pammukale. I am planning a trip . We will fly into Istanbul and the same day and fly to Izmir. Next day rent a car and drive to Pammukale , spend 2 days , come back to Izmir and fly to Cappadocia(2 days) . Back to Istanbul(spend 4 days there )and then leave for home

Hi there, to get to Pamukkale I remember taking a flight from Istanbul to Denizli. From Denizli, a 1-hour shuttle journey gets you to Pamukkale. And as far as getting to Cappadocia from there is concerned, I took a flight from Denizli airport to Kayseri’s Erkilet Airport (ASR). The flight journey will be around 4-5 hours since there’s a stop at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) in Istanbul (no direct flights are operational). Saved me a lot of travel time and was cheaper than renting a private car. Hope that information helps you.

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