Looking for what to visit in Turkey? Then you’ve come to the right place! Here you’ll find a Turkey 12 days itinerary and lots of other tips on how to plan a trip to Turkey.

Turkey is an incredible country with so much to visit. It’s a very rich country in terms of history, as several civilisations have lived there. This is a country that has something to offer to every traveller. Given its size, the list of must-do activities is quite extensive.

If you’re a history buff, you can visit several ancient cities that are quite fascinating. If you like lively cities, make sure not to miss Istanbul. If you’re looking to relax, how about a dip in the idyllic beaches of southern Turkey? Do you like hiking? Then you can’t miss Cappadocia’s valleys.

Turkey is quite special and there are hundreds of reasons to visit this country. So, throughout this post, as well as a 12-day Turkey itinerary, you’ll find more tips for exploring Turkey:

• Best season to visit Turkey
• How many days in Turkey
• Accommodation in Turkey
• Getting around Turkey
• Is Turkey safe to visit?

At 783.000 square metres, you can easily see just how big Turkey is. So, before you start looking for the best things to do in Turkey, I suggest you work out the number of days you have available to visit the country.

Chances are you’ll have to focus on certain parts of the country on your first visit and save other parts for a future visit. That’s exactly what I did! I centred my trip on the most touristy and well-known parts, located in the westernmost part of the country.

The itinerary I’m going to suggest below is an excellent option (regardless of the order in which you follow it) because it includes the most famous places in Turkey. So, if your goal is to see the main highlights of the country, just follow this itinerary.

Thus, I recommend travelling in Turkey for a minimum of 12 days. Some of the best places to visit in Turkey are still relatively far away from each other, so it’s important to take this into account when planning a trip to Turkey.

If you skip the beach area, I believe the itinerary can be reduced to 10 days, for example. On the other hand, it’s also possible to extend this Turkey itinerary by a few more days, even if you only consider the westernmost part of the country. There are a lot of places to visit in Turkey and you will certainly have to make choices.

There isn’t a right answer to the question of when is the ideal time to visit Turkey, as a visit to this country is a great idea at any time of year.

However, depending on your choice of destinations inside Turkey, the answer may be slightly different. Turkey is a huge country with a vast diversity of weather conditions, which vary from one to another and also throughout the year.

For example, if you want to go to the beach on the south coast of Turkey, I strongly suggest that you look for the months with the most pleasant temperatures. Although it is possible to go to the beach outside the summer months (e.g. April or October), in some months it is too cold to enjoy the beach.

On the other hand, if you’re also planning to visit the Cappadocia region or even Istanbul, I would warn you that the snowfall in winter can restrict your visit somewhat.

So, the best months to visit Turkey are April to October. I would warn you that in July and August, it can even be too hot, especially in the southern regions (e.g. Antalya), making it a bit unpleasant to visit some parts of the country at this time of year.

My trip to Turkey (which is the base for this post) took place in the first two weeks of October, which I consider to be a good month to visit Turkey. Just to give you an idea, I managed to enjoy the beach on the Turkish Riviera, found mild temperatures in Cappadocia during the day (the nights were quite cold though) and reasonable temperatures in Istanbul.

As a Portuguese citizen, I only needed a valid passport to enter Türkiye (ideally with 6 months validity from the date of arrival in the country). As I didn’t need a visa, I could stay for a maximum of 90 days every 6 months.

For other nationalities, I strongly recommend checking the conditions of entry into Türkiye on the official website of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For the places I’ll mention throughout this post, the level of safety is relatively high. We’re talking about some of the most visited places in the country and, as such, also the most heavily policed.

It’s true that, even in this part of Turkey, there are some cases of terrorist attacks, for example. However, I would remind you that, unfortunately, this is a reality in some of the main European cities, such as London or Paris, which have also been the target of several attacks.

However, I must warn you that this safety advice is limited to “western” Turkey. Authorities don’t recommend visiting areas located near the borders of countries such as Syria, Iraq or Iran. In any case, I’d like to remind you that I haven’t visited this part of the country, so I can’t speak from personal experience and I’m just referring to some comments I’ve read online.

In terms of muggings and pickpocketing, I think you should be as careful as usual, especially in busy cities like Istanbul. This is Turkey’s most populous city and you quickly find yourself in crowded places, so you need to be careful to avoid unnecessary robberies.

Another advice for travelling to Turkey is to take into account the possibility of an earthquake. It is one of the countries with the highest probability of earthquakes and you only have to do a little research into the history of seismology in the country to realise that this is an event that happens more often than we expect (at least I was surprised!).

That said, you should definitely still visit Turkey. Be aware of what to do in the event of an earthquake. This advice can be crucial when travelling to Turkey and beyond. After all, this knowledge can be valuable anywhere in the world 😉.

Finally, speaking from my personal experience, the place where I felt least comfortable was in İzmir and some parts of Istanbul where I found myself in more “dodgy” looking places. However, I think it was more a question of perspective than anything else. First, it might look weird, but then you’ll get used to it.

Given the size of Turkey, how to travel to Turkey will depend on the itinerary you choose. For example, in my case, I flew to İzmir and then returned to Portugal via Istanbul. None of the flights were direct and the only reason for this choice was because it allowed me to save some money.

The best Turkey itinerary will start in one place and end in another to give you more time to explore this beautiful country.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you’re travelling by car, dropping off the car in a different place from where you picked it up will cost extra. However, given the distances between the main points of interest in Turkey and the time this journey would take, I think this option is worth the extra cost.

Therefore, I suggest you choose an airport in Turkey from the many airports available in the country.

There are 2 airports in Istanbul (Istanbul Airport – IST and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport – SAW), but IST is the most popular.

Although it is possible to get from place to place in Turkey by bus, for example, the best way to get around the country is undoubtedly by car.

Renting a car gives you a lot of flexibility when travelling around Turkey. Some places aren’t so accessible by public transport and, for this reason, I recommend doing a road trip in Turkey with a rental car.

In my case, I rented a car in Izmir and returned it in Kayseri (near Cappadocia), so I drove in one direction and didn’t use the car in Istanbul. I rented the car with Greenmotion and in total, for 10 days, the car cost 367€.

Note: On the very first day, our rental car was hit by a car while it was parked in a car park. We didn’t call the police and, even with insurance, we had to pay to have the car repaired. From what I found out later, this is not a procedure exclusive to Greenmotion or Turkey. So I decided to write this advice just to warn you that if the same thing happens to you, don’t leave the place where you were hit without a police report. This report is crucial if you want to activate your insurance.

I am going to be totally open about it: driving in Turkey can be scary for those who aren’t very confident drivers. Drivers beep constantly, they’re quite daring when driving and traffic rules are often ignored.

This is especially true in larger cities where there is more traffic. For example, driving in Istanbul (of all the places I visited, it was the only one I didn’t drive in) is a bit chaotic.

In terms of the road conditions, there’s not much to say. Local roads and motorways are in good condition, making the journey more comfortable, especially the long ones.

Anyway, although I found driving in Turkey a bit challenging, I think it’s perfectly doable. I just wouldn’t recommend the experience to those with little driving experience or those who don’t particularly enjoy driving.

💡 EXTRA TIP: I saw a lot of police on the roads, but they didn’t stop our car even once. There are also several speed control signs, although it’s very difficult to see what the limit is in certain places.

The Turkish currency is the Turkish lira (TRY). As of December 2023, the exchange rate against the Euro is 1€ = 31.35 TRY. Please note that this currency has been suffering from historic levels of inflation, so any price mentioned throughout this post in lira may no longer be valid. In fact, this is the most likely thing to happen. When preparing for this trip, I came across recent prices online that no longer match the current prices.

As for how to pay, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of places that accept card payments (even in remote locations and for insignificant amounts). Even so, you should always carry some cash, as there may be some places that don’t accept cards.

For card payments, I always used my Revolut card, which has several advantages. One of the biggest advantages of using a Revolut card when travelling is that it doesn’t charge fees for transactions in different currencies.

If you still haven’t learnt about all the advantages of having a Revolut card, you can find out more here.

As soon as I arrived in Türkiye, I opted to buy a SIM card at the airport. There were three different options, but I was recommended Turk Telecom and the service worked quite well.

• Vodafone 20 GB – 999 TRY
• Türk Telecom 30 GB – 999 TRY
• Turkcell 20 GB – 1199 TRY

Alternatively, you can choose to buy an e-SIM just before your trip, thus saving some time when you arrive. For example, this e-SIM option has several plans for different journey durations.

The choice of where to stay depends on the cities you choose to visit in Turkey 🥰. Anyway, I’ll share with you all the accommodation I stayed in during my trip:

• Izmir: Piano Hotel Izmir – very simple hotel and rather small room, but centrally located and with parking available.
• Ölüdeniz: Olympos Hotel – a bit old-fashioned and breakfast had little variety, but it has a good location and low price.
• Kaş: Kaş Evderhan – Excellent value for money. The room was small but very modern. Also, good breakfast with superb views and a very central location.
• Antalya: Kalispera Hotel – Good facilities, despite the small room size. There was no breakfast option, but it was close to some cafés/restaurants.
• Capadócia: In Stone House – the accommodation I enjoyed the most on this trip. Very spacious room, delicious breakfast and the room was warm (perfect for the cold nights/mornings in Cappadocia)! Plus, the outdoor space was lovely.
• Kayseri: Wyndham Grand Kayseri – extremely large room, but the hotel was rather old-fashioned.
• Istambul: Lumina Boutique Hotel – relatively central location and close to public transport. The room was small and poorly soundproofed, but good value for money.

Throughout the post, I’ll give you more details of each of the places I stayed and some additional suggestions.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Although I booked accommodation in advance with Booking, while I was in Turkey, I realized that Booking doesn’t work. So if you like to choose accommodation while already at the destination, you’ll have to use another booking method or use a VPN connection to book via Booking.

Many of the attractions in Turkey are paid for (and some are quite expensive!). Depending on the places you want to visit in the country, it might make sense to buy the Turkey Museum Pass.

This card costs 4000 TRY (~127€) and can be purchased at the first place you visit in Turkey where they accept this card. It is valid for 15 days after first use. The Museum Pass Türkiye includes free entry to some of the best tourist attractions in Turkey, such as the Galata Tower in Istanbul or the Göreme Open Air Museum in Cappadocia, for example.

In my case, I can confirm that buying this card saved me a few euros (note: in October, the card was slightly cheaper and cost 3500 TRY). However, the decision of whether the Türkiye Museum Pass is worth it depends a lot on what you want to visit. So I suggest you add up the cost of all the tickets to see if it’s worth it in your case. In my case, I ended up saving around 50€.

💡 EXTRA TIP: There are alternative (and cheaper!) versions of this card for more specific sites (e.g. Cappadocia, Istanbul). Depending on the route you choose, it may make sense to choose another of the passes available.

• Things to see in Istanbul in 3 days (map included)
• The best of Cappadocia in 2 days: the perfect itinerary for first-timers
• 20 things you should know about Cappadocia
• Is a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia worth it? My experience!
• 22 popular dishes in Turkey you have to try

The Turkey 12 days itinerary I’m going to show you below is exactly the one I followed. However, I’ll also share, at the end of the post, some alternative versions for those with fewer days available and some suggestions of additional places to visit for those with more time.

This itinerary starts in the city of Izmir on the west coast of Turkey and ends in Istanbul. However, the itinerary presented here can be organised in any way that suits you best.

Note: none of the options presented in this article include travelling to and from Turkey. However, they do include the travelling time between the various places on the itinerary.

From the city of Izmir, it takes about an hour by car (82 kilometres) to reach Ephesus. Ephesus is undoubtedly one of the top 10 places to visit in Turkey. When you arrive in Ephesus, there is a large car park (it costs 70 TRY, 2.2€).

💡 EXTRA TIP: Traffic in Turkey can be quite heavy at times (especially in big cities). So, make sure to plan your journey with possible delays in mind.

Ephesus is an ancient Greek city, founded in the 10th century and later part of the Roman Empire. In fact, it became one of the largest cities in the empire.

The complex where the ruins of Ephesus are located is quite big, so I recommend saving 2 to 3 hours for this visit. Of special interest are the Celsus Library, the Ancient Roman Theatre and the Terrace Houses.

This is a place that receives many tours, so the earlier you arrive, the better. The Library of Celsus is one of the most visited places, so I suggest this is the first thing you visit once you arrive.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Ephesus’ opening hours are from 8 am to 6.30 pm daily. Entrance costs 700 TRY (~22.4€). Entry to the Terrace Houses costs an additional 320 TRY (~10.2€). Both entrances are covered by the Museum Pass. You can find the most up-to-date information here.

Leaving Ephesus, I suggest stopping for lunch in a small town called Şirince. There’s little to see here, but it’s so lovely that it’s worth the short diversion.

The centre is almost entirely a pedestrian area, so you have the perfect excuse to get lost in its narrow streets. One of the most interesting places in Şirince is its Bazaar, which sells a bit of everything, but also the small houses with very particular architecture (which reminded me so much of Berat in Albania). The secret is to walk around without a destination in mind 🥰.

For a privileged view of the houses, I suggest lunch at Şirince Artemis Restaurant. The outside space is very pleasant and the food is very tasty.

I also visited St John the Baptist Church, but honestly, I was a bit disappointed. But it’s right in the centre, so you can go and see for yourself.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Since traffic is limited in the centre of Şirince, I suggest parking your car here. You must pay for the car park, but it’s quite cheap (I paid 50 TRY, 1.6€ for two hours).

After a short stroll in Şirince, I suggest returning to Izmir, where I recommend staying overnight. Although Izmir is Turkey’s third largest city in terms of population, it was my least favourite place to visit in the country.

Even so, there are some fun parts of the city where you can take the opportunity to wander around at the end of the day. However, I wouldn’t spend too much time in this city.

I’d especially like to highlight Konak Square, where you’ll find a small mosque and a beautiful clock tower. If you cross the street in the direction of the sea, you can also take a pleasant walk along Izmir’s seafront promenade. This is a particularly beautiful place at sunset 😍.

Other points of interest in Izmir include:

• Smyrna Agora – The ticket is included in the Museum Pass, but you can see parts of the complex from outside. I ended up only seeing it from the outside because I arrived and it had already closed, but it didn’t seem that interesting.
• Asansör – a lift from where you can enjoy views over Izmir
• Kadifekale Castle – has views over the city, but it’s rather abandoned. I don’t think it’s worth going there
• Bazaars: Keremalti and Kızlarağası Inn – the second is more interesting than the first, in my opinion

The accommodation I stayed in for two nights in Izmir (Piano Hotel Izmir) was rather small, but it served its purpose perfectly. There were parking spots available (very important in a busy city like Izmir) and breakfast was included. There wasn’t much variety at breakfast, but it was sufficient to get by.

Even so, I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you other suggestions for accommodation in Izmir:

One of the best meals I had in Turkey was in Izmir, on my first night in the country. The restaurant was called Tavacı Recep Usta Alsancak and I had tavuk tava, which was divine. The meal was a bit expensive, especially for Turkish prices, but it was well worth it.

A large part of the second day of this Turkey’s 12 days itinerary will be spent driving. It’s a 3-hour drive from Izmir to Pamukkale/Hierapolis, so it’s normal to spend the whole morning on the road. But believe me, it will be worth it.

After Pamukkale, I suggest driving to the Turkish Riviera (more specifically, Ölüdeniz) – that’s another 4h15 driving. This is one of the most boring days on this itinerary as it doesn’t allow much sightseeing and means a lot of time on the road. However, distances in Turkey aren’t always the shortest.

The literal translation of Pamukkale is ‘cotton castle’, and you only have to see a photo of this place to realise why it has this name. Although Pamukkale is located a bit away from most tourist sites in the country, this place is quite popular and has become one of the must-see places in Turkey.

Pamukkale is home to several thermal pools of limestone origin. The properties of the soil lead to the spilling of calcium carbonate, which eventually solidifies as travertine marble.

This set of white pools looks very pretty and creates a nice effect. However, to manage expectations, I warn you that some of the pools are quite dry. Even so, I thought it was an amazing place! I am just telling you this just so you know what to expect when visiting Pamukkale.

As Pamukkale has become quite famous in recent years, you probably won’t find this place empty. In fact, if you want to avoid the crowds, I suggest visiting very close to opening time. Given this itinerary, unless you choose to sleep nearby the night before, it’s difficult to get to Pamukkale close to opening time. I ended up visiting after lunch and, even though it was full of tourists, I enjoyed the experience anyway.

There are three entrances to these pools: the north entrance, the south entrance and the city entrance. I ended up entering via the south entrance, allowing me to see Hierapolis first (more on that later) and the pools at the end. The car park at the south entrance was large and cost 20 TRY (~0.64€).

Finally, some general tips for visiting Pamukkale:

• It is not possible to wear shoes to the pools. You can leave them at the entrance (this is what most pools do) or take them with you.
• The ground is very slippery and uneven. Some parts are not pleasant to walk on at all
• You can’t really swim in the pools as the water is very low
• There is no protection along the path, so you have to be very careful when visiting the pools

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The joint ticket to visit Pamukkale (also includes entry to Hierapolis) costs 850 TRY (~ 27.2€). More information here (I must warn you, however, that the information online does not correspond to what is indicated on site).

Hierapolis is an ancient Greek city in the Lycian River valley. It dates back to the 2nd century BC and was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt again years later, having also belonged to the Roman Empire.

The complex is still quite large, but the theatre stands out in particular for its beautiful details. Not to be missed 🥰. By the way, Hierapolis, together with Pamukkale, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Another curious site in Hierapolis that deserves some attention is the Gate to Hell, where animals mysteriously died. Years later, the explanation for this phenomenon was found: it was the excess CO2 that accumulated at night and caused the animals to suffocate.

Cleopatra’s pools are another must-see in Hierapolis. These thermal pools cost an extra 200 TRY (~ 6.4€), but if you have the Museum Pass you get a 60% discount. I think it’s interesting in winter, but on very hot days, these pools are not that inviting.

The third day in Turkey will be much more relaxed, with time to enjoy the best that the Turkish Riviera has to offer. This area of Turkey is perfect for beach-goers and is very popular with British and Russian holidaymakers due to its beautiful beaches.

If you’re not planning to visit Turkey at a time when it’s hot, going to the beach may not be an option, but there are still some interesting things to do in this part of Turkey that don’t involve actually going to the beach. In any case, this itinerary allows some time to enjoy the beaches.

The first place that deserves attention on the Turkish Riviera is Kayaköy. This is an old city that is currently abandoned. After it was evacuated in 1923, the town’s houses and other buildings were left abandoned, and so only ruins remain.

This city was home to mostly Greek Orthodox Christians, who coexisted with the rest of the country’s Muslim population. However, after the Greek-Turkish war in the early 1920s and following a treaty, there was an exchange of population between Greece and Turkey.

Access to the village is quite simple and is next to this restaurant. I confess that I had some difficulty finding the entrance at first, which is why I decided to share this tip here.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: There is a ticket office next to the entrance to the city and the ticket costs 60 TRY (~1.9€). As for parking, you can leave your car on the side of the road.

Surprisingly, this was one of the places that most attracted me to Turkey. Perhaps it was because it was an abandoned place that left me wondering what life was like there in the old days. I’m not sure, but I do know that it’s worth considering on your itinerary in Turkey 😉.

It’s time to get in the car again and drive to Fethiye. This is a small seaside town, but quite cute.

The historic centre is relatively small, but it’s definitely worth a visit. There is a bazaar where you can find a bit of everything.

Also, slightly further away from the historic centre of Fethiye, you can visit the tombs of Amyntas. These tombs are carved into the rock and date back to ancient Lycian times. The visit is relatively quick, as the tombs can only be seen from the outside and there aren’t many of them. The view over Fethiye from the place where the tombs are located is also very beautiful.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to visit the tombs costs 60 TRY (~1.9€), but is included in the Museum Pass. Honestly, since the tombs are visible from the street, I only think it’s worth visiting if you have the Museum Pass.

If you visit Fethiye late in the morning, for example, I recommend staying there for lunch. I tried the Fethiye Paşa Kebap restaurant in Fethiye and really enjoyed it. The prices were affordable, the service was fast and the food was great (I ordered pide and lahmacun).

To make sure the days aren’t all too tiring, my suggestion for the afternoon is to enjoy a bit of beach time on one of Ölüdeniz’s most famous beaches – Blue Lagoon.

Although this is one of the best-known beaches in Turkey, it is quite long and so I didn’t think it was too crowded (note: I visited at the beginning of October). The water was very clear and it’s the perfect place to relax for a while.

Another curiosity about this beach is that you’ll constantly see paragliders flying over it. This is a very popular area for paragliding. In fact, this is an excellent activity to add to your itinerary (if you’re not afraid like me 😅).

💡 EXTRA TIP: For the best views of the Blue Lagoon, I suggest a visit to the viewpoint Montana Seyir Tepesi. Contrary to what Google Maps indicates, I don’t think it’s possible to drive to the viewpoint. Due to lack of time, I didn’t make the final walk to the viewpoint, but it looks incredible.

Although I’m considering Ölüdeniz separately, Ölüdeniz doesn’t have a proper historic centre. Many of the things you can do there I’ve already mentioned before.

However, Ölüdeniz is strategically located on the Turkish Riviera for many of the popular activities there and has a great offer when it comes to accommodation and restaurants. In fact, that’s why I’m mentioning Ölüdeniz in the itinerary.

The accommodation I stayed in for two nights in Ölüdeniz was acceptable for the price (20€/person per night). Olympos Hotel had a relatively spacious room, although the decor was rather old-fashioned.

There was an outdoor swimming pool and car park in front of the hotel, and breakfast was also included in the price. However, the variety and quality of this meal left a lot to be desired. But for the price, it was perfectly just fine.

In any case, I’ll share other suggestions for accommodation in Ölüdeniz:

I had the opportunity to try two restaurants in Ölüdeniz, but I’m only going to recommend one – Angora Restaurant. It looks like a restaurant that would easily be full during peak season. However, when I visited it was very quiet and the food was good, even though I only ordered a simple chicken kebab.

The list of things to see in Turkey should also include Saklikent National Park. It was one of the most memorable experiences on this trip 🥰!

In this park, you can walk along the Saklikent Gorge and the experience is incredible. The gorge is over 18 km long and 300 metres deep. However, you can’t walk the entire route.

💡 EXTRA TIP: At certain times of the year (usually from November to March), it may be impossible to visit this gorge due to the high water level.

Although it would have been possible to walk a longer route, I chose to walk only about 2 kilometres (round trip). And even walking just a few kilometres in the gorge was an unforgettable experience.

The water is quite cold (so cold that your bones ache!!), but the initial part where the water flow is stronger is the worst. From that point onwards, the volume of water decreases and it’s much easier to walk through the gorge. There is also a lot of mud along the way, which can lead to a few funny moments.

Some useful information for visiting Saklikent Gorge:

• The car park costs 50 TRY (~ 1.6€)
• Entry to the gorge costs 24 TRY (~ 0.77€)
• If you don’t have your water shoes, you can hire them. I rented mine in the car park and it cost 60 TRY (1.9€). The quality was poor, but without them, you won’t be able to walk through the gorge.
• There are helmets at the gorge’s entrance, but most people don’t use it. I confess I only saw them when I had finished the route.
• There are some cafés with drinks and light meals near the gorge’s entrance

Relatively close to the Saklikent Gorge, there is also an easily accessible waterfall. Although it’s not as impressive as walking along the gorge, the waterfall is majestic nonetheless.

To get there, you have to walk for about 1 km from the entrance, the last 300 metres of which are over water. As such, you also need waterproof shoes to make it all the way. Again, I ended up renting some more waterproof shoes for 40 TRY (~1.3€). There is also a staircase along the route, which is the hardest part on the way back (but perfectly doable 😉).

The entrance to the area where the waterfall is located has a car park which costs 50 TRY (~ 1.6€). There is a whole supporting infrastructure where you’ll find souvenir shops and restaurants.

Time to head for one of the best-known beaches on the Turkish Riviera – Kaputaş beach. The beach is indeed beautiful. However, it’s very popular, so it was crowded.

Firstly, parking is mostly done on the side of the road. If you don’t arrive early, you risk having to walk a long way to get to the beach.

Secondly, the beach isn’t very long, so there weren’t many spaces left on the sand. And this was in October! I don’t want to imagine it in the peak of summer 😱. Even so, I think it’s worth stopping by, if only to have a look at the beach.

After the beach, drive to Kaş. The route is almost always by the sea. If you do it at the end of the day when the sun is setting, it’s even more magical.

Kaş is a small coastal town and was my favourite in the whole of the Turkish Riviera. It’s very lively (especially at night) and has a few souvenir shops where you can easily get lost.

If you have some time, I recommend a short stroll around the city on the same day. If you don’t, reserve the stroll around Kaş for the following day. The centre isn’t very big and you’ll quickly discover the main points of interest. In fact, one of the best ways to explore this city is to get lost in its historic centre.

Other spots that you can also include in your itinerary are the market that takes place every Friday, Kaş Square and the Antiphellus Amphitheater.

Finally, don’t miss out on one of the best views of the city at the viewpoint Kaş Panorama. Since this spot is a bit far from the centre, it makes sense to leave it until the next day.

I couldn’t recommend more the accommodation I stayed in Kaş – Kaş Evderhan. It was very modern, had excellent facilities and was very centrally located. With the historic centre of Kaş being quite chaotic, having the possibility of leaving the car parked in front of the hotel was excellent.

What’s more, breakfast had some variety and was served on the hotel terrace with spectacular views. A great way to start the day!

Other accommodation options in Kaş include:

For the fifth day in Turkey, I again suggest a more relaxed option, with one stop at a beach and some driving along the country’s southern coast.

I suggest starting the day by driving towards Çıralı beach, which is about 2h10 by car from Kaş. The route has many bends, but the scenery is quite beautiful.

Çıralı beach is an excellent option for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the Turkish Riviera’s most famous beaches, such as Blue Lagoon or Kaputaş beach.

Access is fairly simple, the beach is long, there are far fewer people on the beach and, what’s more, the surrounding landscape with the mountains is stunning.

In addition, there is some infrastructure to support the beach, including a series of restaurants just a few metres from the beach, with relatively inexpensive options.

After driving another 1.5 hours, it’s time to arrive in Antalya. This is another of Turkey’s largest cities and a popular destination for beach holidaymakers (and more).

Although the metropolitan area of Antalya is huge, the historic centre is rather small and half a day is enough to visit its main points of interest.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Depending on the day you choose to visit Kaş, it may be hard to explore Antalya on this 5th day. For example, I only visited Kaş on the morning of day 5, so I had to visit Antalya on the morning of day 6. However, if you have the time, you could already take the opportunity to see a bit of Antalya on this day.

One of the main places to visit in Antalya is its Old Town, commonly known as Kaleiçi. Some of the streets are picturesque and clearly worth a few photos 🥰. Also not to be missed is Hadrian’s Gate, built in honour of the Roman emperor after whom it is named. It’s the only remaining gate in the walls of Antalya.

A walk around Antalya’s old harbour is also very interesting. There are several boats in the marina, but what made me appreciate this place the most was the view of the mountains in the background. Relatively close by, I also recommend visiting the Hidirlik Roman tower.

For views over part of the historic centre, it’s best to head to Republic Square. It’s a square devoid of large elements, but it does have a huge Turkish flag flying in the centre and amusing views.

Finally, I’d also like to highlight the Yivliminare and Sehzade Korkut mosques, both located in the Old Town.

Given the popularity of Antalya, especially during the beach season, there is plenty of accommodations in the city. As I didn’t want to visit that many beaches in Antalya, I opted for more centrally located accommodation – Kalispera Hotel.

The room was quite small, but the conditions were good. It also had parking available and is about a 15/20 minute walk from the centre. Believe me, with all the traffic in Antalya, you’ll appreciate a centrally located hotel.

Anyway, here are some other suggestions for accommodation in Antalya that I found interesting:

As I spent two nights in Antalya, I was able to try out a few restaurants in the city. Here are my suggestions:

• Çıtır Balık Antalya: I saw a huge queue at this place and decided to give it a try the next day. The main speciality is balık ekmek and it was very good and cheap.
• Fatma Sultan: very pleasant and well-kept outdoor space. The food was very tasty.
• Luna Garden: the cutest café in town where they serve cotton candy with some drinks.

Another popular attraction in Antalya is the Duden waterfalls. They’re not located in the city centre, but they’re not too far away either. However, I must warn you that there are two different locations.

The first part of the waterfalls is located here, with its own car park (7.5 TRY, 0.24€) and the entrance to the garden where you can see the waterfall is also paid for (50 TRY, 1.89€). The walk in the park and the visit are pleasant, but the other part of the waterfall is much more interesting.

The other (and best-known) location of the Duden waterfall is by the sea, because it actually flows into the sea. And the best part is that the visit is free (including the car park). In my opinion, it’s much more worthwhile than the first waterfall and really something not to be missed in Antalya. The exact location of the waterfall is here.

Relatively close to Antalya, we can also visit another ancient Greco-Roman city. Although there are some ruins of this ancient city, the best preserved is the Theatre of Aspendos. And, quite honestly, it’s one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

In addition to its magnificence, the surrounding landscape is verdant and is particularly special when the sun is setting.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to visit Aspendos costs 340 TRY (~10.9€), but is included in the Museum Pass. It is open every day from 8 am to 5 pm. More information here.

This point on the itinerary is purely for those who are curious about it. I confess that it wasn’t even on my itinerary at first and I ended up going there just because I realised it wasn’t that far and I had some curiosity to check it out and time available.

The Land of Legends is a huge complex with an amusement park, shopping centre, hotel, etc. Walking around there is a whole social experience, I have to admit. I can’t say that I enjoyed it, but I decided to include it in my itinerary because there are those who might also be curious to visit and it’s a well-known place in Antalya.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you have no intention of visiting the Land of Legends, I suggest changing the order of places to visit on this day and trying to visit one of the beaches near Antalya instead.

Day 7 of this Turkey itinerary is the most demanding in terms of driving, as it involves driving almost all day to get from the south of Turkey (Antalya) to Göreme, located in Cappadocia.

It’s a long journey by car, but the roads are in good condition, so the journey is fairly easy.

An alternative to travelling by car would be to fly, as there is an airport in Antalya and two airports serving the Cappadocia region (Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport and Kayseri Erkilet International Airport).

However, I recommend also having a car to explore Cappadocia. So, if you choose this option, you’d have to rent another car in Cappadocia.

To make the journey more pleasant, I recommend a technical pit stop for lunch in Konya – one of Turkey’s larger cities, although not as touristy. In my case, I just took the opportunity to have lunch and to see the city’s main square (which was right opposite the restaurant where I had lunch 😅). I confess I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t have the time to explore the city, but it just wasn’t possible to do so.

Although this day on the itinerary is mostly spent driving, I did leave room to visit something in the Cappadocia region 🥰. And I can assure you that it’s a good introduction to the region.

Selime Cathedral is a bit further away from the usual tourist itinerary in Cappadocia. This is the largest religious building in Cappadocia and it’s incredible. Allow about an hour to visit the complex, which is not very large.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to visit Selime Cathedral costs 330 TRY (~11€), but is included in the Museum Pass. Car parking costs an extra 20 TRY (~0.7€). See the most up-to-date information here.

Since the aim of the next few days is to visit Cappadocia, I suggest you end the day in Göreme, which is actually a great place to look for accommodation.

The centre of Göreme is very small, but very cute, day or night. I suggest you take advantage of your first few hours in Cappadocia to get to know this town and maybe even buy some souvenirs.

If you’re like me, the long-awaited moment in this Turkey trip has arrived: visiting Cappadocia. I confess that this was the place in Turkey I had the highest expectations for and it didn’t disappoint one bit 😍.

This destination has become extremely popular in recent years, largely due to the hot air balloon rides. But Cappadocia is much more than hot air balloon rides. Although this is an unbelievable experience, there are many things to do in Cappadocia.

The landscapes of Cappadocia are unique in the world, so get ready for an unforgettable trip. Although you can visit the main sights in 2 days (which is the time I’m dedicating to Cappadocia in this itinerary), it’s possible to spend longer in the region without getting bored because there’s so much to see.

Day 1 in Cappadocia: Days in Cappadocia start early with the expectation of seeing hot air balloons in the air! That’s why I suggest starting your Cappadocia itinerary with a hot air balloon ride. I recommend trying to book this experience for the first day, as the balloons don’t always take off, depending on the weather conditions.

In my case, I chose to book directly with Royal Balloon, which is probably the best hot air balloon company in Cappadocia! The experience was truly unforgettable and you can read more about it in the special post I wrote about what’s like riding a hot air balloon in Cappadocia.

After a beautiful start to the morning, it’s time to take a look at the Love Valley. The name of this valley is much less romantic than it sounds, as the name is related to the phallic shape of these rock formations. The valley can be admired from a viewpoint or you can even go down into the valley and walk along the rock formations. Although I enjoyed the viewpoint, walking in the valley was much more fun!

Then head towards Uçhisar. This is a small town in Cappadocia where the main attraction is the castle. This is the highest point in Cappadocia and is well worth a visit as it is the result of several excavations made in a rock formation.

In the afternoon, I suggest a visit to the Pigeon Valley. Like the Love Valley, you can visit this valley in two ways: you can look out over the valley from a viewpoint or you can hike a trail along the valley. This trail connects Uçhisar to Göreme and is 5 km long. It’s not as easy to access as the Love Valley, but it’s fun too. You can always walk just part of it, as I did.

I suggest ending the day in the Monks Valley (Pasabaglari), where you’ll find the largest concentration of the famous fairy chimney rock formations. Unlike the other valleys, entry to this valley is paid for and has easier access and, as a result, it is more crowded.

💡 EXTRA TIP: To better organize your Cappadocia itinerary, I suggest you read my 2-day itinerary in Cappadocia. There you’ll find more details about the region, as well as prices for activities and much more.

Day 2 in Cappadocia: If on the first day I suggested getting up early for the hot air balloon ride, on the second day I suggest watching the balloon show from another perspective. One of the best places to do this is at the Lover’s Hill viewpoint. Don’t expect to be there alone, but I guarantee that the experience will still be good!

Another must-do in Cappadocia is the Göreme Open Air Museum – made up mostly of chapels and churches carved out of the various rocks. As it is one of the most accessible places to see these rock formations so typical of Cappadocia up close, there is a large concentration of tourists here. If you want to avoid the crowds, try to visit as early as possible.

The small town of Ortahisar is also another excellent addition to the itinerary, where one of the ex-libris is the view from the top of its castle.

Don’t forget to stop off at the Three Beauties or Devrent Valley. These are quick stops as there’s not much to see, but it might make sense to add them to your itinerary.

And to end the second day of this trip to Cappadocia, there is nothing better than a hike through one of the region’s most unbelievable valleys – the Red and Rose Valley. This was undoubtedly my favourite valley in Cappadocia. This valley is especially magical at sunrise and sunset, as this is when the valley takes on its reddest/pinkest tones.

The trail is still a bit long and the terrain uneven, but it’s worth it even if you decide to only walk a short part of it (that’s exactly what I ended up doing!).

How many times have you imagined staying in a cave hotel? 😱 Well, there are several cave hotels in Cappadocia and, although I haven’t stayed in one, they look incredible. These are some of the best-known:

• Divan Cave House
• Mithra Cave Hotel
• Koza Cave Hotel
• Sultan Cave Suites
• Aza Cave Cappadocia

In my case, I stayed for two nights in Çavuşin, located less than 10 minutes by car from Göreme, at In Stone House. Compared to the cave hotels, this accommodation was much cheaper (26€/night with breakfast) and is absolutely incredible.

Besides the excellent location, the service was excellent and the hotel’s outdoor space was really lovely as well. In addition, the room was very spacious (especially the bathroom) and very comfortable. The room was always warm, which was great when I returned to my room at the end of the day.

The breakfast service was relatively simple, but it changed throughout the days and was good. In addition, there was always hot tea available at any time of the day. This hotel was a bargain in terms of value for money and for that reason I highly recommend it.

Even so, I’d like to share other accommodation options in Cappadocia, apart from those mentioned above:

Some of the best restaurants I tried in Cappadocia include:

• Turkish Ravioli Restaurant (€€): the space (especially the terrace) is very pleasant and the speciality is manti (a kind of ravioli)
• Kemeralti Cafe Restaurant (€): located in the centre of Ortahisar, outdoor terrace and good food at affordable prices

• Gurme Kebab Restaurant (€): central location in Göreme, fast service and the pide was great
• La Vida A la Carte (€€): a very cosy space with a lit fireplace (perfect for winter days). I tried the tavuk testi and it was divine 🤤.

To end this itinerary perfectly, it’s time to finally get to know one of the best cities to visit in Turkey – Istanbul. Istanbul is a mixture of sensations: it’s a huge city that’s as confusing as it is beautiful.

Istanbul is the only city in the world that is located on two continents: Europe and Asia! It’s a city where we could easily spend a whole week without getting bored, but for this 12-day itinerary in Turkey, we’re only going to dedicate 3 days to it (in fact, in my case, I only ended up visiting it in 2 and a half days).

The easiest way to get from Cappadocia to Istanbul is undoubtedly by plane. There are several daily flights connecting these two places and the journey takes just 1 hour. Although several buses make this journey as well, the price is rarely worth it. What’s more, flying is much quicker and more comfortable.

In my case, I flew Turkish Airlines from Kayseri airport and the trip cost just 28€. To maximize time, I slept in Kayseri the night before and flew to Istanbul on the morning of the tenth day. Since there are plenty of public transport options in Istanbul, you don’t need a car for this part of the itinerary.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you’d like to plan your trip to Istanbul in more detail, I suggest you read my complete 3-day itinerary in Istanbul.

Day 1 in Istanbul: Start the day at the Grand Bazaar – a covered market with over 4000 stores. It is one of the most impressive covered markets in the world due to its size.

Istanbul is home to some of the most beautiful mosques I have ever seen. So, start by taking a look at the Blue Mosque, which is one of the most famous in the city. You can only enter the mosques outside of the prayer times and you have to follow a few rules (e.g. cover your shoulders, knees and hair (this last part is only for women), and take off your shoes before entering the inner part of the mosque).

Almost in front of this mosque, you can see the Hagia Sophia. Built in 537, this mosque is a true work of art. Prepare for your jaw to drop when you see the beautiful interior.

Also relatively close by, you can visit the Basilica Cistern – a cistern built in the 1st century to supply the city with water. I must confess that it wasn’t one of my favourite places in Istanbul, but I included it in my itinerary because most people like to visit this place and the building is beautiful.

Another of the most popular sites in Istanbul is Topkapi Palace, the palace from which the Sultans ruled their empire until the 19th century. The palace is huge and you can easily get lost inside, so I highly suggest taking a guided tour.

I suggest this tour which has a rating of 4.7 on Get Your Guide and lasts 3 hours. One of the must-see places inside the palace is the Harem, so make sure you don’t miss out on this part of the palace (it requires an additional ticket).

To round off the day, why not visit one of the best rooftops in Istanbul? It’s called Huqqam Lounge Terrace and it has phenomenal views over Istanbul.

Day 2 in Istanbul: I recommend starting the day in Istanbul’s most colourful neighbourhood – Balat. The neighbourhood has some very cute areas (e.g. café İncir ağacı kahvesi or Kiremit street), but I warn you that not everything is what it seems on social media. This neighbourhood has gained a lot of fame on social media, but, despite what we usually see on Instagram, it’s not just colourful houses. This was actually the neighbourhood where I saw some of the most precarious housing in Istanbul.

Not far from Balat, you can visit the Fatih Mosque. It’s a lesser-known mosque than others on this itinerary, which is why the experience seemed more authentic. Admission is free, as it is to all the other mosques I recommend visiting in Istanbul.

Another mosque not to be missed in Istanbul is the Süleymaniye Mosque. Its size easily surprises you, but that’s not all that makes me include it in this itinerary. Also, make sure to appreciate the views this mosque has over the rest of the city.

The Spices Bazaar is another must-see in Istanbul. As well as spices, there are also other products on sale here, such as sweets and other non-food products.

Nearby, stop for a few minutes at Eminönü Square to watch people passing by or to try a simit from one of the many vendors who are usually there. If you’re curious, take a look inside the Yeni Cami mosque. Even though it wasn’t initially on my itinerary, I thought it was worth it.

Head for the Galata Bridge, which is especially magical at sunset. There are dozens of fishermen out there looking for some fish, but the best part is the view of Istanbul and, in particular, the Galata Tower.

If you still have time, take a ferry to the Asian side. Unfortunately, this itinerary doesn’t allow you to spend that many hours on the Asian side of Istanbul, but I think it’s worth going there anyway, if only for a stroll through the streets of Kadıköy or even just to experience a ferry ride across the Bosphorus.

Even if you decide not to visit the Asian side, you can always opt for a Bosphorus cruise. Although I haven’t done it, the general opinions about this experience are very positive.

Day 3 in Istanbul: If on the second day we saw it from afar, it’s finally time to climb to the top of the Galata Tower. It is one of Istanbul’s most emblematic sites and it offers 360º views of the city. There is an entrance ticket, but is included in the Museum Pass. As well as saving some money with this pass, you’ll also avoid wasting time queuing to buy your ticket.

Another place to see in Istanbul is the charismatic Karaköy neighbourhood. One of the neighbourhood’s most popular spots includes Hoca Tahsin Street, where you’ll find umbrellas hanging in the air. But there are many other things to do in Karaköy. However, my favourite part was just walking aimlessly through the streets 😉.

Head for the city’s busiest street – İstiklal Street. Along this long street, you’ll find dozens of stores and restaurants. However, the cutest and most iconic part of this street is the red tram that runs along it.

At one end of İstiklal Street is Taksim Square, where public events are usually held in the city.

From there, you can head to the Dolmabahçe Palace or the Ortaköy Mosque. These are two points of interest that are a bit further away from everything else, so it may be a bit of a squeeze to include them in your itinerary, especially if you want to visit the palace inside.

In my more detailed Istanbul itinerary, I have all the tips on how you can best organize your itinerary, depending on what you want to visit in Istanbul.

To end this trip to Istanbul and Turkey, I recommend watching a show of the whirling dervishes – one of the most typical shows in the country. The dervishes are known for their whirling dances and, although this tradition originated in Konya, it is in Istanbul that you will find the most opportunities to see this show. I booked this one-hour show and quite enjoyed the experience.

In Istanbul, I stayed in a hotel with a very central location and with the tram close by – Lumina Boutique Hotel.

The hotel was rather small, but it had good facilities and was very clean. The only downside is the poor sound insulation from the street, which can be problematic for those who are light sleepers. As this is not my case, I would recommend the hotel to anyone who is travelling to Istanbul and is looking for an option that is good value for money.

Even so, I’d like to share with you other accommodation options in Istanbul. This is a city where there are options for all tastes and prices.

I’ve had the opportunity to try a few restaurants in the city, which I’d like to share with you:

• BirBen Restaurant (€): Very simple restaurant, but with relatively affordable prices and fast service.
• Resto Han (€€): Very pleasant space and tasty traditional Turkish food. The only downside is that it has live music. It was my favourite restaurant in the city.
• Yanık Köşk Restaurant (€): We ordered pide and lahmacun and they were both good. The price is affordable and the restaurant has a small terrace on the top floor.

As I said at the beginning, Turkey really does have a lot to visit and, unless you have a lot of time on your hands, you’ll always have to choose one place over another. In any case, I’ll share some alternative itinerary suggestions.

This is the itinerary for those who only have a few days to visit the country and want to see the crème de la crème, focusing only on Cappadocia and Istanbul:

• Day 1 to 3: Cappadocia
• Day 4 to 6: Istanbul

This is a shorter version of the itinerary I presented to you, removing the part of the Turkish Riviera and adding Konya.

• Day 1: Izmir
• Day 2: Pamukkale + Hierápolis
• Day 3: Konya
• Day 4 to 6: Cappadocia
• Day 7 to 9: Istanbul

If you have more days to spare, the list of Turkey destinations doesn’t end here. Even if you only focus on the westernmost part of the country, there are other places worth considering. Here are a few examples for inspiration:

• Troy
• Alaçatı
• Gallipoli
• Pergamum 
• Safranbolu 
• Bodrum
• Marmaris
• Lake Tuz

There are many ancient cities to visit and, if you’re visiting the Turkish Riviera, there are plenty of beaches to try. There’s certainly no shortage of options 😉! What’s more, you can also venture to the easternmost part of Turkey, where there are also incredible places to see.

I have to admit that I had high expectations, but I didn’t expect to enjoy Turkish cuisine so much 🤤. As well as a huge variety, the food is very tasty without being too intense.

In order not to make this article too long and since I still had a few things to say about food in Turkey, I’ve dedicated an entire post to must-eat foods in Turkey.

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