Evil Eye Amulets in Turkey

Highlights of Turkey: A 2 Week Turkey Itinerary For First Time Visitors

Hot air balloons at sunrise in Cappadocia in Turkey with text overlay for 2 week Turkey itinerary Hot air balloons in Cappadocia in Turkey with text overlay for easy 2 week Turkey itinerary Evil eye amulets in Cappadocia, Turkey with text overlay for easy 2 week Turkey itinerary Library of Celsus in Ephesus Turkey with text overlay for easy 2 week Turkey itinerary

Turkey is an underrated tourist destination that has so much to offer, from archaeological ruins and cities to a spectacular aquamarine coastline.

Are you overwhelmed trying to plan a trip to Turkey? Don’t know where to go and what to see in Turkey? Believe me, I was in your shoes not so long ago.

Travertines at Pamukkale in Turkiye

Turkey (now officially known as Türkiye) is such a massive country with so many cities to visit, it’s hard to figure out where to start, let alone how to get around, where to stay and what to do in each destination.

Zelve Archaeological Museum in Cappadocia Turkiye

If you’re feeling a bit lost, read on for an easy, customizable 14 day Turkey itinerary for first time visitors to the country that straddles 2 continents.

Is this Turkey itinerary right for me?

Kayakoy Ghost City in Mugla Turkey

If you are planning your dream Turkey trip then you need to realize that Turkey is a really, really big country: one of the biggest travel mistakes you can make when planning your Turkey itinerary is underestimating the time it takes to travel between cities.

Umbrella street in Istanbul Turkiye

Personally, if it is your first time I would not recommend spending fewer than 7 days in Turkey as you won’t be able to cover much ground – it’s best to aim for no less than 10 days to 2 weeks in Turkey.

If you’ve read my overly ambitious Mainland Greece road trip itinerary, you’ll know that I do not like wasting time. This Turkey travel itinerary is for you if you:

  • don’t want to waste time traveling between destinations…
  • …but also want to take in the sights and attractions in Turkey without feeling rushed
  • don’t want to travel with a tour group and prefer to travel independently
  • are comfortable renting a car in Turkey and embarking on a Turkey road trip
  • are happy to take a few domestic flights to save time between certain destinations
  • are a first-time visitor and want a taste of what Turkey has to offer

At the end of the day, the best itinerary for Turkey is one that works for your travel schedule and is in line with what you’re looking to accomplish during your dream trip. Read to the end of this 2 week itinerary for Turkey for some ideas on how to modify it to either shorten it or add more stops!

You might also enjoy: Common Turkey travel mistakes to avoid making

Is it safe to travel to Turkey?

Galata Tower Istanbul Turkey

The country underwent an attempted coup in July 2016 and has experienced political unrest over the past couple of years. A state of emergency was imposed after the coup attempt but has since been lifted in 2018. There have also been a number of attacks in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and other Turkish cities.

Multiple governments have travel advisories telling its citizens to reconsider traveling to Turkey. Should you cancel your travel plans? It depends. From personal experience, we experienced nothing but warm hospitality from the Turkish people, except for some minor scams here and there – 1 taxi driver in Istanbul overcharged us by almost 5 times the normal rate (taxi scams are common in Turkey), and a shopkeeper in Cappadocia tried to scam us out of 60 bucks when we exchanged our US Dollars to Turkish Lira.

But that’s not to say that you shouldn’t be aware and cautious, just as you would at home or abroad in any other country. Here are a few precautions to take according to the U.S. Department of State:

  • Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners
  • Avoid demonstrations and crowds
  • Stay at hotels with identifiable security measures
  • Monitor local media and adjust your plans based on new information

Most governments also agree that you should avoid traveling to the border region with Syria.

Essential Turkey travel tips

Turkish Airway in Turkey

✈️ To get into Turkey you have a few international airport options as the country is well-connected by air. You are most likely to fly into Istanbul (which as two international airports), Antalya, Ankara, Izmir, Dalaman or Bodrum as your first port of arrival for your Turkey trip. You can take a taxi to your hotel, or use Uber if you are arriving in Istanbul, Izmir or Ankara. If you are arriving into Istanbul save yourself some hassle and pre-book your Istanbul Airport Private Transfer or pre-book your Sabiha Gokcen Airport Private Transfer.

🛂 You need an e-Visa to enter Turkey: Visa fees for Turkey vary depending on your nationality. You can apply for your visa ahead of time on the official Turkish government e-visa website here.

💱 The local currency is the Turkish Lira (TL): The exchange rate is approximately US$1: 26 TL or 1 Euro: 28 TL. When we visited in 2018 it was closer to US$1: 5-7 TL or 1 Euro: 8-10 TL. Euros and USD are occasionally also accepted (and sometimes preferred) by shops and tour companies.

Vodafone counter at Istanbul airport in Turkiye

📱 Stay connected and buy a local SIM card: There are usually counters on arrival at the international airports in Turkey or shops operated by Vodafone locally where you can buy a Turkish SIM card.

🌤️ Weather in Turkey: When we visited in September, it was already significantly cooler in Istanbul than other coastal areas like Izmir, Alacati, Fethiye and Oludeniz. The temperature in spring and autumn dips, and the country experiences snow during the winter months.

🗓️ Best time to visit Turkey: In general, tourism numbers are far lower than they have historically been, so in my opinion there is no “bad” time to visit Turkey if you want to avoid tourist crowds. However, the weather is more pleasant from April to about October/November, after which it can get bitterly cold.

🎟️ Invest in the Museum Pass: The Museum Pass Turkey is a great card to purchase if you are visiting multiple cities in Turkey. It is accepted at most museums and archaeological sites including ones in Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Fethiye and allows you to skip-the-queue – all you need to do is swipe or present the card at the entrance and you can sail right in.

The Museum Pass Turkey is valid for 15 days and currently costs 3500 TL (as of August 2023) though the price does tend to go up every year. Nevertheless, you end up saving a lot in entrance fees if you put it to good use. It can be purchased at pretty much any landmark that accepts it as well as online.

Dress code at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul Turkiye

👚 Dress code in Turkey: Most of the population in Turkey are Muslim, yet Turkey as a whole is not extremely conservative. Men can walk around with sleeveless tops and female tourists are not required to wear headscarves. The only exception is when you enter a mosque, in which case you will need to abide by the dress code (in general, men must wear long trousers and women must cover their hair, arms and knees). That being said, to be respectful of cultural norms I wouldn’t recommend walking around with too much exposed skin.

🌐 Language in Turkey: Turkish is the most spoken language in Istanbul, and most people, especially those in hospitality or food & beverage, speak English very fluently so you shouldn’t have a problem with communication.

🛏️ Booking hotels in Turkey: This is an important Turkey travel tip to be aware of before you hop on a plane – you can not book hotels in Turkey using Booking.com when you are in Turkey, as it has been blocked by the Turkish government (so has Wikipedia, and they’re looking to extend the ban to other websites including AirBnB and Expedia).

Instead, make sure you book hotels for your stay in Turkey before your trip, or use Hotels.com for any last-minute hotel bookings that you need to make when you are already in the country. These two websites don’t appear to be blocked – yet – but either way you’ll want to book ahead, especially if you’re visiting during the peak travel season.

For even more information on Turkey travel dos and don’ts click here!

How to get around Turkey

Driving in Cappadocia Turkey

There are a number of options to get around Turkey. We ended up traveling around using a combination of domestic flights, rental car, scooter (in Cappadocia) and by public transportation or on foot. You can also take buses if you are on a budget.

Drone photo of driving in Cappadocia Turkiye

At the beginning of our trip, we flew into Istanbul and immediately caught a domestic flight to Cappadocia as the drive would have taken 10-12 hours. Next, we caught another domestic flight from Cappadocia to Izmir and rented a Hyundai i20 car from Alamo Rental Cars to embark on the Turkey road trip portion of our trip: we traveled from Izmir-Ephesus-Fethiye-Pamukkale-Alacati-Izmir. It cost us just US$110/100 Euros for 8 days and tolls are virtually non-existent in Turkey.

Turkish Airway in Turkiye

For any drives longer than 5-6 hours I would recommend trying to take a domestic flight. Sometimes it’s just easier to fly between cities as there are many domestic flights operated by Turkish Airlines, Pegasus and SunEpxress, and they are fairly reasonably priced.

After dropping the rental car off at Izmir we then ended the trip by flying back to Istanbul and spending our last 3 days in Turkey exploring the attractions and landmarks in the city that spans two continents.

Looking for the best prices for rental cars around the world? Click here to book your rental car in Turkey. Bookings can be cancelled or amended if your plans change!

14 day Turkey itinerary

Turkey surprised me. There, I said it. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I did not expect it to be as diverse as it was, especially as most of what you read in news headlines doesn’t always exactly paint the country in the most positive light.

Turkish breakfast in Istanbul Turkiye

In just 2 weeks in Turkey, we explored centuries-old archaeological ruins; swam off the pristine Turquoise Coast; saw dolphins frolicking in the Bosphorus Strait; visited gilded palaces, museums and mosques; sampled a plethora of Turkish cuisine; soared above otherworldly terrain in a hot air balloon and much much more.

Hot air ballooning at sunrise in Cappadocia Turkey

My biggest tip for visiting Turkey is this: keep an open mind. The country is rich in history and culture, and the landscapes are unreal. Here is how I recommend spending your 14 days in Turkey!

Note: For our 2 week Turkey itinerary we essentially did a “big loop” from Istanbul-Cappadocia-Izmir, and then a “small loop” from Izmir-Ephesus-Fethiye-Pamukkale-Alacati.

This itinerary is also do-able in reverse and is a rough guide to help you decide how many days to spend in each city. We did it this way to minimize our time on the road and to cover as much ground as possible in just 2 weeks in Turkey.

Day 1-4: Cappadocia (3 nights)

Goreme Panorama Viewpoint in Cappadocia Turkey

Cappadocia is an iconic Turkey travel destination, and it is one of the most popular places in the world to go hot air ballooning – but as we learned, there’s more to Cappadocia than hot air balloons, carpet shops and Instagram rooftops.

Hot air balloons above fairy chimneys in Cappadocia Turkey

To get there, we got off our long-haul flight in Istanbul and hopped straight onto a domestic flight to Cappadocia – you can fly into either Kayseri (Erkilet International Airport or ASR) or Nevşehir (Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport or NAV).

Uchisar Castle in Cappadocia Turkey

Most people will recommend that you don’t skip Cappadocia from your Turkey trip itinerary, but make sure you don’t overlook what the region has to offer beyond hot air ballooning! It is also home to sprawling underground cities, a plethora of viewpoints, open air museums and archaeological sites.

Drone photo of Uchisar town in Cappadocia Turkiye

You’ll want to spend at least 3 nights here to explore Cappadocia, and you’ll need a few “back-up” mornings in case your hot air balloon ride is cancelled (which does happen!) and you need to reschedule.

Read more: 10 things to know before you go hot air ballooning in Cappadocia

Hot air balloons over fairy chimneys in Cappadocia Turkey

Don’t miss Uchisar Castle, the Goreme Open Air Museum, the Pasabag Fairy Chimneys, Rose Valley, Derinkuyu Underground City and book a hot air balloon ride. For more information about what to do in Cappadocia click here.

Hotel recommendation for Cappadocia: The majority of the hotels are located in Göreme, Ürgüp and Uçhisar, but in my opinion, the best place to stay in Cappadocia is in Göreme as the town has lots of tour companies, grocery stores, restaurants and hotels.

Hanzade Suites is located right off the main street in Goreme and is within walking distance to the Goreme Sunset Point. Our room was spacious and cozy, and the rooftop is a great place to hang out for tea or coffee – you can also watch the balloons fly overhead in the mornings. Click here to check current rates at Hanzade Suites or head on over here to see other highly rated hotel options in Cappadocia!

We also considered staying at Sunset Cave (located just up the hill from Hanzade Suites and similarly close to the sunset viewpoint), Tulip Cave Suites (a boutique hotel with a rooftop terrace and family rooms), and Naif Hotel (modern adults-only boutique hotel with private parking available).

Day 4-5: Ephesus via Izmir (1 night)

Library of Celsus in Ephesus Turkey

The ancient Greek (and later, Roman) city of Ephesus is home to some of the most wondrous UNESO-listed ruins in the world including the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. Present day Ephesus is located in Selçuk in western Turkey.

We left Cappadocia on the morning of the 4th day and took a flight to Izmir (there are direct domestic flights between Cappadocia and Izmir during the summer months, or flights via Istanbul during the other months of the year).

From Izmir, we drove just under an hour to Selcuk and arrived in the early evening. After a light dinner, we turned in for the night to wake up refreshed and energized to go sightseeing on the morning of the 5th day.

Antique Theatre in Ephesus Turkey

The sprawling Ephesus ruins can easily be explored within 2 hours, and you should also stop at the Ephesus Archaeological Museum and Temple of Artemis. Don’t miss the Library of Celsus, the Terrace Houses and the Antique Theatre. Click here for more information on visiting the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Ephesus in 1 day.

Temple of Artemis in Ephesus Turkey

To make the most of your time in Turkey, move onto the next top after you’ve explored Ephesus – 1 night in Selcuk is more than enough.

Hotel recommendation for Selcuk: I highly recommend Akanthus Hotel Ephesus, just minutes away from the ancient ruins. It is a beautiful and cosy boutique hotel with elegant, country chic décor. The owner is incredibly welcoming and the staff are very helpful and warm. The hotel also has a pool for those extra warm days and free street parking outside. Click here to check current rates at Akanthus Hotel Ephesus.

Based on glowing reviews, we would also consider staying at Celsus Boutique Hotel (a cottage-chic hotel with spacious rooms and a wonderful staff) and Livia Hotel Ephesus (an adults-only boutique hotel with beautiful, peaceful grounds). These two alternatives to Akanthus are also a 5-10 minute drive away from the Ephesus ruins. You can check out other highly rated options in Selcuk. Prefer to stay overnight in Izmir instead? Here are some popular hotels in Izmir.

Day 5-8: Fethiye (3 nights)

Butterfly Valley in Fethiye Turkey

After leaving Ephesus in the early afternoon, we drove south from Selcuk for about 5 hours and arrived at the seaside town of Fethiye (with a quick stop in Dalyan) in the early evening.

Beach in Oludeniz in Turkiye

Fethiye was once known as the ancient city of “Telmessos”, one of the most important cities of the Lycian civilization. It is located in the Aegeon region in southwest Turkey, about 4 hours south from Izmir.

Fethiye in Turkey

Fethiye is surrounded by outrageously cool heritage sites, archaeological wonders, pristine beaches and lagoons and towering mountains. It’s also one of the best places in the world to go paragliding, or you can watch the paragliders take off one after the other from Mount Babadağ.

Paragliding in Fethiye Turkey

Don’t miss the Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon, go on a day trip on a boat around the ultra blue bays of Fethiye, see Butterfly Valley (from above and by boat) and visit the Amyntas Rock Tomb.

Drone photo of Oludeniz Beach in Turkiye

Many people also do a day trip to Saklikent Gorge from Fethiye. Click here for the best things to do in Fethiye!

Hotel recommendation for Fethiye: Book yourself into Yacht Boheme Hotel, an adults-only beach chic hotel steps away from the marina. The décor is beautiful and very bohemian, the rooms are extremely spacious and the breakfast spread is amazing and fresh. The hotel is just a 5 minute stroll away from the “downtown” area of Fethiye with restaurants and shops, and there is also free parking – the staff even provides valet services at no extra cost. Click here to check current rates at Yacht Boheme Hotel (Adults Only) in Fethiye or head on over here to see some other highly rated hotel options in Fethiye and Oludeniz.

If you like the look and feel of Yacht Boheme, you might also want to consider its sister hotel Yacht Classic Hotel (which also accepts families traveling with children), or check out the rustic-yet-chic rooms at Hotel Unique (like Yacht Boheme, it is adults only). This group of boutique hotels in Fethiye has consistently positive reviews for the attentive service, cleanliness and location.

Day 8-9: Pamukkale (via Kayaköy and Tlos) (1 night)

Pamukkale Travertines in Turkey

After a glorious 3 nights in Fethiye, we were more than half way through the 2 week Turkey itinerary. We reluctantly peeled ourselves away from the glistening water and made our way towards Pamukkale in Denizli province.

Kayakoy Ghost City in Mugla Turkey

Enroute, we stopped at Kayaköy and Tlos: Kayaköy is less than half an hour away from Fethiye and is often referred to as a “ghost village” that was once home to nearly 20,000 Greek Orthodox residents.

Tlos Ancient City near Fethiye in Turkey

The Tlos ruins are only about 40 minutes away from Fethiye, and it is believed that the hero Bellerophon once resided in Tlos. Bellerophon was a Greek hero credited with slaying the dreaded Chimera, a monster with a lion’s head, goat’s body and a serpent’s tail. You can read more about Kayaköy and Tlos here. Both are easy day trips from Fethiye if you have more time, or you can do a quick pitstop on your way from Fethiye to Pamukkale.

Pamukkale Travertine Pools in Turkey

Once you have explored the ghost town and archaeological ruins, make your way onwards to Pamukkale, or Turkey’s “cotton castle”, one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the world.

Pamukkale was formed when a spring with a high content of calcium bicarbonate cascaded over the edge of the mountain cliff, which cooled and hardened leaving white-coloured calcium deposits and aquamarine mineral-rich water.

Hieropolis Theatre in Pamukkale Turkey

We stayed overnight in Pamukkale and visited the travertines on the morning of the 9th day – you should only need a few hours to see the travertines and the Hieropolis ruins.

Closed off section of Pamukkale Travertines in Turkey

Head on over here for more tips on visiting Pamukkale and how to be a responsible visitor at the travertines.

Hotel recommendation for Pamukkale: The town of Pamukkale has very limited accommodation options and Bellamaritimo Hotel is probably your best bet for a 1-2 night stay in the area. Many people plan a day trip to Pamukkale from Bodrum or Izmir, but I would recommend spending 1 night in Pamukkale so that you can visit the travertines early in the morning. Click here to see availability and current rates at Bellamaritimo Hotel, or head on over here for some other hotel options near the Pamukkale travertines.

Looking for more Pamukkale hotel options? Based on extensive research, I would also personally consider staying at Venus Suite Hotel (clean, modern-ish hotel 15-minute walk from the ticket office or take their shuttle service into town), or Hotel Pamukkale (family-run hotel located near the Pamukkale lower gate entrance).

Day 9-11: Alaçatı (2 nights)

Alacati main street in Turkey

We left Pamukkale around noon after visiting the travertines on day 9, and drove to Alaçatı in just under 4 hours – right in time to check into our next Turkey boutique hotel stay. Alaçatı (pronounced “Ala-cha-ti”) is a small town just a hop and skip away from Izmir on the west coast of Turkey.

Windmills in Alacati in Turkey

The charming town is a hidden gem that most people haven’t heard of, and the majority of first-time visitors leave Alaçati off their Turkey itinerary.

Coffee shop in Alacati in Turkey

Alaçati is not one of those places where you follow a list of things to do to the letter. There aren’t a ton of landmarks, archaeological sites or museums to add to a checklist – instead, wander through the cobblestone streets and check out the colourful buildings.

On a bright summer’s day head to the coast and spend the frolicking in the Aegean, or head straight to one of the local wineries and taste the wonderful Turkish wine. Read more about what to do in Alaçati here.

Walking down stairs at Cesme beach in Turkiye

If you are fortunate enough to spend more than 2 weeks in Turkey then I highly recommend spending a few more days relaxing and sipping on cocktails in Alaçati and exploring the neighboring city of Çeşme.

Hotel recommendation for Alaçati: I highly recommend staying at GAIA ALACATI, a stylish boutique hotel in the heart of the old town. One of the best parts of the small boutique property is the enclosed internal courtyard-slash-restaurant where you can get your fix of mouthwatering food and drinks. Click here to check current rates at GAIA ALAÇATI or head on over here to see even more Alacati boutique hotels!

If you love the look of GAIA ALAÇATI, you might also like their new properties – check out GAIA Bazaar which is also in the old town, and GAIA By The Sea which is their adults-only property located on the seafront in nearby Çeşme.

Day 11-14: Istanbul (3 nights)

Hagia Sophia Istanbul Turkey

On the morning of day 11 in Turkey, we drove back to Izmir to return the rental car and hopped on a short 1-hour flight to Istanbul. Domestic flights take just over 1 hour and are extremely reasonably priced, or you will need to embark on a 5-hour long drive from Izmir to Istanbul which eats up a huge chunk of your 2 weeks in Turkey.

End your 2 weeks in Turkey in the city of Istanbul. The city is absolutely buzzing with things to do and see, if you only have 3 days in Istanbul make sure you go on a food tour around the city (this is the one I recommend), cross the Bosphorus Strait on a ferry and visit the 17th century Egyptian Bazaar.

Shopping at the Egyptian Bazaar in Istanbul Turkiye

Istanbul is a wonderful city to explore on foot. Make sure you go for a wander through the Grand Bazaar, tour the Topkapi Palace Museum and Harem and visit the famous Blue Mosque just to name a few. Head on over here for more ideas of things to do in Istanbul!

Dolmabahce Palace Istanbul Turkey

Istanbul is a fantastic place to start your Turkey adventure or to end your trip – you’ll want to spend a minimum of 2 to 3 nights in Istanbul to make the most of your time in the city.

Hotel recommendation for Istanbul: We stayed in the Beyoglu district, just steps away from the Galata Tower and Istiklal Street. Pera Neuf is a stylish and classy yet comfortable boutique apartment in the thick of it all. We loved how clean the apartment was – the beds are extremely comfortable and the shower pressure is fantastic. Click here to check current rates and availability at Pera Neuf or click here to see other centrally-located and highly-rated accommodation options in Istanbul!

Following extensive research, we would also consider staying at Be Mate Casa Di Bava which is also in the Beyoglu area. Like Pera Neuf, Be Mate Casa Di Bava offers one-bedroom apartments with small kitchenettes and also “deluxe” apartments which have a small balcony. Reviewers love the spacious apartments, helpful manager and in-building elevator. Click here to check availability and rates at Be Mate Casa Di Bava.

Is 2 weeks enough for Turkey? Other suggestions for your Turkey itinerary

If it is your first trip to Turkey, it’s best to aim to spend no less than 10 days to 2 weeks in this sprawling country. Like I mentioned earlier, you need to account for lengthy travel time between regions as there is a lot of ground to cover in Turkey in 2 weeks – there is also a lot to see and do, and even more to eat!

Antique statues on Nemrut mountain, Turkey. The UNESCO World Heritage Site at Mount Nemrut where King Antiochus of Commagene is reputedly entombed.
Photo credit: mc.atolye via Depositphotos.com

I would have happily stayed in Turkey an additional week or two to explore some of the lesser-visited regions such as Trabzon and other cities along the coast of the Black Sea in the north; Kaş and more of the Turquoise Coast towards Antalya; or ventured inland to visit the stone heads guarding the royal tombs at Mount Nemrut in eastern Turkey.

Ancient temple of Apollo in the city of Didim under the bright sun. Turkey
Photo credit: alexlukin via Depositphotos.com

Have more than 2 weeks in Turkey? If you are able to spend more than 3 weeks in Turkey you might also want to add a few of these destinations to your itinerary: Bodrum on the Turkish Riviera, Apollo’s Temple in Didim, the Gallipoli peninsula in Çanakkale, Pergamon or Troy.

Street cats in Alacati Turkey

I hope this Turkey 2 week itinerary helps you to better plan your dream Turkey trip, and gives you an idea of how long to stay in each place, what to do and where to stay.

Kaunos rock tombs in Dalyan Turkiye

You can easily shave off a few days here and there or skip a destination to convert this into a 10 day Turkey itinerary. Been to Turkey before? Leave a comment below with your favorite landmark!

You might also find these Turkey destination guides helpful:

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19 Comments

    1. Hi Charlotte, we generally allocate US$150-250/night for accommodation and don’t have a fixed budget for rental cars/tours/meals as it varies so much. We do dine out frequently but found meals to be very reasonably priced in Turkey – even at the more upscale restaurants. The Cappadocia balloon will cost anywhere between US$190-350 per person, I would recommend that you splurge a little for the more “premium” tours as they have fewer people in the baskets and longer flight times which make for a more comfortable balloon experience. I share a little more about this here: https://www.yogawinetravel.com/what-to-know-about-hot-air-ballooning-in-cappadocia-turkey/

      Hope this helps!

  1. Hi Flo,
    Thanks a lot for such an informative article. We are going in May end from 20th may till 3rd Jun. We are following the itinerary to the tee but I have one question, should we do 2 nights in fethiye n 4 nights in Istanbul or 3 nights in fethiye n 3 nights in Istanbul. Your suggestion will really help. Also, in alacati where do we park our car given the cobbled streets in the old Town are very narrow.
    We are also flying out the same day to capadoccia the day we are landing in Istanbul, how many hours of gap should we keep between the arrival flight n the flight to capadoccia? 2 hours is ok or to be on the safer side keep it longer than that?
    Regards
    Anubrata

    1. Hi Anubrata, thanks for taking the time to read this. I’m happy to hear you found it helpful in trip planning.

      It really depends on what you’re after – city or beach. If you’d rather explore Istanbul then you can stay 4 nights in the city. However we personally found 3 nights to be enough for a first trip and preferred to spend more time by the sea.

      You should park your car in Alacati at your hotel – ask them if they have on-site parking. We parked on the street next to Gaia, and while it was street parking we had no issues.

      Depending on which airport you land at you may want to leave a solid 2 hours between flights, we found the international airport to be very busy. And you should ensure that your flights are from the same airport as there are 2 in Istanbul. Hope that helps,

      Flo

  2. Hello! Just wondering if you booked all your hotel accommodations before arriving in Turkey?
    Thanks!

    1. Hi Star, yes we did but our plans changed between Pamukkale and Istanbul, and we ended up going to Alacati for 2 nights. When I tried to using Booking.com for Alacati it didn’t work (it is blocked in Turkey), which is why you’ll need to use an alternative booking engine like HotelsCombined. Best of luck!

  3. Hi I am planning to visit turkey in December for about 2 weeks will follow your itenary but you have not mentioned anything for Antalya,Bodrum, Ankara are these places worth visiting as I am going to self drive from Istanbul

    1. Hi Chetan, apologies but we did not make it to those areas. If you plan on following this itinerary for 2 weeks you might find that you’ll need closer to 3 weeks to visit Antalya and Ankara as well. You can likely stop in Bodrum on your way down to Fethiye if you’d like to slot that in. Safe travels!

  4. Hi .. Hope your doing well. Thank you for this article . I am planning a trip and will be following this itinerary . You mentioned that on your way to Fethiye you did a quick stop in Dalyan. I would like to know if it will be possible to visit the beach and do a mud batch and still be able to reach by late evening to Fethiye.

    Thank You in advance,
    Sylvia Dsilva

    1. Hi Sylvia, yes that is do-able as the drive from Dalyan to Fethiye takes only about an hour. You will need to be prepared for a fairly long travel day though!

  5. Hi, great article. I might follow your itinerary for my trip with my brother and dad. I do not know if my father will understand why we will take flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia without visiting it first. Though I think it will feel a lot more magical . I just wanted to ask what is the average cost ? I know it can be different but what is the scale for budget travelling? My budget is 12-1500 per person. Also do you buy the domestic flight tickets before or during the trip? I am not really that experienced. Thank you.

    1. Hi Hasan, great to hear that you found this itinerary helpful. Turkey is very budget friendly but each person’s budget is going to vary depending on which hotels they stay at, restaurants you choose to eat at, transportation costs (whether you’re hiring a driver/taxi vs. self-driving) etc. You should buy your domestic tickets before the trip.

      Best of luck!

  6. Hi Flo! Your article is great in helping me plan my trip to Turkey in May. I usually book hotels once I’m there so very grateful for your tips on Booking.com. I do plan to take domestic flights to Cappadocia/Ismir/Istanbul, but for getting around to other areas I’m not sure I can drive. How hard is it to drive and navigate in Turkey? I w/be solo. What do you recommend? Thanks in advance.

    1. Hi Lan, so glad you found this helpful! It’s not too difficult to drive in Turkey, the roads we were on were in pretty good condition and there is lots of free parking. Alternatively, perhaps you could arrange 1-way transfers between cities. In that case, I would advise that you ask your hotel for recommendations and pricing. Happy travels!

    1. Hi Sal, Pegasus has direct flights to Izmir from Kayseri, or you can also go with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul (also from Kayseri). Both airports are approximately the same distance from Goreme so it doesn’t matter if you fly from Kayseri or Nevsehir – just go with whichever offers the flight time you need.

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