Turkey is a captivating travel destination that seamlessly bridges the gap between Europe and Asia, offering a rich medley of history, culture, and natural beauty. With its diverse landscapes, from the stunning beaches of the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts to the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia, everyone should once experience Turkey. Add on the fact that traveling to Turkey is quite easy and hassle free.
Day 1-3 Istanbul
Day 1 : Explore colourful Balat , Bosphorus cruise, Galata Tower
Kickstart your Turkey travel itinerary with a leisurely stroll in the colourful streets of Balat where we chose to stay instead of the Sultanahmet area. Go out for coffee at one of the many cute cafes in the neighbourhood, strike a conversation with the friendly locals, and take uncountable pictures of this colourful district of Istanbul.
In the evening opt for a Bosphorus boat tour to see the whole city light up as the sun goes down. It is in my opinion, one of the must do activity while in Istanbul. Have your dinner at one of the many cafes & restaurants surrounding the Galata Tower in Karakoy area.
Day 2 : Historical Sightseeing
Do keep aside one whole day to cover the above important and must-see historical sights – Hagia Sophia , Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace , Basilica Cistern & Grand Bazaar. All of these are located next to each other in Sultanahmet area.
Day 3 : Asian Side of Istanbul
On the third day explore the Asian side of Istanbul by taking a ferry & crossing over to the Kadikoy pier. Explore the neighbourhoods of Kuzguncuk and Moda on a walking tour . Or if you want to see more historical places then sdd Dolmabahce Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Beylerbeyi Palace, and Prince Islands to your things to do in Istanbul.
You can read my in depth 3 day itinerary for Istanbul with all the details and links to the various walking tours as well
Day 4- 5 Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a region in central Turkey which encompasses many cities and is famous for its unique geological formations which also forms a dramatic background for the hot air balloon ride. It is a world suspended between history and fantasy, with a dreamlike canvas. The moment you land here, you will feel you have arrived at an altogether different planet.
Day 4: Arrive in Cappadocia, visit Goreme Open Air Museum
Arrive at Kayseri Or Nevsehir airport in the morning from Istanbul and drive to the hotel (usually 1-1.5 hour drive). Goreme is the convenient base location with many options for stay , food, and shopping available here.
Pro Tip : Always, always book an airport to hotel drop shared cab if you do not want to shell out exorbitant money on the spot booking of cabs. The Kayseri airport is tiny & the nearest bus stop is also away. In the summers it is quite hot here & booking a shared cab is highly recommended. You can book here or find similar options on other websites as well.
In the late afternoon, go and spend some time at the Goreme Open air museum located nearby which gives wonderful insight into the history of the place which dates back to 1000 AD. I especially found the ancient rock-cut churches adorned with intricate frescoes very fascinating. After that you can make way for a short hike in the love valley to see the phallic rock formations up & close and also beautiful sunset turning the valley into a kaleidoscope of hues. Spend your evening strolling the bustling centre town of Goreme and do yourself a favour , have at least one dinner at Pumpkin Goreme restaurant .
Day 5 : Hot Air Balloon Ride, Green or Red Tour
This is undoubtedly once in a lifetime experience in Turkey and for this make sure you book it in advance on websites such as viator.com or getyourguide. Do note that the ride is completely dependent on the weather conditions, and they can get cancelled. The pick-up for the ride will happen by 430 am and you will be dropped back at your hotel by 8:30 am. I actually found watching the scene early morning from my hotel rooftop more surreal than the hot air balloon ride itself. As the balloons gracefully float over the iconic fairy chimneys and honeycombed hills, the sky awakens with hues that defy the palette of even the most imaginative artist. It is the most magical sight I have ever witnessed.
For the later part of the day you can opt for Red or Green tour. They usually last 5-6 hours and cover many points of interest. Alternatively, explore some of the hikes on your own. As it was super-hot in august, we didn’t go for any tour during the day. Instead we rented a 2-wheeler and went to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets from a vantage point near to Crazy Ali café located in Kizilcukur (or, red) valley.
Day 6-9 : Road trip along the Turkish Riviera
A lot of people only go for the usual circuit of Istanbul – Cappadocia – Antalya and back home, they don’t know that Turkey has its very own Turkish riviera which runs along the splendid Mediterranean & Aegean sea. It is best to hire a car at Antalya airport and then go along the winding highway stopping at cute coastal towns on the way.
Kas – 2 Nights
The first gem on this itinerary is the charming town of Kas, nestled between rugged hills and the vast expanse of the Mediterranean. Stroll through its narrow streets adorned with bougainvillaea, savor the local seafood at waterside cafes, and don your snorkeling gear to explore the underwater treasures of the sunken city. As the sun dips below the horizon, Kas reveals its bohemian spirit, transforming into a hub of evening festivities.
Drive to Ephesus
If you are a history lover like myself you will absolutely love the ancient city of Ephesus whichdates back to 10 th century BC. Although it is called as Ephesus city ruins but you can very well witness the grandeur of the Roman empire through the magnificent Library of Celsus built in 125 AD , the open air amphitheatre, the Temple of Hadrian to name a few.
Ephesus is open from 8:00am – 7:30pm in summer (April – October) and from 8:30am –5:30pm in winter (November – March)
From Ephesus drive to Alacati or stay at Izmir.
Alacati (2 N)
Alacati is a tiny, charming village next to Cesme with very Greece like architecture & cobbled streets, stone houses preserved in the same manner. We wanted to end the holiday doing absolutely nothing and Alacati is the best place for that. You can alternatively stay at nearby Cesme town and do a day visit to Alacati. If possible plan in such a way that you can spend your time at one of the weekly Saturday markets in Alacati. The market is quite big with everything available under one roof – right from bags, clothes, souvenirs to home décor and it is super cheap as compared to what you will find at Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.
Day 10 : Fly back home
From Alacati drive to Izmir airport, drop your rental car in the parking and proceed to the airport for your flight back home via Istanbul
