Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale: 14-day Türkiye route

The challenge when setting up a route to Türkiye is not finding a destination; shorten the list. The country is one of the largest countries in Europe and the distance between the two ends exceeds 1,500 kilometers. Plans that try to connect everything by road end up spending a third of the trip on the bus.

This route divides the country into four blocks: Istanbul, Central Anatolia (Cappadocia), Aegean (Izmir-Pamukkale) and Mediterranean (Antalya). Distances between blocks are covered by domestic flights, and navigation within the block is solved by vehicles or short transfers.

Day distribution: how many nights where?

How to divide four days in Istanbul?

In Istanbul, the mistake lies in not dividing the days according to geography rather than interest. Going back and forth between the two sides of the Bosphorus costs hours during the day; Completing the historical peninsula in one day is the most efficient start.

• Hagia Sophia: Building dating from the 6th century, first used as a church and then as a mosque; Dome engineering has not been surpassed for millennia. The upper gallery mosaics are the real must-see, and most visitors leave before going up. Go at the opening or close to closing in the morning, the entrance queue fills the square at noon.
• Blue Mosque: Directly opposite Hagia Sophia, it is known for its six minarets and nearly twenty thousand Iznik tiles covering its interior walls. Since it is an active mosque, it is closed to visitors during prayer times; There are approximately forty-minute breaks five times a day, so plan your entry accordingly.
• Topkapi Palace: Palace where the Ottoman Empire was ruled for four centuries; Due to its structure consisting of courtyards, it is visited more like a small city than a building. The Harem section is sold with a separate ticket and is the most interesting part of the palace. Allow three hours for the whole thing; if you rush, you'll only see the courtyards.
• Galata Tower: The watchtower built by the Genoese in the 14th century is the most well-known panorama point of the city today. The elevator queue can exceed an hour during peak hours; Going about an hour before sunset balances both the queue and the light.

Cappadocia: valleys, underground and balloons

Cappadocia is not a single place, it is a region spread over several towns. Accommodating in Göreme or Uçhisar allows you to reach every point in the region within half an hour. Renting a car comes in handy here; public transport is impractical between valleys.

• Goreme Open Air Museum: area where rock-carved monasteries and churches are located; 10-12. The best preserved examples of 19th century frescoes are here. The Dark Church requires a separate ticket, but the colors of the frescoes are much more vibrant than the others, so the additional fee is worth it. The area can be visited in approximately two hours.
• Derinkuyu Underground City: an underground settlement that reaches eight floors and can accommodate thousands of people; A complete defense system with ventilation shafts and capping stones. The passages are narrow and low, which can be challenging for those with limited space. The visit lasts one hour.
• Uçhisar Castle: a giant rock mass that is the highest point of the region; From the top, you can see the view extending to Güvercinlik Valley and Erciyes. The climb takes fifteen minutes and is one of the best spots in Cappadocia for sunset.
• Avanos: The town on the banks of the Kızılırmak is known for its pottery tradition dating back to the Hittite period. It is possible to experiment at the wheel in workshops; It's touristy but the craft is real. Half a day is enough.
• The entire region: Red Valley, Güvercinlik and Love Valley are connected to each other by walking routes. Walking early in the morning allows you to avoid both the heat and the crowds; There is no shade in the valleys in the afternoon.

Aegean: Ephesus, Pamukkale and Izmir

The center of the Aegean section is Izmir, but the main stops are outside the city. Staying in Selçuk means ten minutes away from Ephesus; Staying in Izmir and going for a day trip adds an hour and a half of travel each day.

• Ancient City of Ephesus: One of the best preserved ancient cities of the Mediterranean basin; The marble streets, the façade of the Celsus Library and the theater with a capacity of 24 thousand people are still standing. The Slope Houses section has a separate ticket and is away from the crowds. The mosaic floors are worth seeing. Entering from the upper door and exiting from the lower door makes you walk downhill, the opposite is tiring.
• Pamukkale Travertines: white terraces formed by thermal water loaded with calcium carbonate over thousands of years. The walk is done without shoes, you go barefoot on the travertines and the ground is sharp; Take a towel with you. Morning or sunset is better as afternoon light reflects white and tires the eyes.
• Hierapolis Ancient City: ancient spa city built right above the travertines; It can be visited with the same ticket. The necropolis section is the largest ancient cemetery in Anatolia, and the theater is better preserved than that of Ephesus. Allow a total of three hours for the visit to Travertine.
• Kemeraltı Bazaar: Izmir's historical bazaar, which has been operating since the 17th century; It is the place where you can see the daily life of the city with its inns, coffeehouses and street food. The area around Kızlarağası Hanı is the busiest area for craft shops.
• Kordon: Izmir's coastline along the gulf; An evening walk is the easiest way to understand the rhythm of the city. Sunset falls over the bay when looking towards Karşıyaka.

Mediterranean: Antalya and its surroundings

• Antalya Kaleiçi: old city surrounded by walls; Ottoman mansions, narrow stone streets and the old port all come together. Hadrian's Gate dates from the 2nd century and is still used as the main entrance. Traveling in the evening is both cooler and more atmospheric.
• Aspendos Ancient Theatre: An ancient theater from the Roman period with the best preserved acoustics in the world; The seating arrangement for 15 thousand people is almost completely standing. A whispered word from the stage is heard from the upper rows. 45 minutes from Antalya center, it hosts opera and ballet festivals in the summer months.
• Duden Waterfall: two separate points within the city, the lower waterfall flowing directly into the sea and the upper waterfall in the forest area. Seeing the Lower Duden from the sea by boat gives the most impressive angle; At the top, you can pass through the cave behind the waterfall.
• Konyaaltı Beach: pebble beach within walking distance of the city center, with Beydağları visible behind it. Since the water is clear but gravel, sea shoes will make your job easier.

Transportation: domestic flight, bus and car

The domestic flight network in Türkiye is very busy and if booked early, prices can compete with buses. When changing blocks, flying and using vehicles or transfers within the block is the most efficient method.

• Cappadocia has two airports: Nevşehir (NAV) is 40 minutes away from the region, Kayseri (ASR) is 70 minutes away. There are more flights to Kayseri and tickets are generally cheaper.
• Transfer between two airports in Istanbul takes 1.5-2 hours; When buying your domestic ticket, be sure to check which airport it departs from.
• The difference in comfort between bus companies is large; Night bus saves you a hotel night on long distances, but leaves you tired the next day.
• Car rental is very useful around Cappadocia and Antalya, but is absolutely unnecessary in Istanbul.

When to go?

April-May and September-October are by far the best periods for this route: the sea season is open in the Aegean and the Mediterranean, the weather is walkable in Central Anatolia, and the unshaded areas in ancient cities are bearable. July-August makes Ephesus and Pamukkale difficult; Noon temperatures exceed 38 degrees and there is no shade in either area. November-March is still good for Istanbul and Cappadocia, even Cappadocia looks very different with the snow, but the balloon cancellation rate is highest in these months.