Routes with time to stop
A few realistic routes you can use as a starting point. Change the order, add a slow morning or leave a day free; the point is to enjoy the trip, not to finish a checklist.
The classic first trip: three days in Istanbul, then fly to Kayseri or Nevşehir for fairy chimneys, cave hotels and an early balloon flight.
Add Ephesus, Pamukkale and the Lycian coast. This route balances cities, ruins, beaches and one unforgettable landscape.
Istanbul, Bursa, Çanakkale, İzmir, Pamukkale, Antalya, Cappadocia and Ankara, a rounded first look at western and central Türkiye.
Istanbul's bazaars and meyhanes, then Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa for baklava, kebabs and Göbeklitepe.
Istanbul ferries and museums, Antalya beaches and waterfalls, then Cappadocia's underground cities and pottery workshops.
14 days, The grand loop
Istanbul, Bursa, Çanakkale, İzmir, Pamukkale, Antalya, Cappadocia and Ankara, a rounded first look at western and central Türkiye.
Istanbul · 3 days
Historic peninsula, Bosphorus, Beyoğlu and the Asian side.
Bursa · 1 day
Ulu Cami, Koza Han, Cumalıkızık and İskender kebab.
Çanakkale · 1 day
Troy, the Dardanelles and the Gallipoli peninsula.
İzmir · 2 days
Kemeraltı, Kordon, Ephesus, Selçuk and Şirince.
Pamukkale · 1 day
Travertines, Hierapolis and the antique pool.
Antalya · 2 days
Kaleiçi, Perge, Aspendos, Side and the Lycian coast.
Cappadocia · 2 days
Göreme, underground cities, Ihlara Valley and a balloon flight.
Ankara · 1 day
Anıtkabir and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Istanbul · 1 day
Last bazaar, hammam or a Bosphorus ferry before departure.
These are starting points, not fixed packages. Check opening days, flight times and driving distances before booking.