Turkey
Turkey, in a few days
From Istanbul to Cappadocia, then Pamukkale and the coast at Antalya: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.
- Day by day
- 1 Istanbul Days 1-3
- 2 Cappadocia Days 4-5
- 3 Pamukkale and Hierapolis Day 6
- 4 Antalya and the coast Day 7
- Worth sorting before you go
- Words that help
- The practical page
- Packing checklist
Day by day
Istanbul
The only city standing on two continents, and the capital of two empires under the name Constantinople. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar sit within a short walk of one another.
- Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern, guided3h · from €40A church from 537 that became a mosque, then a museum, then a mosque again, and the sixth-century cistern held up by 336 columns.
- Bosphorus cruise2h · from €25Two hours on the strait that divides Europe from Asia, past wooden waterfront houses and two Ottoman fortresses.
- The Blue Mosque
- The Grand Bazaar
- Balat district
- Sultanahmet Square
Cappadocia
Volcanic rock eroded into cones and hollowed into houses, churches and whole underground cities. Around a hundred balloons go up at first light on a flying day.
- Hot air balloon at sunrise1h · from €180An hour over the valleys as the light arrives. Wind cancels flights often, so book early in your stay and keep a spare morning.
- The valleys by quad bike or on footHalf day · from €45Half a day through Rose Valley and Love Valley, which no road reaches.
- Love Valley and the fairy chimneys
- The cave village of Uchisar
- Sunset over Göreme
- An underground city
Pamukkale and Hierapolis
White travertine terraces laid down over millennia by hot calcium-rich springs, with the Roman spa city of Hierapolis on the ridge above them.
- The travertine pools and HierapolisHalf day · from €15Barefoot up the white terraces, which is the rule, then the Roman theatre and necropolis of the spa town above.
- Cleopatra's antique pool1h · from €12A warm spring pool with fallen marble columns lying on the bottom since an earthquake brought them down.
- Sunset on the terraces
- The Hierapolis site
- Pamukkale village
Antalya and the coast
The Ottoman old town of Kaleici inside its walls, Roman stonework still in the street plan, and beaches under the Taurus mountains.
- Kaleici old town, guided2h · from €20Ottoman houses, the Roman harbour, and Hadrian's Gate, raised for the emperor's visit in the year 130.
- Boat trip to the covesFull day · from €40A day along the coast, stopping in inlets that open only from the water.
- The Düden waterfalls
- The Roman harbour
- Konyaalti beach
- Hadrian's Gate
Worth sorting before you go
Domestic flights and a car · Istanbul to Cappadocia is an hour and a quarter in the air against eleven on the road. A car or a long-distance bus covers Pamukkale and the coast.
Online the moment you land, no roaming bill.
Get one · Holafly
Health, luggage, cancellation.
Cover it · Ekta
Compare the agencies before you land.
Compare · Booking
Pay at the real rate, with no exchange markup.
Open one · Revolut
A private car at a fixed price from the moment you land.
Book it · GetTransfer
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Flavours & local habits
🍽️ Worth tasting
- Kebab and doner, in more forms than the two words suggest.
- Meze: a spread of small plates, ordered for the whole table.
- Pide and lahmacun: flatbreads, and the closest thing to a Turkish pizza.
- Baklava and lokum, layered pastry and rose-scented cubes of sugar.
- Cay and Turkish coffee, drunk all day and never in a hurry.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Agree the price first, and be wary of strangers who are too helpful.
- Haggle at the bazaar, and do it with a smile.
- Cover shoulders and knees in mosques, and bring a scarf for the head.
- Tea offered in a shop is a courtesy, not an obligation to buy.
Words that help
English ↔ Turkish
| English | Turkish |
|---|---|
| Hello | Merhaba |
| Thank you | Teşekkürler |
| Please | Lütfen |
| Yes | Evet |
| No | Hayır |
| Excuse me | Affedersiniz |
| Goodbye | Hoşça kalın |
| Do you speak English? | İngilizce biliyor musunuz? |
| I don't understand | Anlamıyorum |
| How much is it? | Ne kadar? |
| Where are the toilets? | Tuvalet nerede? |
| The bill, please | Hesap, lütfen |
| Help! | İmdat! |
| Cheers! | Şerefe! |
The practical page
Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/turkey
Packing checklist
Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.