Turkey packs Roman cities, Byzantine churches, Ottoman palaces, volcanic valleys and a long turquoise coast into one country. Choosing is the hard part. These fifteen experiences are the ones our guests talk about after they come home, grouped by region so you can see how they fit together.
Istanbul
1. Stand under the dome of Hagia Sophia, then cross the square to the Blue Mosque and descend into the Basilica Cistern.
2. Lose yourself in the Grand Bazaar and continue to the Spice Bazaar by the Golden Horn.
3. Cross between continents by ferry, from Eminönü to Kadıköy, at sunset.
4. Spend an hour in a hammam, the traditional Turkish bath.
More in our Istanbul guide and our day trips from Istanbul.
Cappadocia and Central Anatolia
5. Watch, or join, the balloons at sunrise. Our balloon guide covers prices and cancellations.
6. Sleep in a cave hotel and walk Red Valley or Love Valley at sunset.
7. Go underground in the cities of Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu; see our guide to the underground cities.
8. Visit the Mevlâna Museum in Konya, the lodge of the poet Rumi and the whirling dervishes.
The Aegean and the Mediterranean
9. Walk the marble streets of Ephesus to the Library of Celsus.
10. Walk barefoot on the travertines of Pamukkale and swim among Roman columns; see our Pamukkale guide.
11. Spend a day on a gulet among the islands of Fethiye or over the sunken city of Kekova; see our Fethiye and Ölüdeniz guide.
12. Swim in the Ölüdeniz lagoon, or watch the paragliders land on the beach.
Eastern Turkey
13. Stand among the 11,000-year-old pillars of Göbeklitepe.
14. See the sunrise on Mount Nemrut among the stone heads of the gods.
15. Wander the stone lanes of Mardin above the Mesopotamian plain.
Our Eastern Turkey itinerary links them in one route.
And everywhere: eat
Breakfast spreads, meze, kebabs, baklava and endless glasses of tea are an experience in themselves. Our Turkish food guide lists the dishes to look for in each region.
How to fit it all in
No single trip covers all fifteen. Istanbul and Cappadocia take a week; add the Aegean for ten days, the coast or Eastern Turkey for two weeks. Our 7, 10 and 14-day itineraries show how to combine them, and our guide to the best time to visit Turkey tells you when each region is at its best.
With KAMPA Tours & Events
Highlights of Turkey + Antalya covers Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, Ephesus and the Mediterranean in 15 days; Turkey: Off the Beaten Path adds Safranbolu, Sagalassos and a Fethiye islands cruise; 13 Days of Eastern Turkey is the eastern route; and The Turkish Riviera is a week by the sea.
