Suggested Itineraries
Most people come to Turkey primarily to see Istanbul (which can be done in a long weekend), the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts and Cappadocia. You can see a lot of the country in sic to eight weeks but if your time is limited, here are some suggestions:
3-5 days: Base yourself in Istanbul, and take an overnight trip to Ephesus (Selcuk) or to Troy and the Dardanelles.
3-5 days: Base yourself in Istanbul, and take an overnight trip to Ephesus (Selcuk) or to Troy and the Dardanelles.
1 week: Spend two nights in Istanbul before heading down to Gallipoli and Troy (one night), and on to Bergama (Pergamum; one night), Ephesus (two nights), with a excursion to Priene, Miletus, and Didyma. Return to Istanbul (one night).
2 weeks: To the one week itinerary add an excursion from Kusadasi to Pamukkale and Hierapolis via Afrodisias (one or two nights). Continue along the coast spending two or three nights in Dalyan, Fethiye, Kas, Olympos or Antalya. The cut inland to Cappadocia (three nights) and return via Konya (one night) or Ankara.
1 month: Follow the above itinerary, spending longer in each destination and relaxing for four days on a gullet (Turkish yacht) on the coast. Add a two-week tour of eastern Turkey and the Black Sea, taking in Amasya, Trabzon, Erzurum, Kars, Dogubayazit (Mt. Ararat), Van, Mardin, Diyarbakir, Sanliurfa and Mount Nemrut, returning to Ankara via Bogazkale (Hattusa). On your way back to Istanbul you can spend one night in Safranbolu.
2 weeks: To the one week itinerary add an excursion from Kusadasi to Pamukkale and Hierapolis via Afrodisias (one or two nights). Continue along the coast spending two or three nights in Dalyan, Fethiye, Kas, Olympos or Antalya. The cut inland to Cappadocia (three nights) and return via Konya (one night) or Ankara.
1 month: Follow the above itinerary, spending longer in each destination and relaxing for four days on a gullet (Turkish yacht) on the coast. Add a two-week tour of eastern Turkey and the Black Sea, taking in Amasya, Trabzon, Erzurum, Kars, Dogubayazit (Mt. Ararat), Van, Mardin, Diyarbakir, Sanliurfa and Mount Nemrut, returning to Ankara via Bogazkale (Hattusa). On your way back to Istanbul you can spend one night in Safranbolu.
