14 Days in Turkey
Trip Overview
This 14-day circuit starts in Istanbul's muezzin-filled alleyways, floats above Cappadocia's honeycomb cliffs at sunrise, hikes to Roman aqueducts in the Taurus foothills, and finishes on the cedar-scented coves of the Turquoise Coast. Expect early morning balloon rides, pomegranate-scented kebabs sizzling over charcoal, and the coppery clang of bazaars. The pace is moderate, three-night stands in the big three stops keep suitcase shuffling low and depth high.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$140, 190 per day
Best Seasons
Mid-April to late-May or mid-September to late-October
Ideal For
First-time visitors to Turkey, History-minded foodies, Photography addicts, Couples mixing romance and ruins
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Istanbul Arrival & Bosphorus Breeze
Touch down in Europe's eastern edge, then glide across the Bosphorus strait as minaret silhouettes blush at sunset.
Morning
Airport to Sultanahmet tram ride
Buy an Istanbulkart card at the airport metro, ride the M1 tram to Zeytinburnu, switch to the T1 tram clacking toward Sultanahmet. Watch marble apartment blocks give way to Ottoman wooden houses painted burgundy and pistachio.
Lunch
Pandeli (inside Spice Bazaar)
Afternoon
Bosphorus ferry hop
Board the Şehir Hatları public ferry at Eminönü. Seagulls wheel overhead as you sip black tea from tul-polished tulip glasses. On the Asian shore, 19th-century yalı villas lean over the green water. Disembire at Üsküdar for a 30-min wander among blue İznik tileswork.
Check winter schedule, fewuts drop to hourly after 18 Oct
Evening
Sunset kebab crawl
Start at Şehzade Erzurum Cağ Kebap for horizontally roasted lamb, finish with künefe at Hafız Mustafa 1864
Where to Stay Tonight
Sultanahmet (Hotel Amira Istanbul)
Three-minute walk to the Basilica Cistern but on a quiet crest, so call-to-prayer echo is softer at dawn
See all Turkey accommodation options →Sit on the ferry's right side heading up-strait for Hagia Sophia postcard views without jostling the selfie crowd
Day 1 Budget: $110
2
Ottoman Icons Before the Crowds
Beat cruise groups into Topkapı Palace, descend under the city into 6th-century flood-lit columns.
Morning
Topkapı Palace at 9 a.m. opening
Enter through the imperial Bab-ı Hümayun gate. Smell burnt sage from the palace kitchens where 10,000 meals once sizzled. Glide through the treasury's dagger-lined corridors before Chinese tour buses arrive.
Buy ticket online; Harem section sells out by 11 a.m.
Lunch
Karaköy Gümrük Hane
Afternoon
Basilica Cistern & Hagia Sophia combo
Descend 52 stone steps into the cistern. Watch carp slide between flood-lit columns dripping mineral water onto your sleeves. Surface, cross the park, and step into Hagia Sophia's 1,500-year-old dome where Christian mosaics peek through Islamic calligraphy.
Evening
Karaköy rooftop
Mikla Restaurant for mezze plates and salted caramel ice cream overlooking the Golden Horn
Where to Stay Tonight
Sultanahmet (Hotel Amira Istanbul)
Same base avoids repacking. Concierge stores bags if you take the late-night flight tomorrow
See all Turkey accommodation options →Bring a light scarf, cistern humidity feels 5 °C cooler than street level
Day 2 Budget: $165
3
Grand Bazaar & Turkish Bath Detox
Copper coffee scents, carpet bargaining, and a 500-year-old scrubdown inside a working hamam.
Morning
Grand Bazaar treasure hunt
Enter via the Beyazıt gate. Listen for the ting-tang of coppersmiths hammering coffee pots. Seek out Şark Kahvesi for cardamom-laced Turkish coffee brewed over hot sand, then haggle for silk ikat pillows in the back alleys of the Zincirli Han courtyard.
Shops open 8:30 a.m.; wholesalers leave by noon, go early for best prices
Lunch
Pandeli (inside Spice Bazaar)
Afternoon
Çemberlitaş Hamam bath
Pay the tellak (attendant) for the traditional scrub. Lie on the göbektaşı marble platform under star-shaped skylight holes. Feel olive-oil soap bubbles slide across skin as the attendant cracks joints and pours warm water from a copper bowl.
Reserve the 'Pasha' treatment online; women's section quieter after 3 p.m.
Evening
Galata Bridge sunset & fish bread
Grab a sesame-crusted balık ekmek sandwich from rocking boats, eat on the rail as ferries honk below
Where to Stay Tonight
Sultanahmet (Hotel Amira Istanbul)
Short uphill walk post-hamam when legs feel like jelly
See all Turkey accommodation options →Bring flip-flops, hamam provides wooden clogs but sizes run small
Day 3 Budget: $140
4
Cappadocia Touch-Down & Valley Hike
Göreme, Cappadocia
Fly to the Anatolian heartland, walk pink-tinged rock formations at golden hour.
Morning
Istanbul IST to Nevşehir flight
6:30 a.m. Turkish Airlines departure. Watch the Marmara Sea shrink as you climb over rolling wheat fields turning ochre in early autumn. Land 8:05 a.m.; shuttle vans wait outside baggage claim.
Book window seat left side for first sight of volcanic tuff valleys
Lunch
Dibek Restaurant (Göreme)
Afternoon
Red & Rose Valleys trek
Start at Çavuşin village. Descend between mushroom-shaped rock cones striped rose and pistachio. Hear your boots crunch on pumice while the scent of wild thyme rises under the afternoon sun. Finish at Sunset Point above Göreme for apricot-colored panoramas.
Pick up free map from Göreme outdoor office, trails way-marked with red dots
Evening
Cave wine tasting
Kocabağ winery terrace: sip amber-colored Emir wine while listening to the call to prayer echo across the valley
Where to Stay Tonight
Göreme (Kelebek Special Cave Hotel)
Rooms carved into 5th-century monk cells. Rooftop has velvet beanbags for star-gazing
See all Turkey accommodation options →Pack a headlamp, some cave churches along the trail have no lighting
Day 4 Budget: $150
5
Hot-Air Balloon Dawn & Underground City
Göreme, Cappadocia
Float above honeycomb cliffs at sunrise, then descend eight stories into a subterranean warren.
Morning
Butter Balloons sunrise flight
4:30 a.m. pickup; watch 120 technicolor envelopes inflate while pilots explain wind charts. Lift-off just before dawn, SEE fifty other balloons glow like paper lanterns against violet sky, HEAR burner whooshes, SMELL propane, FEEL cool basket wicker, TASTE post-flight champagne.
Book Day-1; flights cancel 40 % of winter mornings and you need buffer days
Lunch
Old Cappadocia Café & Restaurant
Afternoon
Kaymakli Underground City
Climb down narrow tunnels carved by Hittites 3,000 years ago. Stoop through rolling-stone doors, touch volcanic tuff walls still cool in summer. Guide explains how 5,000 Christians hid here from Arab raiders, passing wine through carved chimneys.
Guides gather at ticket booth, join a group to hear ventilation genius details
Evening
Turkish Night in a cave restaurant
Göreme Dance and Music: watch whirling dervishes spin under colored spotlights, join the line for halay folk dance
Where to Stay Tonight
Göreme (Kelebek Special Cave Hotel)
Same hotel lets you nap off the 4 a.m. wake-up
See all Turkey accommodation options →Wear a hat in the balloon, burner heat rises and can scorch scalps
Day 5 Budget: $250
6
Ihlakık Canyon & Onyx Workshop
Göreme, Cappadocia
Hike between 100 m canyon walls, then try carving volcanic stone on a lathe.
Morning
Jeep transfer to Ihlakık Canyon
Open-top Land Rover bumps through mustard fields. Smell crushed sage under tires. Enter the canyon via old Greek village ruins, collapsed stone houses with purple mallow sprouting through windows. Walk along a stream that narrows to arm-span width. Touch mossy walls seeping spring water.
Bring dry-bag for camera, water can reach knees after spring melt
Lunch
Canyon-side picnic
Afternoon
Onyx carving at Avanos workshop
Sit at a foot-powered lathe and shape volcanic tuff into a miniature fairy chimney while master craftsman Hüseyin demonstrates 45-degree cutting angle. Feel spray of cool water that keeps stone from cracking. Leave with your own souvenir.
Shop mails finished piece to hotel same day if you buy polishing add-on ($5)
Evening
Sunset horseback among vineyards
Harpers Trail Rides: smell fermenting grapes while riding Paso Finos past apricot orchards
Where to Stay Tonight
Göreme (Kelebek Special Cave Hotel)
Short walk uphill to avoid sore quads next morning
See all Turkey accommodation options →Wear aqua shoes in canyon, regular sneakers stay wet for hours
Day 6 Budget: $130
7
Konya Detour & Silk Road Caravanserai
Spin west to the land of whirling dervishes, sleep in a 13th-century Seljuk stone inn.
Morning
Göreme to Konya road trip
Private transfer (3 h) pauses at Sultan Han, the largest caravanserai on the Silk Road. Run fingers over Seljuk star-carved marble, listen to echo of merchants' footsteps under pointed archways, smell sun-warmed Anatolian steppe dust.
Ask driver for photo stop at Tuz Gölü salt lake, mirror effect after rain
Lunch
Hacı Dayı Etli Ekmek
Afternoon
Mevlana Museum & Dervish Hall
Tour turquoise-tiled mausoleum of Rumi. Smell centuries-old rosewater sprinkled by pilgrims. Watch live sema ceremony in the side hall, white-skirted dervishes spin to ney reed-flute drones, felt hats tilted in trance.
Ceremonies start 2 p.m. Saturday; weekday visitors see 10-min demo only
Evening
Sema ceremony ticketed performance
Konya Cultural Centre, sit front row to hear skirt hems whip the air
Where to Stay Tonight
Konya city center (Rumi Hotel)
5-min walk to museum. Rooftop restaurant serves etli ekmek at 11 p.m. if you arrive late
See all Turkey accommodation options →Women must cover hair inside mausoleum, scarves sold for $1 at gate
Day 7 Budget: $155
8
Antalya Old Town & Düden Waterfalls
Drop from plateau to Mediterranean coast. Feel humidity return as citrus groves line the highway.
Morning
Board the Konya-Antalya regional train (2 h 45 m). Pass pine-forested Taurus slopes, see shepherds in black goat-hair tents. At Antalya station, taxi 20 min to Kaleiççi old town. Roll window down for orange-blossom scented air.
Reserve seat 1A for cliff-edge sea view entering Antalya
Lunch
Van Kahvaltı Evi
Afternoon
Kaleiçi maze & Düden Lower Falls
Wander Roman-era Hadrian's Gate, touch grooves of cart wheels etched into marble. Walk 15 min to Düden Park, hear thunder as green river drops 40 m straight into the sea. Feel salt mist on cheeks, taste ozone in the air.
Bring swimsuit, hidden cove below falls is swimmable when seas calm
Evening
Harbor sunset gulet cruise
Reserve the 2-hour sunset cruise from Kaleiçi marina. The crew hands out chilled melon and beyaz peynir while the sun drops behind the Beydağları range.
Where to Stay Tonight
Kaleiçi old town (Tuvana Hotel (Ottoman mansion))
Cobbled lanes car-free; jasmine vines over courtyard pool
See all Turkey accommodation options →Negotiate gulet price, captains drop 30 % after 6 p.m. to fill boats
Day 8 Budget: $125
9
Perge Roman Ruins & Aspendos Theatre
Trace the colonnaded streets where St. Paul once preached, then settle into a 15,000-seat cliff-hanger theatre.
Morning
Perge ancient city tour
Walk between Hellenistic gates whose grooves still show where chariot wheels bit the stone. Fallen marble crunches under sandals, cicadas buzz among poplars pushing up between the baths. Step into the 12,000-seat stadium and catch the scent of wild fennel threading through the tiers.
Guides at gate charge per group, split among travelers you meet
Lunch
Perge Köftecisi (near site exit)
Afternoon
Aspendos Theatre & Aqueduct
Stand in the world's best-preserved Roman theatre, whispers travel from stage to top row without effort. Climb the upper cavea for a mountain panorama, then follow the intact aqueduct arches that still carry melted snow water.
Check for evening opera festival if visiting June, Aug
Evening
Old Town rooftop dinner
At Seraser Fine Dining, spoon into okra & lamb stew while the call to prayer rolls off the stone walls.
Where to Stay Tonight
Kaleiçi old town (Tuvana Hotel)
Walking distance to marina for optional next-day dive trips
See all Turkey accommodation options →Bring wide-angle lens, Perge gate fits 24 mm frame well
Day 9 Budget: $140
10
Demre, Kekova Sunken City & Kaş
Kaş
The coastal road unwraps Lycian rock tombs, then you kayak over submerged Byzantine streets.
Morning
Antalya to Demre drive
A private transfer (2.5 h) hugs turquoise cliffs. Pause at Demre for Myra's 2nd-century theatre carved into the hillside. Pine resin drifts from recent forest fires, orange nets drape roadside racks to dry.
Ask for 30-min photo stop at Kaputaş Beach cove
Lunch
Kekik Restaurant (Üçağız village)
Afternoon
Sea-kayak over Kekova sunken city
Paddle glass-clear water above half-submerged Byzantine docks; SEE stone staircases vanish into turquoise nothing, HEAR the paddle drip echo off limestone islands, SMELL salty licorice from sea fennel, TASTE a fig handed over mid-tour by the guide. Swim break at Tersane Bay floats you over an ancient harbor.
Choose double kayak if worried about stability, current is mild
Evening
Kaş hillside sunset
Climb 10 min to Lions Tomb for an orange horizon, then head to Blue Moon Café for a meze dinner.
Where to Stay Tonight
Kaş old town (Pension Diana)
Roof terrace faces Greek island Meis, good for breakfast sunrise
See all Turkey accommodation options →Pack reef shoes, Kekova rocks are urchin territory
Day 10 Budget: $165
11
Paragliding & Saklıkent Gorge Walk
Rise 2,000 m above Ölüdeniz lagoon, then wade through a 300 m deep marble canyon.
Morning
Transfer to Ölüdeniz & tandem paraglide
Shuttle (1 h 20 m) to Babadağ launch site. Strap in, sprint off the cliff, SEE pine-covered headlands arc like a crocodile tail, HEAR wind roar past the helmet, FEEL the harness bite as the pilot spirals above the sugar-ship beach, SMELL juniper thermals. Touch down softly on Belceğiz Beach sand.
8:30 a.m. slot before thermals get bumpy. Weight limit 110 kg
Lunch
Buzz Beach Bar
Afternoon
Saklıkent Gorge trek
Enter the 18 km marble canyon where icy meltwater climbs to waist height. Wade against the current, steady yourself on wire ropes bolted into the cliff; 15 °C air exhales from cave-like bends. Optional cliff-jump platform waits 2 km inside.
Rent rubber shoes at entrance, sneakers get shredded
Evening
Fish market DIY dinner
Pick your sea b catch at Fethiye market, then any nearby café will grill it for $5 with salad.
Where to Stay Tonight
Fethiye old town (Yacht Classic Hotel)
Harbour-view pool; free kayaks for next-day island paddle
See all Turkey accommodation options →Bring dry-bag, gorge water level can rise suddenly after afternoon storms
Day 11 Budget: $180
12
12-Island Gulet Cruise & Butterfly Valley Valley
Sail pine-fringed coves, swim inside phosphorescent caves, hike to a waterfall scented with damp mint.
Morning
12-Island gulet day-sail
Board the wooden gulet at 9:30 a.m.; glide past Domuz Island where wild boar prints dot the sand. Anchor at Cleopatra's Bath, snorkel over Byzantine column drums resting 3 m below. The crew grills lüfer (grouper) on deck; the sizzle mingles with pine-resin crackle.
Choose smaller 20-passenger boat for quieter coves
Lunch
On-board grilled fish
Afternoon
Butterfly Valley hike & waterfall
Tender to Butterfly Valley. Hike 25 min over river rocks to a 60 m waterfall. Damp mint perfumes the shade, Jersey tiger butterflies flash orange against grey schist walls. Clip in for an optional rock-climb over the last 100 m.
Wear strapped sandals, river crossings slippery
Evening
Rooftop rakı-balık
At Girida Restaurant, watch the sun melt into Fethiye bay while you sip anise rakı that clouds when water meets it.
Where to Stay Tonight
Fethiye old town (Yacht Classic Hotel)
Same base means you can leave wet gear to dry on balcony
See all Turkey accommodation options →Charge GoPro overnight, gulet has one power strip for 20 phones
Day 12 Budget: $135
13
Kaunos Ruins & Turtle Beach
Dalyan
Mud-bath delta, Lycian rock tombs glowing amber, and a 5 km sandbar where loggerheads lay their eggs.
Morning
Fethiye to Dalyan shuttle
A 1 h 30 m minibus climbs a mountain pass. Pomegranate stands perfume every bend. Reach Dalyan marina, board a flat-bottom reed boat downriver, HEAR a kingfisher splash, SEE tilapia swirl, SMELL sulphur drifting from distant mud vents.
Sit port side for clearest view of Kaunos façade
Lunch
Beyaz Güver Restaurant (riverfront)
Afternoon
Kaunos ruins & İztuzu Beach
Walk the weed-cracked streets of Kaunos past a 2nd-century theatre overlooking reeds. Re-board the boat to İztuzu, 4 km spit where the Aege meets the Mediterranean. Spot loggerhead turtle tracks if you arrive May, Oct; swim as waves break on both sides of the narrow sand.
No sunbeds after 20 May, turtle nesting zone
Evening
Mud bath spa
Sultaniye Hot Springs: coat yourself in warm grey mud, bake in the sun, rinse under a 40 °C mineral shower.
Where to Stay Tonight
Dalyan town (Beydağları Lodge)
Garden opens onto reed beds, wake to bee-eater birds darting overhead
See all Turkey accommodation options →Pack dark swimwear, sulphur mud stains light fabrics
Day 13 Budget: $130
14
Return to Istanbul & Bosphorus Dinner
Coastal flight back, last-minute spice shopping, and a candlelit fish feast on the water.
Morning
Dalaman to Istanbul flight
A 35-min hop to Istanbul IST; from the airport ride the M11 metro under the new Bosphorus tunnel, emerge downtown in 45 min. Drop bags at the hotel, head straight to the Spice Bazaar before stalls close for noon prayer.
Pick right-side window for aerial view of Princes' Islands
Lunch
Pandeli (yes, again, consistency for final meal)
Afternoon
Grand Bazaar final sweep & Turkish delight tasting
Circle back to the Arasta Bazaar segment for a quieter souvenir hunt. At Hacı Bekir, taste rose, pistachio, and mastic lokum varieties dusted with icing sugar. Watch staff stretch molten sugar across marble slabs.
Ship sealed boxes air-freight, customs allows 2 kg to most countries
Evening
Bosphorus Night dinner cruise
Orient Bosphorus boat: multi-course meyhane menu, live fasıl quartet, bridges lit LED rainbow overhead.
Where to Stay Tonight
Galata waterfront (Georges Hotel Galata)
Short taxi to airport at 4 a.m., rooftop bar gives final Istanbul glitter
See all Turkey accommodation options →Ask waiter for raki-meze pairing chart, each meze has a traditional raki ratio
Day 14 Budget: $180
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Domestic flights (Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya) booked early save 40 %. Ride regional trains (Konya, Antalya) for the scenery. Inter-city transfers via private shuttle companies (e.g., Moonlight, Ekol) cost less than taxis and include hotel pick-up.
Book Ahead
Lock in the Cappadocia balloon slot (Day 5), Ephesus guides (if added), Bosphorus dinner cruise (Day 14). Hotels in Sultanahmet & Göreme fill April, Oct, reserve 90 days out.
Packing Essentials
Pack a light scarf for mosques, reef shoes for rocky beaches, a dry-bag for Saklıkent wading, layers (Cappadocia dawns 5 °C, coast 30 °C), universal plug (Turkey uses both C & F).
Total Budget
$2,000, 2,700 per person excluding airfare, mid-range hotels, guided entries, one balloon flight.
Book Activities for Your Trip
Tours, tickets, and experiences in Turkey
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Turkey.
See All Turkey Tours on Viator