Ancient sites: Istanbul, Gallipoli & Troy, Ephesus and Pamukkale · 10 days

Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul

Istanbul

• Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan) · 1 h. Run by the city, so not on the Museum Pass; evening entry costs more. Buy online to skip the street queue.
• Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) · 2.5 h. Closed Sundays and on the first day of religious holidays. Haggling is expected; agree prices in lira.

Local tip: Run by the city, so not on the Museum Pass; evening entry costs more. Buy online to skip the street queue.

Open day 1 route in Google Maps

Day 2: Explore Istanbul

Istanbul

• Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) upper gallery visit · 1.5 h. Hagia Sophia is a working mosque; foreign visitors use a separate paid route to the upper galleries (about €25). Cover shoulders and knees; women cover their hair. Queue at opening.
• Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) · 1 h. Free; closed to visitors during the five daily prayers and for longer at Friday midday. Shoes off, headscarves lent at the door.
• Topkapı Palace & Harem · 3 h. Closed Tuesdays. Palace plus Harem is about €50; the Museum Pass Istanbul covers both and skips the ticket queue.
• Süleymaniye Mosque & terrace view · 1.5 h. Free and calmer than the Blue Mosque; the rear courtyard looks over the Golden Horn at sunset. Same dress code and prayer-time closures.
• Balat & Fener walk and Chora (Kariye) Mosque · 3 h. Steep, cobbled streets with coloured houses and cafés; the Chora mosaics charge foreign visitors about €20.

Local tip: Hagia Sophia is a working mosque; foreign visitors use a separate paid route to the upper galleries (about €25). Cover shoulders and knees; women cover their hair. Queue at opening.

Open day 2 route in Google Maps

Day 3: Explore Istanbul

Istanbul

• Spice Bazaar & Eminönü waterfront · 2 h. The streets west of the bazaar are cheaper than inside; try balık ekmek from the boats at Eminönü.
• Galata Tower & Karaköy lanes · 1.5 h. Entry about €30 and included in the Museum Pass Istanbul; queues peak at sunset, so go early or late.
• Bosphorus cruise (Şehir Hatları ferry or private sunset boat) · 2 h. The public Şehir Hatları short Bosphorus tour from Eminönü costs a fraction of private boats; private sunset cruises run about €25–40.
• Dolmabahçe Palace · 2 h. Closed Mondays; visits follow a set route and indoor photography is restricted. Atatürk died here in 1938.
• Kadıköy market food walk on the Asian side · 3 h. Take the ferry from Eminönü or Karaköy (~20 min). Self-guided grazing is cheap; guided food walks cost about €70–100.

Local tip: The streets west of the bazaar are cheaper than inside; try balık ekmek from the boats at Eminönü.

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Istanbul → Çanakkale (Gallipoli & Troy)

Çanakkale (Gallipoli & Troy) · Istanbul to Çanakkale (Gallipoli & Troy), Bus ~5h via the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge

• Troy archaeological site (Truva) · 2 h. ~30 min south of town by dolmuş; the ruins span many layers, so a guide or the signboards help. Little shade.

Local tip: ~30 min south of town by dolmuş; the ruins span many layers, so a guide or the signboards help. Little shade.

Open day 4 route in Google Maps

Day 5: Gallipoli battlefields guided tour (Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair)

Çanakkale (Gallipoli & Troy)

• Gallipoli battlefields guided tour (Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair) · 7 h. Tours cross by ferry to Eceabat or Kilitbahir and include lunch. Around 25 April (Anzac Day) the peninsula is crowded and roads close.

Local tip: Tours cross by ferry to Eceabat or Kilitbahir and include lunch. Around 25 April (Anzac Day) the peninsula is crowded and roads close.

Open day 5 route in Google Maps

Day 6: Çanakkale (Gallipoli & Troy) → Selçuk (Ephesus)

Selçuk (Ephesus) · Çanakkale (Gallipoli & Troy) to Selçuk (Ephesus), Bus ~6.5h via Izmir

• Ephesus ancient city (Library of Celsus & Great Theatre) · 3 h. About €40. Arrive at opening and walk downhill from the upper gate before cruise groups arrive; little shade, carry water.

Local tip: About €40. Arrive at opening and walk downhill from the upper gate before cruise groups arrive; little shade, carry water.

Open day 6 route in Google Maps

Day 7: Explore Selçuk (Ephesus)

Selçuk (Ephesus)

• Ephesus Terrace Houses · 1 h. Separate ticket inside Ephesus; covered Roman villas with mosaics and frescoes.
• House of the Virgin Mary · 1 h. On a hill ~8 km from Ephesus with no public transport; combine with Ephesus by taxi or tour.
• Şirince village & fruit-wine tasting · 3 h. ~15 min by dolmuş from Selçuk; taste before buying the fruit wines.
• Temple of Artemis site · 0.5 h. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, now a single rebuilt column in a marshy field.
• Basilica of St John & Ayasuluk Fortress · 1.5 h
• Ephesus Archaeological Museum · 1.5 h

Local tip: Separate ticket inside Ephesus; covered Roman villas with mosaics and frescoes.

Open day 7 route in Google Maps

Day 8: Selçuk (Ephesus) → Pamukkale

Pamukkale · Selçuk (Ephesus) to Pamukkale, Bus or train via Denizli ~3h

• Pamukkale travertines & Hierapolis · 3.5 h. About €30. Shoes off on the white terraces (bring a bag); late afternoon light is softer and it is cooler. Many pools are dry or roped off.

Local tip: About €30. Shoes off on the white terraces (bring a bag); late afternoon light is softer and it is cooler. Many pools are dry or roped off.

Open day 8 route in Google Maps

Day 9: Explore Pamukkale

Pamukkale

• Cleopatra's Pool (Antique Pool) swim · 1.5 h. Separate ticket; warm spring water over fallen Roman columns. Go early before it fills.
• Hierapolis theatre & necropolis walk · 2 h. Covered by the Hierapolis ticket; the theatre is uphill, so start early in summer.
• Laodicea ancient city · 2 h. ~15 min by car; quieter than Hierapolis and still under excavation.
• Pamukkale balloon flight · 3 h. Shorter and cheaper than Cappadocia flights; also weather-dependent.
• Tandem paragliding over the travertines · 1.5 h

Local tip: Separate ticket; warm spring water over fallen Roman columns. Go early before it fills.

Open day 9 route in Google Maps

Day 10: Depart from Pamukkale

Pamukkale

Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.