Budget loop: Istanbul, Cappadocia & the Lycian coast · 13 days

Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul

Istanbul

• Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) · 2.5 h. Closed Sundays and on the first day of religious holidays. Haggling is expected; agree prices in lira.
• 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.

Local tip: Closed Sundays and on the first day of religious holidays. Haggling is expected; agree prices in lira.

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.
• Spice Bazaar & Eminönü waterfront · 2 h. The streets west of the bazaar are cheaper than inside; try balık ekmek from the boats at Eminönü.
• 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.
• 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.

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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Local tip: Steep, cobbled streets with coloured houses and cafés; the Chora mosaics charge foreign visitors about €20.

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Istanbul → Cappadocia

Cappadocia · Istanbul to Cappadocia, Flight ~1h20m to Kayseri (ASR) or Nevşehir (NAV) + shuttle ~1h

• Göreme Open-Air Museum · 2 h. Rock-cut churches with frescoes; the Dark Church has a separate ticket. Covered by the Museum Pass Türkiye; go at opening.
• Uçhisar Castle viewpoint · 1 h. The highest point in the area; steep steps to the top.

Local tip: Rock-cut churches with frescoes; the Dark Church has a separate ticket. Covered by the Museum Pass Türkiye; go at opening.

Open day 4 route in Google Maps

Day 5: Explore Cappadocia

Cappadocia

• Hot-air balloon flight at sunrise over Göreme · 3.5 h. About €150–300 depending on season and basket size. Flights are cancelled on windy or wet mornings, so keep a spare morning; most operators set a minimum age around 6.
• Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı underground city · 1.5 h. Several levels below ground with narrow, low passages; skip if claustrophobic. Kaymaklı is closer to Göreme.
• Red & Rose Valley hike at sunset · 3 h. Start from Çavuşin or the Kızılçukur viewpoint; carry a torch for the walk out after sunset.

Local tip: About €150–300 depending on season and basket size. Flights are cancelled on windy or wet mornings, so keep a spare morning; most operators set a minimum age around 6.

Open day 5 route in Google Maps

Day 6: Green tour: Derinkuyu underground city, Ihlara Valley & Selime

Cappadocia

• Green tour: Derinkuyu underground city, Ihlara Valley & Selime · 8 h. Includes lunch by the river in Ihlara and entry fees on most tours; the underground tunnels are low and tight.

Local tip: Includes lunch by the river in Ihlara and entry fees on most tours; the underground tunnels are low and tight.

Open day 6 route in Google Maps

Day 7: Cappadocia → Antalya

Antalya · Cappadocia to Antalya, Overnight bus ~9h, or flight via Istanbul

• Kaleiçi old town, Hadrian's Gate & old harbour · 2.5 h

Open day 7 route in Google Maps

Day 8: Antalya → Kaş

Kaş · Antalya to Kaş, Bus ~3.5h on the coast road

• Antiphellos theatre at sunset · 1 h
• Kaputaş beach · 3 h. ~20 min west on the coast road; about 180 steps down from the road and little shade.

Local tip: ~20 min west on the coast road; about 180 steps down from the road and little shade.

Open day 8 route in Google Maps

Day 9: Kekova sunken city boat trip

Kaş

• Kekova sunken city boat trip · 7 h. Swimming over the sunken ruins is not allowed; the trip stops at Kaleköy (Simena) castle and swim coves.

Local tip: Swimming over the sunken ruins is not allowed; the trip stops at Kaleköy (Simena) castle and swim coves.

Open day 9 route in Google Maps

Day 10: Kaş → Fethiye (Ölüdeniz)

Fethiye (Ölüdeniz) · Kaş to Fethiye (Ölüdeniz), Bus ~2h on the coast road

• Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon beach · 3 h. The lagoon is a nature park with a small entry fee; the public beach in front of the town is free.
• Tomb of Amyntas (Lycian rock tombs) · 1 h

Local tip: The lagoon is a nature park with a small entry fee; the public beach in front of the town is free.

Open day 10 route in Google Maps

Day 11: Explore Fethiye (Ölüdeniz)

Fethiye (Ölüdeniz)

• Butterfly Valley by boat · 4 h. Shuttle boats from Ölüdeniz (~30 min); small entry fee. The walk to the waterfall is short; butterflies peak in summer.
• Kayaköy ghost village · 2 h. Abandoned Greek houses after the 1923 population exchange; a marked trail continues to Ölüdeniz (~2h).
• Tandem paragliding from Babadağ over Ölüdeniz · 2 h. About €100–150 including the drive up; flights stop in strong wind. Non-flyers can ride the Babadağ cable car for the view.

Local tip: Shuttle boats from Ölüdeniz (~30 min); small entry fee. The walk to the waterfall is short; butterflies peak in summer.

Open day 11 route in Google Maps

Day 12: 12 islands boat trip

Fethiye (Ölüdeniz)

• 12 islands boat trip · 7 h. Boats leave Fethiye harbour around 10:30am with lunch; pick a quieter boat if you do not want music.

Local tip: Boats leave Fethiye harbour around 10:30am with lunch; pick a quieter boat if you do not want music.

Open day 12 route in Google Maps

Day 13: Depart from Fethiye (Ölüdeniz)

Fethiye (Ölüdeniz)

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