Grand tour of Türkiye · 15 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.
• Spice Bazaar & Eminönü waterfront · 2 h. The streets west of the bazaar are cheaper than inside; try balık ekmek from the boats at Eminönü.

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

• 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.

Local tip: Entry about €30 and included in the Museum Pass Istanbul; queues peak at sunset, so go early or late.

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 → Selçuk (Ephesus)

Selçuk (Ephesus) · Cappadocia to Selçuk (Ephesus), Flight Kayseri–Izmir (direct or via Istanbul) + train ~1h

• 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 7 route in Google Maps

Day 8: 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.
• Ephesus Archaeological Museum · 1.5 h

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

Open day 8 route in Google Maps

Day 9: 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 9 route in Google Maps

Day 10: Pamukkale → Fethiye (Ölüdeniz)

Fethiye (Ölüdeniz) · Pamukkale to Fethiye (Ölüdeniz), Bus or car ~3.5h

• 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)

• 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.
• Kayaköy ghost village · 2 h. Abandoned Greek houses after the 1923 population exchange; a marked trail continues to Ölüdeniz (~2h).
• 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.

Local tip: About €100–150 including the drive up; flights stop in strong wind. Non-flyers can ride the Babadağ cable car for the view.

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: Fethiye (Ölüdeniz) → Antalya

Antalya · Fethiye (Ölüdeniz) to Antalya, Bus ~4h inland, or ~6h on the coast road via Kaş

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

Open day 13 route in Google Maps

Day 14: Explore Antalya

Antalya

• Düden Waterfalls (Upper and Lower) · 2 h. Upper Düden is a park with a small fee; Lower Düden drops into the sea and is best seen from a harbour boat.
• Aspendos Roman theatre · 2 h. ~45 min east; one of the best-preserved Roman theatres, still used for summer opera and ballet.
• Harbour boat trip to the Lower Düden falls · 2 h
• Perge ancient city · 2 h. ~20 min from the city on the tram line's eastern end; combine with Aspendos in a half-day.

Local tip: Upper Düden is a park with a small fee; Lower Düden drops into the sea and is best seen from a harbour boat.

Open day 14 route in Google Maps

Day 15: Depart from Antalya

Antalya

• Antalya Museum · 2 h. Statues from Perge; a good midday escape from the heat.

Local tip: Statues from Perge; a good midday escape from the heat.

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

Open day 15 route in Google Maps