The Ultimate 10-Day Turkey Itinerary: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Alacati

This 10-day Turkey itinerary covers popular and offbeat spots, complete with things to do, hotels, restaurants, how to get around, and all our best tips! Follow this itinerary on your Turkey trip to visually feast on grand architecture in Istanbul, be mesmerised by surreal landscapes in Cappadocia, walk on the white terraced spa pools in Pamukkale, relax on a beautiful beach near Alacati, be mentally teleported to ancient Roman times in Ephesus, and experience the best of Turkiye.

Feel free to tweak this itinerary to your own tastes, flight timings, etc. No itinerary is perfect till it suits you!

Overview of this 10-day Turkey itinerary

For a complete Turkey Travel Guide, also read: 20 Things to Know Before going to Turkiye

Days 1-3: Istanbul

Byzantium. Constantinople. New Rome. Istanbul. This is a City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World (yes, I read the book before we left for Turkey and highly suggest that you do as well). It has been the pinnacle of trade, travel, politics and war. Having been the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and then of the Ottoman Empire, you’ll see influences of both reflected in the architecture.

Today’s Istanbul is a bustling metropolis where the traditional and the modern beautifully exist side by side. During your 3 days in Istanbul, you’ll not just witness historical landmarks but also enjoy the vibrant nightlife, shop in bazaars, eat at hip cafes and restaurants, walk on cobbled streets, take a ride on the tram, see the sights from the ferry/cruise while a cool breeze teases you, and get scrubbed in a hammam. Istanbul will charm you enough for you to want to return there again soon. I can’t wait to!

How to Get Around Istanbul

Istanbul is very well connected by public transport. You can take the tram, ferry, metro, bus or cab to get to all of Istanbul’s tourist spots.

• To know how to get from point A to point B just enter it on Google Maps and choose the public transport option. It is very helpful.
• Get an Istanbulkart from the first public transport point you see. It looks like an ATM machine and is present at all tram, bus, and ferry stations. The top left button converts the text to English! If you can’t figure out the machine, ask the locals for help. One card can be used by multiple people.
• Hail a taxi or take a bus only when you can’t take a tram, ferry, or metro, as these get stuck in traffic quite a bit!
• Ensure you keep Bitaksi (iOS | Android) and Uber apps downloaded on your phone to compare taxi fares and hire a taxi.
• If you hail a taxi on the road, ensure you only go by metre and check the route the whole way on maps. Taxi drivers are known to take the longer route to jack up the fares.

Sightseeing Tips for Istanbul

1. Skip-the-line tickets: The queues at most attractions in Istanbul can be really long, especially if you’re travelling in the summer. You can avoid these lines by buying skip-the-line tickets online. You’ll get guided or unguided passes for the same. Though, do note that you will have to prebook a slot for entry beforehand and be there at that specific time. The reason is that a person has to actually take you inside. You can buy these tickets via Get Your Guide.

2. Turkey Museum Pass: Turkey has several museum passes you can buy. Before the trip, we were very confused about what to do so we didn’t get any. But now, I’ve done a bit of analysis and here is what I propose. You can get the Turkey Museum Pass; it costs TL 1000 and is valid for 15 days. This pass will help save you 490 TL on attraction tickets if you’re following this itinerary to the T. Plus, you get to skip the lines for ticket purchases! Consider the Istanbul Tourist Pass only if you want to go on several guided tours of the attractions mentioned below. It costs €125 for 3 days so it is significantly more expensive. If you’re unsure which sites you would want to visit or don’t wish to get the passes, then I highly recommend getting individual tickets and tours from GetYourGuide.

There is no need to buy any of the other region-specific museum passes, as the Turkey Museum pass provides such good value. But you could check the Museum Pass Website and decide for yourself as well.

3. Site closure days: Keep the site closure days in mind while planning your 3 days in Istanbul. As a rule, I’d avoid visiting Istanbul on Mondays and Tuesdays. This itinerary is best followed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. However, you can always switch up the days you visit sites based on the day they are closed.

• Closed Monday: Archaeological Museums, Ayasofya, Dolmabahçe Palace, Great Palace Mosaics Museum
• Closed Tuesday: Topkapı Palace and Harem
• Closed Wednesday: Chora Museum, Rumeli Fortress
• Closed Thursday: Dolmabahçe Palace
• Closed Sunday: Grand Bazaar

Best Areas to Stay in Istanbul

For your first time in Istanbul, it is best to base yourself in Sultanahmet/Fatih (to be close to most of the sightseeing) or in Beyoglu/Karakoy (if you like partying and good food). Just ensure your stay is within walking distance (less than 500 m) of a tram station. This will make your commute that much easier!

For the purpose of this post, we are going to assume you choose to stay in or around Sultanahmet, as we did.

Day 1: Historical Istanbul: Hagia Sofia, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hamam

Start with the historical side of Istanbul because this area gives you a true feel of the olden days. It used to be the walled city of Constantinople, now referred to as the Sultanahmet/Fatih area.

Hagia Sophia

Either walk from your hotel or take a tram to Sultanahmet Tram Station, then walk about 350 metres to the Hagia Sophia. You’ll see carts of Simit (hard pretzel-type bread with sesame seeds) and roasted chestnuts (they’re delicious) on the road. Gorge on some on the way.

The Hagia Sophia or Ayasofya, is the most iconic building in all of Istanbul, built in 360 AD. It was constructed as a Cathedral in the Byzantine Empire and was the largest cathedral in the world for over 1000 years. When the Ottomans conquered Istanbul, minarets were added and it was converted to a mosque. Then it was a museum after Turkey became a republic and is now again a mosque. You can now see elements of both a cathedral and a mosque here, which is quite fascinating.

Entrance fee: none, as it is a mosque
Time Needed: 1.5–2 hours (this will depend on the length of the queue, which usually tends to be very long)
The time you should start your day: 9 AM (when Hagia Sophia opens)

Tip: If you don’t care about seeing the Hagia Sofia during the day, you can visit in the evening after dark. You’ll be able to skip the whole queue. However, the mosque interiors do look more beautiful during the day. Also, check prayer timings here and try to avoid them unless you do wish to pray inside.

Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern is just a 3-min walk from the exit of Hagia Sophia.

Built in 532 AD during Byzantine times to store water for the city in times of war and siege, it is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul. It is also called Yerebatan Sarnıcı or Yerebatan Saray.

The interiors are lit up in different colours and the effect created is very eerie. You’ll see sculptures, several pillars, Medusa’s head on the pillars, and an audio-visual. We loved the experience!

Entrance fee: 190 TL (~Rs. 835)
Time Needed: 1 hour

Lunch

Walk 500 m to Seven Hills Restaurant.

You can have lunch at the Seven Hills Restaurant. It is close to the sites for today and the view from the rooftop of Seven Hills is amazing. You can see the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, and the sea from the rooftop. You can also feed the seagulls if you like. You don’t necessarily need to eat here to enjoy the view, as they have a separate section to shoot photos, feed seagulls, etc.

Note: This restaurant is actually famous for breakfast. If your hotel doesn’t serve breakfast come here in the morning before heading to Hagia Sophia.

Other restaurant options: Gulhane Sark Sofrası, Olive Anatolian Restaurant, Gulhane Sark Sofrası

Topkapi Place

Walk 600 metres to Topkapi Palace.

The palace served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries starting 1460s. You’ll see vibrant, picturesque and opulent pavilions, a jewel-filled Treasury, a sprawling Harem and get beautiful views of Istanbul. The palace gives a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Ottomans.

Entrance fee: 320 TL
Harem Entrance fee: 150 TL (The harem costs extra but is totally worth it. A must-visit)
Combined ticket: 420 TL (~ Rs. 1,850) – includes an audio guide
Time Needed: 2-3 hours (the Topkapi palace shuts by 4 PM. So, get inside by 2 PM latest)

Tip: In order to get the audio guide, you will need to submit your passport or any other government ID so do carry one.

Get the Topkapi Palace and Harem Ticket on GetYourGuide

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Hippodrome of Constantinople

The Hippodrome of Constantinople is also known as Sultanahmet Square today. Walk through this beautiful area towards the Blue Mosque.

Back in the days of Constantinople, this area was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople. The kings did all they could to decorate this space and hence artwork was created or brought from across the Roman empire. Today, you’ll see the remnants of some of this art throughout your walk – Serpent Column, Obelisk of Thutmose III, and the Walled Obelisk.

Entrance Fee: None
Time needed: 30 mins

Blue Mosque

The blue mosque has 6 minarets and beautiful blue interiors. The scaffolding which was there previously has been removed and now you can see the mosque striking central dome from the inside too!

The mosque is closed to tourists during prayer times so do check this link and avoid going during such times as you may not be allowed to enter.

Entrance Fee: None
Time needed: 15 minutes

Cagaloglu Hammam (Turkish Bath)

I’m sure it’s been a tiring day for you so it’s time to pamper yourself with a Hamam Spa. Walk for 10 minutes (600 m) to Cagaloglu Hamam – a 300-year-old Hamam that is also pretty popular with celebrities.

So what is a Hammam? A hammam is a Turkish bath where you are given a sauna, a scrub, and a massage after being doused with foam. You’re served some tea and juice after you’re done. You’ll be squeaky clean and super relaxed after a Hamam. All of this is done in a communal setting, with separate sections for men and women.

Book your hamam experience:

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If you’re staying on the Beyoglu side of the city, you can also opt for Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam. However, do note that they have different timings for men and women.

Note

Women: In a Hamam, women do not wear a bra/bikini top (you’re given a disposable thong in Cagaloglu) and are required to cover up with the provided towel till the bathing process and afterwards. You can carry a bikini if you’d like but you’ll be the odd one out. I carried one but didn’t end up wearing it and never once felt weird.

Men: You should carry a change of underwear.

Tip: Book the hamam experience at Cagaloglu Hamam beforehand. Your reservation will be guaranteed but you’ll only have to pay at the premises.

Dinner

Have dinner at Old Ottoman Cafe and Restaurant. It is just a 1 min walk from Cagaloglu Hamam and is very famous for its Turkish food. Another good option is the Secret Garden Restaurant.

After dinner, you can walk 500 m to Hafiz Mustafa for some delicious Baklava, Baklava desserts and puddings.

Tip: While choosing places to eat in the area of Fatih, ensure they have a good rating on Google/TripAdvisor. Why? Since this is the main tourist area, you’ll find restaurants with overpriced mediocre food. Plus, some restaurant hosts will offer you free appetizers and desserts. Don’t go for it no matter how much they insist. The food will, in all probability, suck!

Day 2: European Istanbul: Ortakoy Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace, Galata Tower, Istiklal Street

Ortakoy Mosque

Take a tram to Kabataş Tramvay Istasyonu and then a bus/cab to Ortakoy Mosque.

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Ortakoy mosque is built right beside the water, with a bridge in the background. You don’t necessarily need to go inside the mosque but the area is so beautiful you’ll want to spend some time here to take it all in, click a few photos, and grab some street food.

Tip: Avoid going here on Sunday. On Sunday, a market is set up beside the mosque and the crowd is insane. It was a nice experience but you won’t be able to enjoy the beauty of the mosque.

Dolmabahce Palace

Take a cab or bus to Dolmabahce Palace.

The Dolmabahce Palace is the first European-style palace built by Ottoman Sultans between 1843 and 1846 because the Topkapi palace lacked contemporary style and comfort. This was the residence of the last 6 Ottoman Sultans. It is very elaborately decorated on the inside and you can tell it cost a lot- 35 tonnes of gold, the equivalent of $1.9 billion in today’s (2021) values. It was later used by, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, as a presidential residence and it is also where he died.

The palace is way more ornate than Topkapi Palace. Your mouth will be left hanging open in the Ceremonial Hall when you see the 4.5-ton chandelier. The Harem of this palace was rather ordinary in comparison to the main building and can be skipped if you’re short on time.

Note: Photography of any sort isn’t allowed inside the palace.
Time needed: 1.5-2 hours
Book your ticket here

Galata Tower

Walk 350 metres and take a tram from Kabataş Tramvay Istasyonu to Karaköy İstasyonu and walk about 650 metres to reach Galata Tower.

Built as a watchtower at the highest point of the Walls of Galata, this tower has served as a jail as well and was rebuilt a few times. It is now an exhibition space and museum.

Just walk around and maybe even head up the tower for fantastic views over the city of Istanbul.

Time needed: 1-2 hours
Buy tickets to Galata Tower to skip the enormous queue

We chose not to go up in the interest of time so cannot show you what it looks like from up there.

Lunch

Have lunch around Galata Tower or at your next stop -Taksim Square. You’ll find plenty of options at both.

We actually ate food at Velvet Cafe near Galata Tower and the food was excellent. They provided complimentary Helwa which was so so good. Their great-grandfather was the African Coffee Maker of the Palace so you are guaranteed amazing Turkish coffee!

Taksim Square and Istiklal Street

Walk 900 metres to Istiklal Street.

You’ve got nothing else on today’s agenda except walking around Istiklal Street, shopping, eating and enjoying the vibe. The street is lined with restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs and shops. Walk the length of it to Taksim Square or ride the historic tram.

Note: If walking around Istiklal for so long is not your thing, you could also go on a cruise along the Bosphorus which we have actually kept as an option for the next day. You could do a 2.5-hour yacht cruise or a night cruise and then the next day head to the Asian side via ferry. Both the above tours start on the Beyoglu side of the city.

Dinner

Head to Ficcin for dinner. A friend has highly recommended this place for its vibe and delicious food.

Day 3: European and Asian Istanbul – Balat, Sulimaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Ferry Ride, Asian Side

Today is your last day in Istanbul and you’ve still got a lot to see. However, if you have only 2.5 days in Istanbul due to flight timings, I’d suggest skipping the first half of this day and only doing the cruise/ferry and the Asian side of Istanbul.

Breakfast in Balat

Start your morning by around 7-8 AM and head to Balat for breakfast. Your walk in Balat begins at Merdivenli Yokuş Evleri. Take a cab there, as this is the most convenient option. Otherwise, take a tram to Fener, then a cab or a bus to Balat bus stop and then walk 600 metres to your first stop.

Balat is lined with colourful houses and beautiful cafes. Spend your morning walking around and grab a bite at a cafe of your choice. Given below are some nice spots. Walk this 1 km route from 1-6 or vice versa. You can type exactly these names in Google Maps and follow the route.

1. Merdivenli Yokuş Evleri
2. Gen Antik Cafe: The area around is very cute with antique cars
3. Coloured houses of Balat
4. Fener Greek High School: A Beautiful orthodox greek building
5. İncir ağacı kahvesi: colourful stairs
6. Dimitrie Cantemir Museum Cafe
7. Balatte Gelato

Sulimaniye Mosque

From Balatte Gelato, take a cab to Sulimaniye Mosque. Alternatively, you can take the tram (Fener-Eminonu) or the bus (Fener to İst.Büyükşehir Beled) but in both cases, you’ll have to walk about 1.5 km total, which isn’t worth it unless you’re on a shoestring budget.

The Süleymaniye Mosque crowns one of Istanbul’s seven hills, providing a landmark for the entire city. It is one of the grandest and most beautiful mosques in Istanbul and is often seen on Instagram as well. The mosque was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent- the longest-ruling Sultan, and was inaugurated in 1557. For 462 years, this mosque was the largest mosque in the city, until it was surpassed by the Çamlıca Mosque in 2019. 

Shopping in Grand Bazar

Walk 450 metres to the Grand Bazaar and go shopping.

Constructed in 1455, the Grand Bazar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops. You’ll find everything here – from souvenirs to counterfeit luxury brands (Turkey is the third largest producer of counterfeit goods). The Grand Bazaar is huge and the lanes confusing- don’t get lost 😛

An evening ferry ride to Moda/Bosphorus Cruise

You have a few options for this evening. Decide based on what you like more – relaxation and entertainment, or exploring the Asian Side.

Option 1: Ferry to the Asian Side. Explore Kadikoy and Moda

Head to the Eminonu Pier. You can either walk 1 km from the Grand Bazar or take a tram from Cemberlitas or Beyazit (whichever is closer to your exit) to Eminonu Tram Stop.

Then take the next departing ferry to Kadikoy on the Asian Side. The ferry ride itself is so beautiful and hardly costs anything.

You’ll arrive at the Kadikoy ferry terminal. Enter Kadife street on Google Maps and just walk towards it enjoying the vibe of Istanbul’s Asian side. There will be cute stores, lots of eateries, bars, clubs, restaurants and people just chilling. It’s a total vibe and not to be missed.

Just remember that to get back, you’ll have to board the ferry back to Eminonu so ensure you get to the terminal before the last ferry leaves (around 10:30 PM); otherwise, you’ll have to take a cab, which will be extremely expensive and will take a lot of time as well.

Option 2: Short Bosphorus Cruise and Explore Asian Side

These are of several types so I’m linking a few options below for you to choose from:

1. Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on Luxury Yacht (departing from Beyoglu): Bosphorus sunset cruise is a 2.5-hour guided cruise in a luxury yacht. You’ll see many famous sites, learn about the history of Istanbul’s landmarks, and see the sunset all while having coffee and canapes. It starts at around 5:30 PM.
   
2. Bosphorus Cruise: Simply go to the Eminonu pier (or Kabatas, depending on the side of the city you wish to depart from and return to) and hop on an available cruise. We were there at around 5:45 PM and there was one available at a very reasonable price. This will probably turn out to be the cheapest. Else you can pre-book here (departing from Eminonu pier) or here departing from Kabatas Pier.

Option 3: Bosphorus night cruise

Bosphorus Night Dinner Cruise (departing from Kabatas on the Beyoglu side)

Bosphorus Dinner Cruise ( departing from Eminonu on the Fatih side)

For both cruises, you will be picked up from your hotel between 7-9 PM for a night of entertainment, food and brilliant views. The experience will take about 4 hours.

Book Tours in Istanbul

Days 4-6: Cappadocia

For most people, Cappadocia equals a dreamy hot air balloon flight. But Cappadocia is so much more than that – it’s also about the strange volcanic rock formations called fairy chimneys, underground cities, cave churches, epic hikes, interesting history, cave hotels and more.

The reason we are recommending 3 days in Cappadocia is the hot air balloon flights. These are weather dependent and can be cancelled on the day of the flight. Hence, it is best to have at least 2-3 mornings in Cappadocia.

How to reach Cappadocia

Flight: The best way to reach Cappadocia is by taking a flight from Istanbul to the Kayseri or Nevsehir airports. You’ll be there in 1 hr and 30 minutes.

Car: Cappadocia is 730 km from Istanbul which translates to about 7 hours 40 mins by road. It’ll waste a lot of time and you’ll need to add an extra day to your itinerary

Overnight bus: The bus takes about 11 hours. Book here or get a ticket directly from the bus stations in Istanbul. This costs about 500 TL online.

How to reach your hotel in Cappadocia

You can either rent a car at the airport, take a taxi (expensive unless you’re 3 people or more), or take a shuttle (best option). The shuttle is arranged by the hotel and approximately costs euro 4-10 per person (the price depends on your hotel). Please tell the hotel to reserve your space on the shuttle beforehand.

The best area to stay in Cappadocia

Cappadocia is not a city but a vast region comprising various towns. Most tourists stay in Goreme as there are plenty of restaurants and shops and hot air balloons fly close by in the morning. It is the most centrally located as well. But, it was also the only town in Turkey we didn’t really like – bad roads and traffic, money-hungry attitude, mediocre and expensive food. You could also consider the towns of Uchisar and Urgup to stay away from all this. But do so only if you’re renting a car.

How to get around Cappadocia

Public transport in Cappadocia is actually not good at all. You can do the following:

1. Walk everywhere: Distances are large but a lot of the areas can be covered on foot on beautiful hikes through the valleys. Hitchhike or ask your hotel to get you to the starting points of these hikes.
   
   
2. Take tours: Most people opt for this. The upside of tours is that you’ll learn a lot about the attractions; otherwise, it may all look the same after a point. Tours are super organised so you’ll be picked up from the hotel at around 9:30 AM and dropped off by 5 PM. The downside is that you won’t have any freedom, won’t be able to go to sunset spots outside of your hotel town, pay quite a bit for the tours (40 euros per person minimum), and go in large groups if not opting for private tours.
   
   If you opt to take tours – you don’t really need to go through the Cappadocia section of the itinerary below. Just go through the following tour options:
   
   Day 1. Day one will probably be a half day if your flight is landing this day. I’d suggest chilling at your hotel or in the town during the day and heading out for one of the following during the afternoon to see Red and Rose valley (they can’t be missed): ATV Quad Safari, Sunset Horseback Riding, Hiking in Red and Rose Valleys (you can hike by yourself as well). If you’d love to hike on your own, see this map on All Trails.
   
   While we do not endorse riding animals, we leave the choice of activities you wish to go for to you!
   
   Day 2: Red Tour (North Cappadocia): This is the most popular tour which usually covers sites like Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar Castle, Devrent Valley, Love Valley and Paşabağı Valley. Book a group tour | Book a private tour
   
   Day 3. Green Tour (South Cappadocia): Covers sites like Ihlara Valley, Selime Monastery, Any one underground City, and Pigeon Valley. Book a group tour
   
   
3. Hire a self-driven or chauffer driven car: We opted to hire a car because we went in the peak season in August and tours were way less economical than simply hiring a car. We did get lost looking for Pasabag but we also chanced upon random beautiful sights, spent our time the way we wanted where we wanted and truly enjoyed driving around Cappadocia at our own pace. We hired our car directly through our hotel but we also saw some great deals on Discover Cars. I would suggest hiring a car from the city as opposed to at the airport because hiring a car at the airport will be more expensive. The below itinerary for Cappadocia is for those of you who hire a car or opt for a chauffeur-driven car.

Book Tours in Cappadocia

Day 4: Cappadocia- Love Valley, Red and Rose Valley

I’ve assumed that you will arrive in Goreme this morning but won’t head out till check-in time like us.

Lunch

I’m not sure what time you’d like to step out this day, but if you want a good option for lunch try Rocks Terrace Restaurant. Alternatively, you could eat at Cavusin Village after visiting Love Valley.

Love Valley

First, drive 5 km (10 mins) to Love Valley – called so because of the phallus-shaped rocks dotting the valley. You can see Love Valley in the following ways:

1. Go to the Love Valley Viewpoint to get sweeping views of the valley – Here you’ll find plenty of other tourists on guided tours, spot some love heart-shaped seats and other photoshoot setups. You’ll spend about 15-30 minutes here. Just enter ‘Love Valley’ in Google Maps. We went for this option because it was mega hot and we simply could not hike. But it was kinda boring and I’d suggest you do the second option if the weather is pleasant.
   
   
2. Hike the valley till you see the rock formations, spend some time there and head back to your vehicle. This should take one hour. The Love Valley Trail starts here – a little before the actual viewpoint.

Rose Valley

Now drive 5 km to Rose Valley.

We literally just stumbled upon the Rose Valley Hike start point at Cavusin because for some reason Google thought Pasabag was there. It turned out to be perfect because there was hardly anyone there and the area was beautiful. You cannot miss this place on your Cappadocia trip.

We didn’t do the whole trail through the valleys (hello heat!) but just walked around a bit and had a fab time. Our only company was the occasional ATV, jeep or horse riders – these tours take place in this area.

If you do wish to do the whole hike read the guide to hiking the Red and Rose Valley or you can even book a tour.

Red Valley Sunset Point

For sunset, we drove 5 km to the Red Valley Sunset Point. We sat at Crazy Ali Cafe which has fantastic seats to view the sunset. But you could also choose to sit at any of the other cafes (Sunpoint Cappadocia or Cafe Sunset) nearby or head directly to the public viewpoint. This is another experience you simply should not miss during your 3 days in Cappadocia.

Dinner

Head back to Goreme and have dinner at Gurme Kebab Restaurant. We had Veg Pide (got it done extra spicy), Lentil Soup, Lemonade, and Orange Juice. Everything was delicious and relatively inexpensive compared to other restaurants in Cappadocia.

Day 5: Cappadocia – Hot Air Balloon & Red Tour

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Start the morning with a hot air balloon ride over the other-worldly landscape of Cappadocia. It was our second time on a hot air balloon and we weren’t expecting much. We were actually planning to skip it considering the cost, but boy, we were wrong and so happy that we went ahead anyway. We were left speechless!

Be prepared be ready by around 4 AM. You’ll be picked up from your hotel in a shuttle bus and taken to the balloon company office where you’ll be served a buffet breakfast. Then you’ll be taken to the takeoff site. After the balloon landing, there will be a celebration with champagne and you’ll also be given a medal/certificate and maybe even some souvenirs. The whole affair takes about 3-4 hours. We were back at our hotel by 7:15 AM.

Here are 20 tips and must-knows about hot air balloon rides in Cappadocia.

Red Tour

Today, you can do the Red Tour locations which include most of the main sights of Cappadocia. Book your Red Tour here or go ahead with the below-mentioned itinerary in your rented car.

Goreme Open Air Museum

After getting back to your hotel, rest a bit and get ready for your first destination of the day which is just a 1.7 km drive (5 mins)

Goreme Open Air Museum is a rocky settlement that hosted a monastery life between the 4th to 13th centuries A.D. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 with well-preserved rock-cut churches with frescoes

If you’re not joining a tour we’d highly recommend getting here around opening time which is 8:30 AM. It gets very crowded after that because tour groups start arriving and this museum is probably the most visited site in Cappadocia.

Entry Fee: 150 TL (~INR 660)
Dark Church Entry Fee: 30 TL extra (you should visit)
Time Needed: 2 hours

Uchisar Castle

Drive 6.5 km to Uchisar Castle. It stands proud as the highest point in Cappadocia and hence the views from here will be the best you’ll get. It is one of the finest examples of a historic cave home.

Entry Fee: 50 TL (~INR 220)
Time Needed: 1 hour

After your visit, eat lunch with a view of the castle at Sensa Restaurant. The food is international mostly but really delicious. If you want to eat cheap local food then you can also try Çiko’nun Yeri.

You’ll be tempted to visit both Uchisar and Ortahisar. I’d suggest you choose only one of them since both look similar. If you’d like to visit both visit Ortahisar later in the day for Cay (tea) at ETHEM USTANIN YERİ SEYİR TEPESİ.

Pasabag

Enter “Paşa bağları” on maps and drive 11km to get here.

Also known as Monks Valley, Pasabag is one of the most popular fairy chimneys areas of Cappadocia. Here you’ll see mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys with multiple stems and caps.

Entry Fee: 65 TL (~INR 290)
Time Needed: 30 mins- 1 hour

Devrent Valley

Drive 6 km to Devrent Valley.

Devrent Valley is also known as ‘Imagination Valley‘ because here you’ll find animal-shaped rocks and fairy chimneys among other interesting formations. Look out for the camel, dolphin, snake, seal, alligator and more. Feel free to use your imagination while exploring – that’s the whole point.

Entry Fee: None
Time Needed: 30 mins- 1 hour

Optional if you have more time this day: Zelve Open Air Museum and Ortahisar ( Ethem Ustanin yeri)

Sunset Hill Goreme

Head back to Goreme to watch the sunset from Sunset Hill. It’s a steep but short climb or you can also drive to the top. It’s a huge area and has beautiful views of the town, fairy chimneys, and surrounding mountains.

Dinner

For dinner, you can head to İnci Cave Restaurant Göreme. If you want to head to a place with live music afterwards and events, try One Way. Don’t go here for the food, just a drink and the Turkish music if it is on that night.

Day 6: Cappadocia: Chase Hot Air Balloons & Green Tour

Watch Hot Air Balloons

You have two options this morning:

1. Watch hot air balloons from the rooftop of your hotel. Many hotels in Cappadocia have such rooftops. We stayed at Charming Cave Hotel and had a fantastic view.
   
2. If your hotel doesn’t have a good rooftop view, head to the rooftop of another hotel that has a good view. Ask them beforehand if you can come specifically for this purpose – Charming Cave Hotel, Sultan Cave Suites, Mithra Cave Hotel, Koza Cave Hotel

3. If your hotel doesn’t have a good rooftop view and you don’t care about watching the balloons from a rooftop, you can chase balloons at one of the following valleys: Goreme Sunset point, the official viewpoint in the Love Valley, Sword valley, Sunset viewpoint in Rose Valley. Here is a blog post that might help.

Green Tour

Today is the day you follow mostly the Green Tour route. Book your green tour here or go there in your rental car. You’re going to be driving a lot since these locations are a bit far away from Goreme.

Derinyuku Underground City

Derinkuyu, your first stop of the day, is 35 km away which is about a 40-min drive.

Derinkuyu is an ancient underground city that was stumbled upon by pure chance in 1963 by a local while renovating his house. There are several underground cities in Cappadocia but Derinkuyu is the largest with 18 levels and is 85 metres deep. It was built to protect its inhabitants from wars and religious persecution and housed about 20,000 people. The city had provisions to ensure the survival of its citizens and had complete autonomy from the outside world.

Entry Fee: 100 TL (~440 INR)
Time Needed: 45 mins- 1 hour

Ihlara Valley

Now drive 55 km to Ihlara Valley which is a 50 min drive.

Ihlara Valley is a canyon with a depth of about 100 meters, about 10 km long with a river flowing through it. Ihlara Valley is green and serene and you won’t even feel hot here in the middle of the day because there is plenty of shade. Not only that, you’ll also see churches decorated with colourful frescoes. The history dates back between the 4th to 13th centuries A.D. 

Okay, now you have two options for exploring Ihlara Valley

1. Firstly, Ihlara is a one-way hike. So, you park your car at the main entrance (entrance no. 2), walk down about 400 steps and then 4 km across the valley ending at Belirisma Village (entrance no. 3) where you can relax and eat lunch here in the overwater restaurants. Take a taxi back to your car.
   
2. Here’s what we were recommended by our hotel. Head directly to Belirisma Village (entrance no. 3) and park your car. Start and end your hike here by walking a few kilometres into the canyon and then back- we walked to the Tea Gardens and saw only one church on this route – St. George Church

Note: Your route for today should be determined by your preferences. The second seems more practical because you won’t need to take a taxi and also won’t need to get down and then back up so many steps. However, the churches are all concentrated at the start of the hike (near entrance 2). If I had to redo the hike, I may have gone with option one.

Entry Fee: 90 TL (~400 INR)
Entry Fee with Audio Guide: 135 TL (~600 INR)

Selime Monastery

It’s a 10 km drive to Selime Monastery/Cathedral/Castle. Yes, it’s known by all these names.

Said to be built in the 8th or 9th century BC, Selime Monastery is the biggest religious building in Cappadocia with a cathedral-size church cut directly into the volcanic tuff. It has also served as a fortress and refuge for travellers and tradesmen who journeyed along the silk road.

Entry Fee: none (Ihlara Valley ticket is also valid for Selime Monastery so keep it safely)
Time Needed: 45 mins- 1 hour

Nar Lake

Nar Lake or Agicol is 33 km from Selime which takes about 30 mins to drive to.

Spend your evening here. Watch the sun go down at this small volcanic crater lake. You can’t really see the sunset but seeing the area change colours as the sun goes down is simply beautiful. You can drive around the whole lake and even stop by the banks and at the viewpoint (where this photo is clicked from). There was no one at the lake except a few locals who were sweet enough to offer us tea. You can also swim here if you’d like though we didn’t see anyone doing that!

Entry Fee: none
Time Needed: 45 mins- 1 hour

Dinner

Drive 63 km (1 hour) back to Goreme. Have your last dinner at Dibek Restaurant which is quite famous though a tad bit expensive.

Day 7: PamukKale via Kaklik Cave and Lake Salda

Take a flight from Cappadocia (either Kayseri or Nevsehir airports) to Izmir (Adnan Menderes Airport) this morning. For the purpose of this itinerary, we are going to assume that you’ll be renting a self-drive car. So, take a rental car at the airport itself (please pre-book this online) and drive off to your next destination – Pamukkale which is 224 km (3 hours away)

Pamukkale is a very small town with only a few hotels. People usually only stay for one night to see the white limestone terraces of Pamukkale and the historic city of Hierapolis.

Book tours around Pamukkale

There are two options for this day:

1. You can head directly to Pamukkale which is a 249 km or 3 hr drive. Check in and rest in your hotel. This option is best if your flight arrives after 1 PM at Izmir.
   
2. Or you can drive beyond Pamukkale to Lake Salda (301 km / 4 hours) and Kaklik Caves (on the way to Lake Salda).
   
   We had planned to go with option 1 but ended up going ahead with option 2. No regrets.

Tip: If you go for option 2, eat at Denizli/Pamukkale before heading here. We didn’t find any nice eateries beyond Pamukkale. This way you can also check in at the hotel timely.

Kaklik Cave

Located around 45 km ahead of Pamukkale, the Kaklik Cave was discovered after the collapse of its roof and has only been open to the public since 2002. The cave is quite small but very unique since there are Pamukkale-like travertines underground. Since hardly anyone visits here so you’ll have ample space and time to yourself.

Entry Fee: none
Time Needed: 15 mins- 30 mins

Tip: Wear slippers/open-toed shoes that you don’t mind getting wet since the cave water overflows onto the viewing platforms.

Lake Salda

Lake Salda wasn’t even on our itinerary. It popped up suddenly when I was researching things to do around Pamukkale during the drive to Kaklik Caves. So a sudden decision was made to head here and we loved it during sunset time.

Lake Salda is a crater lake another 65 km ahead of Kaklik caves which translates to a one-hour drive. The lake has white sand/fine stones and blue water. So much so, that it is often referred to as the Turkish Maldives or even Saldives. However, what is interesting is it has geological similarities to a crater on Mars!

You can go to the lake bank from either Salda Golu Plaji or Doganbaba Plaji Isletmesi

Entry Fee: none
Time Needed: 1-1.5 hours

Day 8: Pamukkale and Selcuk (for Ephesus)

Pamukkale Gates open at 6:30 AM. So be ready for an early start so that you can enjoy the travertines of Pamukkale without a lot of people. Trust us, this is so important because when the tour groups come in by 8:30 AM, there is no point in visiting this place. We were told that even visiting in the evening is pointless because a lot of people come here to watch the sunset.

Explore Pamukkale and Hierapolis

The travertines– Pamukkale is known for mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces on a hillside. The white formations look like cotton castles which is also the meaning of the word Pamukkale. Since this is the main attraction head here first.

You can click photos without people, take a dip in the pools and walk around. Know that you aren’t allowed to walk on the terraces with your shoes on. Walking on the limestone formations actually hurts so look for the smooth spots to walk on!

Tip: Carry a shoe bag to store your shoes in your backpack. We carried this bag and strapped it onto our backpack.

Hierapolis: After you’re done with the terraces, walk through the ancient city of Hierapolis. Founded around 190 BC by Eumenes II of Pergamum, it prospered under both the Romans and Byzantines. Recurrent earthquakes brought disaster, and Hierapolis was abandoned after an AD 1334 tremor. When visiting, don’t miss the Roman Theatre, the agora and the on-site museum.

Lastly, take a dip in the Antique Pool. It is a beautiful artificial pool with blue thermal water and submerged Roman columns (the result of an earthquake). It is said that the pool was a gift to Cleopatra from Marc Antony and hence is also called Cleopatra’s pool.

It will be around 11 AM -12 PM now. So grab a bite back in Pamukkale and get ready to hit the road again!

Entry Fee: TL 200 (~ INR 885)
Ticket with Audio Guide: TL 275 (~ INR 1220)
Time Needed: 3-4 hours

Selcuk

Drive 190 km (2 hr 40 min) to Selcuk, a city close to Izmir. Selcuk is a small town known as the gateway to Ephesus – an ancient Greco-Roman city and the reason why you’re visiting.

Book Tours in Selcuk

Explore Ephesus

You have two options, you can either explore Ephesus this evening if you’re still up for the next morning. It is your choice. We chose to relax this evening, walk around town and explore Ephesus the next morning at opening time.

Ephesus was one of the 12 mighty cities of the Greek Ionian League when it was built in the 11th century B.C. As the capital of Roman Asia Minor, Ephesus was a vibrant city of over 250,000 inhabitants, the fourth largest in the empire after Rome, Alexandria and Antioch. So important and wealthy was Ephesus that its Temple of Artemis was the biggest on earth and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Now, you’ll walk through the ruins of this ancient city that is only 20% excavated. It hosts one of the best examples of an ancient Roman library dating from the early 2nd century AD. It was the third largest at its time only after Alexandria and Pergamum!

How we explored: We download the free Rick Steves Audio Guide beforehand and followed it. We entered from the lower gate (South Entrance) since most of the main sites are located near it. We did our photoshoot first to avoid the crowd and then walked to the upper gate where the audio guide starts. We walked back down while listening to the audio guide.

Entry Fee: TL 200 (~ INR 885)

Time Needed: 2-4 hours

Day 9-10: Alacati

Today you can explore some sites in Selcuk in the morning and then head over to Alacati.

Important sites in Selcuk

After breakfast, head over to some important sites in Selcuk.

Ephesus Museum: A museum dedicated to preserving all the discovered artefacts found around Ephesus. Opens at 9 AM.

Temple of Artemis: The temple of Artemis is in ruins and only a lone pillar stands today. This temple used to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World so even visiting its site is significant.

Other sites include the Isa Bey Mosque and the Ayasoluk Castle which can be skipped!

Alacati

Drive down 150 km (1 hour 30 mins) to Alacati (pronounced aa-LAA-chaa-tuh).

Alacati is a charming, old, Greek town on the Aegean Coast of Turkey. It’s quite sleepy by day but comes alive at night. You’ll find Greek stone houses with colourful wooden doors and bright pink bougainvillaea all over, cobbled streets, trendy restaurants, cafes and bars, and upscale boutiques. You can’t drive cars on the main market streets since they’re narrow and the restaurants spill over on them. That’s the whole fun of it – you walk everywhere and immerse yourself in its beauty and vibe! Alacati is known to be expensive but we found prices quite comparable to Cappadocia.

Get ready for two slow days!

Day 9: Alacati – Greek Windmills, Cafe and Bar Hopping

After checking in at your hotel this afternoon, just walk around town admiring how beautiful it is. Grab lunch at one of the many excellent restaurants. We were recommended Sailors by our hotel and we absolutely loved the food and ambience.

After lunch, stroll around town to your first and only destination of the day in Alacati – Windmill Park. The park has 4 stone windmills built in 1850 that stand tall at the highest point in the city centre. Because of its location at the highest point, the windmill park is also where you can stunning views of the old town, and modern windmills on the other hills around. No better place in Alacati for sunset.

Do not miss having ice cream from Alaköy Pastanesi – it was soooooo good.

Dinner and Drinks

There are plenty of superb bars around and you’ll have a tough time choosing. We sat at Traktor one evening (it is on the main road) and really enjoyed ourselves – the food, drinks, music and people watching 😛 was excellent. If you want to go for fine dining, head to Papazz.

Day 10: Alacati- Cesme Castle and Kleopatra Beach

Wake up late and eat breakfast/brunch at your hotel. If your hotel doesn’t serve you one, you can go to Zeytinalti.

You have two options today

1. Beach Club: Spend your day at a beach club. You’ll find sunbeds, restaurants, bars, water sports, DJ-pumped parties and more. Famous ones include – Fly in Beach Club, Fun Beach Club, and Sommer Klein Beach Club. There are many more. Enquire at your hotel and decide which will suit you best,
   
2. Cesme and a beautiful beach: Drive 14.5 km to Çeşme – a town with historical significance. It is bigger and more popular than Alacati. Then head to a beautiful beach frequented by locals. This is the option we went with.

Çeşme Castle

There are many paid parkings near Cesme Castle. However, they were all full so we found a parking spot at the side of the road hence can’t really recommend it. Just drive around till you find a parking space.

Cesme Castle is a 16th-century fort built by the Ottomans to fend off attacks by Venetians. Today, it is a museum where you can learn all about local history and see exhibits that commemorate the 18th-century Battle of Cesme. We only went here to see panoramic views of the city and sea but ended up being super fascinated by the displays.

Entry Fee: TL 50 (~ INR 220)

Time Needed: 1 hour or so

Lunch at Cesme Town

There are plenty of nice restaurants around the Cesme Marina. Leave your car where you parked it. Head to the marina area and walk around admiring the views till you find a restaurant to your liking. We ate at Ozsut and liked our food but you could also go to ÇARK balık Çeşme (very well-rated on TripAdvisor).

We started the day very late – at 3 PM- so didn’t have time for much else. But if you do, head to Cesme Bagcilik– one of Turkiye’s leading vineyards. Sip on wine and the splendid views of the rolling vineyards. 

Evening and Sunset at Kleopatra Beach

As evening approaches, drive 12 km to Kleopatra Koyu (beach). It is a beautiful beach with calm waters nestled amidst cliffs. Mostly only locals were here. The water was cold even in peak summer but once we got in, we didn’t wanna come out. Though the sun doesn’t set on this side, the colours of the sunset just made the evening so much more beautiful.

Carry your own beach mat (we used a sarong) as there are no shops, cafes, and beach beds here.

Alternatively, you could head to the famous Ilica Beach – a Blue Flag beach that’s famed for its warm water.

Drinks and Dinner at Alacati

Head back to Alacati (15 km – 25 min drive). However, rest a bit and get ready for your last evening of fun as your 10 days in Turkey come to an end.

Dinner: Asma Yapragi, Zeytinalti, Avula Alaçatı

Bars: Tektekçi Alaçatı, Octa Bar and Zeplin Alacati are good choices.

Day 11: Head Home

Head back to your country. Drop your car at the İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport and take a flight from there. You may have a layover in Istanbul!

Hope you found this 10-day Turkey itinerary helpful. Do drop your questions below in the comments section. Will be happy to help.

READ NEXT >>>>>>> 20 Things to Know Before Going to Turkiye: This has all the details you need before planning a trip to Turkey like the visa process, budget, when to go, how to get around, what to carry and wear, etc.

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