Turkey Travel Guide: A Journey Across Continents and History

Straddling two continents and the boundary between ancient and modern times, Turkey was an interesting destination. Was it one of my favorites? No, but it did surprise me more often than not.

I was determined not to visit the typical tourist spots on this trip, and to some extent, we did achieve that. It truly is amazing what you discover when you venture off the beaten track. We returned with wonderful memories and a thousand pictures.

This Turkey travel guide will help with everything you need to plan your trip, from visa requirements to must-see attractions.

Turkey Travel Guide: 7-Day Itinerary

• Day 1 – Istanbul
• Day 2 – Day trip to Princes’ Islands and Bosphorus cruise
• Day 3 – Day trip to Bursa
• Day 4 – Cappadocia, part 1
• Day 5 – Cappadocia, part 2 (including Cappadocia hot air balloon)
• Day 6 – Antalya, part 1
• Day 7 – Antalya, part 2 and departure

Table of Contents

• Best Time to Visit Turkey
• Know Before You Go
• Where We Stayed
• Costs and Getting Around
• Vegan and Vegetarian Food
• Highlights: Istanbul · Cappadocia · Antalya
• Final Thoughts

Best Time to Visit Turkey

I went in April – a lovely time to visit, at the start of spring. The weather was pleasant, making it easy to move around, and it was less touristy than expected. I would recommend visiting during this season for comfortable sightseeing and better experiences with local attractions like the Blue Mosque Istanbul and Hagia Sophia Istanbul.

Know Before You Go

I flew direct with Turkish Airlines. Though expensive, I could not recommend it enough—food and in-flight entertainment were great.

We got a Turkey visa for Indians using our US visa. Be sure to double-check current visa requirements before traveling.

Turkish is the official language, but people also speak Arabic. In Istanbul, English is widely understood, but communication became more challenging once we left the city.

The Turkish Lira is the official currency. Dollars and Euros are sometimes accepted, but always check the exchange rate at the point of transaction.

Where We Stayed

• Istanbul – Elysium Hotel

• Cappadocia – Tekkaya Cave Hotel

• Antalya – Best Western Khan

Costs and Getting Around

Turkey is not very expensive, but haggling is key. Local food is affordable, especially if you eat meat. Scams have increased for taxis and hotels in 2023, so stay vigilant. Booking tours ahead of time for major attractions like Topkapi Palace and a Bosphorus cruise can save time and stress.

Istanbul felt crowded, dirty, and occasionally unwelcoming, especially toward tourists from South Asia. Keep your belongings secure and avoid persistent street vendors.

Vegan and Vegetarian Food

Vegetarian options are limited. We enjoyed Turkish pizza (Pide) and Baklava, along with surprisingly good Turkish ice cream.

Highlights

Istanbul

Day 1 – Exploring Istanbul

Istanbul not Constantinople… this song was stuck in my head throughout our trip. Our first day was spent soaking in the history and traditions of the city while wandering streets filled with treats and trinkets.

Blue Mosque Istanbul – Iconic but under renovation during our visit. Six minarets, four supporting domes, and beautiful interiors. Trams stop at Sultanahmet, just a two-minute walk to the Hagia Sophia Istanbul.

Traver Tip: you can take the TRAM to Sultanahemet stop and walk to the Blue Mosque… it is just another 2 minute walk to the Hagia Sofia.

The mosque is supported by four domes or pillars but has six minarets (second only to the Mecca in Saudi Arabia). The inside of the mosque, though pretty, was crowded during the day so we decided not to spend too much time inside.

Hagia Sophia Istanbul – Originally built as a basilica in the 4th century, rebuilt in the 6th, converted to a mosque, and now a museum. Stunning mosaics and architecture make this a must-visit spot. Pro Tip: climb the stairs for aerial views inside.

I felt that the story of Hagia Sofia tells the story of this old city and of Turkey. Did you know that after Constantinople was conquered by the Ottomans, this impressive building was ordered to be converted from a church to a mosque? Now of course, it’s a decorated museum.

Tip: head up the stairs for an aerial view of the inside of the museum. You can observe the intricate details on the walls…

Ortakoy Mosque & Bosphorus Views – Sunrise or sunset along the Bosphorus makes for incredible photos.

Grand Bazaar Istanbul – One of the largest markets in the world with 4,000 shops over 60 streets. Spices, lanterns, and colors everywhere.

Topkapi Palace – Entrance: 40 TL. Must-see: Room of Relics, Imperial Treasury, and panoramic Bosphorus views.

Day trip to Princes’ Islands: Heybeliada (horse carriage ride) and Buyukada (bikes and panoramic views). A peaceful escape from the busy city.

Evening Bosphorus cruise – 7 PM to 11 PM, unlimited drinks and food. Views include Dolmabahce Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, Ortakoy, Rumeli Fortress, Fatih Bridge, Beylerbeyi Palace, and Maiden’s Tower.

This Island felt like a paradise outside the city.. a place trapped in time. My favorite part was that these islands are traffic free and the only transport is either a bike, moped or horse-drawn carriages. Although just a few miles away from the Asian side of Istanbul, the Princes’ islands feel refreshingly different. They are charming, historic.. and a much needed escape from the touristy Istanbul.

In the evening, we wanted to do a cruise on the Bosphorus. The cruise starts at 7 and ends close to 11 p.m. Includes unlimited drinks and food. We were able to catch all the historical places like Dolmabahce Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, Ortakoy, Rumeli Forthress , Fatih Bridge , Beylerbeyi Palace Maiden’s Tower. If you are looking for a party without the hassle, go for it BUT it could feel LONG after a whole day out.

Crossed the Bosphorus bridge to the Asian side. Stops included:

• 600-year-old tree café. 

• Uludağ Mountain via cable car (2486 m above sea level)

• Bursa town: Green Mosque & Green Mausoleum

A serene escape from Istanbul, rich with history and scenic views

Our last stop was the small town in Bursa where we saw the beautiful Green mosque and Green Mausoleum. They were both built by 5th Ottoman Sultan Mehmet Çelebi in the 15th century.

We had so many pictures to click in this pretty little town with it’s little Alladin shops laden with carpets, spices and hot baths.. it was a lovely place to watch the sun go down.

Cappadocia

Morning flight to Cappadocia. Explored fairy chimneys, volcanic formations, and the Nar Crater Lake.

Ortahisar Castle – Tallest fairy chimney in Cappadocia, 78 m high.

Three Beauties – Mystical structures in Urgup with local legends.

Underground Caves – Incredible subterranean city exploration.

Sunset Point, Red Valley – Stunning sunset views.

There are day tours you can take to cover the city (Green, Blue and Red) .. since I had my own list, we hired a car through MY TRIP TRAVEL AND TOURISM AGENCY TURKEY,. The service was spot on, you could message the owner, Cengiz at night and he would still respond. The car was also fantastic and spacious. Our driver was an old grandpa, kind and really sweet. He also clicked amazing pictures for us. If you are in Cappadocia and want to do a private tour (or need an airport pick up or drop), get in touch with these folks. They are awesome.

**TRAVEL TIP: **If you fly into Kayseri, you will need to drive a good one hour to get to Goreme. You should arrange for an airport pick up with your tour agency or the hotel.

If you have been reading about Cappadocia, you know it is famous for fairy chimneys. What are these chimneys? Well, years ago due to intense volcanic activity, there were strange rock formations.. but over thousands of years, the softer tufa eroded at a faster rate than he harder rock, creating these lunar-like spires with darker mushroom-like caps.

However, Cappadocia isn’t just about the fairy chimneys and I was determined to see the best this place has to offer. Starting with the Nar Crater Lake, an hour drive from Goreme, is a crater lake that was formed when a volcano blew its top not so long ago.

We went around 3 in the afternoon and had this place to ourselves - a definite win in my book.
**Tip: **you can even walk to the other side of the lake along the paved path.. and catch the mountain up close.

**Ortahisar Castle **

Locals call this the tallest fairy chimney in Cappadocia (and it is, standing 78m high). It’s one of the most noticeable structures in town.

**Three Beauties **

This unique structure lies in the Urgup region of the city… they are almost mystical (I will let the guide tell you about the legends behind these structures).

Underground Caves

To say that Cappadocia is a city below the ground is an understatement. It’s really amazing to see how people in olden days made their lives under the rocks.

**Sunset Point in Red Valley ** Our last stop was this beautiful spot in the red valley. It’s impossible to look at a sunset and not dream.

It was actually super cloudy earlier that day but when we got to the sunset point, the clouds cleared and the sky lit up just for us.

Hot air balloon canceled due to weather, but the city offered plenty to explore.

Pigeon Valley – Historical pigeon “nests” carved into caves.

You can’t blame me for being fixated on Cappadocia. It’s an unreal feeling when you get to the city and start seeing the rock formations for yourself. There are so many beautiful vantage points here but my favorite was this one in the Pigeon Valley with a stellar view of the Uchisar Castle.

Uchisar Castle Hike – Panoramic city views.

Paradise Valley & Esentepe – More panoramic views and hiking opportunities.

Esentepe For more panoramic views of the Cappadocia

Pasabaglari or Fairy Chimneys – Best views farther from the entrance to avoid crowds.

**Pro Tip: **don’t go to the chimneys closer to the entrance (it will packed with the selfie-stick “tourists”). As you walk further down, you will see a steeper but quieter hill with way better views of chimneys..

Devrant Valley – Lunar landscape, called Imagination Valley for its unique rock shapes.

Cappadocia hot air balloon – Iconic and highly recommended for early morning sunrise views.

Antalya

Flight to Antalya. Explored less touristy parts of Turkey:

Perge – Ancient Hellenistic city with Roman Theater and Greek wrestling school.

Aspendos – Oldest Amphitheater in Turkey, capacity 15,000.

Private tour recommended for convenience.

There is so much history in this place. I was fascinated by the vastly different landscapes in Turkey and wanted to explore the less touristy places in Antalya. We decided to hire a car from the city and did a private tour in Kaleci to **Perge and Aspendos. **

**Tip: **keep in mind, this usually takes a whole day to do but we managed to squeeze it in under 5 hours. You can do a day tour to both places and Pamakulle, which I highly recommend.

What’s your first thought when you see this picture? That it’s Greece? Or Rome? This was Perge. Just outside the city of Antalya you will find two stunning archaeological sites, now popular for their extensive ruins. Perge features a Roman Theater, an ancient Greek wrestling school as well as a church and temple dedicated to Greek deities.

It is believed to have been founded by the heroes of the Trojan war.. it was the principal city in Hellenistic times.

Our next stop was Aspendos, Turkey’s oldest Amphitheater. Much like Perge, Aspendos is believed to have been founded by Greeks after the Trojan war.

It is essentially an Amphitheater with a capacity to hold over 15,000 people. These ruins are incredible and are definitely worth the drive up from the city.

**Disclaimer: **You can do both these places using public transport, though it will be time consuming and difficult to figure out. I would have done this had I been traveling with the husband.. but since I traveled with my parents I did not want the hassle of getting on and off a bus in the middle of nowhere.

Duden Waterfalls – Upper waterfall in a lush valley; lower waterfall near the beach.

Boat Cruise – Scenic views along the turquoise coast.

Kaleici (Old Town) – Ottoman-style houses, cobbled lanes, Ataturk Statue, Hadrian’s Gate, and Hidirilik Tower.

These waterfalls cascade in two different places - the upper waterfall is set in a lush valley and the lower waterfall is located near a beach.

This place was like a painting. It actually felt a lot like Central Park - hidden in a cool valley right in the middle of the city. It’s a peaceful haven away from the hustle and bustle…

When you are in Antalya, you have to do a boat cruise during the day. One a clear day, there is no better view than sailing along a blue sky.. as the world passes you by.

After the boat ride, we spent afternoon in old town of ‘Kaleici’ which winds up the hill from the harbor. It’s a gem of a place. Ringed by Roman walls, it’s all cobbled lanes, Ottoman-style houses and pretty cafés. Here we found the** Ataturk Statue in the Republic Square** - the symbol of Antalya and the founder of Antalya - Attalos.

At dusk, we went to the infamous Hadrian’s gate in search of the Hidirilik Tower. This didn’t feel like Turkey but more like the alleys in Europe. Loved it.

Final Thoughts

Istanbul is full of history, but the real beauty lies outside the city. Cappadocia is otherworldly, with endless rock formations and fairy chimneys. Antalya was a pleasant surprise, offering history, beaches, and hidden gems. Turkey’s geographic diversity makes it worth multiple trips.

It was Cappadocia that truly bowled me over. A land with endless sea of rock formations, it isn’t like anywhere else in the world. We felt like we had landed on another planet.

Antalya was a surprise.. we did not expect to love it as much as we did but there is a lot more to do here. I wish we had more time to do it all but that’s what I liked most about Turkey - the geographic diversity. Will be back for more..

Drop your comments below and show some love. Feel free to shoot me an email with your feedback.

Cheers,

Anki

To explore more Middle East destinations, be sure to check out other blogs for additional insights.

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• Desert Camping In The UAE

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