Read Turkey as regions such as Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus / Izmir, not as a pin.
Istanbul-Cappadocia-Antalya is the spine.
Regions
- Istanbul — Istanbul is stop 1 in a Turkey map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Cappadocia — Cappadocia is stop 2 in a Turkey map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Ephesus / Izmir — Ephesus / Izmir is stop 3 in a Turkey map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Antalya coast — Antalya coast is stop 4 in a Turkey map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Pamukkale — Pamukkale is stop 5 in a Turkey map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Black Sea — Black Sea is stop 6 in a Turkey map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
Routes
- Istanbul-Cappadocia-Antalya — Istanbul-Cappadocia-Antalya — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Izmir-Ephesus-Pamukkale — Izmir-Ephesus-Pamukkale — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Istanbul-Bursa-Black Sea — Istanbul-Bursa-Black Sea — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Fethiye-Oludeniz-Kas — Fethiye-Oludeniz-Kas — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
Icons
- Istanbul — Why Istanbul photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Cappadocia — Why Cappadocia photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Ephesus / Izmir — Why Ephesus / Izmir photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Antalya coast — Why Antalya coast photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Pamukkale — Why Pamukkale photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
Pairings
- Slow pair — Pair Istanbul with Cappadocia; drop a third stop before you add one.
- Weather pair — Do not force a wet coast and a dry highland into the same week.
- Honeymoon pair — Two city nights plus three quiet nights recover better than a trophy circuit.
Dropping the third city is usually a gain.
When to goPlacesHow to travelCultureCostHoneymoon notesToday