The grand tour of Turkey in 10 days
Full tour · Istanbul → Cappadocia → Antalya
Three days in Istanbul, three in Cappadocia among the balloons and valleys, and four on the beaches of Antalya.
Day 1: The Ottoman heart of Istanbul
Every stop today is within walking distance in Sultanahmet.
-
9:00
Hagia Sophia
Start early, before the crowds, to see the famous dome in peace. Hagia Sophia is a mosque today, so respect prayer times and dress modestly.
5-minute walk -
10:30
Topkapı Palace
Home of the Ottoman sultans for about four centuries: the courtyards, the Harem, the Treasury and the Sacred Relics.
10-minute walk -
14:00
Lunch: Sultanahmet köfte
Grilled köfte with white bean salad is the area's best-known dish.
5-minute walk -
15:30
Basilica Cistern
An underground Byzantine water reservoir held up by hundreds of columns, including the two Medusa heads.
5-minute walk -
17:00
Blue Mosque and Sultanahmet Square
Visit the mosque outside prayer times, then stroll the square at sunset.
10-minute walk -
19:00
Grand Bazaar
A walk through one of the oldest covered markets in the world before closing, or save it for the morning of day three.
Day 2: The Bosphorus and the palaces
A day on the European shore of the Bosphorus, with a cruise between two continents.
-
9:00
Dolmabahçe Palace
The last palace of the sultans, with crystal chandeliers and a long waterfront façade.
5-minute walk to Kabataş pier -
11:30
Bosphorus cruise
From Kabataş or Eminönü, past palaces, bridges and waterside villages.
15-minute taxi -
14:00
Ortaköy
Lunch on stuffed baked potato (kumpir) beside Ortaköy Mosque under the Bosphorus Bridge.
20-minute taxi -
16:30
Galata Tower
Panoramic views over the historic peninsula and the Golden Horn.
10-minute walk -
18:30
İstiklal Avenue and Taksim Square
Istanbul's best-known pedestrian street: shops, sweets and the historic red tram.
Day 3: Markets and the Asian side
Shopping in the old markets in the morning, then across the water to Asia.
-
9:30
Spice Bazaar
Spices, Turkish delight, nuts and tea in Eminönü.
15-minute walk -
11:00
Süleymaniye Mosque
Mimar Sinan's masterpiece, with a courtyard overlooking the Golden Horn.
20-minute ferry from Eminönü -
13:00
Üsküdar and Maiden's Tower
Lunch on the Asian shore facing Maiden's Tower.
15-minute taxi -
15:30
Çamlıca Grand Mosque
A huge modern mosque on a hill overlooking Istanbul from the Asian side.
25-minute taxi -
17:30
Kadıköy and Moda
Kadıköy's food market, then a walk along the Moda seafront at sunset.
Day 4: Arriving in Cappadocia
A flight of about 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minutes from Istanbul to Nevşehir or Kayseri.
-
9:00
Fly to Cappadocia
Nevşehir airport is closer to Göreme (about 40–45 minutes); Kayseri has more flights.
Transfer to the hotel -
13:00
A cave hotel in Göreme
Sleeping in rooms carved into the rock is one of the best parts of Cappadocia.
-
17:00
Uçhisar Castle
The highest point in the area, with sunset views over the valleys.
Day 5: Balloons and valleys
A day that starts before sunrise with the famous balloon view.
-
5:30
Balloon flight, or watch them
Flights depend on the weather; watching from the hills is free and wonderful.
-
10:00
Göreme Open-Air Museum
Churches and monasteries carved into the rock, with painted walls.
-
14:00
Paşabağ valley
The famous fairy chimneys with their distinctive caps.
-
17:00
Sunset in the valleys
A tour of the valleys by car or quad bike.
Day 6: Underground cities and Avanos
Cappadocia's underground history and its crafts.
-
9:30
Derinkuyu underground city
A city of several levels dug into the ground that once sheltered the people of the area.
-
13:30
Avanos and the Kızılırmak
The pottery town on the Red River, with a pottery workshop.
-
17:00
Free evening
Dinner of testi kebab (pottery kebab) in Göreme.
Day 7: Arriving in Antalya and the old town
A flight from Kayseri to Antalya, then an evening in Kaleiçi.
-
10:00
Fly to Antalya
A direct flight from Kayseri airport to Antalya.
Transfer to the hotel -
16:00
Kaleiçi (old town)
Cobbled lanes, Ottoman houses and Hadrian's Gate.
-
19:00
The old harbour
Dinner at the harbour among the boats and old walls.
Day 8: Düden waterfalls and Konyaaltı beach
Nature and sea inside the city.
-
9:30
Düden waterfalls
Falls that drop straight into the sea, and upper falls in a park.
-
13:00
Konyaaltı beach
A long beach with views of the Taurus mountains.
-
19:00
Tünektepe cable car or an evening walk
Views over the city and the bay at sunset.
Day 9: Boat trip
A day on a boat in the Gulf of Antalya.
-
10:00
Boat trip from the old harbour
Swimming in the coves and seeing the waterfalls from the sea.
-
17:00
Shopping
City markets and shopping centres.
Day 10: Free day and flight home
A rest day before you fly.
-
10:00
Relax at the beach or the hotel
-
15:00
Head to the airport
Direct international flights from Antalya, or via Istanbul.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Photographers and licences.