Turkey Itinerary
We spent a total of 14 nights in Turkey split between Istanbul, Cappadocia, Sirince (while visiting the Ruins of Ephesus) and Bodrum. We flew from NYC directly (non-stop) to Istanbul, then flew to Kayseri Airport in Cappadocia. The hotel in Cappadocia arranged transport from the airport and then later a car rental for a self-guided day-trip in the area (it was delivered to and picked up from our hotel). We then flew from Kayseri Airport back west to Izmir Airport (south of Istanbul) where we picked up a rental car for the drive to our next hotel in the small village of Sirince (our base for the Ruins of Ephesus). After that, we drove further south to Bodrum, a popular resort town on the Aegean Sea (actually the entire Bodrum Peninsula is a sunny - and sometimes top-end- vacation destination). Three days later we flew back to Istanbul for a return stay on the Asian side of the Bosphorus Strait, before heading home to New York.
4 nights in Istanbul, on the European side — This was only our part of our time spent in Istanbul. We returned at the end of the trip for another few nights on the quieter Asian side. Otherwise Istanbul could easily fill 5-6 days.
3 nights in Cappadocia — Cappadocia is otherworldly and beautiful. Be sure to leave time for hikes, guided tours, and perhaps a peaceful drive in the countryside. Also, a sunrise balloon ride is a must!
2 nights in Sirince and visiting The Ruins of Ephesus — Selcuk is the closest town to Ephesus, but is a busy tourist base and doesn’t have much charm. Instead, we chose to stay in Sirince (a more authentic Turkish village) with cozy lodging perched on a steep hillside that overlooked the town and the local market. We had a great time with the host here; she provided an amazing homemade dinner on the terrace as the sun set over the village. It was about a 20-minute drive to the Ruins Ephesus, to which you should allocate at least a half-day. There are also local beaches in the area worth visiting.
3 nights in Bodrum — The Bodrum Peninsula is a popular destination for Turkish vacationers (specifically from Istanbul) with resorts scattered along the coast. We stayed in the town of Bodrum. There is a small town-center beach, a castle to tour, and a vast marina filled with expensive yacht. It was not without its charm. Our small hotel had beautiful views of the sea and sky, but if we were to go back today, we would probably stay in one of the high-end luxury hotels that have proliferated on the other side of the peninsula from town, as a visit to this area is more about water and sun…and relaxation.
2 nights back in Istanbul, this time on the Asian Side — While we enjoyed our hotel and the relative quiet at the end of a long trip, the Asian is not as convenient to the “old city” Istanbul. To visit most of the historic areas requires a short ferry ride (which runs frequently with scheduled stops along the Bosphorus). Of course this gave us the excuse to take a ferry ride back at sunset, which was a lovely highlight.
GT Tip:
There is no need for a car in Istanbul, but you will likely want one for part of your time in Cappadocia. A car also is needed if you want a leisurely drive further south down the coast. Otherwise you can also fly from Istanbul to Bodrum.
Cappadocia is in the center of the country, a quick 90-minute flight back and forth to/from Istanbul or Izmir (a bit further south and closer to Ephesus).
