Turkey holds a special place in my heart. When we quit our jobs and went on a 6 month travel adventure, Turkey was our first destination. You’re going to have an amazing time on YOUR 10 day trip to Turkey!
That’s exactly what I’m here to help you achieve.
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While 10 days seems like a lot, there is so much to see in Turkey! So, I’ve created this itinerary based on getting a good, well rounded experience during your 10 days in Turkey.
Let’s go!
What to Know Before Your 10 Day Trip to Turkey
How to Get Around
Some people decide to rent a car while in Turkey because they prefer to have a bit more control over their itinerary. Other people use Turkish buses and airlines to get around.
Turkey is a large country, so while renting a car might seem to make sense, you can still have long driving times when getting around. Don’t assume renting a car is the best option.
If you don’t rent a car, I would recommend a mix of buses and flying.
I would fly from Istanbul to Izmir, take a bus to Ephesus, take a bus to Pamukkale (Denizli), take a bus on to Antalya, take a bus to Kaş, fly from Antalya to Cappadocia, and fly from Cappadocia back to Istanbul.
Turkish Airlines, Anadolu Jet, and Pegasus airlines are all affordable ways to travel around Turkey. To find affordable flights around Turkey, search with Skyscanner.
For shorter distances, like getting from the Izmir airport to Ephesus, you could take a bus. It really depends on many factors.
What to Wear in Turkey
I’ve written an entire post about what to pack for your trip to Turkey where I go into detail about what to bring and why.
It depends on the season, but there are also certain instances where specific pieces of clothing are required, like when visiting mosques.
So check out that post after you finish reading this one for all the details!
The 10 Day Trip to Turkey Itinerary
2 Days in Istanbul
Where to Stay in Istanbul
I definitely recommend staying in the Sultanahmet neighborhood, because of its proximity to the main things to see as well as to public transportation
Lux
Mid
Budget
Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia
Both of these mosques are situated within the same park, and they’re pretty hard to miss.
The Blue Mosque is named so because of the blue tiles adorning the inside. When we visited in 2021, the mosque was under construction, so be aware that it could still be depending on when you’re visiting.
The Hagia Sophia is the most popular tourist attraction in Istanbul for good reason. It’s an amazing piece of architecture with an amazing history to match. The building has been both a mosque and a church at one point or another, and the inside is huge.
The Hagia Sophia is a must see during your 10 day trip to Turkey!
Galata Tower
No need to go in the tower, in my opinion, but it is a really cool fairytale looking tower in the middle of the tourist area of town. We enjoyed checking it out!
You can reach Galata Tower by taking the Karaköy funicular, since the walk up to it from the water is quite steep.
Grand Bazaar
You should spend hours wandering around the Grand Bazaar smelling the spices, admiring the handmade items, and chatting with the store owners.
It’s a true maze, so I recommend having your phone maps ready to lead you out of the middle of it once you inevitably get lost.
So much fun!
Bosphorus Strait
Istanbul is located on the Bosphorus Strait, which is a waterway that has been used for thousands of years for sea trade. It allows ships to pass from the Aegean sea to the Black Sea and back.
The strait cuts right through the middle of Istanbul, and actually separates two continents, Europe and Asia.
Because of this, Istanbul sits on two continents, and you can take a ferry from Europe to Asia and back in one day.
Ferry to Asia
You’ll likely be staying on the European side of Istanbul, so you should hop on one of the many ferries that will take you over to Asia while visiting the city. Not only is it a fun activity, but there are wonderful little neighborhoods to explore, including Kadiköy.
Beylerbeyi Palace
While on the Asian side of Istanbul, visit Beylerbeyi Palace, a former summer residence for the Ottoman Emperor.
The audio tour costs money, but it’s a fun activity to do if you have the time. We took a bus from the ferry port to the palace.
1 Day Visiting Ephesus
There is a ton to do in Ephesus, and you could spend hours upon hours here. So, I will give you a pretty large list of things to see while visiting Ephesus, and you should decide what you are interested in and what you have time for.
Ephesus is an ancient city, most famous for its role in the early church of Christianity. Beyond the religious importance of the historical site, it’s also an amazingly preserved example of the living style of the time.
You can see where the wealthy of Ephesus lived, the public library, and even the communal toilets.
It’s truly amazing what is still standing in Ephesus today and the feeling that you’re walking back in time as you meander through the streets of the ancient city.
Where to Stay
Selçuk is the closest town to Ephesus, and has its own charm you should explore.
We ate an amazing, quick lunch in Selçuk and met the nicest Turkish man who owned the restaurant. We wandered through the local market on Sunday and we loved it.
What to See in Ephesus
- Library of Celsus
- Ephesus Ancient Theater
- St. John’s Basilica
- Terrace Houses
- Ephesus Archaeological Museum
1 Day Visiting Pamukkale
Now, I have mixed feelings about Pamukkale but I’m mentioning it because it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Turkey. But that’s just it: it’s an ‘attraction’.
Over-tourism has contributed to the monetization and subsequent degradation of the naturally beautiful landscape that is Pamukkale.
So what’s my suggestion? If you really want to go to Pamukkale, go as early in the morning as possible. I’m talking 6am kinda early. Why? Because by 8am, the place is crawling with tourists.
But, the thing is that getting there that early is really only possible if you rent your own car. So… just think about that. You can rent a car in Selçuk if you wanted to do a day trip to Pamukkale.
There is a real problem here. Tour buses drop off oogles of people every day to walk around in the natural pools.
There is no limit to the number of visitors, so it is often so crowded you can hardly walk, let alone even see the pools.
We made a YouTube video about our experience so you can see what we’re talking about.
If you decide not to visit Pamukkale, take the extra day and spend it on the beautiful Turkish Riviera!
3 Days in Antalya & Kaş
Antalya is a beautiful, large city on the southern coast of Turkey. You should spend a day here enjoying the beaches after exploring Kaş and before hopping on a plane to Cappadocia. Visit Old Town and Hadrian’s Gate.
Wow. Just wow. The Turkish coast is unbelievably beautiful. Spend some time swimming in the wonderful Mediterranean Sea and experience the resort feel of the coast. What a place!
I recommend doing a boat tour in Kaş , otherwise seek out some of the best beaches in the area.
Helpful tip: A ‘plaji’ is a beach.
Where to Stay in Antalya
Mavi Avulu Old Town Apartments
Where to Stay in Kaş
Mandalina Luxury Boutique Otel
2 Days in Cappadocia
We’ve saved the best for last!
That’s right, Cappadocia will absolutely blow your mind.
There are a lot of really cool things to do in Cappadocia, so again I will give you a list and let you choose what you’re interested in!
- Hot Air Balloon: I really feel like this one is a non-negotiable. Sure, it isn’t the cheapest experience ever, but man is it worth every penny. This is a top 10 bucket list type of activity in my opinion!
- Horse Ride
- ATV’s
- Open Air Museums: There are two that we went to and enjoyed. The Goreme Open Air Museum and the Zelve Open Air Museum. I think you probably only need to visit one, though.
Where to Stay in Cappadocia
There are tons of affordable hotels in Göreme, which is where I would recommend you stay. You can easily find a beautiful hotel with amazing views for less than $100/night.
You should definitely stay in a cave hotel built into the rocks of the landscape. So cool!
In the mornings, you can see the hot air balloons from anywhere in town.
We stayed at the Maron Stone House.
Now you’re ready to plan your 10 day trip to Turkey! Please leave a comment if you have other suggestions of places to visit, or questions about visiting Turkey.
Also check out our YouTube videos from our time in Turkey!
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