7 Days in Turkey: The Perfect Week-Long Adventure

A week in Turkey? With seven days, you can hit all the major highlights but you might feel like you’re sprinting through the country. After spending a month exploring Turkey, we’ve crafted what we think is the ideal one-week itinerary that balances must-see attractions with enough time to actually enjoy them, plus a few hidden gems that make the experience even more special.

This itinerary takes you through Istanbul’s layered history, Cappadocia’s otherworldly landscapes, the ancient wonders of Ephesus, and Pamukkale’s stunning white terraces. It’s a fairly brisk pace, but you’ll have time to breathe, enjoy meals, and soak in the Turkish culture (and baths) rather than just checking boxes.

Day 1-2: Istanbul – Where East Meets West

Getting There: Most international flights land at Istanbul International Airport (IST) on the European side. The airport is incredibly well-organized with metro service (6am-midnight), buses, and taxis. Signs are in both Turkish and English, making navigation easy even if this is your first time in Turkey.

Important: Don’t rent a car in Istanbul. Just don’t. I’ve seen a lot of congested cities in my travels, and Istanbul ranks at the top. Traffic is standstill, streets are narrow and confusing, and honestly, you’ll walk faster than cars move. Save yourself the stress and use public transportation, taxis, or your own two feet.

Where to Stay: Book a hotel in Fatih (Old Town). All the iconic attractions (Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar) are within walking distance of each other. We’re talking 3-minute walks between major sites. Staying here means you can wander day and night without dealing with traffic or long commutes.

Day 1 Afternoon/Evening:

After checking in (assuming a morning/early afternoon arrival), head out to explore the free attractions and get your bearings.

Start in Sultanahmet Square and Sultan Ahmet Park. These beautifully maintained green spaces between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are perfect for photos and getting that first “I’m really in Istanbul!” feeling.

Visit the Blue Mosque (free). Built in the 1600s and covered in stunning blue tiles with intricate details that’ll make your jaw drop. You need to cover knees, shoulders, and hair for women, but here’s the great news: most mosques in old town provide free coverings to borrow, so you don’t have to suffer in long pants during summer heat.

Walk through Gülhane Park, a former part of Topkapi Palace that’s now public. It’s a lovely tree-lined path down to the Bosporus Strait with incredible water views.

End your evening wandering through the Grand Bazaar or Egyptian Bazaar. If you want to bring home Turkish rugs, Turkish delights, jewelry, cotton towels, or really any souvenirs, this is your spot. In our opinion, the Egyptian Bazaar was more interesting than the Grand Bazaar, but they’re close together so you can easily hit both. Just know that eventually everything starts looking the same, so compare prices and don’t be afraid to negotiate.

Grab dinner in the old town. The prices are steep near major attractions (seriously, a bottle of water costs 5x more here), but walk a few streets away and you’ll find slightly better deals.

Day 2:

Today is museum day, so get an early start. Here’s the strategic order:

Topkapi Palace first thing at 9am opening (1,500 lira for combo ticket including Harem and Hagia Irene). This palace complex housed Ottoman Sultans for over 400 years and it’s absolutely breathtaking. The grounds are immaculate, the buildings are stunning, and you’ll see incredible artifacts: royal clothing, jewelry, religious relics, elaborate kitchenware, ornate weapons, and beautiful calligraphy. Budget 3-4 hours here. Yes, it’s that good.

Pro tip: The audio guide comes free with your combo ticket (no need to download ahead). They also provide modest covering right at the entrance for the Relics area, so don’t stress about wearing long sleeves and pants in the heat. Another pro tip: Come right at opening because it gets packed fast.

Next, hit the Basilica Cistern (880 lira). This massive underground Roman water reservoir held up by 336 marble columns covering 9,800 square meters is genuinely impressive. They’ve done a beautiful job with lighting. It’s hit or miss depending on your interests, but at $27, we think it’s worth it if ancient engineering fascinates you. 

For Hagia Sophia, I’m going to be controversial here. Right now, I’d skip it unless it’s a bucket list item for you. At $25, with newly limited access implemented in January 2024, many visitors are disappointed they can’t see as much as when it was a museum. If you want to see a mosque, the Blue Mosque is free and equally impressive.

Afternoon options:

If you still have energy, explore some neighborhoods on foot:

Balat (2.5 miles north, about 30-minute walk or quick taxi). This neighborhood is famous for brightly colored buildings that look like they belong on a postcard. There are tons of local cafes, artist shops, and little stores. Grab lunch and Turkish coffee or tea at an outdoor table and soak in the local vibe. While you’re in the area, check out the funky Kariye Mosque with Christian religious art from the 6th century (but note: you need to rent coverings here, they’re not free).

Galata Tower area. Cross the Galata bridge (easy walk with gorgeous views) and prepare for steep hills as you climb toward the tower. We didn’t pay to enter the tower itself (seemed pricey just for city views), but the surrounding neighborhood feels very European with adorable cafes, dessert shops, and high-end stores. It’s a different vibe from the old town.

Wander through the antique and art stores on Serdar-ı Ekrem Cd. and Cukuk Cuma Cd. near Galata Tower as there are tons of local small shops with hidden gems.

İstiklal Street. If you want to shop, this long pedestrian street has everything from designer brands to Madame Tussauds Istanbul to a Catholic church. The people watching here is fantastic, and the flags overhead create a festive atmosphere.

Evening option: Book a sunset cruise on the Bosporus (6-9pm in summer). Walk down to the pier at Eminönü (10-15 minute walk from old town). The advertised price is usually $25 per person, but we showed up around 5:30pm and negotiated down to $10. Fair warning: 3 hours felt long to us. We would’ve been happy with just 1-2 hours, so choose based on how much you love boats.

Day 3-5: Cappadocia – Fairy Chimneys, Hot Air Balloons, and Epic Hiking

Getting There: Fly from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir airport (both about an hour from Göreme, the main town). Turkish Airlines and other carriers run multiple daily flights. Flight time is only about 1.5 hours, way better than the 10+ hour drive. Most hotels offer airport pickup, or you can arrange a shuttle.

Where to Stay: I recommend staying in Göreme if you want to be in the action. Restaurants, shops, bus terminals, everything is here. Despite all the activity, it’s surprisingly quiet with almost no noise. We stayed at Cratus Stone Palace and loved it. Beautiful rooms carved into rock and hands down the best Turkish breakfast we had in the entire country with a super high-end spread.

If you prefer quiet with spectacular hot air balloon views, stay in Çavuşin (just 4km away). We also stayed at Azure Cave Hotel there. Watching hundreds of balloons float right overhead at sunrise, so close you feel like you could touch them, was absolutely magical. Way better views than Göreme.

Day 3:

Set your alarm for 4:00am, yes, I’m serious. Your hot air balloon ride typically has pickup around 4:30am. I know it sounds brutal, but this is THE bucket list Cappadocia experience. Trust me, once you’re floating over fairy chimneys as the sun rises, you won’t regret the early wake-up.

Book in advance through GetYourGuide or directly with companies. Prices range from $200-500 per person. Do your research because some companies cram up to 28 people in one basket, which means you’re shoulder-to-shoulder fighting for views and photos. We flew with Royal Balloon and can’t recommend them enough. They offer three options (20, 16, or 8 people per basket), include a light breakfast before the flight, and are incredibly professional and safe. The communication on WhatsApp and email was quick, everything felt secure, and honestly, it was one of the top experiences of our entire lives. The feeling of floating is unmatched.

Pro tip: Book your balloon ride for your first morning in Cappadocia. If it gets canceled due to high winds (which happens sometimes), you’ll have backup mornings to reschedule. We had our first flight canceled and were so glad we had more days available.

After your balloon ride (you’ll be back at your hotel around 8-9am), grab a proper breakfast, maybe take a nap (that 4am wake-up is rough!), then head out for afternoon exploring:

Visit the Zelve Open Air Museum. This is THE one to see if you only pick one open air museum. Yes, you have to drive out to it (farther from town), but free parking makes it easy. Why we loved it: First, it feels like hiking through a valley with dirt paths, trees, and mountains surrounding you. The views are breathtaking. It’s like two experiences in one. Second, you can actually walk through all the cave rooms and explore as much as you want. Everything’s accessible. Third, the rooms here are much larger than at Göreme Open Air Museum, making it easy to picture people living here. Overall: prettier, more rooms to explore, more to see.

If you have time, also visit Göreme Open Air Museum (closest to Göreme town, you can walk there). It’s smaller and many rooms are closed off, which was frustrating. But the Dark Church (requires a second ticket or included in Museum Pass) is genuinely impressive with incredibly well-preserved paintings in deep, rich colors. That alone made it worth the stop.

Want to see mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys up close? Paşabağ Vadisi has an entrance fee (but it’s included in Museum Pass). However honestly, you can see most of it driving past on the road. We’d skip it and go to Love Valley instead for free (more on that tomorrow).

Day 4:

Hiking day! This is where Cappadocia really shines. The valleys are stunning, and getting out on the trails lets you experience the landscape in a way tour buses never will.

Rose Valley is our absolute favorite hike. It’s moderately challenging with ups and downs in elevation, but the sandy paths are manageable for most people. The best part? You can do a loop, walking on a ridge through rock formations, then returning through the valley. We enjoyed it because there are multiple viewpoints, breathtaking scenery, and don’t miss the Column Church. We almost skipped it because there are no signs and it looks like nothing from outside, but climb those rock stairs into the dark and you’ll enter this massive cavern with beautiful carved rock columns. It’s stunning.

Navigation tip: Download the maps.me app. It shows way more trails than Google Maps and works offline when you lose service. Markings in the valleys aren’t always clear, and there are many paths going different directions, so having an offline map is a life savor.

Love Valley is easier and more accessible. Park along the main road (small unmarked lot or just use the shoulder like everyone else), and follow the easy dirt road. Once you reach the mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys, you’re on hiking-only paths. Most paths go straight back into the valley so it’s hard to get lost. The farther you go, the more shade from fruit trees. It’s only 3.2km in (6.4km total round trip), making it doable in a few hours for most fitness levels. Way better than Paşabağ because it’s free and has more to explore.

If you’re feeling ambitious, tackle Meskendir Vadisi to Red Valley. We found a free alternative to avoid the per-car fee at Red Valley entrance. Put “Kaya Camping” in GPS and park across the street in the Aynali Church parking lot (free). Walk to the right of Kaya Camping to find three roads into the valley. The initial descent is steep and a bit treacherous (feels like walking down water runoff paths), but once you’re in the valley, it’s smooth with flat sand. You’ll walk through cool wind-carved tunnels, see houses carved into rocks above you, and experience Meskendir’s unique kinetic-sand-drop rock formations. Gorgeous. On the way back, stop at Meskendir Valley Cafe for tea and coffee. The owner is super friendly and the drinks were delicious.

Wear hiking boots for all valleys. One of us wore tennis shoes and while it was fine, his feet hurt later from all the uneven rocky terrain. The other wore hiking boots and felt great all day. Everything here gets dusty, so don’t wear your new cute shoes (though we saw plenty of people in wedges and flip-flops living dangerously).

If you’re not confident hiking on your own, several companies offer guided hiking tours of the valleys with transportation included. The guides know all the hidden spots and provide historical context we definitely missed on our own.

Day 5 Morning:

If you haven’t gotten up early yet to watch balloons from your hotel, do it today. Get up just before sunrise and head to your hotel’s rooftop patio. Watching hundreds of hot air balloons take off is mesmerizing. Even in summer, mornings are cold, so bring a jacket or blanket to stay cozy while you watch.

Spend your morning exploring underground cities. There are over 200 discovered so far (with rumors of many more hidden underground). With the soft tuff rock, ancient civilizations carved these multi-level cities complete with fresh water sources, air ventilation, security systems, churches, living rooms, animal stalls, and oil lighting. Walking (more like crouching) through them is awe-inspiring.

We visited two underground cities, both included on the Turkey Museum Pass (otherwise €13 each):

Derinkuyu Underground City is the biggest, with a capacity for 20,000 people across 8 levels. It felt the most raw and rugged. They’ve installed lighting to guide you, but there are many twists and turns to explore on your own. You can descend deep into cellars, churches, grave sites, and living rooms. Look for the large round stones strategically placed for defense to cut off sections. It’s a fascinating ancient security system. We visited when there were few tourists, making it easy to explore without feeling rushed or panicky. It’s about 15 minutes farther than Kaymakli but worth it for the authentic feel.

Kaymakli Underground City is more developed with better lighting showing more details. But that means more tourists and large tour groups. We felt stuck behind crowds constantly. Some spots looked artificially updated with plaster walls, losing some originality. That said, there are more interior windows, wall storage, and nooks here. It has a different feel than Derinkuyu. Apparently the two cities are linked by a miles-long underground tunnel, though tourists can’t access it.

We did both in one morning and enjoyed comparing them. Wear suitable shoes (for the hard mud floors), expect lots of stairs and crouching (hard on knees), and follow the red arrows for the tour path and blue arrows for exits. We read you might need a guide to not get lost, but honestly, as long as you stick to the marked paths, you’ll be fine.

Day 5 Afternoon:

Shopping and eating time!

Cappadocia has some of the best shopping outside Istanbul. Look for red clay pottery. This is unique to the Avanos area and you won’t find it elsewhere in Turkey. The colorful painted pieces really stand out.

Recommended shops:

• Asma Ceramics in Göreme (directly under Koi-Sa restaurant, not on Google Maps): The owner is the nicest guy, a 4th generation artist who says his grandfather was his teacher. More expensive than mass-produced goods but clearly higher quality.
• Buldan’s Store & Cafe: Elegant store specializing in Turkish cotton clothing and home goods (bedding, towels). Chain store but this location has a cute cafe.
• Boutique Carpets & YASTIKS: Unique handmade pottery, metal works, plates, cups, plus carpets and fabrics. Beautiful high-quality goods.

If you’re in Avanos:

• Gaia Cappadocia: She’s working on her craft in the store while you shop. Very cool ceramic pieces with her own unique style. We didn’t see work like this anywhere else.
• Chez Bircan: Not everything is handmade, but the artist-made pieces are excellent quality. We bought bowls here that were pricier than mass-produced options but have held up beautifully.

For dinner, treat yourself to one of these amazing restaurants:

• Le Mouton Rouge in Uçhisar: Cute play on words, even cuter courtyard and upper patio. Small menu focused on lamb (few chicken options). The lamb kebab and sac tava (hot plate of stir-fried meat with tomato) were excellent.
• Quick China in Göreme: Don’t judge a restaurant by its name. This is luxury dining with an elegant, sleek interior and lush garden entry. Bangkok noodles and salmon carpaccio were delicious.
• India Gate Indian Restaurant in Göreme: After a month of kebabs and grilled meat, we needed something different. This was some of the best Indian food we’ve eaten. Not fancy inside, but the patio is nice and the food is outstanding.
• Cappa Gusto in Çavuşin: Fine dining without crazy prices. Traditional Turkish food with upscale presentation, incredible views of the ancient city carved into nearby rocks. We  highly recommended the lamb chops and meat kebabs.

Day 6: Ephesus (Selçuk) – Ancient History Comes Alive

Getting There: This is a tricky day for transportation. Ephesus is near the town of Selçuk on the western coast. From Cappadocia, your options:

1. Fly from Kayseri to Izmir (about 1.5 hours), then drive 1 hour to Selçuk. This is fastest but requires rental car or transfer.
2. Drive from Cappadocia to Selçuk (about 8 hours). Long day but doable if you leave early morning. Highway driving in Turkey is actually pretty good: clean roads, clear signs. Just watch out for speed demons in the left lane who will flash lights and honk if you’re in their way. Stick to middle or right lanes.
3. Take a bus: Turkey has good intercity bus service, but this still takes most of the day.

If you’re flying, rent a car at Izmir airport. If you drove from Cappadocia, you’ve already got wheels. You’ll need a car to get between Selçuk attractions efficiently.

Where to Stay: We recommend you to stay in the town of Selçuk, a smaller town that’s walkable and charming. In this area, the guesthouses built into the old hilly part of town are popular, ranging from budget to fancy, most with beautiful rooftop views. We stayed at ANZ Guesthouse. It’s pretty basic in terms of furniture and amenities, but the owner (originally from Australia) and his family were incredibly friendly and helpful. 

Ephesus Archaeological Site:

Get there right when it opens at 8am. The site gets hot and crowded fast. We’re talking withering-in-heat levels by midday in summer, and hoards of tour groups rushing in by 9am. Bring sunscreen, a hat, an umbrella for extra shade if you want, and LOTS of water. Warning, there are no shops or bathrooms inside.

Ephesus was one of the biggest, most modern cities in the Greek Empire, originally built in the 10th century BC. It later came under Roman rule and holds special importance for Christians since both Paul and John visited on different journeys. Today, the site shows an impressive outdoor collection of columns, excavated sections, and artifacts.

There are two entrances, but since there’s only one walking path inside, it doesn’t matter where you start. Parking is 120 tl at either side. You can also walk from town (about 3km).

What you’ll see along the 1km road inside:

• Library of Celsus – 3rd largest library in the ancient world, incredibly well preserved
• Ephesus Ancient Greek Theatre – holds 24,000 people, absolutely massive
• Marketplace ruins
• Common bathhouse
• Terrace Houses (requires a second ticket or included in Museum Pass) – where rich people lived. DO NOT SKIP THIS. The preserved tiles and vibrant colors are remarkable. Well worth the extra cost.

Ticket costs are steep: €40 for normal entry. A combo ticket with Terrace Houses is €52 (only €12 more than buying Terrace Houses separately at €15). We highly recommend the combo ticket. Even better, the Turkey Museum Pass includes both.

Afternoon activities in Selçuk (all within 1km of each other, easy to walk):

• Temple of Artemis – only two columns remain in a farmer’s field, so you really need your imagination. But this was one of the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World and the only ancient wonder with any remains still standing, making it worth a quick visit for history’s sake.
• Ephesus Museum – small but excellent. Gives you a closer look at coins, pottery, statues found at the archaeological site, with pieces dating back to the 7th century BC. Seeing things 9,000 years old is wild. Information panels in Turkish and English. Included in Turkey Museum Pass or separate ticket.
• Basilica of Saint John – well-preserved 6th century AD ruins built in honor of Saint John. Although John died in Ephesus and allegedly is buried here (a plaque marks his tomb), when they opened it years ago, no body was found. Still, the church ruins are interesting for imagining ancient life. Included in Turkey Museum Pass.
• Ayasuluk Citadel – after seeing Basilica of Saint John, keep walking uphill toward the castle walls (you can’t miss it). Well-preserved citadel walls with views of mountains and surrounding town. Entry included with a Basilica ticket, no additional fee.

If you have extra time, drive 15 minutes to Şirince, an adorable mountain town with wine tasting bars, coffee houses, cafes, and markets. Obviously touristy but not overly gaudy. Traditional two-story white and wood houses are charming. Parking is tricky on the mountainside. We recommend you take the first lot for 120 tl rather than driving through narrow streets dodging pedestrians eating gelato and shopping for olive oil.

Where to Eat in Selçuk:

• Ali Baba & Mehmet Kebab House: Plates of kebabs, fries, and salad. Delicious!
• Selcuk Pidecisi: Traditional pide (cheese bread meal) and kiremitte (oven-baked meat, gluten-free option)
• Old House Rest & Cafe: Delicious Saç kavurma (stir-fried meat)

Day 7: Pamukkale – The Cotton Castle

Getting There: From Selçuk, Pamukkale is about 2.5-3 hours’ drive. Leave in the morning to maximize your day. Highway driving is straightforward with good roads.

Where to Stay (if spending the night): Stay at a thermal spa hotel in Karahayıt, 10 minutes north of Pamukkale city. These hotels typically include a swimming pool, hot spring, and buffet meals. We stayed at Richmond Pamukkale Thermal Resort which was decent for the price with full breakfast and dinner buffets, large outdoor pool, and two thermal baths. It’s a few years past its prime with things wearing down, but overall acceptable for a night or two. The thermal spa experience is the main draw.

The Main Attraction:

The Travertines and Hierapolis site has three entrance gates:

1. South gate (recommended): Drive to top of hill, pay 80 tl for parking, enter the park. Come early because all tour buses use this entrance, making it crowded by mid-morning with limited parking.
2. Bottom gate: Free parking in gravel lot, but you have to walk uphill through ALL the travertines barefoot (carrying your shoes). The hard, crunchy mineral rock can hurt your feet. Then you have to walk back through it all again to return. We barely made it one way, can’t imagine doing it twice.
3. North gate: Parking lot is always empty for good reason – you’ll trek 3-5km to reach main attractions. Doable but definitely a longer hiking option.

Entry is €30 per person (Museum Pass accepted at all three gates). All three attractions (Hierapolis ruins, Travertines, and Cleopatra Antique Pools) are inside the park.

Visit the Travertines first since it’s the picture-perfect spot that gets crowded. These brilliant white mineral pools cascading down the hillside are what everyone comes to see. You must go barefoot (no shoes or socks allowed). The ground ranges from smooth to super sharp, but it’s manageable. Our feet hurt a bit afterward but the pain went away quickly – like walking a rocky beach.

Then explore Hierapolis ruins: Originally built by Macedonian Greeks, Romans took over and rebuilt after an earthquake, creating a huge city. The ruins are remarkably well preserved:

• Theater: They’ve kept the main stage and front wall intact (many theaters we’ve seen don’t have the front wall, so this gives you a real sense of what it was like). Entry is from the very top, so make the trek up the hill.
• Gates to Hades: When originally built, naturally occurring CO2 came from earth at this tunnel, killing people and animals, so they thought it was the entrance to the underworld. Used for sacrificial offerings.
• Martyrdom site of Philip the Apostle: One of Jesus’ 12 disciples was killed here. Steeped in history.

Do your research before you go as the information panels give a little detail, but so much more is available online.

Cleopatra Antique Pools: Inside the park, additional tickets are required at the pool entrance (Museum Pass doesn’t cover this). While it’s unclear if Cleopatra ever swam here, Hierapolis definitely had thermal baths due to geological activity (hence the travertines). We skipped it since our hotel had thermal pools, which is basically the same experience. But if you go, bring your own swimsuit and towel.

Best times to visit: Early morning (6-7am) for hot air balloons over the pools (yes, they have balloons here too!) and cool temperatures. Or sunset for that gorgeous blue-white contrast with red-orange sky. Avoid midday because it’s crowded and scorching hot.

Additional nearby attraction:

Laodicea Ancient City (included in Museum Pass): Captivating ancient city, seemed larger than Ephesus. Special interest for Christians as Laodicea was one of the 7 churches in the book of Revelation. You can stand in the actual church, walk through the narthex, see the baptismal, and admire tile work on floors. Because it’s so large and well excavated, you can walk through housing areas, the agora (marketplace), temples, and stroll down streets with erected pillars to get a real sense of ancient life. One street has a huge painted wall still intact which they’ve taken great care to preserve. We haven’t seen anything like it in all the ancient cities we’ve visited.

Afternoon: Drive to Denizli (about 30 minutes) if you have time. It’s a cute town with tons of greenery. We found a lovely lunch spot we’d recommend: Lokum Steak House. You pick your meat (beef or lamb), they grill it up. It was so delicious! They didn’t speak much English but tried so hard to help us order and enjoy, it was such a pleasant experience. 10/10 recommend.

Getting Back: From Pamukkale, you have options:

• Fly from Denizli back to Istanbul (1.5-hour flight)
• Drive back to Istanbul (8-10 hours) if you’re returning a rental car
• Drive to Izmir (2.5 hours) and fly from there

Money-Saving Tip: Turkey Museum Pass

With seven days, absolutely get the TÜRKİYE Museum Pass (15 days, €165). It covers:

• Topkapi Palace and Harem (Istanbul)
• Basilica Cistern (Istanbul)
• All Cappadocia open air museums including Dark Church
• Underground cities in Cappadocia
• Ephesus Archaeological Site and Terrace Houses
• All Selçuk attractions
• Pamukkale entrance and Hierapolis
• Laodicea Ancient City

Buy it as a physical card at your first attraction (they’ll write the date on it). It’s great because you can skip all ticket lines. You just scan and enter. You’ll save a ton of money and time. We kept checking their website for what accepted the pass and ended up visiting way more places than originally planned.

What to Pack

• Hiking boots for Cappadocia valleys (trust us on this)
• Comfortable walking shoes for city exploring
• Hat, sunscreen, water bottle (limited shade, hot sun, expensive touristy water prices)
• Modest clothing for mosques (covered knees/shoulders, headscarf for women)
• Layers for Cappadocia (even summer has cool mornings/nights)
• Swimsuit if staying at thermal hotel or visiting Cleopatra Pools
• Universal adapter (Type F sockets, 220-240V)
• Headlamp or flashlight (useful for underground cities and evening walks)

Practical Tips

Cash: Get Turkish Lira from Kuveyt Türk ATMs as they always have English options and work easily with foreign cards. Most attractions list prices in Euros but you pay in Lira.

Cell phone: Get Airalo or local SIM. WiFi is everywhere in cafes/restaurants, but you’ll need data for constant Google Maps navigation. We used 5-7GB in 27 days.

Food: Get ready for meat-heavy meals (kebabs galore), amazing breads, and spectacular Turkish breakfasts at hotels. Turkish tea (çay) and coffee (kahve) flow all day. We prefer Turkish coffee with “some sugar” as it’s smooth and delicious without being bitter.

Language: Big city tourist areas have English. Useful words: merhaba (hello), teşekkürler (thank you), tuvalet (bathroom), su (water), giriş (entrance), çıkış (exit).

Driving: Highway driving is fine with clean roads, clear signs. Watch out for speed demons in the left lane. They WILL flash lights and honk if you’re in their way. Use middle/right lanes.

The Reality of 7 Days

Seven days gives you enough time to really experience Turkey’s highlights but you will fee like you’re on a marathon sprint. You’ll see Istanbul’s incredible layered history, float over Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, walk through ancient Ephesus where Paul and John once taught, and soak in Pamukkale’s stunning travertines.

You’ll still be tired (it’s a lot of ground to cover), but you’ll have time to enjoy meals, linger at attractions, and actually experience Turkish culture rather than just checking boxes. You’ll eat amazing food, meet friendly locals, see breathtaking landscapes, and walk through ruins that are thousands of years older than anything in the Americas.

This itinerary hits what we consider the absolute must-sees for a first trip to Turkey. And fair warning: you’ll leave already planning your return trip to explore the regions you missed. Turkey has that effect on people. Safe travels, and don’t forget to try the Turkish breakfast!