Destinations · Europe and Asia
Turkey
Istanbul first, then the valleys of Cappadocia and the ruins out west.
Currency
Lira (TRY)
US visa
Visa-free, 90 days
Ride app
BiTaksi or Uber
Best time
Apr to May, Sep to Oct
Tap water
Stick to bottled
Daily budget
About $55
Guesthouse room, local food
Routes
How much time have you got?
Every route starts in Istanbul, the part of Turkey I know. The two-week route goes on to Cappadocia and the west coast, which I haven’t seen yet, and that page says so. Each one gets its own day-by-day itinerary.
Short on time
4 days, 3 nights
Istanbul
The old city, the Grand Bazaar, a ferry across the Bosphorus and a night out on the Asian side. Enough for a first look, or a long layover done right.
Full itinerary coming soon
My pick · Take it slow
7 days, 6 nights
Istanbul · Princes’ Islands · the Bosphorus
A week in one city, which sounds like a lot until you’re there. Time for the neighborhoods past the old city, a day on the car-free Princes’ Islands and a ferry up the Bosphorus toward the Black Sea.
Full itinerary coming soon
See it all
14 days, 13 nights
Istanbul · Cappadocia · Pamukkale · Ephesus
Four nights in Istanbul, a short flight to Cappadocia for three, then the overnight bus west to Pamukkale and two nights in Selçuk for Ephesus. Fly home from Izmir.
Full itinerary coming soon
Flying in from the US? Add your travel days on top. Every length here is time on the ground.
Seasons
When to go
Shoulder season works for Istanbul, Cappadocia and the coast.
Best
Apr to May, Sep to Oct
Warm days, fewer crowds
Hot and busy
Jun to Aug
Book ahead
Cold and wet
Nov to Mar
Snow in Cappadocia
Read next
Stories from Turkey
I had about a week in Istanbul in September 2023, on my way overland into Europe. Cappadocia and the coast are still on my list, so I’ll say plainly which parts are research.
City guide · Coming soon
Istanbul for first-timers
Which side to stay on, how the ferries work, and what to eat first.
Ultimate guide · Coming soon
Bosphorus to the Baltic
Overland from Istanbul to Gdańsk by bus, train and one boat. The way I got home in 2023.
Money · Coming soon
How much a week in Istanbul costs
Rooms, food, ferries, and what the lira is doing this year.
Before you go
What I’d sort out before the flight. Some of these are referral links.
Data
Airalo eSIM
Install it before you fly and you land with data. Way easier than a local SIM registration.
Transit
Get an Istanbulkart
One card for the metro, trams, buses and the Bosphorus ferries. Machines at most stations.
Free guide
First 24 Hours in a New Country
The night before, hour by hour after landing, and the traps. Free with the monthly letter.