Check into your hotel in the Sultanahmet (Old City) or Galata (Modern) district. Shake off the jet lag with a sunset stroll along the Bosphorus.
Visit the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the ancient Hippodrome. Descend into the Basilica Cistern and finish the day wandering the Grand Bazaar.
Explore Topkapi Palace (including the Harem). In the afternoon, visit the Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar) and take a Bosphorus Cruise to see the city from the water.
Take an early morning flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir. Explore the Goreme Open Air Museum and the Devrent (Imaginary) Valley. Stay in a cave hotel for the full experience.
Wake up at dawn for a Hot Air Balloon flight. Later, descend into the Kaymakli or Derinkuyu Underground City. End the day at Uchisar Castle for panoramic sunset views.
Go for a morning hike through the Red Valley or Rose Valley. Visit the pottery workshops in Avanos and see the “monk” formations in Pasabag.
Fly directly from Cappadocia to Antalya (or take a scenic but long 8-hour drive/bus). Enjoy a relaxed evening in Kaleiçi
Visit the Aspendos Theater—the best-preserved Roman theater in the world—and the ancient ruins of Perge. Cool off at the Düden Waterfalls.
Drive to Pamukkale. Walk barefoot on the white travertine terraces and swim in the Antique Pool (Cleopatra’s Pool) amidst submerged Roman columns. Explore the ruins of Hierapolis.
Travel toward the coast to Kusadasi or Selçuk. On the way, consider a stop at Aphrodisias, a city dedicated to the goddess of love.
Spend your morning at Ephesus, exploring the Library of Celsus and the Great Theater. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary and the ruins of the Temple of Artemis.
Fly from Izmir back to Istanbul. Spend your final hours picking up last-minute souvenirs or enjoying a traditional Turkish Hammam before your international flight.
