Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye is a transcontinental country located in both South-East Europe and West Asia.
Türkiye borders the Black Sea to the north, Georgia to the North-East and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran to the East. Iraq lies to the South-East and Syria and the Mediterranean Sea are to the South. The Aegean Sea is to the West with Greece and Bulgaria to the North-West. Cyprus lies off the south coast.
Ankara is Türkiye’s capital and second largest city behind Instanbul, which is the largest city as well as economic and financial centre.
With so much history, culture and beauty it can be difficult to know where to start when planning your trip to Türkiye. Hopefully our insights can help guide you plan your perfect itinerary!
DAY 1: Arrive Istanbul
DAY 2: Istanbul
DAY 3: Canakkale
DAY 4: Kusadasi
DAY 5: Pamukkale
DAY 6: Cappadocia
DAY 7: Cappadocia
DAY 8: Istanbul
DAY 1: ISTANBUL – with so much to see and do in Istanbul I’d recommend a slow start with a visit to the beautiful Galata Tower. You can pre-book tickets online but be warned, they’re not instantaneous. The line can be long but it moves reasonably quickly. Inside is a lift to take you to the top, but you’ll have to walk back down to get out. The streets around here are lovely and there are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat and a drink.
DAY 2: ISTANBUL – Get busy today with a look around the old town Istanbul. Check out the Ancient Hippodrome with it’s three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. A visit to the Blue Mosque is a must. Known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Inik tiles it is also called The Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque and was built in the 16th century.
The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque is another must see location for any visit to Istanbul. The Hagia Sofia was previously known as the Church of Divine Wisdom, it is simply the best of its kind! The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque is the greatest surviving example of Byzantine Architecture and for 1000 years, it was once the largest church in the world, decorated with stunning 6th century golden mosaics. Make sure you have your shoulders and knees covered and bring a head scarf for your hair as well when visiting any mosque.
When visiting Istanbul make sure you make time for the Topkapi Palace, which was the great
palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The Topkapi Palace houses an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures and the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed.
Finish off your day with a wander through the Grand Spice Bazaar, which is a unique atmosphere with reasonable prices for your shopping. You will find exotic spices and herbs, Turkish baklava, Turkish delights, Turkish coffee, nuts and fruits and small souvenirs including Ceramic handicrafts, Evil Eyes totems, and many other goods in the dozens of souvenir shops and stores.
DAY 3: CANAKKALE – Depart for Gallipoli today to visit the famous battlefields. Make sure to visit the Kabatepe Museum and take your time wandering around Ari Burnu Cemetery, Anzac Cove, Beach Cemetery, Shrapnel Valley and Plugge’s Plateau. Such a sombre and very moving place, it’s absolutely worth the visit.
DAY 4: KUSADASI – Visit the famous archaeological site of Troy, of Trojan Horse and Helen of Troy fame. Unfortunately when we were there the Trojan horse was under restoration. Continue on to Pergamon and tour the magnificent acropolis. Its impressive temples and library made it a renowned cultural and political centre at the time. Pergamon is famous for its jewellery, stones and silver.
Visit The House of Virgin Mary where she spent her latest years and take a tour around Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient sites in the world. In Ephesus, you will see Curates street, famous Roman baths, Celsius Library and the Grand Theatre.
DAY 5: PAMUKKALE – The calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ruins of
Hierapolis are truly a sight to see. Wander around this spectacular natural
phenomenon and soak in the waters of the beautiful natural springs.
DAY 6: CAPPADOCIA – Travel day via Konya where you can visit the imposing green-tiled Mausoleum of Mevlana, the mystic founder of the Sufi sect (Whirling Dervishes). Head onto Cappadocia.
DAY 7: CAPPADOCIA – Start the day early with a spectacular hot air balloon ride over the most picturesque landscape imaginable. With 150 balloons all flying high you won’t be disappointed. Some things to keep in mind … book your balloon flight before arriving in Turkiye. It’s around $200 AUD more expensive to book last minute. Wear warm or layers of clothing … even on boiling hot days the early mornings are quite fresh! And make sure you check out the balloons from the ground too … there are loads of places around Goreme to get amazing views. Here are a few to help:
- Sunrise / Sunset Viewpoint Goreme – this large hill is right at the edge of the city and is open to the public (it’s busy). You’ll find a big Turkish flag and a small boardwalk.
- Red Valley ATV Hill: Quad bike (ATV) rentals are popular in Cappadocia and this ATV parking lot is where most of the hot air balloons take off early in the mornings. Hike up the little hill here for a 360-degree view of the balloons taking off.
- Red Valley Panoramic Viewpoint: at the east end of the Goreme Valley is a long ridge that is easily accessed due to the road being paved. The ridge here looks over Red Valley and there are plenty of cafes with seating areas which open for sunrise.
- Love Valley Panoramic View: depending on the direction of the wind you may find yourself watching the balloons at Love Valley, which is similar to Red Valley but on the other side of Goreme. The unique “dick” shaped rock formations allow for a great backdrop and account for the name “Love Valley”.
DAY 8: ISTANBUL – there are still so many places in Istanbul to visit. Visit these places if you haven’t already: Umbrella Street in the Balat Neighbourhood, The Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Rooftop of Kubbe, Bosphorus Strait and the Ortakoy Mosque … just to name a few.
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