The Ultimate 10-day Itinerary to Turkey
I visited Turkey end of September 2022 for 10 days with friends and it was such a diverse country with so much to offer. From the bustling roads of Istanbul to the beautiful waters of Antalya and hot air ballooning in Cappadocia, there is a lot to do in Turkey. I am sharing what we did and what we enjoyed vs what we would skip. I personally recommend visiting it with friends or family and not only as a couple. Spending 10 days, we tried to fit in a lot in the time we were there and it became exhausting by the end of the trip. If you want a chiller trip, pick and choose what you want to do. I am also sharing how we planned with guides we took, activities we did, and hotels we stayed at. And yes, I will talk about the Vegetarian food we ate and what was available from what we saw around. Most of our excursions and transfers and bookings were with a tour company. I don’t recommend the company and feel you could book day tours based on what you are interested in. Hotels help with transfers so you can easily get it organized. At the end of the blog post i will talk about the safety steps we took. I have two highlights on my Instagram page in which I’ve shared daily snippets of our trip which can be helpful.
Overview of the trip:
Day 1: Flight to Istanbul. Spend the evening in Istanbul
Day 2: Istanbul
Day 3: Istanbul in the first half. Take a flight to Denizli and then drive to Pamukkale and reach by dinner.
Day 4: Pamukkale in the first half. Drive to Antalya and reach by dinner.
Day 5: Antalya
Day 6: Flight to Cappadocia in the morning
Day 7: Cappadocia
Day 8: Cappadocia in the first half. Flight to Istanbul at night and reach late.
Day 9: Istanbul
Day 10: Istanbul in the first half. Flight back in the evening.
Day 1: Flight to Istanbul. Spend the evening in Istanbul
We took an overnight flight to Istanbul from Newark and flew on Turkish Airlines. We reached in the evening on Day 1 and went to the hotel. We stayed at the Elysium hotel in Istanbul. The hotel was good, nothing great but comfortable. Breakfast was included and it had a decent vegetarian option. After checking in to the hotel we walked to Taksim square which has so much to do. I got my e-sim in a Turkcell store in Taksim square and even did some currency exchange at a great rate in a store there. We had dinner in the area and walked around for a bit till we made our way back to the hotel.
Day 2: Istanbul
This day was a tour around the old city of Istanbul. the tour bus picked us up in the morning after breakfast and our first stop was near the German fountain. Then we went to the Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Carry a scarf as women need to cover their heads when entering the mosques and both men and women need to have their knees covered. They do sell ponchos in case you forget, but it’s easier to come prepared. Travel light and wear comfortable shoes as it can be a long queue and all bags go through a security check. I loved the palace the artifacts were beautiful and I loved the architecture. I could not enter the Hagia Sophia as they had their primary prayer on and women cannot enter the mosque at that time so plan that correctly. The blue mosque is undergoing repairs from the inside so all we could see is the dome but it is stunning! Lunch was provided by the tour company in a restaurant where we had a cheese Pide and lentil soup. It was okay but not something we wanted to keep having and we realized all tour meals will probably be that so we decided to get our meals from that point on.
After that, we walked to the Grand Bazaar which was amazing. It reminded me of a larger scale market than those in India. They have stores for ceramics, carpets, light, spices, sweets, fabrics, and more! It is definitely a must-visit! You can bargain in most stores and get a better rate, especially if you pay cash. Post the bazaar we were dropped back at the hotel.
In the evening we walked back to Taksim square and walked the entire way to Galata Towers. We had dinner at Falafel House and LOVED it. Their falafels were amazing and it’s a must-visit. We also had Baklava at Hafiz Mustafa and don’t miss it! Their chocolate Baklava and baklava with Turkish ice cream is a MUST TRY (they have locations all over so try different things on different days). Walking around the area we also tried the Turkish ice cream and san Sebastian cheesecake near Galata towers. Then we chilled at a bar, Lucy Pera, and walked our way back to the hotel at 4 am.
Day 3: Istanbul in the first half. Take a flight to Denizli and then drive to Pamukkale and reach by dinner.
On our third day, we had breakfast at the hotel and then we packed up and decided to take it slow. We went to the airport and where we flew to Denizli. I had the veggie burger at Burger King and it was pretty good! We had a private transfer to our hotel in Pamukkale where we stayed at Doga Thermal spa. Their dinner spread in the hotel was huge, with decent vegetarian options. They had an even larger dessert spread. The hotel was great, it had a thermal pool and regular pool, and a full spa. The rooms were great as well!
Day 4: Pamukkale in the first half. Drive to Antalya and reach by dinner.
Day 4 we started our morning early with a visit to the thermal pools and Cleopatra Antique pool. We reached there at 8 am. We had a tour booked at 11 am but we decided to not go for that and go early because of the crowds. We took a local taxi and asked them to charge by the meter. If you can get dropped at the north entrance- it’s a much shorter short and not uphill. It definitely was a great call because by the time we left around 12:00 it was PACKED! We got to experience it empty and take great shots. It was so much fun and the thermal pools were a great temperature. Be careful while walking because it is slippery and it does hurt your feet. You can’t wear shoes and will have to leave them at the edge of where the pools start. We got fresh orange and pomegranate juice which you can get all over Turkey and you should definitely try it once. We walked by the Cleopatra pools but didn’t swim. It was too crowded but definitely pretty to see. We roamed around the town center and tried some Indian food- it was bad, highly recommend not trying it. Then we took a taxi back to the hotel and got foot massages which were great.
Then we had a private transfer to Antalya. We reached Antalya late evening and checked into our hotel Doubletree. The rooms were great but we all were honestly quite disappointed in the service. Once we freshened up we took a taxi to the old city area for dinner. We had dinner at Pio Gastro Bar and Bistro which was good food. That area has a lot of shopping and bars and clubs. We went to this bar Buda and it was FAB! We ordered a water pipe (hookah) and it was so smooth. We hung out till late about 2 am and took a cab back to our hotel and retired for the night.
Day 5: Antalya
The morning started with breakfast at the hotel after which we head to our tour for the day. We were shown the old part of the city and the different architectural influences.l Post that we went for a boat ride which was stunning. The water is so clear and so blue! Post that we were taken for lunch and as I mentioned before we requested different food for which we made extra. It was a great choice we tried a local dish called Guvech which was yum! Post that we went to the Duden waterfall area which is a must-visit. The falls are beautiful and there is a lot to do in the area like ziplining. You can even have your photo taken with exotic birds. We got some Turkish coffee there and head back to the hotel.
After freshening up we head out for the evening to the old city again. We shopped and picked up some ceramics there and did a lot of window shopping. This area is alive at night! We had dinner at Gazetta Brasserie which was good Italian Food. We wanted something different that night. Then we head back to Buda after which we head back to the hotel and called it a night.
Day 6: Flight to Cappadocia in the morning
The morning of our flight to Cappadocia was a pain! The hotel fire alarm rang an hour into us sleeping and it was a false alarm. We were on 3 hours of sleep that night when we checked out but our tour company forgot our pickup to the airport (many communication problems that we had with them that felt too scammy so I don’t recommend it). Well, we got a cab and made it in time for our flight to Cappadocia. When we reached Cappadocia we had a transfer to our hotel MDC Cave hotel which was amazing! It was so different staying in a cave and the property was amazing. It was my favorite hotel in the entire trip! We ate lunch in the hotel which had many Vegetarian options.
After freshening up, we went for ATV rides to the valleys! It is a MUST-TRY experience. I don’t know how to drive and managed to do it well. We booked our experience through Airbnb, link here. We saw so many valleys and it was so much fun. Carry a mask and wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty- it gets dusty!! After that, we went for dinner to Namaste India and the food was GREAT! If you need Indian food on your tip to Turkey, this should be a must-visit. After dinner, we head up and called it a night. The next morning we had a hot air balloon ride booked.
Also, I need to mention, it was FABULOUS meeting you guys in Cappadocia!! You’ll made me feel so loved and special.
Day 7: Cappadocia
Our morning started at 4:00 am for our Hot air balloon ride which was a different experience. Our tour company wrongly booked us for the wrong hot air balloon in Kat area, not Göreme area so we didn’t do it and went back to the hotel. We didn’t book it online because the tour company quoted $200 dollars less for Göreme area but at that time they took us to the Kat area. So lesson learned there, book ahead of time with some company that’s trustworthy. Luckily, I knew another tour agency that was able to book us a ride for the next day. Well anyway, we got ready for the day. The breakfast in the hotel was AMAZING!! They even made fresh parathas which were sooo good.
After breakfast, we were picked up for our tour for the day. We went to the paranomic point which was beautiful. Then we went to the Göreme open-air museum and spent time there. Then we headed for lunch which was okay. Then we went to a pottery shop where we saw how they make the ceramics and it was so cool to see it all. I even had a chance to try my hand at the potter wheel. Everything there though the work was immaculate was very expensive. After that, we bought some spices and snacks at a local store. Then we went to imagination valley which was cute and then headed back to the hotel.
In the evening we went to a Dancing Dervish show which was amazing. I was in awe seeing them twirl around nonstop and it actually calming. We got some dinner at the city center which was very average. Then we headed back to the hotel and called it a night.
Day 8: Cappadocia in the first half. Flight to Istanbul at night and reach late.
The morning started early at 4:00 am again for our second go at a hot air balloon ride. It was such an amazing experience and I am so glad we were able to do it. It definitely is very expensive but since it's the best place in the world for hot air balloons we decided to do it. We used universal balloon company for the ride and they were great. Seeing the hot air balloons fill up to being in the basket in the air, it was all so good. And if you have a fear of heights don’t worry it’s not that bad- said my husband who has the fear. If you have the opportunity, do it but book in advance for a spot and a cheaper price. Be sure to carry something warm, it’s really cold in the morning (this was the first week of October). After the ride, we were dropped back at the hotel where we got ready for the day and had breakfast. We were checking out in the evening so we had to pack and vacate the rooms so we did all that post breakfast and set out to the Göreme center.
We shopped a lot in the center, from ceramics to textiles and even a Turkish wine pourer. We roamed around a lot and bargained a lot and got some great deals and picked up so many gifts for friends and family. We head back to the hotel in the evening and packed it all up again. Then we left for the airport which is a tiny airport with no space to sit. The airline was Sun express and I would recommend not flying it. We reached Istanbul at night and headed to our hotel- Nomade exclusive and called it a night.
Day 9: Istanbul
This was more of a chill day in our trip. We roamed around the Sultanahmet area and saw many cute houses. We went to Arasta Bazaar during the day and spent so much time there. Great shops, great service, and a lot of bargaining. I picked up the best teas there from the shop Sultan Delight. We went for lunch to Garden 1897 restaurant which was really pretty. It had an outdoor area and great food.
After lunch, we roamed the area and went to a terrace bar with great views. Then we headed back to the hotel after which we went back to Hafiz Mustafa for dessert for dinner. That’s when we had the baklava with ice cream which was fab and packed some baklava to bring back. Then we called it a night and packed our bags since we leave the next day.
Day 10: Istanbul in the first half. Flight back in the evening.
Our day started with a morning photo shoot with a local photographer. We did it near the Bosphorus river and then walked around the Karakoy area. This area was really nice and I wish we spent more time there. After that, we had a traditional Turkish breakfast at Hotel Estambul. It was a massive spread and a must-try experience. After breakfast, we went back to Arasta Bazaar to window shop around.
Then we headed to the airport. They all recommended leaving 3-4 hours early since there is a lot of traffic and it’s very crowded at the airport. We flew Turkish airlines back to EWR and it was a great flight back!
Some things to be aware of in Turkiye:
We got e-visas which were very convenient. We had it in less than 24 hours.
If you use a taxi, be sure to mention only the meter rate and check the meter. They like to scam!
In Istanbul of all places, they scam tourists so just ignore random people who try to come up to you for help or directions or kids on the road. It’s all probably a scam. we roamed around even at 4 am at night, it’s safe as a group of 4 for sure just be aware. Overall people are friendly!
Carry a scarf for mosques.
I only carried a crossbody bag without branding to be safe from pickpockets and not to attract attention.
You can bargain everywhere!
Book transfers to and fro hotels and airports from before.
Carry and apply sunscreen, you can get tanned easily.
Carry cash in Liras for more discounts and bargaining opportunities.
Google translate makes life very easy as many people don’t understand English.
Check your vegetarian options from before. You need to probably try other cuisines apart from local food to get more options. In smaller towns like Pamukkale you need to be more prepared. Even if restaurants are highly rated, it may be for meat so check it out before.
If you buy spices or teas ask them vacuum seal it.
Istanbul has a lot of steep slopes to walk if you explore so be prepared.
Turkey has a lot of stray cats and some dogs. They don’t really interact but just be ready for many of them. So if you’re allergic carry your meds.
