2 Weeks in Turkey: The Complete Itinerary

Two weeks is the sweet spot for Turkey. This itinerary runs a complete western loop — Istanbul to Cappadocia, down the Mediterranean coast, along the Aegean to Ephesus, then finishing with Bodrum’s beaches before flying back. The pace allows for both serious sightseeing and genuine downtime.

Route overview

Days	Location	Nights	Transport in
1–3	Istanbul	3	International flight
4–6	Cappadocia (Goreme)	3	Domestic flight
7–8	Antalya	2	Domestic flight
9	Pamukkale	1	Bus
10	Ephesus / Selcuk	1	Bus
11	Izmir	1	Train
12–13	Bodrum	2	Bus or flight
14	Istanbul (departure)	0	Domestic flight

Where to stay — by location

Istanbul (3 nights)

• Budget: Cheers Hostel, Sultanahmet — dorms from ₺600, private doubles from approximately ₺1,800/night as of 2026
• Mid-range: Hotel Ibrahim Pasha — doubles from approximately ₺3,500/night as of 2026. Hippodrome location, rooftop breakfast.
• Splurge: Four Seasons Sultanahmet — doubles from approximately ₺15,000/night as of 2026

Cappadocia (3 nights)

• Budget: Travellers Cave Pension — doubles from approximately ₺1,200/night as of 2026
• Mid-range: Koza Cave Hotel — doubles from approximately ₺3,500/night as of 2026. Balloon-view terrace.
• Splurge: Museum Hotel, Uchisar — doubles from approximately ₺20,000/night as of 2026

Antalya (2 nights)

• Budget: White Garden Pansiyon, Kaleici — doubles from approximately ₺1,200/night as of 2026
• Mid-range: Tuvana Hotel — doubles from approximately ₺3,000/night as of 2026

Pamukkale (1 night)

• Mid-range: Doga Thermal Health & Spa — doubles from approximately ₺2,500/night as of 2026

Selcuk (1 night)

• Mid-range: Cella Boutique Hotel — doubles from approximately ₺2,800/night as of 2026

Izmir (1 night)

• Mid-range: Key Hotel, Alsancak — doubles from approximately ₺2,500/night as of 2026. Central location near the Kordon.

Bodrum (2 nights)

• Budget: Artemis Hotel — doubles from approximately ₺1,500/night as of 2026
• Mid-range: El Vino Hotel, Bodrum centre — doubles from approximately ₺4,000/night as of 2026
• Splurge: Mandarin Oriental Bodrum — doubles from approximately ₺30,000/night as of 2026. Private beach, cliff-edge pools.

Days 1–3: Istanbul

Day 1 — Sultanahmet

Hagia Sophia (free mosque entry, exhibitions approximately ₺500) → Blue Mosque (free) → Basilica Cistern (₺450) → Topkapi Palace (₺750, Harem ₺400). Lunch at Sultanahmet Koftecisi (₺150–250/person). Dinner at Matbah — Ottoman palace recipes in the Ottoman Hotel Imperial (₺400–700/person).

Day 2 — Bazaars and Bosphorus

Grand Bazaar (closed Sundays) → Spice Bazaar → Bosphorus cruise (₺200, 2-hour short loop) → Galata Tower (₺650). Lunch at Hamdi Restaurant (₺300–500/person). Dinner at Karakoy Lokantasi (₺350–600/person).

Day 3 — Dolmabahce, Istiklal, Kadikoy

Dolmabahce Palace (₺750, closed Mondays) → Istiklal Avenue → ferry to Kadikoy (₺20). Lunch at Ciya Sofrasi (₺150–250/person). Sunset ferry back.

All entry fees approximate as of 2026.

Days 4–6: Cappadocia

Flight: Istanbul to Kayseri — 1 hour 20 minutes, from ₺500 on Pegasus/AnadoluJet. Shuttle to Goreme (₺250).

Day 4 — Arrival and Goreme

Explore the town on foot, walk to Sunset Point. Book tomorrow’s balloon. Dinner at Topdeck Cave Restaurant — pottery kebab, ₺200–400/person.

Day 5 — Balloon and Open-Air Museum

Dawn: Hot air balloon (₺4,500–8,000). Morning: Goreme Open-Air Museum (₺500, Dark Church ₺200, opens 08:00). Afternoon: Hike Rose Valley or Love Valley (2–3 hours, free). Dinner at Seten Restaurant (₺300–500/person).

Day 6 — South Cappadocia

Derinkuyu Underground City (₺400) — 8 levels, arrive before 10:00. Ihlara Valley (₺120, walk the 4 km central section). Most visitors do the Green Tour (₺800–1,200 including transport and lunch). Alternatively: morning at Uchisar Castle (₺100 entry, panoramic views of the valleys) and afternoon at Pasabag Monks Valley (free, mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys).

Dinner at Ziggy Cafe, Uchisar — modern Turkish cuisine, ₺300–500/person.

Days 7–8: Antalya

Flight: Kayseri to Antalya — 1 hour 10 minutes, from ₺600 as of 2026.

Day 7 — Kaleici and Museum

Explore the old town (Kaleici): Hadrian’s Gate (free, 130 AD), the old harbour, Yivli Minare. Visit the Antalya Archaeological Museum (₺300, open 08:30–19:00). Lunch at Vanilla Kaleici (₺200–350/person). Dinner at Club Arma on the harbour — seafood and Aegean mezes, ₺400–700/person.

Day 8 — Perge and Aspendos

Perge (₺200, 18 km — dolmus ₺15 from otogar) — Roman stadium, colonnaded streets, baths. Allow 1.5 hours. Aspendos Theatre (₺200, 47 km east) — seats 15,000, still acoustically functional. Return via Konyaalti Beach for a late afternoon swim (free, pebbly).

Consider renting a car for this day — compare rates at GetRentacar.

Day 9: Pamukkale

Bus: Antalya to Denizli (3.5 hours, ₺200–300). Dolmus to Pamukkale village (₺20, 20 minutes).

Pamukkale travertines (₺400) — walk barefoot through the warm pools in late afternoon light. Explore Hierapolis: Roman theatre, necropolis, Antique Pool (₺150 — swim among submerged columns). Dinner at Mehmet’s Heaven — rooftop terrace with travertine views, ₺200–350/person.

Day 10: Ephesus

Bus: Denizli to Selcuk (3 hours, ₺200–300).

Ephesus (₺600, Terrace Houses ₺400) — arrive at 08:00 opening. Library of Celsus, Great Theatre, Terrace Houses. Allow 2.5–3 hours. Afternoon: Basilica of St. John (₺100), Isa Bey Mosque (free), Ephesus Museum (₺100).

Lunch at Ejder Restaurant (₺120–200/person). Dinner at Tat Restaurant — fresh Aegean fish and mezes, ₺250–400/person.

Day 11: Izmir

Train: Selcuk to Izmir Basmane — approximately 1 hour, ₺30.

Morning: Kemeralti Bazaar — Izmir’s sprawling market district, free. Try boyoz (local flaky pastry) and kumru (sesame bread sandwich). Visit Agora Open Air Museum (₺100 — Roman marketplace ruins).

Afternoon: Walk the Kordon waterfront promenade. Take the elevator (Asansor) in Konak for hilltop views.

Lunch at Deniz Restaurant on the Kordon (₺300–500/person). Dinner at Veli Usta in Kemeralti — iconic Izmir kofte since 1942, ₺120–200/person.

Days 12–13: Bodrum

Bus: Izmir to Bodrum — approximately 4 hours, ₺300–400. Alternatively, fly Izmir to Bodrum Milas airport (40 minutes, from ₺400).

Day 12 — Bodrum Castle and Town

Bodrum Castle (Castle of St. Peter, approximately ₺300 entry as of 2026) — built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 15th century, now houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus site (₺100) — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though only the foundations remain. Walk the marina and whitewashed backstreets.

Lunch at Gemibasi Restaurant on the marina (₺250–400/person). Dinner at Otantik Ocakbasi — Bodrum grill house, ₺200–350/person.

Day 13 — Beaches and Peninsula

Bodrum peninsula has distinct beach villages. Options:

• Bitez — shallow bay, windsurfing, family-friendly. Dolmus from Bodrum (₺15, 15 minutes).
• Gumusluk — former ancient Myndos, rocky beach, waterfront fish restaurants. Dolmus (₺20, 25 minutes). Walk the sunken causeway to Rabbit Island at low tide.
• Turkbuku — the upscale Bodrum Riviera. Beach clubs from ₺500/day including sunbed and towel.

Lunch in Gumusluk: Mimoza — fish and mezes with feet-in-the-water tables, ₺300–500/person.

Day 14: Return to Istanbul

Flight: Bodrum Milas to Istanbul — 1 hour 15 minutes, from ₺500 as of 2026. The airport is 35 km from Bodrum town — Havas shuttle (₺120, 45 minutes) or taxi (approximately ₺600).

If your departure is late evening, you can squeeze in a final Istanbul walk — the Suleymaniye Mosque and the surrounding neighbourhood offer a quieter, more local experience than Sultanahmet.

Transport costs summary

Route	Mode	Duration	Cost (₺)
Istanbul → Kayseri	Flight	1h 20m	₺500–1,500
Kayseri → Goreme	Shuttle	1h	₺250
Kayseri → Antalya	Flight	1h 10m	₺600–1,500
Antalya → Denizli	Bus	3.5h	₺200–300
Denizli → Selcuk	Bus	3h	₺200–300
Selcuk → Izmir	Train	1h	₺30
Izmir → Bodrum	Bus	4h	₺300–400
Bodrum → Istanbul	Flight	1h 15m	₺500–1,500

All prices approximate as of 2026.

Budget summary

Style	14-day total (USD)
Budget (hostels, street food, buses)	$900–1,300
Mid-range (boutique hotels, restaurants, 3 flights)	$1,500–2,500
Comfort (luxury hotels, guided tours, balloon, all flights)	$3,500–5,500

Excludes international flights.

What to book ahead

1. Domestic flights — 3 weeks minimum for Pegasus and AnadoluJet fares. Search on Aviasales.
2. Cappadocia balloon — 2–4 weeks ahead; April–October is peak
3. Cave hotel — popular Goreme properties book 1–2 months ahead in peak season
4. Bodrum hotels — July–August is peak beach season; book 3–4 weeks ahead
5. Dolmabahce Palace — daily visitor caps; book online in advance

Full guides to destinations on this route: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Pamukkale, Ephesus, İzmir, Bodrum. Key activities: hot air balloon in Cappadocia and gulet cruise on the Turquoise Coast.