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1 week in Turkey
Turkey is vast and complex and offers you fascinating history, beautiful landscapes and remarkable train journeys. If you only have 1 week in Turkey, and you have the means to treat yourself to some luxuries along the way, then this fast-paced, diverse itinerary will have you covered.
Itinerary highlights
Historical and cultural splendour of Istanbul; archaeological marvels at Pamukkale; the ancient Aegean port of Ephesus; the world famous Cappadocia.
Days 1 - 2: Istanbul
Topkapi palace
Take a cruise along the Bosphorus, that divides the European and Asian side of Istanbul.
Tour Topkapi Palace, the main residence of the Ottoman sultans.
Explore the famous Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market.
Arriving by plane at Istanbul Atatürk Airport? Local transport will connect you to the centre of Istanbul in 30 minutes.
Days 3 - 4: Pamukkale
Natural travertine pools and terraces in Pamukkale
Tour the travertines and bathe in the calcium-rich water.
Check out the incredible ancient theatre of Hierapolis.
Travel back in time when you visit the ancient city of Laodicea on the Lycus.
Prepare for a day of epic train travels! First, take the new high-speed train from Istanbul to Eskisehir. In Eskisehir, transfer to the Pamukkale Express - a spectacular train ride into Goncalı. It only runs once a day at 3:30 PM, so make sure you arrive on time!
Day 5: Ephesus
Library of Celsus at Ephesus
Walk the ancient port city of Ephesus, and behold the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Don’t miss the Terrace Houses - they offer an insight into family life during the Roman period and date back to the 1st century BC.
Looking for more history? Take a look around the revamped Ephesus museum.
There are trains running to the coast throughout the day. It's a quick and scenic 3 hour journey.
Day 6: Konya
Mevlana museum and Mevlana square
Visit the Tomb of Mevlana, the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi that's a globally important sacred site.
Walk up to the citadel of Konya for panoramic views, and enter the beautiful Alâeddin Mosque.
Next to the citadel is the Karatay Medrese, a beautiful structure famous for various interior and exterior architectural feats.
There’s a fantastic overnight sleeper train that will connect you directly from nearby İzmir to Konya. It’s called the Konya Mavi train, and you can book a private berth for maximum comfort. The sleeper train departs from İzmir at 9 PM.
Day 7: Cappadocia
Hot air balloons over the rocky mountains in Goreme national park
Arrive early enough to take a once in a lifetime hot air ballon ride - there are several companies in the area that take off at sunrise and include a champagne breakfast on landing.
Want to stretch your legs? Take a hike or mountain bike through one of the region’s dramatic valleys.
If time allows it, visit the underground city of Kaymaklı - this is a truly architectural marvel well worth exploring.
There is no train connection to Cappadocia. You can reach the region by bus, but many choose to do so via car - either with a rental or as part of an organised day tour. The journey by road is approximately 3 hours.
