What is a good 10-day Turkey itinerary?

1. 1IstanbulSultanahmet, bazaars, Galata, Bosphorus4 days
2. 2Göremefly in; balloon on the first morning3 days
3. 3Pamukkalenight bus to Denizli1 day
4. 4SelçukEphesus at opening; fly out of İzmir2 days

The plan at a glance

• Days 1–4, Istanbul: Sultanahmet, the bazaars and Eminönü, Galata and Beyoğlu, and a Bosphorus ferry.

• Day 5, fly to Cappadocia: about 75 minutes to Nevşehir or Kayseri, then a shuttle to Göreme.

• Days 6–7, Cappadocia: a dawn balloon flight or viewpoint, the Göreme Open-Air Museum, the valleys, an underground city. Overnight bus to Denizli on the evening of day 7.

• Day 8, Pamukkale: the travertines and Hierapolis, one night in Pamukkale village.

• Days 9–10, Selçuk and Ephesus: train from Denizli to Selçuk, Ephesus at opening the next morning, then on to İzmir airport.

Our real route took a different way into Cappadocia, via four days in Ankara; see the 33-day version.

Days 1–4: Istanbul

Day 1, Sultanahmet: Hagia Sophia (foreigners pay €25 for the gallery route since 2024; the Blue Mosque is free), the Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace. Go early; queues build by mid-morning. Our Hagia Sophia guide covers the dress code and prayer-time pauses.

Day 2, the bazaars and Eminönü: the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, and a fish sandwich by the Galata Bridge. Day 3, Galata and Beyoğlu: Galata Tower, İstiklal Avenue and the rooftops at dusk. Day 4: a Bosphorus ferry and the Asian side, or whatever the first three days missed.

Our 3 days in Istanbul sets out each district. From Istanbul Airport, the Havaist bus to Sultanahmet costs €8; see our airport transfer guide.

Days 5–7: Cappadocia

Fly from Istanbul to Nevşehir (NAV), about 40 to 45 minutes from Göreme, or Kayseri (ASR), about an hour to 1 hour 15 minutes away but with more flights. Book a shuttle with your flight number. Our Istanbul to Cappadocia guide compares the airports and the overnight bus.

Book a balloon for day 6, your first morning, so day 7 is a backup: balloons flew on 223 days in 2025, which left about four mornings in ten grounded. If you are not flying, watch the launch from a viewpoint above town. Fill the days with the Göreme Open-Air Museum, the Rose, Red and Love valleys, and Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı underground city. Our Göreme guide covers cave hotels and where to watch.

We spent 5 days in Göreme. Three nights is the minimum we would plan if a balloon flight is the point.

Day 8: Pamukkale

The overnight bus from Göreme to Denizli takes roughly 9 to 10 hours; a minibus then covers the 20 km to Pamukkale village. Drop your bags and be at the terraces early.

The €30 ticket covers the travertines, Hierapolis and its museum; swimming in the Antique (Cleopatra) Pool is extra. Shoes come off on the terraces. Allow at least 3 to 4 hours, and come back for the late-afternoon light. Details in our Pamukkale guide.

If you would rather not take a night bus, fly Kayseri or Nevşehir to Istanbul and on to Denizli, or drop Pamukkale and give Ephesus three days.

Days 9–10: Selçuk and Ephesus

The regional train from Denizli to Selçuk takes about 3 to 3.5 hours, and several run each day. Selçuk is about 3 km from Ephesus. We spent 5 days there; two nights cover Ephesus, the Ephesus Museum and the Basilica of St John.

Sellers and Turkish travel sites put the 2026 Ephesus ticket at €40 for foreign visitors, including the Ephesus Experience Museum, with the Terrace Houses extra. The ministry lists the site as open daily 08:00 to 18:00 (ticket office until 17:30); check before you go, as prices and hours change. Be there at opening, before the cruise groups.

İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport is about 60 km north of Selçuk, by train or road. Booking an open-jaw ticket, into Istanbul and out of İzmir, or a cheap domestic flight back to Istanbul, saves a long trip back across the country.

7 days or 14 days instead

7 days: Istanbul 3 nights and Cappadocia 3, flying both ways, and skip the Aegean. Pamukkale and Ephesus need at least three more days between them.

14 days: add a night in Istanbul, a fourth night in Cappadocia as balloon insurance, a second night in Pamukkale and a third in Selçuk. Or add Ankara between Istanbul and Cappadocia, as we did: the YHT high-speed train takes about 4 to 4.5 hours, and Ankara to Göreme is about 4 hours by bus. Our Ankara guide suggests one night covers Anıtkabir and the citadel.

Practicalities: US passport holders have not needed a visa since 1 January 2024 (visa guide), and since 30 January 2026 Turkish restaurants cannot add a service charge (tipping guide).

Frequently asked questions