Welcome to Türkiye, a meeting point of continents and empires. From the Byzantine domes of Istanbul to the volcanic landscapes of Cappadocia and the breezy Aegean promenades of Izmir, this 12-day itinerary balances history, food, and nature. You’ll wander mosaicked palaces, float above valleys at sunrise, and taste regional specialties where they were born.

Expect layers of civilization: Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman legacies appear in stones, recipes, and daily rituals. Highlights include Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, the Grand Bazaar, Cappadocia’s underground cities, and the ruins of Ephesus—one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean. Between headline sights, we’ll thread in cafés, meyhanes, and quiet neighborhood walks.

Practical notes: The currency is the Turkish lira; cards are widely accepted, and eSIMs work well. Dress modestly for mosques, carry a light scarf, and plan early morning starts for crowds and cooler air. Tourist areas are active and welcoming; as always, check your government’s latest advisories and avoid border regions far from this route.

Istanbul

Days 1–5: Imperial heritage, buzzing bazaars, and Bosphorus breezes

Istanbul seduces with contrasts—call to prayer drifting over hip cafés, 15th‑century hammams near designer galleries, fishermen casting lines from the Galata Bridge while ferries crisscross two continents. Base yourself near the historic peninsula or in lively Beyoğlu to walk between icons and locals-only gems.

• Top highlights: Step into Hagia Sophia (tourist visiting hours are ticketed; modest dress required) to grasp 1,500 years of history. Explore Topkapı Palace and its Harem for Ottoman pageantry, and descend into the reimagined Basilica Cistern with ethereal lighting and Medusa heads. Climb Galata Tower for 360° views, then ferry to Asia for a sunset skyline.
• Neighborhood wanders: Stroll Fener–Balat for wooden houses and colorful facades; pop into small churches and vintage shops. In Kadıköy, graze your way through produce stalls and meze counters—this is where many chefs shop and eat.
• On the water: Ride a public ferry from Eminönü to Üsküdar (~20 minutes, ~$2–4) or book a 1.5–2 hour sunset yacht ($25–40) to pass the Maiden’s Tower, Dolmabahçe Palace, and the yalı mansions.
• Museums & culture: The Istanbul Archaeology Museums house treasures from Troy to the Middle East. Istanbul Modern (newly reopened) showcases Turkish contemporary art on the waterfront at Galataport.

• Breakfast & coffee: Order a Kurdish-style feast at Van Kahvaltı Evi (Cihangir)—honey with clotted kaymak, herbed cheeses, and menemen. In Beşiktaş’s “breakfast street,” Çakmak Kahvaltı Salonu does classic su böreği. For specialty coffee, try Kronotrop (multiple branches), Petra Roasting (Gayrettepe), or thick, foamy Turkish coffee at Mandabatmaz (Beyoğlu).
• Lunch ideas: Grab a grilled mackerel sandwich under the Galata Bridge, or seek out Dürümzade for smoky adana dürüm (a Bourdain favorite). In Kadıköy, Çiya Sofrası rotates Anatolian dishes rarely seen in restaurants—try the sour cherry kebab and stuffed vegetables.
• Dinner: Book Neolokal (Michelin-starred) for Anatolian recipes retold with finesse inside SALT Galata. For a classic meyhane with turquoise tiles and perfect meze, Karaköy Lokantası is a local standard-bearer. Kebap cravings? Develi Samatya plates superb fıstıklı kebap. Dessert at Hafız Mustafa or Baylan (try the 1950s “Kup Griye”).
• Evening & music: Sip cocktails at 5 Cocktails & More (Kadıköy) or hear live jazz at Nardis by the Galata Tower.

Where to stay: For atmospheric bases with easy sightseeing, look in Sultanahmet, Karaköy, Galata, or Cihangir. Compare apartments and boutique stays on VRBO Istanbul and vetted hotels on Hotels.com Istanbul.

Getting to Istanbul: Fly into IST (main hub) or SAW (Asian side). Search fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com flights. If you’re starting in Europe, also check Omio flights for regional options.

Transit to Cappadocia (morning of Day 6): Fly IST/SAW → Kayseri (ASR) or Nevşehir (NAV); flight ~1h15, then shared shuttle to Göreme/Uçhisar 40–60 minutes (~$10–15). Typical fares run ~$40–120 one way. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Cappadocia (Göreme, Uçhisar & Ürgüp)

Days 6–8: Fairy chimneys, sunrise balloons, and cave hospitality

Cappadocia feels otherworldly—soft tuff rock carved into homes and churches, valleys painted pink at dusk, and balloons dotting the sky at dawn. Base in Göreme for walkable trails and dining, or Uçhisar for quieter cliffside views.

• Balloon ride at sunrise: Weather permitting, take off just before dawn and drift over Love, Rose, and Red Valleys. Expect ~$150–250 per person including hotel pickup; book early in peak months.
• Hikes & viewpoints: The Göreme Open-Air Museum (UNESCO) preserves frescoed cave churches. Hike the loop through Rose–Red Valley for sunset colors and tea gardens carved into rock. Climb Uçhisar Castle for the region’s best panorama.
• Underground cities & canyons: Day-trip to Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı (multi-level refuges used for centuries), then walk the lush Ihlara Valley along a stream with rock-cut chapels.
• Crafts & wine: In Avanos, try a pottery wheel demo in family workshops along the Kızılırmak River. Sample local wines—Emir and Kalecik Karası are regional standouts.

• Breakfast & coffee: Start at Coffeedocia for espresso drinks and terrace views, or sip traditional Turkish coffee at Cafe Şafak. Many cave hotels serve lavish breakfasts with village cheeses and house-made jams.
• Lunch: Try a slow-cooked testi kebab (sealed clay pot) in Avanos, or gözleme (hand-rolled flatbreads) from valley cafés during hikes.
• Dinner: Reserve Topdeck Cave (tiny, intimate, and beloved for home-style meze), enjoy Anatolian classics at Seten (Göreme) with views over fairy chimneys, or splurge at Seki Restaurant (Argos in Cappadocia, Uçhisar) for modern Anatolian tasting menus with a cellar tour. In Ürgüp, Ziggy’s pairs meze with a sunset terrace.

Where to stay: Experience a cave suite in Göreme or Uçhisar. Browse unique stays on VRBO Göreme and Hotels.com Göreme; for Uçhisar panoramas, compare options via VRBO Uçhisar and Hotels.com Uçhisar.

Cappadocia → Izmir (morning of Day 9): Fly ASR/NAV → ADB (Izmir). Many routes connect via Istanbul; total flight time 2.5–3.5 hours, door-to-door ~5–6 hours with transfers. Typical fares ~$60–140. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Izmir, Ephesus & Alaçatı

Days 9–12: Aegean flavors, waterfront sunsets, and ancient Ephesus

Izmir is Turkey’s breezy Aegean metropolis—more café than monument, with a lived-in harborfront and legendary markets. Use Izmir as your base for Ephesus and the stone lanes of Alaçatı in Çeşme.

• Izmir essentials: Walk the Kordon promenade at golden hour. Dive into the labyrinthine Kemeraltı Bazaar; inside Kızlarağası Hanı, order Turkish coffee served thick and sweet. Visit the Agora of Smyrna for a Roman underworld of arches right in the city.
• Ephesus day trip (Selçuk): From Izmir, take the regional train to Selçuk (~1–1.25 hours, ~$2–4) or drive ~1 hour. Walk the marble streets past the Library of Celsus, Great Theatre, and terrace houses with mosaic floors. Nearby, visit the House of the Virgin Mary and the Artemision site; cap the day with wine in the hillside village of Şirince.
• Alaçatı & Çeşme (Aegean coast): Buses from Izmir Otogar or Alsancak reach Çeşme/Alaçatı in ~1–1.25 hours (~$5–7). Explore Alaçatı’s white-stone alleys, windmills, and design boutiques; in season, swim at Ilıca’s shallow turquoise bay or windsurf in Alaçatı Port.

• Breakfast & coffee: Start with boyoz (a flaky Sephardic pastry) and eggs at Alsancak Dostlar Fırını. Sip third‑wave coffee at Kapitera or Punta in Alsancak. In Alaçatı, Köşe Kahve serves village-style breakfasts under bougainvillea.
• Lunch: Try Izmir’s beloved kumru sandwich (sesame roll with cheese and sucuk) at Kumrucu Şevki in Çeşme. Inside Kemeraltı, Bizim Lokanta rotates homemade stews and olive‑oil vegetables; order whatever’s fresh.
• Dinner: For seafood meze on the water, book Deniz Restaurant (Alsancak) or Yengeç. Carnivores should seek out Topçu for grilled meats and tandır. In Alaçatı, seasonal star Asma Yaprağı plates Aegean greens and slow-cooked lamb from family recipes; reserve ahead in summer.
• Sweets & sips: Hunt for Izmir’s gooey “bomba” chocolate cookies at neighborhood bakeries. Along the Kordon, sunset beers and meze are a local ritual.

Where to stay: In Izmir, Alsancak or Konak puts you near the waterfront and bazaar. Compare stays on VRBO Izmir and Hotels.com Izmir. If you prefer the coast, consider sleeping in Alaçatı and day‑tripping to Ephesus: browse VRBO Alaçatı and Hotels.com Alaçatı.

Local transport tools: For trains/buses between Izmir–Selçuk–Çeşme, compare schedules on Omio trains and Omio buses. For flights back to Istanbul or onward, check Trip.com, Omio flights (within Europe), or Kiwi.com.

Suggested 12-Day Flow (multi-day blocks)

• Days 1–5: Istanbul — Old City icons (Hagia Sophia, Topkapı, Basilica Cistern), Grand & Spice Bazaars, Galata Tower, Bosphorus cruise, Fener–Balat walk, Kadıköy food crawl, a modern art stop, and a hammam session.
• Day 6 (AM travel): Flight to Cappadocia (1h15 + shuttle). Afternoon Göreme Open‑Air Museum and sunset at Red Valley.
• Days 7–8: Sunrise balloon flight; hike Love/Rose/Red Valleys; Uçhisar Castle; Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı + Ihlara Valley day tour.
• Day 9 (AM travel): Flight to Izmir (via Istanbul; 3–4 hours in the air). Waterfront stroll and Kemeraltı tastings.
• Day 10: Full-day Ephesus & Şirince from Izmir (train ~1–1.25h each way, ~$2–4; or drive ~1h).
• Day 11: Alaçatı & Çeşme beaches and windmills (bus ~1–1.25h, ~$5–7).
• Day 12: Izmir markets and museums, then fly home or back to Istanbul (flight ~1h; fares ~$30–90).

Departure: Most international flights route via IST; domestic hop ADB → IST is ~1 hour. Compare fares and times on Trip.com, Omio flights (for Europe), or Kiwi.com.

Across twelve days, you’ll trace empires in Istanbul, greet the sun from a Cappadocia balloon, and taste the Aegean in Izmir and Alaçatı. It’s a route that rewards early mornings, curious appetites, and room in your bag for spices and ceramics.