Where Europe brushes shoulders with Asia, Turkey rewards slow travelers with layers of empire, cuisine, and coast. Across 20 days, you’ll stroll Byzantine and Ottoman capitals, drift at sunrise over Cappadocia’s honeycombed cliffs, and wander marble avenues where Romans performed and saints preached.

From Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia and Spice Market to Cappadocia’s underground cities and Ephesus’ Library of Celsus, the classics shine. But the heartbeat is local: breakfast spreads that redefine abundance, meyhanes with clinking rakı and meze, Anatolian pottery studios, and Aegean fishing boats easing back at dusk.

Practical notes: dress modestly for mosques; carry a reloadable transit card in Istanbul; and check current advisories and museum hours. Turkish cuisine is deeply regional—make time for a Van-style breakfast, Black Sea corn breads, and Aegean olive-oil dishes. Domestic flights are frequent and affordable, keeping travel time light and your days rich.

Istanbul

Once Byzantium and Constantinople, today’s Istanbul is a living museum with café chatter echoing off centuries-old stones. Minarets lance the sky, ferries stitch continents together, and dinner might be grilled mackerel by the Galata Bridge or a refined take on Anatolian classics in Beyoğlu.

Getting here: Book international and domestic flights via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you’re departing from or within Europe, compare on Omio. Typical nonstops from major hubs run 3–12 hours depending on origin; expect ~$500–$1,000 round-trip from North America off-peak.

Where to stay: Browse stays on VRBO Istanbul or Hotels.com Istanbul. Standout picks: waterfront grandeur at Çırağan Palace Kempinski, Old City warmth at Sirkeci Mansion, Bosphorus views at Swissotel The Bosphorus, and social vibes at Cheers Hostel.

Eat & drink: Start with a Van-style breakfast at Van Kahvaltı Evi (honeycomb, herbed cheeses, menemen). For street eats, try dürüm at Durumzade and fish sandwiches by Karaköy. In Kadıköy, graze at Çiya Sofrası for regional Anatolian recipes. Classic meyhane evenings await at Asmalı Cavit; for history-steeped lunch, Pandeli inside the Spice Bazaar serves blue-tiled nostalgia. Coffee? Petra Roasting Co., Kronotrop, and Coffee Sapiens pull excellent shots.

Days 1–3: Sultanahmet Classics—Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı, Cistern

Walk the Hippodrome’s ancient spine, step into the Blue Mosque’s tile-blue calm, then cross to Hagia Sophia, a 1,500-year marvel of Byzantine engineering. The Basilica Cistern glows below the city with Medusa gazing up from Roman stone.

• Guided Essentials (tickets included): Istanbul Guided Tour Hagia Sophia, Topkapi, Cistern with Tickets

  

  Skip lines and focus on stories of sultans and mosaics.
• Lunch nearby: try Sultanahmet Köftecisi for charcoal-grilled meatballs and ayran.
• Afternoons: wander the Archaeology Museums and Gülhane Park’s plane trees.

Days 4–5: Beyoğlu, Galata, and Karaköy—Art, Views, and Nightlife

Ride the historic Tünel, climb Galata Tower for golden-hour views, and wander İstiklal Avenue’s arcades. Duck into SALT Galata for exhibitions, then meander to Karaköy’s cafés and contemporary galleries.

• Dinner ideas: meze and grilled sea bass at Rakıcı Asmalı; Circassian chicken and seasonal Aegean dishes at Giritli near Cankurtaran.
• Sweet stop: Baklava at Karaköy Güllüoğlu—order pistachio havuç dilimi and a strong tea.

Day 6: Asia Across the Bosphorus—Kadıköy Market and Moda

Hop a ferry to Kadıköy for a market ramble—olives, cheeses, pickles, and mounds of spices. Walk the waterfront promenade to Moda for sunset.

• Food immersion: Istanbul Taste of Two Continents Food Tour - Spice Market & Ferry

  

  Begin with a Turkish breakfast, then snack your way from Europe to Asia.

Day 7: Bosphorus Day or Night

See palaces and yalı mansions slide by from the water. Daylight brings crisp detail; night wraps the skyline in glitter.

• Evening spectacle: Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Show and Private Table

  

  Live performances, bridges aglow, and plates of meze.

Day 8: Bazaars and a Historic Hammam

Practice your bargaining in the Grand Bazaar’s labyrinth, then breathe in saffron and sumac at the Spice Market. End with a centuries-old ritual: the Turkish bath.

• Time-honored steam: Istanbul Gedikpasa Historical Turkish Bath with Privacy Option

  

  A 550-year-old hammam experience of steam, scrub, and serenity.

Istanbul → Cappadocia (Day 9 morning): Fly IST/SAW to ASR (Kayseri) or NAV (Nevşehir). Flight time ~1h25–1h35; expect ~$40–$120 one-way if booked early. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Transfer to Göreme/Uçhisar in ~40–60 minutes by shuttle.

Cappadocia (Göreme)

Winds and water carved Cappadocia into fantasy—cone chimneys, honeycombed hills, and hidden chapels. Villages huddle in tufa cliffs, and dawn balloons paint the sky in drifting color.

Where to stay: Search VRBO Göreme or Hotels.com Göreme. Iconic cave stays: Museum Hotel, Kelebek Special Cave Hotel, Aydinli Cave Hotel, Kayakapi Premium Caves - Cappadocia, and sunrise terrace favorite Sultan Cave Suites.

Eat & drink: Reserve Seten for clay-pot testi kebab and Anatolian spreads. Topdeck Cave whispers with stone arches and family recipes; Pumpkin Göreme does seasonal menus with Turkish wines. For casual bites: Dibek’s slow-cooked pottery kebab; coffee at Coffeedocia; börek from local bakeries on the main street.

Days 9–10: Göreme Open-Air Museum, Valleys, and Castle Vistas

Start with the UNESCO-listed Göreme Open-Air Museum—frescoed cave chapels from the 10th–12th centuries. Hike Love Valley’s whimsical spires and Rose/Red Valley for a sunset that turns cliffs ember-red. Climb Uçhisar Castle for a 360° horizon.

Day 11: Balloon Sunrise and Underground Cities

Rise before dawn for the quintessential flight, then go underground at Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu to trace early Christian hideaways and ancient ventilation genius.

• Balloon choice 1: Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour Over Fairychimneys

  

  Dawn light, fairy chimneys, and a flight certificate to remember.
• Balloon choice 2: Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride/ Turquaz Balloons

  

  Boutique baskets with more elbow room and attentive crews.

Day 12: Avanos Pottery and Monks Valley

Try your hand at a wheel in Avanos, a pottery town since Hittite days. Continue to Zelve and Paşabağ (Monks Valley) for mushroom-capped chimneys and carved hermit cells.

Day 13: Slow Day, Big Views

Sleep in, then take a horseback or ATV ride through Sword and Çavuşin valleys for lesser-seen viewpoints. Catch sunset at Red Valley or the panoramic hill above Göreme.

Cappadocia → Ephesus/Selçuk (Day 14 morning): Fly ASR/NAV → ADB (Izmir). Some seasons offer nonstops (~1h35); otherwise connect via Istanbul. Total travel 2.5–4.5 hours; budget ~$70–$180. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From ADB, it’s ~60 minutes by car or train to Selçuk; Kuşadası is ~25 minutes farther.

Selçuk (Ephesus) & Kuşadası

Ancient Ephesus was a Roman powerhouse; its marble streets once thundered with chariots and commerce. Today, Selçuk’s cafés sit in the shadow of a Byzantine fortress, while nearby Kuşadası serves Aegean swims and seafood feasts.

Where to stay: Explore VRBO Selçuk or Hotels.com Selçuk. Specific options: family-run Anz Guesthouse, vintage charm at Hotel Kalehan, central Urkmez Hotel, and beachside resorts near the ruins like Richmond Ephesus Resort and Aqua Fantasy Aquapark Hotel & Spa.

Eat & drink: In Selçuk, Ejder Restaurant is beloved for grilled sea bream, lamb chops, and generous mezes; Selçuk Pidecisi bakes boat-shaped pides with local cheeses. For homestyle plates, Ali Baba & Mehmet Kebab House does smoky skewers and mercimek soup. In Kuşadası, Kazım Usta and Mezgit Restaurant serve the catch of the day—order fried calamari, Aegean greens, and a whole grilled fish with lemon.

Days 14–15: Ephesus, Terrace Houses, Artemis, and the House of Mary

Enter Ephesus at the upper gate and descend past the Odeon, Curetes Street, and the shimmering facade of the Library of Celsus. Don’t miss the Terrace Houses (mosaics and frescoes of the elite), the Great Theater where St. Paul preached, the scant columns of the Temple of Artemis, and the serene House of the Virgin Mary on Mount Koressos.

• All-in-one with entries + lunch: ALL INCLUSIVE Private Ephesus, House of Mary, LUNCH, Entrances

  

  A seamless way to see the essentials without on-site ticket queues.
• Alternate (tickets included): Private or Group: Ephesus, House of Mary WITH ENTRY TICKETS+LUNCH

  

  Ideal if you prefer a compact, expert-led visit.

Day 16: Şirince Village—Stone Lanes and Fruit Wines

Ten minutes above Selçuk, Şirince’s Greek-style lanes brim with stone houses, olive soaps, and fruit wines. Pair gözleme (hand-rolled stuffed flatbread) with village views from a terrace café.

Days 17–18: Aegean Blues—Kuşadası Beaches and Dilek Peninsula National Park

Swim at Ladies Beach or Long Beach, then head south to Dilek Peninsula–Büyük Menderes Delta National Park for pebble coves like Aydınlık and Kavaklıburun. Bring water shoes, picnic fixings, and snorkeling gear—the water’s crystalline.

• Short hikes reveal views toward Samos; keep an eye out for wild boar at dusk and migrating birds over the delta.

Day 19: Aegean Boat Day

Join a daily boat from Kuşadası’s marina to quiet bays for swimming, sun, and grilled lunch on deck. Expect three to four swim stops and easy vibes—bring a hat and reef-safe sunscreen.

Day 20: Selçuk Museums, Basilica of St. John, and Departure

Before you go, see the Ephesus Archaeological Museum’s Artemis statues and the ruins of St. John’s Basilica atop Ayasuluk Hill. Transfer ~1 hour to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport for flights onward via Trip.com or Kiwi.com; if heading to Europe, also check Omio.

Optional swap: Beach finale in Antalya (if you prefer the Turquoise Coast): Consider flying to Antalya after Cappadocia and using White Garden Hotel for Kaleiçi charm or family-ready Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort. Return flights are plentiful.

Twenty days in Turkey will linger long after your last çay: muezzin calls over the Bosphorus, balloon canopies curling into the dawn, and marble streets underfoot in Ephesus. With smart flights, cave hotels, and plates of meze between, this route sets a generous rhythm—rich in history, light on logistics.