8 days in Turkey Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Turkey trip itinerary planner
Start: Izmir
Fly
1
Goreme, Cappadocia
— 1 night
Fly
2
Istanbul
— 3 nights
Fly
3
Pamukkale
— 2 nights
Drive
4
Selcuk
— 1 night
Drive
End: Izmir
Sat, Dec 17 - Sat, Dec 24
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View full calendar
Goreme, Cappadocia — 1 night
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Famed for its landscape of unusually shaped stone formations and churches cut into the natural rocks, Goreme sits in the central part of the country, an area originally settled during Roman times.Kick off your visit on the 17th (Sat): enjoy unforgettable views with a balloon tour and then steep yourself in history at Goreme Open-Air Museum. On your second day here, stop by Chez Hakan - The Pottery Shop, then appreciate the extensive heritage of Goreme National Park, and then see Off-Road Tours.
Find out how to plan Goreme trip without stress by asking Inspirock to help create an itinerary.
Izmir to Goreme is an approximately 3-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Izmir in December, expect slightly colder with lows of -3°C in Goreme. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Sun) to allow enough time to fly to Istanbul.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Dec 17 — 18:
Highlights from your trip
Istanbul — 3 nights
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Queen of Cities
A physical and cultural bridge between Europe and Asia, the transcontinental city of Istanbul serves as a living reminder of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires.Istanbul is known for sightseeing, historic sites, and museums. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: admire the landmark architecture of Hagia Sophia Mosque, admire the masterpieces at Chora Museum, browse the exhibits of Galata Tower, and steep yourself in history at Basilica Cistern.
For where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, you can read our Istanbul attractions planner.
Fly from Goreme to Istanbul in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and train. Traveling from Goreme in December, Istanbul is somewhat warmer at night with lows of 7°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Wed) early enough to fly to Pamukkale.
Find places to stay Dec 18 — 21:
Pamukkale — 2 nights
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Cotton Castle
A popular spa since the second century BCE, the modern city of Pamukkale continues to draw worldwide attention with its hot springs and travertines--naturally formed calcite bathing pools.Start off your visit on the 22nd (Thu): delve into the distant past at Hierapolis and then witness a stunning natural landmark at Pamukkale Thermal Pools. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 23rd (Fri): get the adrenaline pumping with an extreme tour, explore the fascinating underground world of Kaklik Cave, and then soar above the sights with a balloon tour.
To find traveler tips, more things to do, photos, and more tourist information, go to the Pamukkale online itinerary maker.
Traveling by flight from Istanbul to Pamukkale takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Finish your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Selcuk.
Find places to stay Dec 21 — 23:
Highlights from your trip
Selcuk — 1 night
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An ideal base camp for exploring the Aegean coastline, Selcuk draws big tourist crowds due to its proximity to the ancient city of Ephesus.On the 24th (Sat), examine the collection at Ephesus Museum, then contemplate the long history of Ancient City of Ephesus, and then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House).
To see more things to do, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, refer to the Selcuk trip planner.
You can drive from Pamukkale to Selcuk in 3 hours. Another option is to take a bus. In December, plan for daily highs up to 15°C, and evening lows to 3°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 24th (Sat) so you can go by car back home.
Find places to stay Dec 23 — 24:
Highlights from your trip
Turkey travel guide
Rich in culture and customs and brimming with hospitality, natural beauty, and historical heritage, Turkey serves as a crossroads between Asia and Europe. The landmass known as Anatolia on which Turkey thrives has been home to numerous civilizations and their faiths and cultures, as attested by the 13 World Heritage Sites and countless religious sites you'll find here. Relive the ancient world through the ruins, customs, and traditions that are among the nation's most precious heritages. Adventure-seekers have plenty do to here, including mountain climbing, scuba diving, rafting, and skiing. A holiday to Turkey is incomplete without a cup of Turkish coffee, the pinnacle of Turkish cuisine inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
