The Best Two Week Turkey Itinerary- How to Spend 2 Weeks in Turkey

If you’re looking for unusual landscapes, fascinating ancient history, fantastic beaches and gorgeous seaside towns, Turkey needs to be on your travel bucket list. I recently spent two weeks exploring Turkey and the trip ended up being the best adventure possible. So since so many people have asked how I planned the trip, I thought I’d share my 2 week Turkey itinerary!

I’d been to Turkey as a child and had fond memories of climbing over huge ancient ruins and sailing on deep blue seas. And although Turkey is known for its gorgeous beaches and excellent resorts, there’s so much more to see throughout the country. I most recently went to Turkey alone for a 2 week adventure, and I was surprised to find that travelling around Turkey as a solo female traveller was completely safe and fine.

My Turkey itinerary ended up including (in order): the lively beach town of Bodrum (two days), the ancient ruins in Ephesus (one day), the natural wonder of Pamukkale (one day), before a magical adventure sailing on a traditional Turkish Gulet boat (three days). The second week was spent with one day in Istanbul, before heading to the out of this world landscapes of Cappadocia (four days).

I travelled across Turkey solo and entirely on public transport, using buses, trains and planes. You can read all about this in my detailed guide to public transport in Turkey.

So this guide to a 2 week Turkey itinerary guide will cover where to go, how to get between destinations, where to stay and all of the best things to see and do. I’ll attempt to cover everything you might need to know for your own Turkey adventure, so read on and start planning your own Turkey itinerary!

2 Week Turkey itinerary: Essential things to know

How long to spend in Turkey?

I’d recommend around 2 weeks, or a minimum of 10 days to travel around Turkey. This is ample time to visit the main sites and get a really good feel for the country.

However, if you have less time, for example just one week in Turkey – I’d recommend perhaps visiting just two or three destinations from this guide.

A three week Turkey itinerary could include an additional location perhaps. or more time in Istanbul to really learn about its fascinating history and mix of cultures. Alternatively, a 3 week itinerary in Turkey could be spent entirely along its beautiful coastline. You could hike the country’s famous Lycian Way which traverses beautiful craggy mountains, pine forests and weaves through typical Turkish coastal villages. The options in Turkey are endless – it is a country that really encompasses so much!

When is the best time to visit Turkey?

Quite an important question when planning your trip is deciding when to visit Turkey. The summer months (May to September) are the peak times to visit with long sunny hot days and little rain. But if you’re not keen on this, then the shoulder months (April and October) would also be a good time to visit.

If you were to visit Turkey in the winter, you might even experience Cappadocia as a winter wonderland!

However, if you’re planning on sailing the Turquoise Coast in Turkey or visiting any other coastal places, it would definitely be advisable to go in the summer months. As with many beach areas in Europe, many restaurants and hotels often do not open until early May.

Getting around Turkey

Although Turkey is a vast country, I found Turkey very easy to get around by public transport. Using the buses, trains, dolmuş (minibus services) and domestic airlines, public transport made for an efficient and convenient way to explore the country.

I found most public transport ran mostly on time, was very affordable, could be booked at the last minute and was clean/comfortable. You can read my guide to using public transport in Turkey here.

Public transport works well, but if you prefer the comfort of a car and the flexibility to travel at your own pace, you can also book a private transfer with a local, English-speaking driver. You will have the option to stop at hidden gems along the way, or learn more about Turkey from your driver, making it a great way to turn travel days into part of the adventure.

What to take to Turkey?

What you should bring to Turkey really depends on the time of year that you visit. If you’re visiting in the summer months, you’ll need some good walking shoes for all of the sightseeing and exploring. I would also recommend a sunhat, plenty of suntan lotion and sunglasses!

As Turkey is mostly Muslim, there are some places where you need to cover up – particularly in religious buildings in Istanbul. However, the country on the whole is fairly relaxed and not too strict.

Is it safe to travel to Turkey?

Turkey has experienced periods of political unrest over the past decade, as well as several attacks. But of recent, Turkey has been declared safe to travel throughout. The border area with Syria is the only area that has travel advisories.

Fortunately, most of the major tourist attractions in Turkey, and all those included in this Turkey itinerary are nowhere near.

I found the Turkish people to be nothing but kind and hospitable throughout the country. The only city to use some extra caution would be Istanbul, just as with any other city in Europe.

Itinerary Planning for 2 Weeks in Turkey

Turkey is a popular summer tourist destination for countries across Europe. Therefore, its coastal towns have large airports so you might not have to start your trip in Istanbul.

You could for example fly into Bodrum, Izmir, Antalya or Dalaman Airports, all of which are on the coast and mean you wouldn’t necessarily need start your Turkey itinerary in Istanbul.

As mentioned, Turkey is one of the best countries to travel around independently. It has a very comprehensive, well-priced and convenient public transport system in place. So no matter where you start your Turkey trip, it’s likely you’ll be able to travel to your next destination with ease.

Useful tips for travelling in Turkey

• Check visa/entry requirements to enter Turkey. Visa costs depend vary depending on nationality. You can apply for your visa ahead of time on the official Turkish government e-visa website here.
• Currency. The main form of currency is the Turkish Lira (often referred to as TL). ATMs are widely available.
• Language. Turkish is the most spoken language in Istanbul. Most people, especially those in hospitality or food & beverage, speak English very well so you shouldn’t have a problem with communication.

The Museum Pass 

This excellent pass is a great buy if you are visiting several places in the city, especially for many of the destinations in this two week Turkey itinerary. It covers your entry to many attractions and archaeological sites across Turkey, including Ephesus, Pamukkale and Istanbul. You can buy it online here, or at any of the attractions that offer it.

Example route for 2 weeks in Turkey

Bodrum

I travelled in late August and chose to fly from London to Bodrum as this was the most affordable flight. It actually worked out to be a brilliant first stop.

I knew I was interested in visiting Ephesus and as soon as I realised the public transport would be straight forward to get there, I decided Bodrum would be a great place to start my Turkey itinerary.

Bodrum was charming, lively, interesting and beautiful. It was such a pleasant surprise and Bodrum town centre was lovely to spend time in. The big resort hotels are located just out of town, leaving the centre of Bodrum to be a delightful car-free place. You could easily spend just one or two days in Bodrum, or a whole week soaking up the sun and enjoying the beaches. I’ve written a longer guide on what to do and in see in Bodrum, which will give you everything you need to know before deciding whether or not to include Bodrum in your Turkey itinerary.

Where to stay in Bodrum

There are so many hotel options in and around Bodrum, it can be quite hard to decide where to stay. I did a few nights in the Holiday Inn, as I was travelling solo. It was a bit of a walk to the main waterfront and marina area in Bodrum, but that was fine for me and I’d recommend the hotel as a great budget hotel in Bodrum.

Budget options in Bodrum:

• Holiday Inn Resort Bodrum (from £85/USD116 per night)
• Bodrum Vera (from £71/USD97 per night)
• Su Hotel Bodrum (from £98/USD134 per night)
• Gözegir Hotel (from £99/USD135 per night)

Mid-range options:

• The Marmara Bodrum – Adults Only (from £232/USD316 per night)
• Arts Hotel Bodrum Yalikavak (from £354/USD482 per night)
• Le Meridien Bodrum (from £354/USD482 per night)
• OKU Bodrum (from £437/USD596 per night)

Luxury hotels in Bodrum:

• Six Senses Kaplankaya (from £502/USD684 per night)
• Caresse Resort & Spa (from £533/USD727 per night)
• The Bodrum EDITION (from around £864/USD1,178 per night)
• Maxx Royal Bodrum (from £1,023/USD1,395 per night)
• Mandarin Oriental (from £1,642/USD2,214 per night)

The best things to do in Bodrum

From wandering its charming streets and visiting the historic Bodrum Castle, to sampling the best of Turkish cuisine in the atmospheric restaurants, there’s plenty of attractions to see and things to do in Bodrum.

If you’re only visiting for a short time, one idea could be to book a local tour. I’ve suggested a few with GetYourGuide below covering all of the must-see attractions in Bodrum:

• Full Day Orak Island Boat Trip (around £23/USD31 per person)
• Pirate Boat Trip from Bodrum (around £30/USD41 per person)
• Bodrum to Kos Day Trip by Ferry with Transfer (around £17/USD23 per person)

Ephesus and Selçuk

Next stop, Ephesus and the nearby town of Selçuk. Travel time: 2h30 on public bus direct from Bodrum.

The ancient ruins of Ephesus are definitely one of the top things to do in Turkey. Located relatively nearly Izmir and also the cruise port of Kusadasi, the ruins are popular with cruise day-trippers. Huge crowds arrive at Ephesus everyday. I’ve written a long guide you can read here covering how to visit Ephesus without the crowds.

I chose to visit Ephesus and the adjacent town of Selçuk after Bodrum, as I realised it was a straight forward bus from between the two. I spent a full day exploring Ephesus, before spending the night in Selçuk.

Where to stay near Ephesus

As I mentioned, Selçuk is the nearest town to Ephesus. There are several mid-range hotels here to choose from, all catering for tourists visiting Ephesus. I stayed at the Saint John Hotel, which was about a five minute walk to the train station and offered a really pleasant stay. 

The lovely hotel is family-owned and run, and they made me feel right at home. You can check rates for Saint John Hotel here. A double room starts from around £86/USD117 per night.

Other options include:

• Mandalin Glamping (bubble tent from £135/USD184 per night)
• Amazon Petite Palace (room rates start from £41/USD56 per night)
• Akanthus Hotel Ephesus (room rates start from £107/USD146 per night)
• Livia Garden Hotel (room rates start from £119/USD162 per night)

What to see at Ephesus?

The main archeological sites include the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Artemis and the amphitheatres. At the entrance you can pick up a map, and there is signage throughout, so you could give yourself a self-guided tour through Ephesus. However, you can arrange a tour through a local tour company in town, or book on a tour with GetYourGuide advance:

• Ephesus: Mary’s House Tour with Ticket+Lunch (For Cruisers) (from £24/USD33 per person)
• Ephesus Full-Day Tour from Kusadasi or Selcuk (from £82/USD112 per person)
• Private Ephesus, Terrace Houses & Sirince Village Tour (from £55/USD75 per person)

Pamukkale

Next stop: Pamukkale. Travel time from Selçuk to Denizli: 3hr30 by direct train.

This spectacular natural wonder is unusual and distinctly different to anything else in Turkey. I’d highly recommend including a visit to Pamukkale on any Turkey itinerary. Not only can you submerge yourself in these pools, but you also explore Hierapolis at the top. Here are some more fantastic ancient ruins, which are perhaps even more spectacular than Ephesus – and definitely more overlooked.

I took the train from Selçuk to Denizli, which was just over 3 hours. From Denizli, we took the local bus to Pamukkale which was really straightforward.

However, a day trip to natural wonder of Pamukkale does require a bit of pre-planning. It’s almost essential to try and arrive before the day tripper crowds arrive. It’ll make for a much better experience and you can enjoy an hour or more of the pools to yourself.

Visiting Pamukkale can be done as a day trip from nearby Denizli (and other towns in Turkey). You see many tours offering this and I’ve popped a few suggestions below:

• Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour from Marmaris (from £32/USD44 per person)
• Antalya: Full-Day Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour & Lunch (from £35/USD48 per person)
• Pamukkale Small Group Tour from Kusadasi & Selcuk (from £86/USD117 per person)
• Pamukkale and Hierapolis Full-Day Guided Tour from (£103/USD141 per person)
• Ephesus and Pamukkale: Day Trip by Plane from Istanbul (from £501/USD684 per person)

However, I strongly recommend spending the night before in the town of Pamukkale for a less hurried experience. My guide to visiting Pamukkale is well worth a read if you’re planning on going.

However, one full day and one night is sufficient time to explore Pamukkale.

Where to stay in Pamukkale

I chose to stay at the Melrose House Hotel which was a perfect base with plenty of kittens and a lovely swimming pool. I would say this was a great mid-range option, with a double room at about £55/USD75.

There aren’t too many luxury hotel options in Pamukkale, but the best hotels are these two:

• Pamukkale Whiteheaven Suite Hotel (rooms start from around £77/USD105 per night)
• Apollon Garden Pamukkale (rooms start from around £85/USD116 per night)
• Doğa Thermal Health & Spa (rooms start from around £312/USD426 per night)

Sailing the Turquoise Coast

Next stop: Fethiye for a gulet cruise. Travel time from Denizli to Fethiye: 2hr40 by direct bus

Sailing along the Turquoise coast is a magical way to spend time in this beautiful country. If you can include a gulet cruise in your Turkey itinerary, you will definitely not regret it. The stunning coastline is lined with deep emerald green pine forests, craggy rock faces, charming Turkish villages and fascinating history. It is also where you can go paragliding above Ölüdeniz.

Spending a few nights on board a traditional Turkish wooden gulet cruise boat is a fantastic and authentic way to sail the coastline. The gulet boats tend to sail between Fethiye and a town near Antalya called Olympos. I departed from Fethiye for my gulet sailing trip.

I’d say I definitely wouldn’t choose to return to Fethiye for a longer trip on another occasion as I found it to be over commercialised and the total opposite of quaint.

There are plenty of local companies to pick from for your sailing trip in Turkey. I would definitely recommend local company Far Out Turkey who I found online in advance of my visit. The gulet boat was great, the team fantastic and their email support before the gulet departed was brilliant.

You can book the sailing directly with Far Out Turkey here. Rates for a 4 day, 3 night sailing is around £391/USD533 per person.

I’ve written a much longer and extensive guide to sailing the Turquoise Coast in Turkey here. I’ve covered everything you’d need to know including when to go, how to get to the departure points, what to take on the sailing trip and what to do in each of the ports.

Istanbul

The sailing trips along the Turkish coastline tend to finish in a small town called Olympos. A unique town in itself as it offers treehouse stays in a densely forested gorge. However, instead of staying here, I took a quick domestic flight from Antalya to Istanbul.

Travel time from Olympos to Antalya airport on a bus: 1h30. Flight from Antalya to Istanbul: 1hr.

Istanbul is a city like no other. Straddling two continents, Asia and Europe, it is a true melting pot of religions, cultures, backgrounds and traditions. I only had one day in Istanbul but I felt I visited a good number of the best attractions in the city. I’ve written a detailed guide on all of the top things to see and do in Istanbul if you only have one day or maybe a weekend to spend in the city.

An absolute must visit destination in any 2 week Turkey itinerary, Istanbul offers a mesmerising experience. From its Grand Bazaar, one of the biggest indoor markets in the world, to the fascinating Hagia Sofia, a religious structure that has been used by Christians and Muslims through time.

Where to stay in Istanbul

Istanbul has thousands of hotels to choose from, covering budget bases to ultra-luxurious palatial stays.

I stayed at the excellent Intercontinental Istanbul located very conveniently next to Taksim Square. This hotel had an excellent breakfast and a lovely pool to enjoy after a long day of sightseeing in the city. Rates were around £153/USD209 per night, and I’d highly recommend.

Some of the other best luxury hotels in Istanbul include:

• Raffles Istanbul (rates from £394/USD538 per night)
• Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At Sultanahmet (rates from £547/USD747 per night)
• Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus (rates from £744/USD1,015 per night)

Here are some suggestions for some great value hotels in Istanbul:

• Neorion Hotel (rates from £111/USD151 per night)
• Yasmak Sultan (rates from £179/USD244 per night)
• Georges Hotel Galata (rates from £223/USD304 per night)
• Pera Palace Hotel (rates from £243/USD332 per night)

Cappadocia

Travel time from Istanbul to Kayseri: 1hr flight

From Istanbul, it’s a quick and easy flight to Kayseri, which is the nearest airport to Cappadocia.

I think a visit to this surreal town with its magical fairy chimneys and mesmerising sunrises is essential on any Turkey trip. Most of the best attractions and sites in Cappadocia can be visited in a two or three day visit. Plus, with regular flights from several Turkey airports, it’s pretty easy to include Cappadocia on any Turkey itinerary.

I spent four days in Cappadocia and thought it was one of the best places I have ever visited in the world. Staying at a cave hotel is an absolute must-do whilst in Cappadocia – we stayed at the beautiful Sultan Cave Suites. This cave hotel has become super famous thanks to Instagram and its incredible terrace, which is the perfect place to capture a Cappadocia sunrise photo.

The best cave hotels in Cappadocia

There are so many cave hotels in beautiful Cappadocia to choose from, so it isn’t an easy decision to decide where to stay.

I stayed at the Sultan Cave Suites which I highly recommend as one of the best luxury cave hotels in Cappadocia. Rates range from £250 or so.

Other options include:

• Grand Cappadocia Hotel (rates for a double room start from £116/USD158 per night)
• Anatolian Houses Cave Hotel & SPA (rates for a double room start from £126/USD172 per night)
• Roma Cave Suite (rates for a double room start from £158/USD216 per night)
• Local Cave House Hotel (rates for a double room start from £287/USD392 per night)
• Aza Cave Cappadocia Adult Hotel (rates for a double room start from £301/USD411 per night)

The best attractions in Cappadocia

One of the very best things to do in Cappadocia is to witness one of the incredible sunrises. If you can, do it twice. Once from a beautiful viewpoint, such as the terrace at the Sultan Cave Suites hotel (you must be a guest) and once from a hot air balloon ride.

But that’s not all there is to do in Cappadocia. Some of the other main attractions include the visiting the Göreme Open Air Museum, exploring the nearby village of Uçhisar and some of the incredible rock formations at Pasabag and Devrent. This detailed guide here covers all of the best things to do and see in Cappadocia.

If you’re short on time, it’s best to see all the top attractions in Cappadocia on an organised day tour. You can arrange this through your hotel, or you can plan your time in advance by booking a tour through GetYourGuide:

• Cappadocia: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon in Göreme and Transfer (from £79/USD108 per person)
• Göreme: Turkish Night at Cave Restaurant Dinner & Drinks (from £48/USD66 per person)
• Cappadocia Sunset ATV Tour (from £6/USD8 per person)
• Cappadocia: Horseback Riding Adventure Tour (from £16/USD22 per person)
• Cappadocia: Traditional Mosaic Lamp & Candle Holder Workshop (from £22/USD30 per person)
• Small Group Full-Day Cappadocia Red Tour (from £57/USD78 per person)
• Small Group Full-Day Cappadocia Green Tour (from £74/USD101 per person)
• Small Group Full-Day Cappadocia Blue Tour (from £57/USD78 per person)

Turkey Itinerary

So that’s my 2 week Turkey itinerary. The perfect mix of historical sites, a sailing adventure, a cosmopolitan and cultural city, and the otherworldly magic of Cappadocia. As mentioned, I got around purely by public transport in Turkey which I found to be safe, especially as a solo female traveller, as well as cost efficient.

I do hope this guide for a 2 week Turkey itinerary is useful. Naturally, the more time you have, the places you can visit. Although some places, such as Pamukkale, you really you don’t need to spend more than one day in.

Feel free to drop me a line if you would like any advice or further recommendations? If you’ve enjoyed this post, please do share using the below links!

Disclaimer: This visit to Turkey was entirely paid for by myself and there was no involvement from the tourism board or a hotel. This is an independent guide.

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