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🇹🇷 Itinerary · Türkiye · 14 days

2-week Türkiye itinerary 2026: Istanbul, Aegean and Cappadocia

14 days: Istanbul, Ephesus, the white pools of Pamukkale, the Lycian coast at Ölüdeniz, Antalya and Cappadocia. Day-by-day circuit, domestic flights, budget and transport.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

14 days

Stops

7 places

Average budget

€1,500-2,500

Total distance

~2,200 km

Profile

Well-rounded

Season

May-Jun, Sept-Oct

Istanbul 3d · Ephesus 2d · Pamukkale 1d · Ölüdeniz 2d · Antalya 2d · Cappadocia 3d · return 1d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Türkiye 2-week itinerary map: Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Ölüdeniz, Antalya, Cappadocia

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

14 days, day by day

1

~€75/day

Istanbul · Arrival & Sultanahmet

  • Morning Arrival IST, metro + tram to Sultanahmet.
  • Afternoon Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome.
🛌 🛌 Sultanahmet · e.g. Hotel Ibrahim Pasha (3 nights)·🚇 Metro + tram·Türkiye guide →
2

~€70/day

Istanbul · Topkapı & Bosphorus

  • Morning Topkapı Palace, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar.
  • Afternoon Bosphorus cruise, Galata Tower at sunset.
3

~€65/day

Istanbul · Asian side & Balat

  • Morning Colourful Balat district, spice market.
  • Afternoon Ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side, cafés and street food.
4

~€85/day

Istanbul → Ephesus · Flight to Izmir

  • Morning Flight Istanbul → Izmir (1 h, €40), drive to Selçuk.
  • Afternoon Ancient site of Ephesus (UNESCO), Library of Celsus, great theatre.
🛌 🛌 Selçuk · e.g. Nilya Hotel (2 nights)·✈️ Domestic flight + car rental
5

~€60/day

Ephesus · House of Mary & Şirince

  • Morning House of the Virgin Mary, Temple of Artemis.
  • Afternoon Wine village of Şirince, fruit-wine tasting.
6

~€65/day

Ephesus → Pamukkale · The white pools

  • Morning Drive to Pamukkale (3 h, 190 km).
  • Afternoon White travertines and turquoise pools (UNESCO), ancient Hierapolis, Cleopatra's pool.
🛌 🛌 Pamukkale (1 night)·🚗 Car
7

~€70/day

Pamukkale → Ölüdeniz · Lycian coast

  • Morning Drive to the coast via Lake Salda (4 h).
  • Afternoon Blue Lagoon of Ölüdeniz, Belcekız beach.
🛌 🛌 Ölüdeniz · e.g. Oyster Residences (2 nights)·🚗 Mountain roads
8

~€75/day

Ölüdeniz · Paragliding & Butterfly Valley

  • Morning Paragliding from Mount Babadağ (1,960 m) over the lagoon (option).
  • Afternoon Boat to Butterfly Valley and the Kabak coves.
9

~€70/day

Ölüdeniz → Antalya · Lycian Way

  • Morning Coast road via Kaş and Kekova, sunken ruins by boat.
  • Afternoon Arrival in Antalya, old town of Kaleiçi, Roman harbour.
🛌 🛌 Kaleiçi · e.g. Tuvana Hotel (2 nights)·🚗 Lycian coast road
10

~€65/day

Antalya · Waterfalls & ancient city

  • Morning Düden waterfalls, Antalya museum (Roman sarcophagi).
  • Afternoon Ancient city of Perge or Konyaaltı beach, return the car.
11

~€90/day

Antalya → Cappadocia · Flight via Istanbul

  • Morning Flight Antalya → Cappadocia (via Istanbul, 4 h door to door, €70).
  • Afternoon Into a cave hotel in Göreme, dinner with a view.
🛌 🛌 Göreme · e.g. Sultan Cave Suites (3 nights)·✈️ Domestic flight
12

~€120/day

Cappadocia · Sunrise balloon flight

  • 5am Sunrise balloon flight (€180).
  • Morning Göreme open-air museum (UNESCO), rock churches.
  • Afternoon Rose and Love valleys, a sunset hike.
13

~€70/day

Cappadocia · Underground cities & valleys

  • Morning Derinkuyu underground city, Uçhisar village.
  • Afternoon Ihlara valley, Avanos pottery, testi kebab in the evening.
14

Flight

Cappadocia → home · Return

  • Morning Last views over the fairy chimneys.
  • Afternoon Flight Kayseri → Istanbul → Paris.
🛌 🛌 night on the plane·✈️ Flight via Istanbul

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€1,500

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight Paris: €200
  • 🏨 Hostel/pension: €32/night
  • 🍲 Lokanta and street food: €16/day
  • ✈️ Domestic flights: €150
  • 🎫 Sites + shared balloon: €300
Recommended

Comfort

€2,050

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight Paris: €260
  • 🏨 3-4★ hotel: €70/night
  • 🍽️ Mixed dining: €30/day
  • ✈️ Flights + car: €350
  • 🎫 Balloon + sites + guides: €380

Premium

€4,200

per person

  • ✈️ Upgraded flight: €550
  • 🏨 Cave suite & boutique: €200/night
  • 🍽️ Fine tables: €55/day
  • 🚗 Transfers + private car
  • 🎫 Private balloon + tours: €700

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

1 week

1 week

Istanbul and Cappadocia. The essential format.

You're here

2 weeks

2 weeks

Plus the Aegean coast: Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya.

1 month

1 month

The grand tour, from the Lycian coast to eastern Anatolia.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

Two weeks with two domestic flights (Istanbul-Izmir, Antalya-Cappadocia) and a car on the Aegean and Mediterranean coast. The flights avoid the long east-west road journeys.

✈️

Flight Istanbul → Izmir

€40 · 1 h · gateway to the Aegean coast

🚗

Car on the coast

€35-45/day · essential Ephesus-Antalya · decent roads

✈️

Flight Antalya → Cappadocia

€70 · via Istanbul · 4 h door to door

🎈

Cappadocia balloon

€180 · at sunrise · book ahead, wind-dependent

Adapt by season

Warm Aegean coast, windy Cappadocia

This itinerary combines the Aegean and Mediterranean coast (Ölüdeniz, Antalya), perfect May to October for swimming (sea at 24-27°C in summer), and Cappadocia, where the balloon depends on the wind. In July-August, the south coast tops 35°C and Cappadocia is stifling in the afternoon: aim for May-June or September-October. Visit Pamukkale early in the morning to avoid the heat on the white pools.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In May 2024 I climbed the Pamukkale travertines at 8am, barefoot in the warm water, before the coaches arrived: the white pools deserted and the light soft. By noon it was packed under 32°C. An early morning changes everything on this site.
  • • Renting the car only for the coast (Ephesus-Antalya) and flying for the long distances.
  • • Booking the balloon for the first night in Cappadocia, for a weather rescheduling margin.
  • • The Lycian Way via Kaş and Kekova, with the sunken ruins seen from the boat.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Adding a night in Antalya or Ölüdeniz if you like beaches and downtime.
  • • Avoiding July-August on the south coast: 35°C and crowded resorts.
  • • Not underestimating the Pamukkale-Ölüdeniz road: 4 h of mountains.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Is two weeks the right format for Türkiye? +
Yes, it is ideal: Istanbul, the Aegean and Lycian coast (Ephesus, Pamukkale, Ölüdeniz, Antalya) and Cappadocia without rushing. A month adds eastern Anatolia and the Lycian Way on foot.
How many domestic flights? +
Two: Istanbul-Izmir (1 h, €40) to reach the Aegean coast, and Antalya-Cappadocia (via Istanbul, €70) to avoid 10 h of road. The rest is by car on the coast.
Is Pamukkale worth a stop? +
Yes, the white travertines and turquoise pools are unique in the world (UNESCO). Go early in the morning, barefoot in the water, before the coaches and the midday heat.
What is the best time to go? +
May-June and September-October: warm sea on the coast, reliable balloons in Cappadocia, bearable sites. Summer too hot in the south (35°C), cool winter in Anatolia.
Do you need a visa for Türkiye? +
No for French, Belgian and Swiss nationals (90 days with a valid passport). Canadians apply for an e-visa online before departure.
How much does this 2-week circuit cost? +
Around €1,500 backpacking, €2,050 in comfort and €4,200 premium, flight from Paris included, per person. The two domestic flights and the balloon are the heaviest lines.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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