I spent over a month backpacking through Turkey, starting from Istanbul and going all the way east to Kars before crossing the border to Georgia. Most backpackers I know only travel to Istanbul and call it a day, but Turkey is so much more than that. Within this article, I will take you off-the-beaten-path and show you the real Turkey as it should be seen.
- Turkey One Month Itinerary Map
- Turkey One Month Itinerary
- Turkey Travel Video
- Why Visit Turkey?
- When to Visit Turkey?
- How to Get to Turkey?
- How to Get Around Turkey?
- Is it Safe in Turkey?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Turkey?
- What to Pack for Turkey?
- Further Reading for Turkey
Turkey One Month Itinerary Map
| ☀️ Day 1-4: | Istanbul |
| ☀️ Day 5-7: | Selcuk, Ephesus and Pamukkale |
| ☀️ Day 8: | Fethiye |
| ☀️ Day 9-12: | Butterfly Valley and Faralya |
| ☀️ Day 13-14: | Antalya |
| ☀️ Day 15-19: | Goreme, Cappadocia |
| ☀️ Day 20-21: | Mount Nemrut |
| ☀️ Day 22-23: | Lake Van |
| ☀️ Day 24-25: | Trabzon |
| ☀️ Day 26-27: | Kars |
Turkey One Month Itinerary
Day 1 - 4: Istanbul (4 Days)
Istanbul is probably one of the most colorful and lively cities I have ever been to, and you need to spend at least 4 days in the city in order to get to know it better. The Old Town is where you can spend the first few days. Here are the things worth seeing in the old town: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar.
I've been to Hagia Sophia multiple times, and every time I see its interior, my mind is always blown by the fact that they were able to build such a massive structure before the industrial revolution. You can easily spend an hour here just looking around, exploring all the little intricate murals and details you can find there.
The Blue Mosque is another impressive piece of architectural wonder in Istanbul that is located not too far from Hagia Sophia, so be sure to drop by there after you are done with Hagia Sofia.
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Topkapi Palace is also a must-visit destination while you are in Istanbul. You can easily spend 3 hours just walking around this place. There is so much to do inside Topkapi Palace, from checking out the intricately designed rooms in the Harem Section to enjoying the incredible view of the Bosphorus Strait. The entrance ticket is about 200 - 285 TRY, which is not cheap, but given that you will be spending more than 2 hours there, I think it is worth it.
The Grand Bazaar is also a great place to stroll around and get the feel of what it is like to be in a Middle Eastern spice market in Istanbul. It is one of the largest covered markets in the world, covering 61 streets, and has over 4,000 shops inside.
After immersing yourself in the Old Town of Istanbul, spend a day walking around Taksim Square, enjoying great food, and visiting all the cool bars and clubs in the area.
Also, be sure to go up the Galata Tower during sunset on a clear day. This is the best place to see Istanbul from the top.
Spend your last day in Istanbul by crossing the river to the Asian side of the city, so you can see how the locals actually live there. Additionally, the Asian side is considerably cheaper when it comes to food, so be sure to try everything you want there.
Getting From Istanbul to Selcuk
You can take one of the 3 daily buses running between Istanbul Central Station and Selcuk at 8 AM, 8 PM, and 10 PM. The journey will take 11 hours and cost 20 USD. You can book the bus online with the link below:
Book a Bus From Istanbul to Selcuk
Day 5 - 7: Selcuk, Ephesus and Pamukkale (3 Days)
From Istanbul, you can take a bus from Metro Bus Ticket Office near Taksim Square and head over to Selcuk. Selcuk is the perfect base for you to take day trips to Ephesus and Pamukkale. Since Selcuk is located within walking distance of Ephesus, I would recommend that you spend half a day walking around the ruins. The Library of Celsus is very well-preserved and is quite a sight to behold.
You can explore Ephesus in half a day and spend another half day back in Selcuk, hiking up Ayasuluk Hill to the fortress that dominates the entire city. The view from up there is perfect for watching the sunset over the city while sipping a cold beer and listening to birds chirping away.
On your second day, you can join an organized tour to Pamukkale and spend a day soaking your body in the natural white carbonate mineral baths.
The mineral-rich water dripping down the mountainside, collected and spilling over the terraces, creates beautiful cascades of stalactite pools that are quite a sight to behold.
If you are not into this sort of thing, you can go to the ruins of Hierapolis nearby and learn about the history of the place.
Getting From Selcuk to Fethiye
You can take one of the many local buses from Selcuk Bus Station to Izmir, which takes about 1 hour. From Izmir, you can travel to Fethiye on one of the 16 buses that connect the two cities daily between 7 AM and 12 AM. The whole process should take about 6-7 hours and cost around 15-20 USD. You can book the Izmir-Fethiye bus online with the link below:
Book a Bus From Selcuk to Fethiye
Day 8: Fethiye (1 Day)
Fethiye is a typical port city with lots of luxury hotel-goers and tourists who want to spend their time relaxing by the sea. We are just passing through here for a night to break the trip down before we go to the Butterfly Valley. That said, if you are looking to hike somewhere, I know the best place for a nice sunset in Fethiye.
Amyntas Rock Tomb is a rock-cut tomb built by the ancient Greeks in the 4th century BC. Hike up there and spend a quiet time watching the sunset.
Getting From Fethiye to Butterfly Valley and Faralya
To get from Fethiye to the Butterfly Valley, you will first have to take a bus from Fethiye bus terminal to Oludeniz, and from the Oludeniz beach, you can catch one of the many tourist cruises to the Butterfly Valley. Once at the Butterfly Valley, you can hike up to Faralya.
I went with The Dragon Cruise and it was a decent experience. The cruise leaves twice a day at 11 AM and 2 PM (subject to change), so make sure you plan your departure accordingly. Unfortunately, you can't book any of these online.
Day 9 - 12: Butterfly Valley and Faralya (4 Days)
From Fethiye, I recommend you take a one-way boat trip from Oludeniz to Butterfly Valley. Instead of returning, you can spend some time at the valley and then hike up to Faralya and spend a few nights there.
Butterfly Valley is one of the most beautiful places I have seen in Turkey, but it has been ruined by the party boats that come every day, blasting music and driving away all the butterflies that gave the valley its name. That is why I recommend hiking up the valley and staying at the top, so you can be away from the loud, obnoxious tourists. Plus, the sunset is so much better up the valley.
There are many day hikes you can do from Faralya since the place is located right in the middle of the famous Lycian Trail, one of the best long hike trails in the world.
I spent one day hiking to Kabak Beach, which was a disappointment since it was ridden by throngs of tourists and resorts. However, the hike itself was very nice and quiet.
I spent another day hiking with my friend who guided me to a place called the Paradise beach, tucked away unnoticed by tourists along the Lycian trail. There was no one but us on the white pristine beach. No wonder why it was called Paradise.
If you are interested in hiking to these places, you can ask your hostel for information and maps. Alternatively, if you stay at George House, they usually have an in-house hiking guide, and you can ask them for more details.
Where to Stay in Faralya?
Getting From Fethiye to Antalya
Once you get back to Fethiye, you can take a bus straight to Antalya from Fethiye bus terminal. There are two buses at 2:30 PM and around 7 PM. The journey should take about 3.5 hours and cost around 7 USD. You can book the bus online with the link below:
Book a Bus From Fethiye to Antalya
Day 13 - 14: Antalya (2 Days)
Antalya is the fifth-most populous city in Turkey and the capital city of the region, so it is a nice place to take a break from the long bus ride and spend a day walking around the Old City. The port in Antalya is quite stunning and a perfect place to watch the sunset.
Getting From Antalya to Cappadocia
To get from Antalya to Göreme, Cappadocia, you can take a night bus from the Antalya bus terminal which leaves at 12 AM. It will take about 8 hours and cost 15 USD. You can book the bus online with the link below:
Book a Bus From Antalya to Cappadocia
Day 15 - 19: Goreme, Cappadocia (5 Days)
There are many cities you can base yourself in Cappadocia, but the best one for budget travelers like us is Goreme. From here, you can find a great deal for hot air balloon tours like this Cappadocia Balloon Ride and Champagne Breakfast tour. It is also a good base for you to launch yourself into the surrounding hiking spots.
You can go on a hot air balloon tour here, which should cost you no more than 120 EUR. Cappadocia is probably one of the best places in the world to do so. At the end of the tour, you will get a glass of champagne to celebrate your accomplishment.
For hiking trails, the Red Rose Valley, Pigeon Valley, and Love Valley are highly recommended. You can spend a day hiking Red Rose Valley and another day hiking Pigeon and Love Valley together to see the Cappadocian landscape up close.
If you have an extra day in Cappadocia, you can also go on another day trip to the city of Derinkuyu and the Ihlara Canyon with an organized tour, which I highly recommend.
Selime Monastery should also be included in the tour, and a fun fact about this place that I didn't realize before is that it was where George Lucas initially planned to shoot his Star Wars film, but the request was rejected by the Turkish government.
Getting From Cappadocia to Mt. Nemrut
The best way to get from Cappadocia to Mt. Nemrut is to fly into Adiyaman and take a taxi to Karadut where you can spend the night in one of the accommodations there. They should be able to provide a tour to take you up Mt. Nemrut. You can book the flight through Skyscanner, Expedia, or with the link below.
Book a Flight From Goreme to Mt. Nemrut
Day 20 - 21: Mount Nemrut (2 Days)
Getting to Mt Nemrut requires a lot of patience and determination, but how often do you get to see a bunch of heads of gods carved out from stones on top of a freaking mountain? In order to get here, you can either fly or take a bus to Kayseri and from there to Kahta. You can either stay in Kahta and get a tour or take a taxi to Karadut and hike 3 hours one-way to Mt Nemrut.
Either way, it's going to be a long trip to get to Mt Nemrut. If you are not interested in seeing Mt Nemrut, I would recommend skipping it and going straight to Van either by flight or a really long bus trip.
Where to Stay at Mt Nemrut?
Getting From Adiyaman to Van
The best way to get from Adiyaman to Van is to fly via Turkish Airline. There is a flight at 11:25 AM that will take you to Van in around 6 hours with 3 hours transit time in Istanbul. It should cost you no more than 100 USD. You can book the flight through Skyscanner, Expedia, or with the link below:
Book a Flight From Adiyaman to Van
Day 22 - 23: Lake Van (2 days)
Now we are going off the beaten path to the city of Van in the eastern part of Turkey. The Kurds are the majority in this part of the country, and you can see right away how friendly and welcoming they are when they see a strange face like ours walking around. I had the best time with the locals here.
Van is also well-known for its generously-sized and amazing breakfast. Unfortunately, I was there during Ramadan, so no, I did not get to try it myself.
You can take a day trip from Van to the lake and board a ferry to Akdamar Island, where an ancient Armenian church stands. With the church standing on a lonely island in the pristine, blue-colored Lake Van, it is one hell of a photogenic place.
In the evening, you can either walk from the city center or take a van (dolmus) to Van Castle (labeled Kale on the van). The castle is a good example of how the ancient Armenian civilization influenced the area during the 7th century BC.
Where to Stay in Van?
Getting From Van to Trabzon
From Van, you can take one of the 3 daily buses operated by VanGölü Turizm from VanGölü Bus Stop at 7 AM, 12:30 PM, and 4:30 PM. The journey should take about 12 hours and cost 18 USD. You can check the bus schedule or book online with the link below.
Book a Bus From Van to Trabzon
Day 24 - 25: Trabzon (2 days)
Trabzon is a city on the coast of the Black Sea and the capital city of the Trabzon province. Due to its location in the middle of the Silk Road, it is common to see remnants of other civilizations in Trabzon. One of these is the photogenic Sumela Monastery, which was built by Greek monks in AD 386. What is so amazing about this monastery is that it was built on the side of a steep cliff at an altitude of 1,200m above sea level. It is a site of great historical and cultural significance.
Since it is not easy to get to the monastery by yourself, I would recommend going with a tour and then separating from the group to explore the area by yourself, like I did.
The Monastery was closed in 2015 but has now since been open to the public and you should be able to find a tour to take you there in Trabzon.
Where to Stay in Trabzon?
Getting From Trabzon to Kars
To get from Trabzon to Kars, you can take an overnight bus at 11 PM from Trabzon Bus Station, and it should take about 8.5 hours before you arrive in Kars. The bus should cost around 15 USD. You can book the bus with the link below.
Book a Bus From Trabzon to Kars
Day 26 - 27: Kars (2 days)
We are finally at our last stop in Turkey! Congratulations, you have made it through the length of the country. Leaving the best for last, near Kars, there is a ruined medieval Armenian city called Ani.
Long ago, Ani was the capital of the Bagratid Armenian kingdom but was sacked when the Mongols arrived, and the ruins are what is left of this once proud city.
Ani consisted of many Armenian structures, from churches to houses, scattered all over the site. You can spend a few hours just going from one structure to another, and you still can't stop marveling at it.
I have dubbed this place "the land of structures built in impossible places", and you can see why.
Where to Stay in Kars?
Getting From Kars to Tbilisi, Georgia
If you are planning to visit Tbilisi, Georgia after Kars, there is a way you can cross the land border near Kars, but there are a few tricks you need to know. To learn more about how you can cross the border from Kars to Georgia, click on the link below:
Why Visit Turkey?
Turkey sits at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and has been inhabited since the Paleolithic age by many civilizations, making Turkey one of the best destinations to travel to for history buffs and adventurers alike who enjoy walking around historical places. Other than that, the people are amazingly friendly, especially in the east. The food is outrageously delicious, and the cost of traveling is very affordable. If you are looking to introduce yourself to the Middle East region, there is no better place than Turkey.
When to Visit Turkey?
While June - August is a high season when the price, temperature, and the number of tourists are at their highest, I would recommend visiting Turkey either in May or September to avoid the high price and the crowds. The weather in May and September is still great and the price is not at its highest. You might experience some rainy days, but I think it is worth sacrificing to avoid spending more during the high season.
Keep in mind that from May to June is Ramadan, and even though you won't have a problem finding food in the west, it is more difficult in the eastern part of Turkey. So, prepare accordingly or avoid visiting during Ramadan.
How to Get to Turkey?
To get to Turkey, you can fly into either Istanbul, a popular tourist hub, or Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. I highly recommend flying into Istanbul so that you can hit the ground running, start exploring when you arrive.
Istanbul is one of the largest hubs in the region; you should have no trouble finding a flight from your home country to one of the 2 main airports in the city, Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW).
From the US, there are several direct flights you can take to Turkey from major cities in the US, such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, etc. All these flights are operated by Turkish Airlines, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a flight from the US to Turkey.
From Europe, you can fly from the most popular European hubs such as London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Turkish Airlines or local carriers like British Airways, Air France, or Lufthansa, which also offer direct routes to Istanbul or Ankara.
From Asia, you can fly directly with Turkish Airlines from several hub cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta, and Bangkok. You can also go with other Middle Eastern airlines like Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad if you are willing to transit to get a cheaper deal.
To find a cheap flight to Turkey, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Turkey?
Buses are the best mode of transportation in Turkey. They are luxurious, quite reliable, and often one of the cheapest ways to travel around the country.
Bus companies like Metro and Ulusoy are recommended for most main routes, but other small regional companies are perfectly fine too. You can book the buses online via 12Go.com.
Keep in mind that most Turkish buses are not equipped with a toilet, but they stop quite often at rest stops.
For bus schedules, be sure to check out the Turkey Travel Planner website. You can find almost any information about traveling in Turkey there.
Daily Budget
This location is less expensive than most countries, but it's not exceedingly cheap. Expect to spend around $30 - $50 USD per day per person, which includes both accommodation and meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
Is it Safe in Turkey?
Turkey is generally quite safe for tourists, even in major cities like Istanbul. People are very friendly, especially the further east you go.
That said, if you are visiting big tourist cities like Istanbul, it is always a good idea to take precautions and be aware of your belongings and surroundings at all times. Petty thefts, such as bag snatching and pickpocketing, still happen in big cities, especially in crowded areas. So, don't forget to keep your belongings near you when you are out and about in places like Istanbul.
Other than that, you will find Turkey to be a safe country to travel in, and the further you go off the beaten path, the friendlier the locals are.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Turkey?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Turkey without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Turkey:
There are three major carriers in Turkey: Turkcell, Vodafone, and Turk Telekom, all of which offer a pretty similar range of traveler's packages as well as coverage.
I personally use Turkcell's Tourist Welcome Package, which costs around 149 TRY for 30 days and comes with 20 GB, unlimited messaging, and 200 local minutes. This is more than enough for my trip to Turkey.
You can also go cheaper with an 8 GB 30-day plan for 60 TRY, and the price goes down from there depending on the GB you want for your data SIM card. Keep in mind that a foreign phone with a local SIM card has a grace period of 120 days. So, if you are planning to stay longer than 120 days, you are going to have to register your phone with the authority, which is unlikely to happen for tourists like us.
For more information about Turkey's local SIM card: Turkey's Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
What to Pack for Turkey?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Turkey:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Turkey in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Turkey
Turkey is a country that stands in the middle of Europe and Asia. Empires rose and fell on this land, and in order to see Turkey as a whole, you will have to go further than just Istanbul.
Here is a selection of articles and travel guides that you might need to further plan your trip to Turkey:
- First time visiting Turkey? Here are the 15 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Turkey.
- Have a transit flight between IST and SAW airports in Istanbul? Here is a complete guide on How To Get From Sabiha Gokcen To Istanbul Airport And Vice Versa.
- Istanbul is the crown jewel historical city of Turkey and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There are a lot of things to do, and you are going to need a complete travel guide to see them all. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Istanbul, Turkey.
- Have a transit flight between IST and SAW airports in Istanbul? Here is a complete guide on How To Get From Sabiha Gokcen To Istanbul Airport And Vice Versa.
- A lot of Roman influence can be seen throughout Turkey. One of the best places to see this is at Ephesus ruins in Selcuk. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Selcuk and Ephesus.
- Pamukkale is home to the ancient travertines of Pamukkale, and it is a place you should definitely visit in Turkey. Here is A Complete Travel Guide to Pamukkale, Turkey.
- The southwestern coast of Turkey boasts some of the most stunning beaches, cliffs, and hiking trails in the country, and one of the best places you shouldn't miss is the Butterfly Valley. Here is A Complete Travel Guide to the Butterfly Valley, Turkey.
- Looking for a nice, quiet place by the beach to relax and do yoga for a few days in Turkey? There is no better place to be than Kabak. Here is A Complete Travel Guide to Kabak, Turkey.
- You can't deny it, Cappadocia is one hell of a stunning place to travel to, and there are a ton of things you can do there. From riding a hot air balloon to hiking, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Cappadocia, Turkey.
- Mt. Nemrut and its massive stone statues of gods is one of the most unique places I have ever seen, but it is not the easiest place to visit. To save you the trouble, here is A Complete Travel Guide to Mt. Nemrut and all the information you need to make the journey as I did.
- If you are planning to travel to East Turkey, Van is one of the cities you must stop by. Known for its awesome breakfast and its location by the largest lake of Turkey, here is A Complete Travel Guide to Van, Turkey.
- Visiting Sumela Monastery is one of the highlights of traveling to Eastern Turkey, but due to its remote location, getting there can be tricky. Here is How to Travel to Sumela Monastery, Turkey, and all the information you need to make the trip happen.
- Ani, the ancient Armenian City in Kars, is the highlight of Eastern Turkey, but it can be quite tricky to visit unless you know how to do it properly. Here is How to Travel to Ani, Turkey and all the information you need to make the trip happen.
- Not convinced by my words? Maybe these photos of Turkey will help! 45 Photos that will inspire you to travel to Turkey.
- Since you are already all the way east, why not cross the border from Turkey to Georgia and make your way to Tbilisi, a vibrant capital city of Georgia? Check out my Georgia Travel Guide to plan your next trip to Georgia.
- For all articles about Turkey, visit the Turkey Travel Guide page.
- Looking for more travel guides for the Middle East? You can find more on my Middle East Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
36 Comments
I love your post. It is so well organized.
Thank you for the comment! I'm glad you find the post useful! :)
Thanks for sharing your itinerary and experience. I'm contemplating a solo one moth trip to Turkey this December so this was great, especially as I'm an avid hiker too! How easy was it travelling east of Goreme (e.g. is it easy to catch the bus, regular service, how were the roads, easy to find hostels, etc.). Would you recommend to a female friend to hike solo in Turkey)?
Hey Sabrina,
Thank you for the comment! I'm glad you find the guide useful! East from Goreme will be a little difficult to travel as not many tourists go that way but it's not impossible. It just involves a lot of long buses but they are pretty easy to find. Usually, they will have regional bus companies that run from city to city and you can find their schedule info at their kiosk at the main bus station. Guesthouses are more common in the east and not so many hostels but the good thing is that it's pretty affordable so you can also stay in the hotel.
You can also take a flight to Van from Ankara which is considerably faster and might not be that expensive, but you will have to make your way back to Ankara and fly from there. Either or, if you have time to spare, I would highly recommend the east. It was one of the best experience I had in Turkey. The people are much friendlier to tourists there.
I've seen many female travelers traveling alone in Turkey so I think you will have no problem there. :)
I hope these help!
great post! congrats and thank for all the info.
No problem! I hope you find it useful :)
Hi,
The ruins that you visited in Fetihye, is it in telmessos or in another site?
Thanks for sharing the trip it helped me a lot
Hey Roger,
Yes, that's it. You should be able to find your way to it on Google Maps. :)
Hi Pete,
I read your Kosice essay, then I found your Turkey essays. I'm glad to read it. because many travellers don't know anything about Turkey. I recommend you also Artvin (Arhavi, many plateaus, very closs to Batumi), Çanakkale (Gökçeada, Bozcaada, Gelibolu), Şanlıurfa (Göbeklitepe (Potbelly Hill) which has evidences about oldest civilization). Bursa (Cumalıkızık, Irgandı Bridge, Mt Uludağ, etc), Antalya (Kekova, Olimpos, Phaselis, Alanya Damlataş Cave, etc), Muğla(palagliding from Mt Babadağ to Ölüdeniz, Saklıkent Canyon, Ghost Town-Kaya Köy, Marmaris (Söğüt, Selimiye, Kleopatra Beach), Bodrum, and also Greek islands: Rodos, Kos, Meis, Samos), İstanbul (Balat-Fener-Cibali, Pier Loti, Prince Islands, etc), Kırklareli, Edirne, Karabük-Safranbolu, Ankara (Museums, Ankara Castle, Beypazarı), Amasya (King Rock-cut Tombs near the river), Hatay (Antakya, İkenderun)
Hey Rabia,
Thank you for the recommendation, I'll definitely have to check these out when I'm back there.
Thank you so much!