Turkiye Travel Guide

Turkiye, as the country officially asked to be called in international use in 2022, is larger than most visitors expect: about 1,600 km from west to east, with seven geographic regions and 81 provinces. A first trip usually combines Istanbul with two or three other regions, and the choices you make about routes and seasons matter more than in smaller countries.

Why visit Turkiye

Few countries hold so much history in so many layers. Neolithic Gobeklitepe, Hittite and Greek cities, Roman Ephesus, Byzantine Constantinople, Seljuk and Ottoman mosques and palaces all sit within one border. Add the landscapes of Cappadocia and Pamukkale, the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, and one of the world's great cuisines, and it is easy to see why many people come back.

How many days you need

• 7 days: Istanbul (3 days), Cappadocia (2 days), Ephesus or Pamukkale (2 days).
• 10 days: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale, with a little breathing space.
• 14 days or more: add Antalya and the Mediterranean, Konya, or a gulet cruise.

Our Turkey tour packages are built on these combinations, from short city breaks to three-week routes. Small group departures are also available.

Best time to visit

April to June and September to October suit almost every region. July and August are best for the coast but hot inland and in the southeast. Winter is good for Istanbul and cities with museums, and Cappadocia under snow is beautiful, but many coastal resorts close from November to April.

Getting around

Istanbul is the main hub for domestic flights, and most cities are 1 to 2 hours away by air. High-speed trains link Istanbul with Ankara and Konya. Long-distance buses are comfortable and cover the whole country. For sightseeing in rural areas, a private car and driver saves a lot of time.

Day trips from Istanbul

• Edirne, the former Ottoman capital near the Greek and Bulgarian borders, with the Selimiye Mosque by the architect Sinan. See our private Edirne trip from Istanbul.
• Iznik, ancient Nicaea, where the first Church council met in 325 and where Ottoman tiles were made. See our private Iznik day trip.
• Bursa, the first Ottoman capital. Read our Bursa travel guide.

Top experiences

• The old city of Istanbul and a Bosphorus cruise.
• A balloon flight over Cappadocia.
• Ephesus and the white terraces of Pamukkale.
• A gulet cruise on the Turquoise Coast.
• Gobeklitepe and Mount Nemrut in the southeast.
• A wine route in Cappadocia or around Urla near Izmir.

What to eat

Every region has its own cooking: olive-oil vegetables on the Aegean, kebabs and spices in the southeast, anchovies and cornbread on the Black Sea, pastries and meze in Istanbul. Turkish breakfast deserves its own long morning.

Practical tips

• Visa rules depend on your nationality; many visitors are visa-exempt, others use the official e-Visa website. Check before you travel.
• The currency is the Turkish lira. Cards are widely accepted, but carry cash for small shops and villages.
• Dress modestly in mosques; women need a headscarf.

See all our Turkiye tours.