Number of days in Istanbul
Oct 10th, 2014, 03:08 PM
#1
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Number of days in Istanbul
So now that you've helped me convince my husband that we'll be fine... Onward with the planning. So from Chicago, the direct flight to Istanbul lands at 5:00 in the evening. That means I'm counting the first full day as our first day. Is four days a good amount of time to see the highlights, take the Bosporous boat ride and do the markets?
The next place I want to spend a few days is Cappadocia. I'm thinking that we should fly to Ankara and pick up our car there. Should we spend the night there before heading out or can we make the plane ride and drive in one day without it being a really long day? Also, is that the best way to get to Cappadocia? We do want to have a car and drive along the coast and a few other stops. We'll drop it off at Izmir and fly back to Istanbul and then home.
All help with itinerary is appreciated!!
The next place I want to spend a few days is Cappadocia. I'm thinking that we should fly to Ankara and pick up our car there. Should we spend the night there before heading out or can we make the plane ride and drive in one day without it being a really long day? Also, is that the best way to get to Cappadocia? We do want to have a car and drive along the coast and a few other stops. We'll drop it off at Izmir and fly back to Istanbul and then home.
All help with itinerary is appreciated!!
Oct 10th, 2014, 04:44 PM
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4 full days is the minimum in Istanbul, but enough for the highlights and a boat ride.
You can fly directly from Istanbul to Cappadocia, which is served by 2 airports:
ASR Erkilet International Airport – Kayseri
NAV Kapadokya International Airport – Nevsehir
When are you going? How many days? Use a map (like google maps) and plug in places that you're interested in to drive, and see the distances. Based on that and the number of days you can make some realistic plans.
You can fly directly from Istanbul to Cappadocia, which is served by 2 airports:
ASR Erkilet International Airport – Kayseri
NAV Kapadokya International Airport – Nevsehir
When are you going? How many days? Use a map (like google maps) and plug in places that you're interested in to drive, and see the distances. Based on that and the number of days you can make some realistic plans.
Oct 10th, 2014, 04:45 PM
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I thought seeing the highlights of Istanbul took at least 6 full days, but it really depends on what you want to see and experience. I recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see, note their opening/closing times, and mark them on a calendar. Then see how things fit together.
Same with Cappadocia, where I was glad to have 4 nights.
It's a wonderful country - enjoy!
Same with Cappadocia, where I was glad to have 4 nights.
It's a wonderful country - enjoy!
Oct 11th, 2014, 01:01 AM
#5
Soods, if you pick the car at Ankara airport, you can actually visit the Hittite capital Hattusas and the temple area close to it, Yazilikaya (definitely recommended) before getting to Cappadocia. However, this wuill mean an early flight to Ankara and about 5-6 hours driving all total.
Otherwise, it is a better idea to fly directly to Nevsehir (within Cappadocia) or Kayseri (larger airport with more flights but further away) az XYZ99 suggested.
If you can find flight from Kayseri to Izmir (with posibly Sun Express, Anadolu Jet or Pegasus) that will save you time and extra cost of returning rental car at another location.
Another option can be flying from kayseri to Gazipasa (new airport) or Antalya (worth it even if it means one stop through Istanbul), picking another car there and driving along the coast to drop the car at Izmir after you have visited Ephesus.
all of the local flights above take 60-80 minutes each.
Otherwise, it is a better idea to fly directly to Nevsehir (within Cappadocia) or Kayseri (larger airport with more flights but further away) az XYZ99 suggested.
If you can find flight from Kayseri to Izmir (with posibly Sun Express, Anadolu Jet or Pegasus) that will save you time and extra cost of returning rental car at another location.
Another option can be flying from kayseri to Gazipasa (new airport) or Antalya (worth it even if it means one stop through Istanbul), picking another car there and driving along the coast to drop the car at Izmir after you have visited Ephesus.
all of the local flights above take 60-80 minutes each.
Oct 11th, 2014, 10:39 AM
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Otherchelebi, is there any problem other than a charge to pick up car in Cappadocia and drop in Izmir? We want to drive along the coast and make a few stops in other towns like Konya and Pamukkle. We will have to back track a little but that's fine. I believe our last stop will be a town near Ephesus for a night, and then Izmir for flight. We plan to stay at airport in Istanbul and fly home on that day. Is there a car rental pick up at the Cappodocia airports and a drop off at Izmir? I haven't made any calls to look into that yet.
Oct 11th, 2014, 11:15 AM
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We did not rent from major rental car companies and had all sorts of quirky problems.
We spent a week in Istanbul and wasn't enough and we spent 4 days in Cappadocia and that wasn't enough either.
We spent a week in Istanbul and wasn't enough and we spent 4 days in Cappadocia and that wasn't enough either.
Oct 11th, 2014, 11:50 AM
#8
The only problem would be the day you lose between Cappadocia and Pamukkale because of your short stay in Turkey.
the route between Cappadocia and Konya and some hundred ilometers after is rather barren, mostly desert-like. There is one interesting mountain, Hasan dag, which you will see from a distance, and the Manazan caves if you swing to the South towards Karaman, plus the Neolithic ruins of Catalhoyuk nearer to Konya.
I never found Konya interesting. You do not need to go there to understand Sufism or Roumi. It is a fundamentalist Islamic bastion and an almost dry city but retail alcoholic beverage sales are among the highest in the country.
the next town you could stay on that route is beysehir which has a major shortage of decent lodging.
If you check your map of Turkey, you will realize that Konya and Pamukkale are inland and that route has no relation to the coast.
You would drive down to Silifke or Anamur or Alanya or Antalya and then drive through Kemer, Finike, Demre, Kas, Kalkan, Fethiye, Mugla, Aydin (or Milas) to get to Ephesus (Selcuk/Kusadasi) on the coastal route. this route is excedingly scenic, especially if you by-pass Konya and get down to the coast via Ermenek at Anamur. But this drive would take a minimum of three full days of 6-8 hours of driving/day without visiting all the major antique sites. Hence, flying part of the way would actually come very handy and still allow you great sightseeing.
the route between Cappadocia and Konya and some hundred ilometers after is rather barren, mostly desert-like. There is one interesting mountain, Hasan dag, which you will see from a distance, and the Manazan caves if you swing to the South towards Karaman, plus the Neolithic ruins of Catalhoyuk nearer to Konya.
I never found Konya interesting. You do not need to go there to understand Sufism or Roumi. It is a fundamentalist Islamic bastion and an almost dry city but retail alcoholic beverage sales are among the highest in the country.
the next town you could stay on that route is beysehir which has a major shortage of decent lodging.
If you check your map of Turkey, you will realize that Konya and Pamukkale are inland and that route has no relation to the coast.
You would drive down to Silifke or Anamur or Alanya or Antalya and then drive through Kemer, Finike, Demre, Kas, Kalkan, Fethiye, Mugla, Aydin (or Milas) to get to Ephesus (Selcuk/Kusadasi) on the coastal route. this route is excedingly scenic, especially if you by-pass Konya and get down to the coast via Ermenek at Anamur. But this drive would take a minimum of three full days of 6-8 hours of driving/day without visiting all the major antique sites. Hence, flying part of the way would actually come very handy and still allow you great sightseeing.
Oct 11th, 2014, 12:26 PM
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We spent 4 days there a couple of years ago. We felt that amount of time gave us enough time to hit the usual tourist highlights and give us a good sense of a small part of the city. We hope to return some day to explore it more.
Oct 11th, 2014, 01:18 PM
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Nothing less than 4,5 is optimum. And nothing less than 3 for Cappadocia,4 is even better.
You can see in my trip report that I could barely cover all the main sites in 4.5 days, that woo without even a minute spent on shopping.
http://ashwinbahulkar.wordpress.com/...s-in-istanbul/
If you were to drive near Cappadocia, dont forget to explore the caravanserais. And the landscape looks beautiful early in the morning and later in the evening.
You can see in my trip report that I could barely cover all the main sites in 4.5 days, that woo without even a minute spent on shopping.
http://ashwinbahulkar.wordpress.com/...s-in-istanbul/
If you were to drive near Cappadocia, dont forget to explore the caravanserais. And the landscape looks beautiful early in the morning and later in the evening.
Oct 11th, 2014, 06:42 PM
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What does bookmarking mean?
I realize that part of what we want to see is on the coast and part inland. That's what I meant by "backtracking". I didn't realize that Konya was not a spot worth stoping at. We do plan to go to Antalya and 2 or 3 days at or near Kas. Will have to look at the route you've proposed. We will have about 7- 8 days left after our 5 nights in Istanbul and 4 in Cappadocia.
I realize that part of what we want to see is on the coast and part inland. That's what I meant by "backtracking". I didn't realize that Konya was not a spot worth stoping at. We do plan to go to Antalya and 2 or 3 days at or near Kas. Will have to look at the route you've proposed. We will have about 7- 8 days left after our 5 nights in Istanbul and 4 in Cappadocia.
Oct 11th, 2014, 09:14 PM
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For Cappadocia make a flight reservation on the Turkish discount carrier Pegasus. Flights on Pegasus can be quite cheap. You fly into Kayseri. Your hotel will pick you up. If you don't have a hotel, try the Fairy Chimney Inn.I stayed there in 2011 and loved it. It is a cave hotel.
