Please advise me on my plan to Turkey for 12 days

Shiwei--- it sounds like your trip will be two weeks but from the above you are going to be traveling on the road a LOT! Turkey is a very big country. Also, consult a good map because some of your places are all over the map! I highly suggest you check out turkeytravelplanner.com and the Turkey forums at tripadvisor.com so the people there can help you better!

We are going to Turkey for the first time for two weeks in July. Our plan is to visit Istanbul for 7 days, then go by plane from Istanbul to Izmir (domestic airlines are cheap and more efficient in Turkey--- check out atlasjet, Pegasus, Turkish airlines and there's more!). In Izmir, we will be renting a car to explore the coast and staying in Kayakoy (outside of Fethiye) and Cirali (outside of Antalya). We aren't going to the Cappadocia area (no time!) so I can't help you with that.

However perhaps you should tweak your itinerary to the following (I've tried to give you a good mix of ancient ruins and nature):

1.) 4 days in Istanbul (there's a lot to do in Istanbul! I know people who go for 10 days and say they barely got to see everything!)

2.) Take a domestic flight one way flight to Izmir then bus to Ephesus area, stay in Selcuk for 2 days.

3.) Take bus to Pamukale (I'm not familiar with the public transportation but others can help you with it) and stay overnight.

4.) Take public transportation to Cappodocia and stay for 2 days.

5.) From Cappodocia, go to Cirali (not Antalya-- Antalya will be super hot, crowded and it's a major city). Cirali will give you a more authentic Turkish experience, it's cooler, has a beautiful secluded beach and stay at Canada Hotel (rave reviews on tripadvisor). Stay for 3 days, then leave by air out of Antalya.

Another alternative instead of Cirali is to choose one location for these 3 days--- either Fethiye area (Butterfly valley, the Blue Lagoon, Kayakoy are in this area-- stay at Villa Rhapsody) OR Bodrum (Bodrum is for those who enjoy noisy nightlife. If you go to Bodrum just take your airline roundtrip and if you go to Fethiye make it leaving the airport near that town.

6.) Go back to Istanbul for another 2 days before your flight leaves.

Thank you very much for your suggestion.

I have realized that this should be a really tiring plan. I am travelling mainly after the the late-Bronze-Age history of Anatolia and especially aming for the Hittiete History so I have to go to Ankara. So this bit I might not change really.

But if I still want to see the ocean, Antalya and Bodrum which one do you think is better?( Well Actually I think you are right about the part of Antalya, it's gonna be really really hot, But I heard there are several ancient town around it and one is a city of Hittietes so I would like to have a look!)
It's really annoying because I can only get 2 weeks off at this moment but I'd rather go to explore the country as much as I can.

Many many thanks!!

Yes I think you are absolutely right that I should stay in Istanbul for more days!

hi
I think that don't stay in Ankara it is so boring area you are gonna waste your time in there!!
Istanbul is very big city and I suggest you that stay in istanbul more..
I m from istanbul if you need more info you can contact with me

hi,
actually burak I do need your help please. we'll be at istanbul by july 10th. the issue now is that i don't have any idea about the cost of life in istanbul. moreover, i need you to show me some best place to shop, where you shop? i mean the popular places not the big bazar or malls.

I really rely on your help.

thank you

ok don't buy anything before you arrive in istanbul. you can find everything in here. burakzamarano@hotmail.com is my e-mail tell mee what you wanna buy and I ll give you advice about it.

Please feel free to check the following link with an affordable and satisfactory private tour in Istanbul:

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or send an e-mail for further details to: dr.burhancicek@gmail.com
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