Turkey for 5 Nights in May
Mar 14th, 2011, 10:34 AM
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Turkey for 5 Nights in May
Hello. My husband and I will be traveling to Turkey at the end of May for five nights. (From the discussions on Turkey it seems like two weeks would be better, but unfortunately we aren't able to travel for that long.) Neither of us have been to Turkey before. It seems like Istanbul and Cappadocia are the most recommended places to visit. Initially we were planning to just stay in Istanbul for all five nights, but Cappadocia seems so beautiful.
-Would it be too hectic to stay in Istanbul for three nights and then visit Cappadocia?
-How long is the flight from Istanbul to Nevsehir? I understand that Goreme and Urgup are the closest tourist destinations to the airport. How far exactly are they?
Thank you!
-Would it be too hectic to stay in Istanbul for three nights and then visit Cappadocia?
-How long is the flight from Istanbul to Nevsehir? I understand that Goreme and Urgup are the closest tourist destinations to the airport. How far exactly are they?
Thank you!
Mar 14th, 2011, 10:59 AM
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Hi Kiki0033, I hope three nights in Istanbul won't be too hectic because that is the almost the amount of time my husband and I will have there before going to Cappadocia this April. It looks like our flight time from Ataturk Airport to Nevsehir is an hour and fifteen minutes.
I am not sure how far Goreme and Urgup are from the airport as we will be taking a tour so I haven't paid as much attention as usual to some of the details. I can give you the name of our tour company, if you are interested.
I hope this is helpful. I think we are all in for a treat!
I am not sure how far Goreme and Urgup are from the airport as we will be taking a tour so I haven't paid as much attention as usual to some of the details. I can give you the name of our tour company, if you are interested.
I hope this is helpful. I think we are all in for a treat!
Mar 14th, 2011, 11:35 AM
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It is only about an hour flight but you think of the time getting back and forth from the airport, etc.
The last person I would trust with my vacation is Rick Steve's. If his Turkey book is anything like his Spain book, it is filled lazy writing and he insipid insights. He is to travel writing what Barry Manilow is to rock n' roll.
There is a poster named Otherchelebi. Go to the box above view by country and click on Turkey, look for his name and follow his advice. He has lived in Instanbul all his life and wants visitors to have the most enjoyable experience.
The last person I would trust with my vacation is Rick Steve's. If his Turkey book is anything like his Spain book, it is filled lazy writing and he insipid insights. He is to travel writing what Barry Manilow is to rock n' roll.
There is a poster named Otherchelebi. Go to the box above view by country and click on Turkey, look for his name and follow his advice. He has lived in Instanbul all his life and wants visitors to have the most enjoyable experience.
Mar 14th, 2011, 11:42 AM
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Aduchamp1,
I am not familiar with Rick Steves book on Turkey, only with the one on Istanbul, and I think that this book is excellent when it comes to sightseeing--I make no judgment on his room & board recommendations.
I am not familiar with Rick Steves book on Turkey, only with the one on Istanbul, and I think that this book is excellent when it comes to sightseeing--I make no judgment on his room & board recommendations.
Mar 14th, 2011, 02:32 PM
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Hi Kiki --
I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I just returned from Istanbul (literally 2 hours ago), and I think 3 nights is not bad. Of course you will want to stay longer; I definitely did -- but I don't think you will necessarily feel like "wow this is too hectic I didn't see anything." Of course this depends on what you're interested in. I am a very leisurely traveler (read: I don't get out the hotel til 10:00am or sometimes 11:00am), but I definitely didn't feel cheated.
My itinerary:
Thurs night - arrive (very late -- almost 2:00am)
Friday - Sultan Ahmet area - Aya Sophia, Blue Mosque, walk up Diyan Lou to Grand Bazaar, back to Sultan Ahmet park to sit and people watch & watch the lights in the fountain
Saturday - Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum (could have done this on Friday if I'd started the day earlier), Chora Church Museum, walked along the old city wall. Walked some more. And some more. (Okay, I literally walked for 5 hours -- from Chora Church down thru the Spice Market, across the Galata Bridge, up to Taksim Square. Yeah.). Ballet in the evening.
Sunday - Topkapi Palace, Istanbul Modern, back to Taksim Square
Monday - sat and people watched in Sultan Ahmet park until noon (had a 3:00pm flight)
Clearly, there's a lot of stuff I didn't do or see. Much of it I could have done if I had gotten out the hotel before 11:00am (!), but I'm a very leisurely traveler. Which is a long version of saying, I don't think you should worry about not having enough time. Just pick the things that you really really want to see and fit everything else around it.
Re: Rick Steve's book - I think it was useful for "tours" inside of places (helping locate specific mosaics in Chora Church or describing rooms in the Topkapi Palace). I found it less helpful for deciding what I wanted to see/do (he has an odd way of deciding what is "worthwhile" or not), and even less helpful for restaurants and such. But that's just my opinion.
I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I just returned from Istanbul (literally 2 hours ago), and I think 3 nights is not bad. Of course you will want to stay longer; I definitely did -- but I don't think you will necessarily feel like "wow this is too hectic I didn't see anything." Of course this depends on what you're interested in. I am a very leisurely traveler (read: I don't get out the hotel til 10:00am or sometimes 11:00am), but I definitely didn't feel cheated.
My itinerary:
Thurs night - arrive (very late -- almost 2:00am)
Friday - Sultan Ahmet area - Aya Sophia, Blue Mosque, walk up Diyan Lou to Grand Bazaar, back to Sultan Ahmet park to sit and people watch & watch the lights in the fountain
Saturday - Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum (could have done this on Friday if I'd started the day earlier), Chora Church Museum, walked along the old city wall. Walked some more. And some more. (Okay, I literally walked for 5 hours -- from Chora Church down thru the Spice Market, across the Galata Bridge, up to Taksim Square. Yeah.). Ballet in the evening.
Sunday - Topkapi Palace, Istanbul Modern, back to Taksim Square
Monday - sat and people watched in Sultan Ahmet park until noon (had a 3:00pm flight)
Clearly, there's a lot of stuff I didn't do or see. Much of it I could have done if I had gotten out the hotel before 11:00am (!), but I'm a very leisurely traveler. Which is a long version of saying, I don't think you should worry about not having enough time. Just pick the things that you really really want to see and fit everything else around it.
Re: Rick Steve's book - I think it was useful for "tours" inside of places (helping locate specific mosaics in Chora Church or describing rooms in the Topkapi Palace). I found it less helpful for deciding what I wanted to see/do (he has an odd way of deciding what is "worthwhile" or not), and even less helpful for restaurants and such. But that's just my opinion.
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