We will have 12 full days in Turkey the middle of March. Probably will want to spend 4 or so days in Istanbul. Do not want to go crazy traveling.

We are willing to rent a car as we have traveled a great deal, but would be willing to take an overnight bus or train if such a thing exists. What kind of costs are we looking at for that option?

This is our first visit to Turkey. Where would you go with the rest of the time?

For the first visitors like you. You may visit Canakkale (Stay overnight) where you may visit the horse of TROY (TROIA) if you seen the movie you mays visit the ruin. The advise I am going to give your is the people who love history and arhaelogy, then you may drive to Selcuk (stay 2 nights)on the way there you may visit PERGAMUM. Selcuk area you can visit The ruin and museum of EPHESUS, VIRGIN MARY'S HOUSE, ARTEMISSION (Turkey has 2 seven wonders of the world one of them is in Selcuk the another one is in Bodrum). After Selcuk you have to way to continue. One road goes to South of Selcuk which takes you to Antalya on the cost of Aegean Sea and Mediterranean sea on this road you may have change to swim while you are visiting some important ruins like Bodrum Castle and Underwater archaelogy museum, Mausaleum(another 7 wonders of the world), St Nicolaus Church, Myra, Letton, Sunken City, Hidden city. In Antalya there are many like Antalya museum PERGE, ASPENDOS, KURSUNLU WATERFALL.

If you want you may follow the second road which leads you to APRODISIAS and PAMUKKALE you may stay overnight in Pamukkale then continue your trip to Konya. Pamukkale to Konya is long trip so you have to stay overnight in Konya where you may visit WHIRLING DERVISHES museum and some SELCUK buildings BUT I also recommend you drive to CATALHOYUK where you can see the earliest city in the world dated to 10.000 BC. This place is the one of the earlies wheat harvest place.

Then drive to CAPPADOCIA on the way you you see many CAREVANSERAIES because you will drive on the SILK ROAD
one of them is SULTANHANI Carevanserai close to Aksaray. After Aksaray DO NOT DRIVE direcly to Cappadocia you may drive to IHLARA WALEY whic is beatiful and PEACEFUL place on the earth, then you may drive to DERINKUYU UNDERGROUND CITY which I love this underground city better then other ones.
You may stay 2 nights in Cappadocia then you may drive to Ankara VIA HATTUSHA or VIA TUZ GOLU (Salt Lake). If you go to Hattusha you may see the another early civilisation in turkey named HITTITE or HATTIE dated 1,750-750 BC.

In Ankara PLEASE visit ANATOLIAN CIVILISATION MUSEUM which is very important museum in Turkey.

Then FLY back to Istanbul

Have a nice holiday in Turkey (Turkiye)

Sinan Akdeniz

Thank you so much for the information and help. We are really looking foward to this trip. We tried out best to talk friends into going with us to no avail. They are afraid of the world situation and traveling to what they conside is the middle east.

Hi brandsberg,

I live in NYC and I believe that Turkey much more safer then NYC. When you get there you will see with your eyes and feeling and also have to tell you TURKEY is not in the middle east and Turkish people WELCOME everybodies in the world

Sinan Akdeniz

Brandsberg: please save your breath on your friends. You cannot reason them out of their fears and ignorance.

However, Turkey will prove to be one of your life's most amazing and pleasant adventures.

We have been from east to west, from north to south within Turkey and can swear to you that, as Americans, we had nothing but heartwarming hospitality everywhere. It's a lovely country. Your friends simply will never know what they are missing.

Arrive Istanbul and settle down for 3 days, fly to Kayseri for Cappadocia ( 80 Usd. per person about )50 min. transfer you are at most amazing landscape of the world. Hike, bike, trek, walk, eat, hot air balloon, visit sites allow 3 days at least. Than here hire a car and drive to down south. Allow enough time to visit places in a relaxed manner. Last 2 days back to istanbul and prepare yourself for returning home and shopping
How about this
Turkey is calling you ;-)
Regards

Murat

March will still be cold in Turkey so pack accordingly.

You will love Turkey, enjoy and make your friends envious when you return with fantastic photos and great stories !!!!! Have a Raki washed down with an Efes for me !!

Hey Marko,

How are you? I think you started to dream about Turkey.

Sinan Akdeniz

Hi Sinan, yep we loved it and intend to head back, probably without the kids. Brandsberg, make sure you have a turkish bath somewhere, !!

Hi Mark,

The BEST one is in SAFRANBOLU.

Sinan

We loved Turkey! The people are the most amazing, helpful people--the scenery is heaven, the food so delicious and all is quite affordable.

Can't wait to go back!

We rented a car and drove from Izmir down the Aegan Coast & Mediterannean coast then flew back to Istanbul, back to Paris, back to Seattle.

Enjoy!