I'm investigating a trip to Turkey at the end of May and have done some initial reading. From what I have read, places of interest are spread out, and there are many different worthwhile things to see and do. We know for sure we will want at least 4 days in Istanbul, but where to go in addition to that is the question. We are middle-aged, but quite active, and enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and biking and boating. In fact, last summer we took a 9 day bike tour in France on our own. We are do-it-yourself budget travellers who don't want or need fancy hotels or any kind of pampering or luxuries. I think we will probably rent a car as we have done that in many other places (even some where many people don't recommend driving). We prefer to meet the locals versus being with a bunch of tourists and often venture off the beaten tourist path and enjoy ourselves in places where there are no real tourist attractions, but rather just a nice ambience. We enjoy small, inexpensive, local ethnic cooking and local wines. We are not shoppers, but we do enjoy visiting colorful local markets and bazaars. We enjoy music and cultural events that are unique to a region. While we are very interested in history and how it has shaped a region, frankly, we are not huge fans of ruins that are basically just piles of rocks. We'd probably stop in to see them if we were in the area, but wouldn't make a pilgrimage just to see them. Our last few trips to Europe we have decided that we prefer staying in one spot and slowing down to focus on one area rather than trying to get a brief overview of everything, so we've rented houses for 5 to 7 days. When we do that we also enjoy shopping in the local grocery stores and doing some of our own cooking (or reheating). We've also found out that we tend to prefer the smaller towns over large cities. I guess we don't want to feel like we are trying to run around and see all of the western half of Turkey in 14 to 16 days. I think Cappadocia sounds like a place that would be worth our while and interest us, but what else would you recommend? My goal is to get a good taste of Turkey (with the understanding that I can return for another trip sometime in the future), and yet we do not want to spend most of our time just going from place to place just to say we've seen all the highlights of western Turkey. I'd appreciate any thoughts you have.

If I were you I would go to SOuth of Turkey BUT definitly ride a bike in Cappadocia by your self then take a bus to Antalya and start your biking from Antalya to Fethiye or Marmaris I am sure you will love this territorywhen ever you get tried stop on the beach where you have beatiful TURQUAZ color see and swim or camp anywhere you want. When you come to Fethiye or Marmaris you may have GULET TOUR a week or 4 days tours available from Fethiye or Marmaris or if you go up to BODRUM you may have another destination to get GULET TOUR or if you like to DIVE you are right place to dive NOT EXPENCIVE. You may love BODRUM.

Have a nice trip in Turkey

Sinan Akdeniz

Thanks Sinan--

I guess I should make myself clear. Although we may be interested in doing some biking, that would not be the focal point of our trip. We want to experience a mix of activites and I wanted to let people know that we would also like to include some active type things in our itinerary rather than just the typical sightseeing.

Hi Julies,

If you want to see some ruins there are many the route I told you especially after Antalya every 20 KM you can see one of them. Maybe not the important one BUT you will see Cappadocia then when you get to Antalya I am sure you will visit PERGE ASPENDOS and SIDE which is other important ruins in Turkey then you may stop in KURSUNLU WATERFALL (This is my recommendation) where you can see the PARADISE of the Turkey (I wish I could write here WORLD But I saw some better then this) After Antalya there are many ruins waiting for your. Just want to recomemnd you DO NOT MISS TERMESSOS in Antalya soooo beatiful place I am sure you will LOVE IT and also if you and your friend love HISTORY you may visit ANTALYA MUSEUM.

Have FUN in Turkey

Sinan Akdeniz

Turkey is a most fascinating country. Four days in Istanbul should be perfect and I highly recommend Capadoccia. I was on a tour but I know there are accommodations in "cave hotels" which sound fascinating. If you head then south to Side and Aspendos you will see "ruins" but not a pile of rocks - very interesting. I had so wished I could have concluded my trip in a gulet along the "turquoise coast" but my traveling companion couldn't take the extra time. The landscape is magical all over western Turkey. I'd be happy to send you my trip diary just to give you an overview of what I saw. Nancy [email protected]

Your post very well could have been mine as we share similar travel styles and we will also be in Turkey in May/June. We leave on the 19th from Portland, OR. When do you leave?

Check out www.turkeytravelplanner.com.
This is a great site with lots of info!

If you search by clicking on my name you will see our itinerary for our trip. I have been researching from a couple of months and now I am just fine tuning.

Have a great trip!

In Cappadocia I stayed in Goreme. The Walnut House was a great little pension. Goreme is a good starting place for hiking and biking, several tour companies offer day-trip tours of the region that start there.

But the jewel of the town is its open-air museum a few minutes' walk outside of town. The museum preserves the dwellings carved out of the volcanic rock. Many of them still have religious artwork. The whole area looks like something out of Planet of the Apes.

Thanks for the tips. I'm going to follow up on all of them.