We are getting ready to book our flights to Istanbul. We are thinking about staying 4 nights in Istanbul, 3 nights in Cappedocia and 2 nights in Ephesus. I guess we then need to return to Istanbul to get the flight home. What are the distances between these places and how would we be able to get from place to place? Also, what area of Istanbul should we stay in?

It sounds like you have limited time. Flying is the best way to do it. Check out Pegasus Air and Onur Air for cheap flights. My impression is that going via Istanbul may the cheapest way to go from Cappadocia to Izmir (Ephesus).

Welcome back to the forum.

- try Pegasus, Anadolu Jet, Sky and Atlas for cheaper and THY for full service flights to Nevsehir (closer) or kayseri to get to Cappadoia. The flight is about 70 minutes. If you drove it would take 8-9 hours and be about 800 kilometers.

- Cappadocia-ISelcuk (ephesus) is about the same distance but not much of the route is motorway, and it would just be too long to drive anyway.
There are direct flights from Kayseri or maybe even nevsehir by Sunexpress or possibly Pegasus too.

- Izmir airport is 45 minutes from Selcuk, mostly motorway.

izmir to Istanbul is a 65-70 minute flight using the same airlines.

Is this easy to do? Should we limit our trip to Istanbul and one other place? Are there restrictions on how much you can carry on the airlines?

Make it work! Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus are some of the most interesting places on earth. You need 4 days in Istanbul, but you can do 2 in Cappadocia and even 1 in Ephesus if need be. You may just want to contact a Turkish TA to help you with intra Turkey flights. They aren't expensive, they always feed you (or they used to) and luggage was not a big problem, as long as you identified yours! It is easy. We were on our own, but I pre arranged tours for Ephesus & Cappadocia, so when we landed there was someone to pick us up, drop our stuff at a hotel and get moving on the sights. We picked up a day tour in Istanbul for the mosques and the rest we did on our own. I would do it again this way.

That sounds encouraging! We will make it work. I did contact argeus travel to get started on some planning. zwho--who did you use for tours?

Hello Ephesus tours..Can do it all in a day and see it all..Make sure the Ephesus trip includes the whole nine yards..Terrace houses, Mary's house, Library etc. Some tours don't include them all. Hello Eph. put together a fine 4 to 5 hour trip for 6 of us including lunch and a trip to a state run weaving school. You don't have to buy. Don't miss Ephesus. Backpacker tours in Istanbul.. Don't let the name fool you.. Outstanding 3-- one half day tours which included the boat tour. Take a look at Turkey Travel planner web site..Lots of pointers. You didn't mention your dates..Spring? cool and lovely..tupips cmae from Turkey, Summer blazing hot, Fall great..Winter??? But not the cold we have in Albaerta// ..Pay hotel in cash and get a discount, Take the hop on hop off etc, etc, etc..

We are going in mid May--I did check the Ephesus and backpacker sites--they look very good.

With Backpackers try to get Dielet (SP) a delightful young lady and tell her hello from Mary Ann if you do..Rhonie(again Sp??) with Hello Ephesus. Another delightful, knowledgeable and pleasant gal!!! You will love your Turkish experience. We stayed at Tash Konak Hotel in the Sultanamet..paid cash (US, Euro or Lira was ok), got a discount and were picked up at the airport. A very conveniently located old Ottoman mansion hotel, great staff, English speaking, very clean, very nice buffet breakfast and reasonable