A bit of a provocative title as I know how people feel about this place. My problem is this: I will have 13-14 nights in Turkey in June. I'm finding it difficult to figure out an itinerary that gives me adequate time to see the ruins on the coast as well as beach time if I include Cappadocia. I also realize that Turkey sounds so wonderful that I'm absolutely sure I will return for more trips.

I was originally thinking 2 nights Istanbul, Fly to Dalaman- 3 nights Kalkan, 3 nights Bodrum, 3 nights Kusadasi area then 2 nights Istanbul. If I included Cappadocia, what could be cut out (least painfully)? Bodrum? I could then fly from Istanbul to Kayseri, and to get to the coast fly Kayseri to Dalaman if this is an option.

Thanks for any thoughts.

It depends on your interests. I'm a huge history buff, so I could have stayed in Istanbul for the whole trip.

On a grand tour of Turkey, I think Cappadocia is worth 2 days. I stayed in Goreme and had no complaints. It has a fascinating open-air museum that preserves the cave-homes people carved out of the rock centuries ago and occupied until just a few decades ago. The region is not unlike Utah's desert in that it has bizarre natural formations, along with the interesting history behind it.

Look at it this way. If you don't go, you won't regret it because you won't be aware of what you missed. But I must say that Cappodocia was THE highlight of our 19 days in Turkey.
Istanbul-4 nights
fly to Keyseri, then 3 nights in Ugrup
1 night Konya (driving to Antalya)
1 night Lake Egridir (big mistake, should have cut this)
2 nights Antalya
1 night Dalyan
1 night Marmaris
2 nights Bodrum
4 nights Kusadasi (the fourth was an unplanned extra night when the boats to Samos were cancelled and we had to remain in Kusadasi)

1 full day in Istanbul? That's the hardest part for me to accept of your itinerary. I'd cut Bodrum easily before cutting Cappodocia.

Don't skip Cappadocia! It is unique and otherworldly and nothing can substitute for it. I can't comment on Bodrum, which I did not visit, so did not miss. In the Kusadasi area, the main thing to see is Ephesus. Maybe you can skip the rest of the area and reduce your time in Kusadasi to one or two nights. Kusadasi itself has been ruined and is hardly "Turkish" at all any more. When you're based in Kalkan or Kas, you will probably want to spend most of your time visiting the archeological sites which are exciting to visit. You don't really need to schedule beach time, since you can swim at the end of the day after your sightseeing or hiking or wanderings are over, and by then the sunlight won't be so dangerously direct. Where are you flying home from? If your two nights in Istanbul are your first (after the long flight) and last (before departure) that's not enough.

Only 1-full day in Istanbul, just not enough. You need at minimum 3-full days here (can be 2 at the beginning, 1 at the end). You don't need more than 1-full day to tour Kusadasi/Ephesus.

All I can say is that Turkey has so much to see that unless you allow for a month, it's rather difficult to get in what one feels they must. And then there is still so much more to see/visit.

You're going to have to decide whether the coast or the interior holds more interest for you. Maybe because we traveled end October, doing the coastal towns along the Aegean wasn't all that important... so we did Antalya, then up thru Konya to Capadoccia, then to Ankara and flite back to IST.

But I can almost guarantee that whichever is your choice, you will return. Turkey is one of those WOW countries! WOW!

Thank you everyone. I will have 2 nights in the beginning of the trip & 2 nights at the end in Istanbul. I hate to say it, but I love the sun so I would like to be on the beaches during the peak hours.

I think as far as Kusadasi goes, I am considering staying in the Selcuk area instead.

Our family did not include it in our trip to Turkey several years ago and I am still upset that we did not go there especially after traveling so far from the states. I would say definitely include it!

Hands down Cappadocia is as "cmt" above said otherworldly. I would have hated to miss it. Along with Istanbul it's the most fascinating area of Turkey that I saw during a 16 day trip; in fact, the most fascinating place I've ever seen. I still think about it.

I went in early July and it was hotter than Hades especially along the coast (around 120 degrees)! I could never have sat on a beach. I, too, love the water but to travel so far and not spend most of the time visiting the historical sites seems such a waste. Your time in Istanbul should be perfect.

I always think I'm going to return to Turkey but there's so much to see in the world.

I'm being sincere here. There are beaches all over the world. You can probably sit out in the sun at your own home for that matter. There is only 1 Cappadocia and unless Turkey is on your circuit and you'll be there again, I would NOT miss it. Not even talking about its history, its just a kick to see. Very unearthly. Really an amazing place.

AP,
some points that sound a bit strange to me:
- If you think already that you will be returning to Turkey one day, then I would do Cappadocia on another trip.
- Two days at the beginning and 2 days at the end in Istanbul is a waste of time. You will not get a hold on the town. Group the days to a 4 or 5 day stay, preferably on the beginning of your trip.
- Couldn't you fly directly to Izmir if you really want to go to Kusadasi, (which I would certainly not for the beach), or to Dalaman for a stay in Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye, Dalyan or Kalkan in order to see the coastal ruins, or to Antalya which is a bit farther down but interesting for sites as Aspendos and Side. The southern part has a far more scenic landscape.
You could organize your southern part of the trip and see how much time is left to divide between Istanbul (5 days is not too much) and Cappadocia.
- One final point: try to make a very precise estimate of your time of travel between different sites. Rent a car and drive carefully, trying to avoid the nighttime on the road.
Happy travels.

Another aspect to this is that I will be traveling with my dad, and he is not the active type. This past August in Italy he got agitated with all the walking we were doing, but on the other hand it was about a 100 degrees everyday. It's important that I try to make this vacation a good balance of sightseeing and relaxation. I think the month we are going (June) will agree with him much more anyway, it won't be so hot & crowded.

Thanks again!

We did 3 nights in Istanbul, overnight bussed to Urgup, 3 nights in Cappadocia, overnight bussed to Celcuk (near Izmir), 2 nights there including Ephesus, ferried from Kusadasi to Samos, ...and so on...
Cappadocia was a highlight, but stay in a real town like Urgup rather than a tourist spot like Goreme. Cappadocia Tours or Gazi Tours offer great day trips from Urgup, covering Goreme, Zelve, Avanos, the underground cities of Deryinkuyu etc, sunset in the desert, and so on.

Twoflower--

We're you exhausted after losing sleep on those 2 overnight bus trips? Or, are you the type who can sleep anywhere?

In case I negl3cted to mention it elsewhere, the hotel in which I stzyed in Cappadocia was:

Ahbab Konagi
Uchisar-Nevsehir
Fax: 90-384-219-3021