going to Turkey for 10 days, not a lot of time...flying in to Instanbul but am thinking about chilling out first and heading to Izmir, Esephus & Bodrum first....then back to Istanbul for 5 days..Is this good plan?...and how long should I stay in the coastal towns...which are best? Too much to see can't decide....
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3133 posts
10 days is nowhere near enough time if you want to move from Istanbul to Izmir to Ephesus to Bodrum and back to Istanbul, still with 5 days left over, unless all you want to do is be on the move at first.
Posted by
Dunwoody, Georgia
338 posts
I think you can do it. 10 days is plenty. Here is one idea: Spend a day or two in Istanbul to recover from your flight. I'd then allow about 4 days for an Izmir to Bodrum route. You could Fly to Izmir, rent a car at the airport (in advance), and drive to Selcuk (my recommendation). It will take about day and a half to see the main sites. You could then work your way south out of Selcuk and check out a site or two along the route to Bodrum (e.g. Priene and the other ruined cities), spend a day in Bodrum enjoying the beach and fly back to Istanbul from there. Check Turkish Air for flight options/costs. You may find cheaper flights or better schedules if you adjust a travel day. If you want ideas for what to see, pick up a copy of the Lonely Planet Guide for Turkey. It does not have a lot of detail, but does have just about everything worth seeing listed to help you decide what looks good. Good luck.