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Turkey itinerary: feedback please

Posted by (Cleveland) on

We leave for Turkey in about 2 weeks. Here's our itinerary.

17 days in Turkey

  1. Istanbul for 6 nights

  2. Fly to Izmir, rent a car and drive to Selcuk for 2 nights

  3. Tour the ruins at Ephesus one day, the next drive to Aphrodisias. We will arrive at the Ephesus site around noon, 1pm. Will an afternoon be enough time for this site?

  4. Drive from Selcuk to Gocek. Lay on the beach for the day and rest. one night Gocek

  5. Next day drive to Kalkan: 3 nights in Kalkan.

  6. Drive from Kalkan to Cirali 2 nights

  7. Drive to Antalya airport: drop off car, taxi to hotel.

  8. 2 nights in Antalya.

  9. evening flight to Istanbul for early flight back home.

We like a nice blend of stimulation, seeing new things and also having down, slow time built into the trip. Are we spending too much time along the coast? Will 3 nights in Kalkan be too much.

At this point we are planning to bypass Pamukkale/Hierapolis. It seems touristy. Is this a mistake?

We are driving from Izmir to Selcuk, to Aphrodisias, to Selcuk, to Gocek and along the coast to Antalya. We typically don't drive in Europe. But a car seems like the only reasonable way to get around here and see what we want to see. Feedback from others who have made this drive and what is it like?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and response. I realize we all lead busy lives and I appreciate your feedback. The members on this site are the best!

Posted by
115 posts

We had 17 days in Turkey last summer and is wasn't enough. It was the best park of our trip through Rome, Greece and Turkey.
This was our itinery and I would do it again and can't wait.
Arrived via ferry from Samos to Kusadasi- 3 nites Selchek(Hotel Bella)picked up car
1 nite Pumukkale
1 nite Fethiye
1 nite Kas
1 nite Olympos ( Tree Houses)
1 nite Side
dropped car off in Antayla
Bus to Cappadocia
3 nites Cappadocia ( Kebeleck) in Goreme
fly to Istanbul
4 nites Istanbul
The most faBULOUS TRIP EVER, BEST PARK WAS RENTING CAR FOR THE 5 DAy drive on the torquoise.
Have a wonderfu adventure.

Posted by
39 posts

We just finished a trip last week that has some of the same components as your itinerary. The drive from Izmir to Selcuk is super easy. A lot of it is on the highway. Eat a donner at Pete Donner, a super small store front selling the best chicken donners, when in Selcuk. The drive to Antalya is nice, take the time to drive along the coast. It is very pretty, but I don't think the quickest route. The roads are in good shape.

As for Ephesus, that should be enough time. We found it fascinating and spent about 4.5 hours there. It will be super hot. Bring an umbrella and hat to shade the sun (there's a reason the guides do it) and bring water.

Posted by
54 posts

We too are planning on renting a car in Turkey this summer to drive from Selcuk to Kas, Cappadocia, and Ankara then a night train to Istanbul. I am wondering which companies have proven to be reliable and reasonably priced.

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