Greece..? Turkey…? Both??!

I’d spend all my time in Turkey; nothing against Greece, I love it there, but suggest you consider doing Rick’s tour of Turkey because it seems to cover so much more of the country and offers some interesting experiences. I went to Turkey some years ago in September and the weather was quite changeable, particularly around Istanbul toward the end of the trip when it got cold and windy. Whichever you choose enjoy your choice - both are great countries.

Just spent 35 days this year in Turkey/Greece on a trip with an emphasis on archaeological sites. Because distances are considerable, and the airline routes almost always connect through Istanbul and Athens— I would stick to one country, For Turkey, I would suggest Istanbul for 4-5 days at minimum ( like London, Istanbul is packed with attractions); Cappadocia for its rock formations, cave churches, hiking and underground cities for 3-5 days; Selcuk, which is next to the ancient Roman city of Ephesus for 2 days. If you have 14 days, you still have time for a beach town and since Selcuk is just a few miles from the beaches of Kusadasi and the Dilek Peninsula, there are several to choose from.
Turkey has a fine bus system but because the country is expansive- it’s not unusual for it to take 10 hours to get between destinations— flights are a better use of vacation time. Flights are also inexpensive- often $50 to $100. If bought months in advance they can be half of that. For domestic flights within Turkey. I recommend flying through Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport (airport code: SAW)
as it is easier and quicker to get through than the massive IST airport where most international flights arrive and depart from. Nevsehir Airport ( NAV) is closest to Goreme, the convenient tourist service hub for Cappadocia. Izmir has the closest airport ( ADB) to Selcuk with trains and buses traveling to Selcuk in about one hour from the city of Izmir.
www.Skyscanner.com will show you flight schedules and fares.
Have a great trip!

This is such fabulous information! Question - Istanbul, if we were going to VRBO/AirBNB, which neighborhood? We love quiet! In London we stayed near St. Katherine's wharf because it is quiet. Or are hotels a better bet?

I love these ideas, thank you! It is far more complicated planning because of the distance and lack of train systems. I think we will rent a car. We usually try to stay in a place 3 or more days, only because, yes, travelling eats into our seeing everything time! Any and all suggestions are so INCREDIBLY appreciated! Thank you! Thank you!

It's been 15 years since I've been to Turkey, but I would absolutely go there again. It's one of my most favorite destinations! And I would spend your whole vacation there. It's incredibly beautiful with very unique scenery and the people are some of the friendliest I have ever encountered. I spent a week in Istanbul (I was a solo traveler), then another 10 days traveling to Cappadocia (stayed in Goreme), Fethiye, Ephesus (stayed in Selcuk) and back up to Istanbul, with a quick day trip on the way in Izmir.

If you are interested, i wrote an online travel journal when I was there in 2007. The hotel recs will probably not help you now, but if you'd like to see some photos and info about places, have a look. It's in reverse chronological order. https://mardeeinturkey.wordpress.com/

Hi Julie, We stayed in the Cihangir neighborhood at the Cihangir Hotel which is on a hill on a quiet residential street ( Aslan Yatagi) about a 10-minute walk from Taksim Square near where the Havaist Airport bus stops to drop off visitors arriving from IST Airport. The hotel has “ Bosporus View Rooms” that have balconies with spectacular panoramic views of the Bosporus for about $125 per night during September including breakfast. Our fifth floor room had incredible views, so if you book way ahead of time be sure to request a fifth floor room ( rm 501) for an optimal view. We found a number of restaurants in the neighborhood with lunch/dinner running about $8 each which means it’s actually more economical to eat out than to shop for groceries and cook in an apartment. Walking downhill to the end of Cihangir Caddesi ( Cihangir Street) brings you to steps that lead to the waterfront road which has trams going to Sultanahmet where most of Istanbul’s main attractions ( and tourists) are to be found. There also is a taxi stand downhill from the hotel on Cihangir Caddesi . Staying in Cihangir gives you a chance to experience Istanbul side-by-side with the Turks where they live and also be close to Istanbul’s top attractions.

We love quiet!

Just keep in mind the Muslim call to prayer coming multiple times a day/ night from the minarets in Turkey. It may take a bit getting used to.

Thank you!! I am so excited to go. Turkey for 14, maybe 15 days now! Thank you!!!

Thank you! Thinking Istanbul, fly to Cappadocia. Fly to Izmir and would we do day trips to Ephesus, Pamukkale and Selcuk? Or stay in Ephesus and do train/day trips?

Bodrum?

I’m so excited already! We just like to stay in one place at least 3-4 days. All suggestions super appreciated!

Totally agree— whenever you can take the train- do it! The trains are as comfortable as European trains and the 3- hour train from Selcuk to Pamukkale by way of Denizli was $2! You will want to stay in Selcuk, a pleasant town of 20K residents, that is the base town for seeing Ephesus which is 3 miles away, Selcuk itself has a castle, ruins of a Roman Aquaduct, centuries-old Mosques, and the outstanding Ephesus Archaeological Museum. The people of Selcuk are among the friendliest and best hosts we came across in Turkey. For your coastal visit, I would opt for the beaches of Kusadasi because it’s only 12 miles from Selcuk. Bodrum is four hours away and, sadly, has in recent years become an international jetset resort with matching prices. So much so, in fact, that my Turkish friends tell me Turks, for the most part, no longer visit Bodrum. I would recommend that when you first arrive in Turkey at IST airport in Istanbul, that you fly immediately to Izmir and then continue to Selcuk by train or taxi in a little more than one hour. Save Istanbul for the end of your trip because that saves several hours getting into the city and then getting back out to the airport. With a metropolitan population of 16 million residents, traffic jams in central Istanbul make the journey something best done only once during your visit.

If you are going to Cappadocia after Selcuk, flights from Izmir (ADB) to the small snd convenient Nevsehir Airport ( NAV) will connect through Istanbul. The smaller and more pleasant of Istanbul’s two airports to connect through is Sabihah Gokcen Airport ( SAW) Airport. The airport is named after Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s adopted daughter, who became the world’s first female Air Force Pilot at the age of 23.
www.Skyscanner.com shows flight schedules and fares.
Have a great Trip!

Thank you! Yes, thinking beaches first and Istanbul last. Also because it will be warmer and we will have jet lag so we can rest on the beach. This is awesome!!

Thinking: Seattle to Izmir, the Izmir to Goreme, then Goreme to Istanbul, and Istanbul back to Seattle.

16 days.
Stay in Selcuk 4-5 days
Train to Ephesus
Train to Pamukkale
Train to Bodrum ?
Fly to Goreme - 3-4 days Cappadocia.
Fly to Istanbul - 3-4 days Istanbul.

WOULD LOVE YOUR THOUGHTS!! Filling in later.. We aren't even going until September! We like to see a lot, but also really like to relax and just enjoy the place and the people.

Do you book through skyscanner - or peruse and book through Turkish?

I encourage you to go down the coast to Bodrum and Fethiye too.

Hello again...

Question is - if we spend a couple days in Selcuk and take day trips, should we then rent a car and drive to Goreme? I would love to see some of the country, we don't mind driving, but is there a couple places to stop on the way? It appears that Pamukkale isn't exactly on the way. Konya is however.

Then we would fly back to Istanbul but not sure - train from Selcuk to Izmir and then flying to Goreme might just be a whole lot easier!

Thank you!