Istanbul
Visit the main monuments around Sultanahmet Square on your first day. Topkapi Palace requires at least 4 hours, the Hagia Sophia 1.5 hours, the Blue Mosque 1 hour. Add the Underground Cisterns of Yerebatan (1 hour) if you have any energy left. Reserve the second day to explore the city. Visit the Grand Bazaar, the Egyptian Bazaar, the Kariye Church-Museum and the Archeological Museum. Climb the Galata Tower. Make a Bosphorus tour by boat. Walk Istiklal Avenue in the evening. On your third or fourth day make an excursion to the Prince's Islands for a bit of Turkey that hasn't left the 19th century.
Istanbul to Cappadocia
There are about five daily flights from Istanbul to Kayseri. Kayseri Airport to any town in Cappadocia is a drive of about 60 kms/1 hour. Alternatively you may drive Istanbul to Ankara (5 hours via motorway), stay overnight, and move on the next day to Cappadocia (3 to 4 hours).
Cappadocia
Enjoying the fantastic landscape of Cappadocia requires at least two full days. Three would be better. Stay in Ürgüp (best cave houses), Uçhisar (fantastic views), Göreme (bazaar atmosphere, cheaper accomods), Mustafapasa (lovely architecture) or Ayvali (quiet village). All these towns are within 15 minutes of driving time from each other. Visit the Goreme cave churches, the Zelve cave village and Kaymakli underground city on your first day. Use the second day to explore the handicraft shops of Avanos, the old houses of Mustafapasa and the valley of Soganli. Hike at least one valley. Make sure to take a balloon flight. On the third day make an excursion to Ihlara Valley. Walk half the valley (3 hours) or all of it (6 hours).
Driving Cappadocia-Ephesus
Cappadocia to Şirince is a net 10-hour drive. Reckon 12 hours with lunch and minor sightseeing along the way. It can be done in a day, but will be exhausting. Konya is worth an hour or two of sightseeing. Visit the Tomb of Mevlana and spend some time in the bazaar. There are plenty of hotels in Konya but none of the type that we really like. You may break the journey with a night at one of the nice thermal hotels in Afyon (half-way) or Pamukkale (3 hours to Sirince).
Alternative program: Spend a night in Afyon. Take a day to explore the Phrygian monuments north of Afyon, which are among the lesser-known wonders of Turkey. Spend a second night in Pamukkale. Visit Aphrodisias on your way to Sirince.
Ephesus and Around
Take a day to visit Ephesus and dependencies - Archeological area (2 hours), Museum (1 hour), St Johns Basilica (1 hour), Virgin Mary's House (1 hour). Second day: Visit Priene, Didyma and Lake Bafa. Third day: Visit Tire, Birgi, Bozdag and Sardes. You may visit these places on your way to Istanbul if you will continue that way. Fourth day: Visit the National Park for hiking and/or swimming. Visit Kusadasi for shopping or nightlife. Fifth day: Rest and recuperate in Sirince. Sixth day: ditto.
Izmir Airport
The Izmir Airport is 67 km from Sirince. Driving time is just less than 1 hour whether you take the national road or the motorway. Allow half an hour for check-in formalities on domestic flights. There are about 20 flights each day between Istanbul and Izmir. There are also some direct flights Izmir-Antalya and Izmir-Kayseri.
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