Best of Turkey: Self-Launched 8-Day Adventure

Arrive at Istanbul Airport and take the Havaist airport bus (around £3–4) or metro to the Sultanahmet/Beyoğlu area. Check into a hostel in Sultanahmet — the heart of the old city — and spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace. Wander through the Byzantine Hippodrome, take in the exterior of the Blue Mosque, and get lost in the alleyways of the Grand Bazaar. Grab a classic Turkish street meal (simit, döner, or köfte) for dinner and soak up the atmosphere of this extraordinary city.

🚌Havaist airport bus to city centre (~£4) or metro + tram

🛏Hostel in Sultanahmet, e.g. Cheers Hostel or Sultan Hostel (~£15–20/night in a dorm)

• →Arrive by Havaist bus or metro from Istanbul Airport (~£4)
• →Explore the Byzantine Hippodrome and surroundings (free)
• →Visit the Blue Mosque exterior and courtyard (free; interior visits permitted outside prayer times)
• →Browse the Grand Bazaar — one of the world's oldest covered markets (free entry)
• →Optional: Book a Bosphorus afternoon cruise via GetYourGuide (~£12–18)

Spend the morning ticking off Istanbul's top sights: Hagia Sophia (book tickets online in advance, ~£15), Topkapi Palace (£12–15 including Harem), and the Spice Bazaar. In the early afternoon, enjoy a public Bosphorus ferry (Üsküdar or Kadıköy crossing, ~£0.50) for a self-guided version of the guided cruise. In the evening, board a comfortable overnight bus from Istanbul's Esenler otogar to Göreme or Nevşehir in Cappadocia. Metro Line M1 connects to the bus station. Book bus tickets in advance via Obilet or FlixBus Turkey (~£20–28).

🚌Metro to Esenler bus station; overnight coach to Cappadocia (~£22–28)

🛏Overnight bus (saves a night's accommodation)

• →Visit Hagia Sophia Museum — book tickets online in advance (~£15)
• →Explore Topkapi Palace and the Imperial Harem (~£12–15)
• →Stroll through the Spice Bazaar (free entry)
• →Public Bosphorus ferry crossing between continents (~£0.50)
• →Overnight bus from Esenler otogar to Göreme/Nevşehir (~£22–28 via Metro Turizm or Kamil Koç)

Arrive in Göreme in the early morning — drop your bags at your cave hostel and freshen up. If you've pre-booked a hot air balloon flight, you'll be collected around sunrise for a breathtaking 45–60 minute flight over the lunar landscape (~£150–180, book directly with Royal Balloon or Butterfly Balloons). Spend the rest of the day exploring independently: walk through Rose Valley or Love Valley (free, grab a trail map at your hostel), visit the Göreme Open Air Museum (a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ~£8–10), and descend into one of the underground cities — Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı (~£5–7). Round off the evening with a Turkish bath (hammam) experience (~£20–35 self-booked).

🚌Shuttle from Nevşehir bus station to Göreme (~£3–5)

🛏Cave hostel in Göreme, e.g. Nomads Cave Hostel or Stone House Cave Hostel (~£15–20/night dorm)

• →Optional: Hot air balloon flight at sunrise (~£150–180, book directly with Royal Balloon or Butterfly Balloons)
• →Göreme Open Air Museum — rock-cut churches with Byzantine frescoes (~£8–10, self-booked)
• →Hike through Rose Valley or Love Valley — fairy chimneys up close (free)
• →Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı Underground City exploration (~£5–7)
• →Optional: Traditional Turkish hammam experience (~£20–35)

Take a morning bus from Nevşehir or Göreme to Konya (~3–3.5 hours, ~£10–14 via Metro Turizm). Konya is the spiritual home of the Whirling Dervishes and the city where Rumi lived and is buried. Visit the stunning Mevlana Museum and mausoleum — one of Turkey's most visited sites — which houses ancient manuscripts, musical instruments, and Rumi's ornate tomb (free entry). If time allows, take a short taxi or local bus out to Çatalhöyük, a remarkable Neolithic settlement dating back 9,000 years (~£5 entry). Head to a local lokantas (traditional Turkish canteen) for a cheap, hearty dinner.

🚌Bus from Göreme/Nevşehir to Konya (~£10–14)

🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Konya, e.g. Rumi Hotel or similar (~£18–25/night)

• →Bus from Nevşehir/Göreme to Konya (~£10–14, ~3–3.5 hrs)
• →Mevlana Museum and mausoleum — tomb of Rumi with priceless manuscripts (free entry)
• →Çatalhöyük Neolithic archaeological site (~£5 entry, ~30 mins from Konya by taxi/bus)
• →Explore Konya's old bazaar district and Alaeddin Hill (free)
• →Optional: Evening Whirling Dervish Sema ceremony at the Cultural Centre (check local listings, ~£5–10)

Take an early morning bus from Konya to Pamukkale/Denizli (~4.5–5 hours, ~£14–18). Arrive and check into one of the many guesthouses that ring the base of the white terraces — many have rooftop pools with views of the famous calcium formations. Spend the afternoon at the Pamukkale terraces and Hierapolis ruins: the dazzling white calcium carbonate pools (entry to the site ~£12), the ancient Hierapolis necropolis, the Temple of Apollo, and the Roman theatre. For an unmissable experience, self-book a swim in Cleopatra's Pool (Antique Pool), a thermal spring scattered with Roman columns (~£12–15 entry). Watch the sunset from the terraces for a magical end to the day.

🚌Bus Konya to Denizli (~£14–18), dolmuş Denizli to Pamukkale (~£1–2)

🛏Guesthouse near the terraces, e.g. Melrose House or Hal-Tur Pension (~£18–25/night)

• →Bus from Konya to Denizli, then dolmuş (shared minibus) to Pamukkale (~£14–18 total)
• →Pamukkale white calcium terraces — walk barefoot on the travertines (~£12 site entry covering terraces + Hierapolis)
• →Hierapolis ruins — Roman theatre, Temple of Apollo, and vast necropolis
• →Cleopatra's Pool (Antique Pool) — swim among sunken Roman columns (~£12–15 entry)
• →Optional: Hot air balloon flight over Pamukkale landscape at dawn (~£120–150, book locally)

After breakfast, take a short detour to the ancient city of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation — it's easily visited en route to Denizli bus station (shared taxi or dolmuş, ~£2–3). From Denizli, take a bus or minibus connection to Selçuk/Kuşadası (~3 hours, ~£10–14). Kuşadası is a breezy Aegean coastal town — check in, explore the waterfront, and wander the lively bazaar area. The town is ideal for a relaxed evening with fresh seafood and a cold Efes beer.

🚌Dolmuş to Denizli otogar (~£2), bus Denizli to Selçuk/Kuşadası (~£10–14)

🛏Hostel or pension in Kuşadası or Selçuk, e.g. Homeros Pension in Selçuk (~£15–22/night)

• →Morning visit to Laodicea ancient city — ruins of one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (~£3–5 entry)
• →Bus from Denizli to Selçuk or Kuşadası (~£10–14)
• →Explore Kuşadası waterfront, bazaar, and Güvercinada (Pigeon Island) fortress (free to walk around)
• →Locally handcrafted leather goods and carpet shops in town centre (free browsing)
• →Evening mezze dinner along the harbour (~£10–15)

Rise early for Ephesus — one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world and an absolute highlight of any Turkey trip. From Selçuk it's a short dolmuş or taxi ride to the site gates. Book a self-guided audio tour via the official app or pick up a leaflet at the entrance (~£16–18 entry). Visit the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre (capacity 24,000!), the Terrace Houses (additional ~£10), and marble-paved streets. Afterwards, walk or take a short taxi to the Temple of Artemis — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (free, though only one column remains). Visit the excellent Ephesus Archaeology Museum in Selçuk (free–£3). In the afternoon, take a shared shuttle or bus to İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport for your short domestic flight back to Istanbul (~£30–50 booked in advance via Pegasus or Turkish Airlines). Arrive into Istanbul for your final night.

🚌Dolmuş Selçuk to İzmir Airport (~£8–12); domestic flight İzmir–Istanbul (~£30–50)

🛏Budget hotel near Istanbul airport or Taksim/Beyoğlu (~£20–28/night)

• →Ephesus ancient city — self-guided with audio tour or leaflet (~£16–18 entry; Terrace Houses +£10 optional)
• →Temple of Artemis — site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (free entry)
• →Ephesus Archaeology Museum in Selçuk (free–£3)
• →Dolmuş or shared taxi from Selçuk to İzmir Airport (~£8–12)
• →Domestic flight İzmir to Istanbul with Pegasus or Turkish Airlines (~£30–50 booked ahead)

Your last morning in Istanbul — use it wisely! If you missed Hagia Sophia or Topkapi on Day 2, today's the day. Alternatively, cross the Galata Bridge to the vibrant Karaköy and Beyoğlu neighbourhoods, grab a Turkish breakfast (simit, cheese, olives, tea), and browse the Istiklal Avenue. Head to the airport with plenty of time via Havaist bus or metro. A perfect end to an incredible Turkish journey.

🚌Havaist bus or metro to Istanbul Airport (~£4)

🛏Check out from hotel

• →Final morning — revisit any missed Istanbul highlights or explore Beyoğlu/Istiklal Avenue
• →Traditional Turkish breakfast at a local kahvaltı spot (~£5–8)
• →Galata Tower visit if not done earlier (~£8)
• →Havaist bus or metro to Istanbul Airport for departure (~£4)