Self-Launched Aegean Delight: Istanbul to Pamukkale by Bus & Train

Fly into Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW). Take the Havaist airport bus to Sultanahmet (~£5, 60–90 min) or the Metro + Marmaray combination for ~£1.50 if you're travelling light. Check into a hostel or pension in Sultanahmet or Sirkeci. Spend the late afternoon wandering the Hippodrome, Gülhane Park and the waterfront, then eat a cheap dinner (balık ekmek or a lokanta plate, £6–9). Buy an Istanbulkart from a kiosk (~£2 card plus top-up) — it covers trams, ferries and buses for the whole stay.

🚌Havaist airport bus ~£5, or Metro+Marmaray ~£1.50; tram ~£0.80/ride

🛏Hostel dorm or simple pension, Sultanahmet/Sirkeci (~£15–22)

• →Airport bus to Sultanahmet
• →Hippodrome and Gülhane Park walk
• →Istanbulkart setup
• →Bosphorus sunset stroll at Eminönü

Self-guided walking day. Start early at Hagia Sophia (book a timed ticket online in advance; ~£22), cross to the Blue Mosque (free, dress modestly), then spend 2–3 hours at Topkapı Palace including the Harem (combined ticket ~£35). Break for lunch in Eminönü (~£6). In the afternoon, either descend into the Basilica Cistern (~£15) or take a public ferry up the Bosphorus (£1–2 with Istanbulkart) — far cheaper than the tourist cruises the tour sells. Evening: mezze and grilled fish around Kumkapı or a cheap pide dinner (~£10).

🚌Tram and public ferry, ~£3 total

🛏Hostel dorm or simple pension, Sultanahmet/Sirkeci (~£15–22)

• →Hagia Sophia (pre-booked timed ticket)
• →Blue Mosque
• →Topkapı Palace + Harem
• →Public Bosphorus ferry
• →Basilica Cistern (optional)

Take an early metro/tram to Esenler or Alibeyköy bus terminal and catch a coach to Çanakkale (Pamukkale or Kamil Koç, ~5.5–6 hours, ~£15–20; book on obilet.com or at the terminal). Drop bags at a hostel or guesthouse near the ferry harbour. In the afternoon, join a half-day Gallipoli battlefields tour from Çanakkale (~£30–40 via GetYourGuide or a local Çanakkale agency) covering ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, The Nek and Johnston's Jolly. Alternatively, use the national park shuttle and walk the ANZAC site independently (free, but you need to reach Eceabat by ferry, ~£1). Dinner at a harbour-front lokanta (~£8).

🚌Coach ~£15–20; Çanakkale–Eceabat ferry ~£1; tour minibus included

🛏Çanakkale hostel or guesthouse (~£14–20)

• →Intercity coach Istanbul–Çanakkale
• →Gallipoli battlefields half-day tour
• →ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, The Nek

Hop on the local Çanakkale–Troy dolmuş or bus (~£3, 40 min) and explore Troy and the excellent Troy Museum on your own with the audio guide (~£10 entry combined). Continue by bus to Behramkale (Assos) for the hilltop Temple of Athena and a Turkish tea in the village (~£5 transport each way, entry ~£6) — the 2026 version of the tour's stop here. Head back to Çanakkale or transfer via Ayvalık/İzmir with a Pamukkale coach to Selçuk (late afternoon buses, ~£18–22, 5–6 hours). Check into a Selçuk guesthouse near the basilica; simple dinner ~£8.

🚌Local buses ~£10; coach to Selçuk ~£18–22

🛏Selçuk guesthouse/pension (~£14–20)

• →Troy archaeological site + Troy Museum
• →Behramkale (Assos) village and Temple of Athena
• →Evening coach to Selçuk

Walk or take the short dolmuş to Ephesus early (~£1) to beat the crowds and heat — entry ~£22, and consider hiring the on-site audio guide (~£8) instead of a group guide. Spend 3+ hours on the Curetes Street, Library of Celsus and Great Theatre, then visit the Ephesus Archaeology Museum in Selçuk (~£6) and the single remaining column of the Temple of Artemis (free). Afternoon: stroll Selçuk's bazaar and St John's Basilica (~£6) — no carpet factory pressure here, though you can visit a weaving workshop voluntarily if you want. Optional evening bus to Kuşadası for a beach hour (~£3). Dinner ~£9.

🚌Local dolmuş ~£4 total

🛏Selçuk guesthouse/pension (~£14–20)

• →Ephesus archaeological site
• →Ephesus Archaeology Museum
• →Temple of Artemis site
• →Basilica of St John
• →Optional Kuşadası beach

Take the İzmir–Denizli regional train (İZBAN connection or direct from Selçuk/İzmir Basmane, ~4–4.5 hours, ~£8–10) — a scenic, cheap ride. From Denizli otogar, take the Pamukkale dolmuş (~£1.50, 20 min) to the village and check into a pension. Head up to the white travertines and ancient Hierapolis in the late afternoon when the light is best and the day-trippers have gone (~£22 combined ticket). Unlike the coach tour, you have all evening: walk the necropolis, the theatre and the colonnaded streets properly. Optional sunset dip in Cleopatra's Pool (~£12). Dinner at the pension ~£8.

🚌Train ~£8–10; Denizli–Pamukkale dolmuş ~£1.50 each way

🛏Pamukkale village pension (~£13–18)

• →İzmir–Denizli regional train
• →Pamukkale travertines
• →Hierapolis ancient city
• →Cleopatra's Pool (optional)

Get up for sunrise on the travertines (ticket valid for re-entry if bought as a multi-day pass — check at the gate) and, if the budget stretches, take a 45-minute hot air balloon flight over the terraces (~£90–110 booked direct with Pamukkale-based operators or via Klook — book 1–2 days ahead). Late morning: dolmuş to Denizli, then a comfortable Pamukkale or Metro overnight coach to Istanbul (~10 hours, ~£20–25, book on obilet.com). Alternatively, the Denizli–Istanbul train (İzmir Mavi Treni/Pamukkale Express) is slower but cheaper (~£12–15).

🚌Dolmuş ~£3; overnight coach ~£20–25

🛏Overnight coach (~£22) — or budget hostel in Istanbul if travelling by day train

• →Sunrise on the travertines
• →Optional hot air balloon flight
• →Overnight coach Denizli–Istanbul

Arrive in Istanbul in the early morning, drop bags at your hostel or a luggage locker, and finish with the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar (both free), a simit-and-tea breakfast (£2) and a last walk along the Galata Bridge. If you're flying later in the day, the Havaist bus back to IST is ~£5, or use the Metro/Marmaray for ~£1.50. Note that adding a spare night in Istanbul is worth it if your flight is early — plenty of hostels near Sultanahmet do cheap last-night rooms.

🚌Tram ~£2; airport bus ~£5

🛏Day room/luggage storage or optional final-night hostel (~£10–20)

• →Grand Bazaar
• →Spice Bazaar
• →Galata Bridge walk
• →Airport transfer