Turkey: Troy & the Turkish Riviera — Self-Launched

Fly into Antalya (AYT) and take the tram or bus into the city centre for a few lira. Check into a hostel or small pansiyon in Kaleiçi, the walled old town. Spend the evening wandering the harbour, Hadrian's Gate and the roman fortifications, then eat balık ekmek (fish sandwich) by the water. No welcome briefing needed — sort your bus tickets for tomorrow tonight.

🚌Antalya airport tram/bus to centre, ~£1

🛏Hostel or pansiyon in Kaleiçi (dorm £10–14, private £22–30)

• →Explore Kaleiçi old town
• →Harbour sunset walk
• →Hadrian's Gate

Take the early bus west along the coast to Demre (roughly 3 hours, change at or direct from Antalya otogar). From Demre/Üçağız you can join a shared day boat over the sunken city of Kekova — glass-bottomed boats leave mid-morning and include lunch; ask your guesthouse to reserve a seat or turn up at Üçağız harbour and negotiate. Swim stops in the turquoise bays, then sleep in Üçağız or Kale village.

🚌Antalya–Demre intercity bus ~£5–7; shared minibus to Üçağız ~£2

🛏Rural pansiyon or guesthouse in Üçağız/Kale (private £20–30)

• →Kekova sunken city boat trip with lunch
• →Swim stops at Simena
• →Climb to Simena castle (optional ~£2)

Back to the coast road and stop in Kaş — a laid-back harbour town with cafés, a small pebble beach and cheap lunch spots. Wander the pedestrian streets and the antik tiyatro on the hill, then catch an afternoon bus on to Fethiye (about 2 hours). Settle into a hostel near the marina and let the evening drift.

🚌Minibus to Demre, bus Demre–Kaş ~£3, Kaş–Fethiye ~£4

🛏Hostel or small hotel in Fethiye (dorm £10–14, private £20–28)

• →Kaş old town and harbour
• →Antiphellos amphitheatre viewpoint
• →Fethiye marina evening

Free day. Either hike or take the dolmuş to Ölüdeniz and walk the Lycian Way stretch over the hill to the Blue Lagoon (£2 transport), take a shared 12-island boat trip from Fethiye harbour (book direct at the pier or via Klook, £18–25 with lunch), or book a Butterfly Valley boat. Finish with gözleme and a swim at Çalış beach.

🚌Local dolmuş buses £1–2 each way

🛏Hostel or small hotel in Fethiye (dorm £10–14, private £20–28)

• →Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon
• →12 Islands boat trip (approx £18–25)
• →Butterfly Valley boat trip
• →Çalış beach

Take a morning bus inland via Denizli (about 4–5 hours) and check into a guesthouse in Pamukkale village at the foot of the white cliffs. In the afternoon buy your combined ticket for the travertines and Hierapolis (roughly £12) and walk barefoot up the terraces, then explore the Roman theatre and necropolis on the plateau. Optional: swim in the Antique Pool among sunken columns (~£10–12). Dinner at a village meyhane.

🚌Fethiye–Denizli intercity bus ~£7–9; dolmuş to Pamukkale ~£1

🛏Pamukkale village guesthouse (private £18–28)

• →Pamukkale travertines and Hierapolis entry (~£12)
• →Roman theatre and necropolis
• →Antique Pool swim (optional ~£11)

Morning bus from Pamukkale/Denizli to Selçuk (about 3 hours, often direct). Drop your bags at a hostel near the basilica, then head to Ephesus in the late afternoon when it's cooler and quieter — buy the ticket at the gate (~£16, or a Museum Pass if you'll add more sites). Walk down Harbour Street, the Library of Celsus and the great theatre, then stop at the Temple of Artemis on the way back.

🚌Denizli–Selçuk bus ~£5; local dolmuş to Ephesus ~£1

🛏Hostel in Selçuk (dorm £10–14, private £20–26)

• →Ephesus archaeological site (~£16)
• →Library of Celsus and Great Theatre
• →Temple of Artemis

Use the day at your own pace: dolmuş up to the hill village of Şirince for fruit wine tasting and cobbled lanes (£1), climb to the Basilica of St John and the İsa Bey Mosque, or visit the Ephesus Museum in town. In the evening join a Turkish home-cooking class or meze workshop booked direct with a local host or via Airbnb Experiences/GetYourGuide (£20–30).

🚌Dolmuş to Şirince ~£1 each way

🛏Hostel in Selçuk (dorm £10–14, private £20–26)

• →Şirince village and wine tasting
• →Basilica of St John (~£4)
• →Turkish cooking class (£20–30)

Long travel day: bus from Selçuk/Izmir up to Çanakkale (roughly 6 hours, some services via Troy). Get off at Troy or take the local minibus from Çanakkale to the site — the archaeological park entry is about £8 and you can walk the reconstructed walls and the Trojan horse yourself with the free audio guide or a cheap guidebook. Carry on to Çanakkale, check into a hostel and eat by the waterfront.

🚌Selçuk–Çanakkale bus ~£14–18; minibus to Troy ~£2

🛏Hostel or pansiyon in Çanakkale (dorm £10–14, private £22–30)

• →Troy archaeological site (~£8)
• →Troy museum (optional ~£6)
• →Çanakkale waterfront

Cross the Dardanelles by ferry (£1) and take a shared minibus or day tour of the Gallipoli peninsula — a guided battlefield tour from Çanakkale runs £30–45 and covers Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. Alternatively use the local bus plus the well-marked site trails for a solo version. In the afternoon/evening take the bus or ferry-plus-train towards Istanbul (bus ~6 hours, £15–20), arriving late and checking into a hostel in Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu.

🚌Ferry ~£1; Gallipoli tour transport included or local bus ~£3; Çanakkale–Istanbul bus ~£16

🛏Hostel in Sultanahmet/Beyoğlu, Istanbul (dorm £12–18)

• →Anzac Cove and Lone Pine
• →Chunuk Bair memorial
• →Dardanelles ferry crossing

Spend the day on foot: Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in the morning, down into the Basilica Cistern (~£10), then across the Galata Bridge for a balık ekmek and up to Galata Tower and İstiklal Street. Finish with a meze and rakı dinner in Kadıköy or Beyoğlu. Depart whenever — the airport metro/tram is cheap and easy.

🚌Istanbul public transport ~£3; airport transfer ~£2–4 by metro

🛏Not included if departing (hostel £12–18 if you stay an extra night)

• →Hagia Sophia
• →Blue Mosque
• →Basilica Cistern (~£10)
• →Grand Bazaar and Galata Tower
• →Kadıköy meze dinner