🇹🇷Turkey·Middle East
Turkey
Where East meets West — empires, coastlines, and extraordinary food
dest.flightsFrom
£119
dest.hotelsFrom
£55/per night
dest.budgetPerDay
£80
dest.avgTemp
22°C
dest.bestTime
April to June, September to November
dest.safety
7.8/10
dest.about Turkey
Turkey is one of the world's great travel destinations — a country that straddles two continents and 10,000 years of history. Istanbul's skyline of minarets and domes is unlike anywhere on earth. Cappadocia's fairy chimneys and hot-air balloon sunrises are bucket-list material. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts rival the Greek islands for beauty at a fraction of the price. Add extraordinary food, legendary hospitality, and some of the finest ancient ruins on the planet, and Turkey delivers an experience that stays with you for life.
dest.topHighlights
Istanbul — City of Two Continents
The Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and Bosphorus cruise — one city, a thousand lifetimes of history
Cappadocia Hot-Air Balloons
Float over a surreal landscape of fairy chimneys and volcanic valleys at sunrise — the most iconic image in Turkish travel
Pamukkale Cotton Castles
Brilliant white travertine terraces filled with turquoise thermal pools — a UNESCO World Heritage Site unlike anything else on earth
Ephesus Ancient City
One of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world — walk the marble streets where Mark Antony and Cleopatra once strolled
Turquoise Coast (Ölüdeniz)
The Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz is one of the most photographed beaches in the world — paraglide from Babadağ Mountain above it
Turkish Cuisine
From Istanbul's rooftop meyhanes to Gaziantep's legendary kebabs — Turkish food is one of the world's great culinary traditions
dest.thingsToDo Turkey
- Take a Bosphorus sunset cruise between Europe and Asia
- Watch the sunrise over Cappadocia from a hot-air balloon
- Explore the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market in Istanbul
- Swim in the thermal pools at Pamukkale
- Walk the marble streets of ancient Ephesus
- Paraglide over the Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz
- Sail the Turquoise Coast on a traditional gulet boat
- Visit the underground cities of Derinkuyu in Cappadocia
dest.weather Turkey
dest.bestMonthsToVisit April to June, September to November
7-dest.day Turkey dest.itinerary
Arrive Istanbul
- ·Arrive Istanbul Airport
- ·Check in to hotel in Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu
- ·Bosphorus evening walk
- ·Dinner at a rooftop meyhane
Istanbul Classics
- ·Hagia Sophia at opening time
- ·Blue Mosque
- ·Grand Bazaar
- ·Spice Market
- ·Bosphorus sunset cruise
Istanbul Modern
- ·Topkapi Palace
- ·Dolmabahçe Palace
- ·Karaköy neighbourhood
- ·Rooftop bar at Mikla
Fly to Cappadocia
- ·Morning flight to Kayseri (1h 20m)
- ·Check in to cave hotel
- ·Göreme Open Air Museum
- ·Sunset at Uçhisar Castle
Cappadocia Balloon
- ·Pre-dawn hot-air balloon flight
- ·Valley hike (Rose Valley or Love Valley)
- ·Underground city of Derinkuyu
- ·Local pottery workshop
Coast or Pamukkale
- ·Drive or fly to Ölüdeniz / Bodrum / Pamukkale
- ·Thermal pools at Pamukkale or Blue Lagoon swim
- ·Paragliding option at Ölüdeniz
Departure
- ·Final beach morning or Ephesus visit
- ·Transfer to nearest airport
- ·Depart Turkey
dest.whereToEat Turkey
Mikla
Modern Anatolian · Beyoğlu, Istanbul · $$$$
Karaköy Lokantası
Traditional Turkish Meyhane · Karaköy, Istanbul · $$
Imam Çağdaş
Legendary Gaziantep Kebabs · Gaziantep · $
Liman Restaurant
Fresh Aegean Seafood · Bodrum Marina · $$$
dest.practicalInformation
dest.visaRequirements
UK, US, Canadian, and Australian citizens require an e-Visa, obtained online at evisa.gov.tr before travel — takes 5 minutes and costs around €50. EU citizens can enter visa-free with a valid passport or national ID card for up to 90 days. Always check current requirements before booking.
dest.gettingAround
Turkish Airlines and Pegasus connect all major cities cheaply — flying Istanbul to Cappadocia takes 1h 20m. Intercity buses (FlixBus, Metro Turizm) are excellent and affordable. In Istanbul, the metro, tram, and ferry network is comprehensive. Car rental is ideal for the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
dest.currency
TRY (Turkish Lira) — pay in EUR/USD widely accepted
dest.timezoneLanguage
GMT+3 · Turkish (English widely spoken in tourist areas)
dest.frequentlyAskedQuestions
Is Turkey safe to visit in 2026?
The main tourist areas — Istanbul, Cappadocia, the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts — are safe and well-visited by millions of Europeans annually. Standard travel precautions apply. Check your government's current travel advisory before booking.
How many days do you need in Turkey?
A week covers Istanbul (3 nights) plus Cappadocia or the coast (4 nights). Two weeks lets you do Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, and a gulet cruise. Turkey rewards longer stays — the more you see, the more you want.
Is Turkey good value for money?
Exceptional value. A three-course dinner with wine costs €15–25 per person in Istanbul. Mid-range hotels start from €55/night. Domestic flights are under €30. The Turkish Lira's weakness against the Euro means your money goes very far.