Compare Istanbul In, Antalya Out
Compare a multi-city ticket arriving in Istanbul and departing from Antalya with a standard return. It can reduce backtracking, but fare, baggage and connection terms depend on your dates and airlines.
Turkey Itinerary Guide
10-Day Turkey Itinerary
Istanbul • Gallipoli • Troy • Cappadocia • Pamukkale • Ephesus • Antalya
Duration
10 Days / 9 Nights
Route
7 Destinations
Pace
Fast
Last reviewed
July 26, 2026
⚡ Quick Answer
This is a fast grand tour, not a relaxed 10-day route. It covers Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, and Antalya with a connecting-flight day, a 6–7 hour road leg, and a 5-hour road leg. For a comfortable pace, keep the trip to three–five regions or remove either Gallipoli/Troy or Antalya.
Sample plan: This guide is an editorial route, not a list of booked or included services.
Confirm exact flight times, hotels, meals, transfers, attraction access and inclusions on the selected tour page or written quote.
Pamukkale Antique Pool status:
The Antique Pool is a separate-fee attraction and its operating status can change. Do not plan the day around swimming until the official listing confirms that the pool is open. Check the official source.
🗺 Route Overview
1
Istanbul
🚗
2
Gallipoli
⛵
3
Troy & Canakkale
✈
4
Cappadocia
🚗
5
Pamukkale
🚗
6
Ephesus
🚗
7
Antalya
📖 Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day
1
Arrive in Istanbul – Sultanahmet Discovery
📍 IstanbulArrive at Istanbul Airport and transfer to Sultanahmet. Begin with the monumental Hagia Sophia, then cross the square to the Blue Mosque with its cascade of domes. Walk the ancient Hippodrome and descend into the atmospheric Basilica Cistern. Evening dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the illuminated Sultanahmet mosques.
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Hippodrome
- Basilica Cistern
Day
2
Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar & Suleymaniye
📍 IstanbulSpend the morning at Topkapi Palace: the treasury, harem, and gardens with views across the Golden Horn. Visit the magnificent Suleymaniye Mosque, Sinan's masterpiece. Afternoon at the Grand Bazaar for ceramics, textiles, and carpet shopping. End at the Spice Market for Turkish delight and saffron. Dinner at a meyhane with meze and raki.
- Topkapi Palace
- Grand Bazaar
- Suleymaniye Mosque
- Spice Market
Day
3
Bosphorus, Galata & Asian Side
📍 IstanbulMorning Bosphorus cruise past Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, and the Bosphorus Bridge. Climb Galata Tower for 360-degree panorama. Take the ferry to the Asian side: explore Kadikoy's vibrant market streets and local eateries, stroll the Moda waterfront, and experience the Istanbul that tourists rarely see. Return for an evening Turkish hammam experience.
- Bosphorus Cruise
- Galata Tower
- Kadikoy market
- Moda waterfront
Day
4
Gallipoli Battlefields & Troy
📍 Gallipoli / Troy / CanakkaleEarly departure from Istanbul (4-hour drive). Visit the Gallipoli Peninsula: ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery, Johnston's Jolly trenches, and Chunuk Bair memorial. Cross the Dardanelles by ferry. Afternoon at ancient Troy (UNESCO): walk through 4,000 years of excavation layers, see the reconstructed walls and the replica Trojan Horse. Overnight in Canakkale on the Dardanelles waterfront.
- ANZAC Cove
- Lone Pine Cemetery
- Chunuk Bair
- Ancient Troy
Day
5
Transfer to Cappadocia
📍 Canakkale / CappadociaUse this as a transfer day. Travel from Canakkale to a confirmed connecting flight for Kayseri or Nevsehir; do not assume a direct Canakkale–Cappadocia service. Final arrival time depends on the dated flight schedule, so keep any Goreme walk, wine tasting or sunset stop optional.
- Canakkale waterfront
- Cave hotel check-in
- Goreme sunset
- Local wine tasting
Day
6
Cappadocia – Optional Balloon & North Tour
📍 CappadociaIf booked and cleared to fly, take an optional pre-dawn balloon flight. Then visit the Goreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO), explore Pasabag (Monks Valley), and continue to Uchisar for panoramic views. Keep the afternoon flexible for a walk or separately booked activity such as an ATV tour or pottery workshop.
- Optional hot air balloon flight (weather permitting)
- Goreme Open Air Museum
- Pasabag
- Uchisar Castle
Day
7
Cappadocia South & Drive to Pamukkale
📍 Cappadocia / PamukkaleMorning at Derinkuyu Underground City, descending 8 levels into this ancient refuge that once sheltered 20,000 people. Hike through scenic Ihlara Valley along the Melendiz River. Visit Selime Monastery, carved into a dramatic cliff face. After lunch, drive to Pamukkale (approximately 5-6 hours with scenic stops). Check into a thermal hotel and relax in the natural hot springs.
- Derinkuyu Underground City
- Ihlara Valley
- Selime Monastery
Day
8
Pamukkale & Hierapolis – Drive to Kusadasi
📍 Pamukkale / KusadasiSpend the morning on the designated barefoot sections of the Pamukkale travertines and explore Hierapolis, including its Roman theater and necropolis. Verify the separately ticketed Antique Pool's operating status before relying on swimming. After lunch, drive to Kusadasi on the Aegean coast.
- Pamukkale travertines
- Hierapolis
- Antique Pool area (subject to operating status)
Day
9
Ephesus Ancient City & Drive to Antalya
📍 Ephesus / AntalyaMorning at the UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Ephesus. Walk down Curetes Street to the Library of Celsus, explore the Great Theater, and visit the separately accessed Terrace Houses. Stop at the Temple of Artemis ruins, then drive to Antalya; actual timing depends on traffic and rest stops. Keep the Kaleici evening walk optional if arrival is late.
- Library of Celsus
- Great Theater
- Terrace Houses
- Antalya Old Town
Day
10
Antalya Old Town, Waterfalls & Departure
📍 AntalyaMorning exploring Antalya's charming Kaleici old town: narrow Ottoman streets, Roman-era Hadrian's Gate (130 AD), and the harbor with sweeping Mediterranean views. Visit the excellent Antalya Museum or head to the Lower Duden Waterfalls, where a river cascades dramatically into the turquoise Mediterranean. Enjoy a final lunch at a seafood restaurant overlooking the coast. Transfer to Antalya Airport for your departure flight.
- Kaleici Old Town
- Hadrian's Gate
- Lower Duden Waterfalls
- Antalya Museum
💰 Budget Breakdown
USD planning estimate:
Editorial planning estimate per person, based on double occupancy. International flights and optional activities are excluded unless a tier explicitly lists them; confirm live prices before booking. Last reviewed July 26, 2026.
Budget
$500–$800
$50–$80 per day
- Budget hotels
- Street food and lokanta meals
- Public transport
- Early-booked domestic flights
- Self-guided sightseeing
Mid-Range
$1,200–$2,000
$120–$200 per day
- 3–4 star hotels and cave hotel
- Group sightseeing tours
- Restaurant meals
- Domestic flights and selected entries
- Optional balloon only when specifically budgeted
Luxury
$3,500–$6,000
$350–$600 per day
- 5-star hotels and luxury cave suite
- Private guides
- Balloon flight
- Thermal hotel
- Boutique Antalya hotel
- Fine dining and private transfers
🎒 What to Pack
Comfortable Walking Shoes
Essential for 10 days of cobblestones, marble streets, rocky valleys, and coastal walks
Head Scarf/Shawl
Useful for mosque visits in Istanbul and Antalya; follow each venue's posted rules
Sunscreen SPF 50+
Mediterranean sun in Antalya, reflective Pamukkale terraces, exposed ruins at Ephesus and Gallipoli
Swimsuit
For confirmed-open thermal hotel pools and Antalya beaches; verify Antique Pool access separately
Light Jacket/Layers
10 days spans cold Cappadocia mornings (5°C) to warm Mediterranean coast (30°C)
Modest Clothing
Cover shoulders and knees for mosque visits — pack versatile layers for hot and cool days
Cash + Card Mix
Cards are widely accepted in Istanbul, while some small businesses and market vendors elsewhere may prefer Turkish lira
💡 Practical Planning Tips
Balloon: Book for First Morning
Schedule your hot air balloon ride for Day 6 (first Cappadocia morning). If weather cancels, Day 7 morning is your backup before departing.
Guided Tour vs. Independent
10 days with 7 destinations is complex logistics. Guided tours handle all transfers and hotels. Independent travel is possible but requires careful planning, especially for the Cappadocia-Pamukkale-Ephesus-Antalya loop.
Beach Extension Option
If you can add 1-2 days, extend in Antalya for beach time or a boat trip along the Turquoise Coast. Konyaalti and Lara beaches are excellent.
Compare SIM and eSIM Options
Compare the live airport, city-store and eSIM prices for your dates, including data allowance, activation rules and device compatibility. Do not rely on a fixed guidebook price.
🎫 Recommended Turkey Tours for This Route
These route-matched options may differ by one day. Check each duration badge and current tour page for exact transfers, hotels, guided services and exclusions.
10 Days / 9 Nights
10-Day Wonders of Turkey: Istanbul to Cappadocia
From $1,780 /person
View Tour Details
9 Days / 8 Nights
9-Day Turkey Group Tour: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Pergamon, Troy & Gallipoli
From $1,680 /person
View Tour Details
9 Days / 8 Nights
9-Day Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Cappadocia & West Turkey
From $1,560 /person
View Tour Details
11 Days / 10 Nights
11-Day Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Pergamon, Troy & Gallipoli Tour
From $1,849 /person
View Tour Details
10 Days / 9 Nights
10-Day Highlights of Turkey: Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya & Cappadocia
From $1,640 /person
View Tour Details
9 Days / 8 Nights
9-Day Best of Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Pamukkale & Ephesus
From $1,670 /person
View Tour Details❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Ten days is enough for a substantial first trip, but seven destinations makes this version fast paced. A comfortable 10-day plan normally uses three–five regions; this seven-stop route suits travelers who consciously prefer breadth and frequent transfers.
Use the planning ranges above as a starting point and verify live prices for your dates. The connecting flight, multiple road transfers, hotel category, attraction entries and an optional balloon flight create the largest differences. International flights are excluded.
April-June and September-October are ideal. Spring offers wildflowers in Cappadocia, pleasant walking weather at archaeological sites, and warm enough for Antalya coast. Autumn has the warmest sea for swimming and golden light for photography.
For 10 days covering 7 destinations with long drives, a guided tour is recommended for most travelers. It handles logistics, saves planning time, and includes expert commentary at historical sites. Independent travel works if you are an experienced traveler comfortable with Turkish buses and domestic flights.
Absolutely. Common swaps: replace Gallipoli/Troy with Konya (Whirling Dervishes), add an extra day in Antalya for beaches, or replace Antalya with Bodrum for a more relaxed Aegean coast vibe. The Istanbul-Cappadocia-Pamukkale-Ephesus core should stay.
Entry rules depend on nationality, passport type, purpose and travel date and may change. Check the official Turkish e-Visa portal, Turkish consular sources and your government's travel guidance before booking non-refundable services. Travelers remain responsible for meeting entry requirements.
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✓ Hotels & flights listed when included
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