Türkiye, stop by stop — with ticket prices, opening hours and closing days you can trust.

Marmara

The inland sea at the crossroads of Europe and Asia: Istanbul on its strait, the first Ottoman capitals around it, and Troy and Gallipoli on the Dardanelles.

• IstanbulTwo continents, one ferry ride apart
• BursaThe first Ottoman capital under Uludağ
• EdirneSinan's Selimiye and the second Ottoman capital
• ÇanakkaleTroy, Gallipoli and the Dardanelles
• AyvalıkStone houses, island tavernas and Mount Ida
• ŞileIstanbul's Black Sea beaches and a river village
• SapancaA forest lake east of Istanbul
• Avşa & ErdekTurkish summer islands and long sandy beaches
• İğneadaThrace's forested Black Sea coast

Aegean

Olive groves, whitewashed harbour towns and the densest cluster of Greek and Roman cities anywhere in Türkiye.

• EphesusMarble streets of a Roman capital
• PamukkaleCotton-white terraces above Hierapolis
• BodrumA crusader castle between two bays
• ÇeşmeStone lanes of Alaçatı and a breezy coast
• DidimPriene, Miletus and the Temple of Apollo
• MarmarisCoves, Knidos and the Dalyan rock tombs
• UrlaIonian cities, olive groves and a castle village
• BergamaA UNESCO acropolis and a quiet coast

Mediterranean Coast

Turquoise coves under the Taurus mountains, Roman theatres behind the beaches, and a long summer season.

• AntalyaOld harbour, fluted minaret, Roman theatres
• Kaş & KaputaşTurquoise coves on the Lycian Way
• FethiyeThe Ölüdeniz lagoon and Lycian tombs
• Lake SaldaMars-white shores and a Roman city in the clouds
• Mersin coastA castle in the sea and chasms in the hills

Central Anatolia

The high steppe at the heart of Türkiye: the capital, the Hittite and Phrygian homelands, Rumi's Konya and the tuff valleys of Cappadocia.

• CappadociaTuff valleys and balloon mornings
• AnkaraThe capital's great museum and Atatürk's tomb
• KonyaRumi's tomb and Seljuk tiles
• EskişehirPainted houses and Phrygian rock monuments
• HattuşaThe Hittite capital and its rock gods
• AmasyaRoyal tombs above a river gorge
• DivriğiStone portals carved like lace
• IhlaraA green gorge of painted churches

Black Sea

Green mountains straight out of the sea: tea terraces, wooden villages, high summer pastures and a string of old harbour towns.

• TrabzonA monastery on a cliff above the forest
• RizeTea hills, stone bridges and high pastures
• ArtvinForest lakes on the Georgian border
• SafranboluOttoman timber houses and a walled harbour
• Samsun & SinopHarbour towns of the central coast
• Kerpe & AkçakocaSheltered bays and pink rocks on the western Black Sea

Eastern Anatolia

High plateaus, volcanoes and the biggest lake in the country, with the ruins of medieval Armenian, Georgian and Seljuk kingdoms scattered across them.

• KarsThe ghost city of Ani on the border gorge
• VanAn island church and a sea-sized lake
• ErzurumSeljuk minarets and ski slopes

South-east

Upper Mesopotamia: the plains where farming began, stone towns on ridges above them, and the Euphrates and Tigris cutting through.

• ŞanlıurfaThe world's oldest temples and Abraham's pools
• MardinGolden stone above the Mesopotamian plain
• GaziantepRoman mosaics and pistachio baklava
• DiyarbakırBasalt walls above the Tigris
• Mount NemrutStone heads of gods at sunrise

The Classic

City, valleys, coast — the trip most first-timers dream of.

1. Istanbul1 h 20 flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir
2. Cappadocia9 h bus, or fly via Istanbul
3. Antalya3 h 30 coastal bus
4. Kaş & Kaputaş

Travel times between stops are rough guides, not checked against timetables.

Aegean & Lycian

Ruins, travertines and turquoise water, mostly by train and bus.

1. Istanbul1 h flight to İzmir + 1 h train
2. Ephesus3 h train to Denizli
3. Pamukkale4 h bus over the Taurus
4. Antalya3 h 30 coastal bus
5. Kaş & Kaputaş

Travel times between stops are rough guides, not checked against timetables.