Europe
Turkey
Bazaars and Bosphorus ferries, balloons over Cappadocia and a coast lined with ruins.
Most trips start in Istanbul, where a ferry ride between Europe and Asia costs less than a coffee. From there, overnight buses fan out to the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, the white terraces of Pamukkale and the ancient city of Ephesus.
The south coast is made for slowing down. Walk sections of the Lycian Way, sleep in a treehouse at Olympos and swim off the rocks in Kaş. Turkish breakfasts are big enough to last until dinner.
Good to know
- Time zone
- GMT+3
- Plugs
- Types C and F, 230V
- Emergency numbers
- 112 for all emergencies
- Tap water
- Drink bottled or filtered
- Traffic drives on the
- Right
- Tipping
- About 10% in restaurants is normal, and rounding up for taxis is appreciated.
- SIM cards
- Turkcell and Vodafone tourist SIMs with 20GB or more cost around 1,500–2,000 lira, cheaper in town than at the airport; an eSIM avoids the phone registration rules.
When to go to Turkey
Best months to go: April to June and September to October. Pick a month to see what it’s like.
Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.
SeptemberBest time to go
Warm sea, fewer crowds. A top month for the coast and the Lycian Way.
- Daytime high
- 25°C
- Rainfall
- 60 mm
- Crowds
- Busy
| Month | Daytime high | Rainfall | Crowds | Best time to go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°C | 105 mm | Quiet | No |
| February | 9°C | 80 mm | Quiet | No |
| March | 12°C | 70 mm | Quiet | No |
| April | 16°C | 45 mm | Busy | Yes |
| May | 21°C | 35 mm | Busy | Yes |
| June | 26°C | 35 mm | Busy | Yes |
| July | 29°C | 35 mm | Peak season | No |
| August | 29°C | 40 mm | Peak season | No |
| September | 25°C | 60 mm | Busy | Yes |
| October | 20°C | 80 mm | Busy | Yes |
| November | 15°C | 100 mm | Quiet | No |
| December | 11°C | 120 mm | Quiet | No |
What Turkey costs
Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.
$574for 14 days, about $41 a day (₺26,400 in total)
| Cost | Per day | For the trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $14 | $196 | |
| Food and drink | $12 | $168 | |
| Getting around | $6 | $84 | |
| Things to do | $6 | $84 | |
| Everything else | $3 | $42 |
Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.
What things cost
- Simit from a street cart₺20, about $0.43
- Glass of çay₺25, about $0.54
- Chicken döner wrap₺200, about $4.35
- Pint of Efes in a bar₺200, about $4.35
- Hostel dorm bed in Istanbul₺700, about $15
- Istanbul ferry or metro ride with an Istanbulkart₺40, about $0.87
- Overnight bus, Istanbul to Göreme₺1,100, about $24
Routes through Turkey
Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.
14 nights, 6 stops
Istanbul, Cappadocia and the Aegean highlights, linked by overnight buses, finishing on the Turquoise Coast.
Istanbul
4 nights
Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and a ferry across to Kadıköy.
Göreme
3 nights
Hike the valleys between fairy chimneys and watch the balloons at dawn.
Pamukkale
1 night
Walk barefoot up the white travertine terraces to Hierapolis.
Selçuk
2 nights
The ruins of Ephesus, best seen at opening time.
Fethiye
2 nights
A boat trip round the bays and a dip at Ölüdeniz.
Kaş
2 nights
Swim off the rocks, kayak over the sunken city at Kekova.
Getting around
Bus
$15–30 for a long overnight trip
Comfortable coaches with snacks and tea run everywhere. Metro, Kamil Koç and Pamukkale are the big companies.
Flight
$30–70 one way
Pegasus and AJet fly Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir for Cappadocia, saving a long bus ride.
Minibus
$1–4 a ride
Dolmuş minibuses link towns and beaches along the coast and leave when full.
Ferry
Under $1 with an Istanbulkart
Istanbul’s commuter ferries are the cheapest Bosphorus cruise there is.
Train
$10–25 on the fast lines
High-speed trains link Istanbul, Ankara and Konya. Handy, but the network is patchy elsewhere.
What to eat and drink
Kahvaltı
A Turkish breakfast spread of cheese, olives, eggs, honey, tomatoes and endless tea.
₺450, about $9.78
Döner
Slices of spit-roast chicken or beef in bread or a wrap. The standard cheap lunch.
₺200, about $4.35
Pide
A boat-shaped flatbread with cheese, minced meat or egg, baked in a wood oven.
₺250, about $5.43
Balık ekmek
Grilled mackerel in bread, sold from boats and stalls by the Galata Bridge.
₺200, about $4.35
Testi kebabı
Meat stew cooked in a sealed clay pot, cracked open at the table. A Cappadocia speciality.
₺600, about $13
Çay
Strong black tea in small tulip glasses, drunk all day long.
₺25, about $0.54
Say it like a local
A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.
Hello
Merhaba
Say it like: mer-ha-ba
Thank you
Teşekkür ederim
Say it like: teh-shek-kewr eh-deh-reem
How much is it?
Ne kadar?
Say it like: neh ka-dar
Too expensive
Çok pahalı
Say it like: chok pa-ha-luh
The bill, please
Hesap, lütfen
Say it like: heh-sap, lewt-fen
Very tasty
Çok lezzetli
Say it like: chok lez-zet-lee
Enjoy your meal
Afiyet olsun
Say it like: ah-fee-yet ol-soon
Cheers!
Şerefe!
Say it like: sheh-reh-feh
Places to go in Turkey
Cappadocia
Central Turkey’s valleys of fairy chimneys, rock-cut churches and underground cities.
Mid-range
Questions travellers ask
Is a balloon flight in Cappadocia worth the money?
It costs around €150–250 and flights are often cancelled for wind, so leave a spare morning. Watching the balloons rise from a viewpoint in Göreme at sunrise is free and nearly as good.
How do I get around Istanbul?
Buy an Istanbulkart from a machine at any station and top it up. It works on the metro, trams, buses and ferries, and one card can pay for a group.
Do I need to cover up?
Only in mosques, where women cover their hair and everyone covers shoulders and knees. Istanbul and the coast are relaxed; dress a little more modestly in the east.
Can I use my phone’s own SIM?
Roaming is expensive, and foreign phones using a Turkish SIM get blocked after 120 days unless registered. For a short trip, a tourist SIM or an eSIM is the simplest option.
Should I pay in lira or euros?
Pay in lira wherever you can, as prices quoted in euros or dollars are usually rounded against you. Card payments are widely accepted, even for small amounts.