Turkey
Istanbul alone is worth the trip. Add Cappadocia, the coast, and ancient ruins.
Turkey straddles continents and trip styles. Istanbul deserves a week on its own — bazaars, mosques, Bosphorus, food. Add Cappadocia for hot air balloons and rock-cut churches, the Aegean coast for ancient cities and beach time, or Eastern Turkey for genuinely off-track travel.
At a glance
- Best time
- April, May, June, September…
- Climate
- Warm
- Budget
- Budget – Mid-range
- Trip length
- 1–4 weeks
- Language
- Turkish
- Currency
- TRY (Lira)
- January: avoid
- February: avoid
- March: fine
- April: peak
- May: peak
- June: peak
- July: fine
- August: fine
- September: peak
- October: peak
- November: fine
- December: avoid
Avoid: January, February, December. Shoulder: March, July, August, November.
Highlights
-
Istanbul
A city as much as a destination — endlessly layered.
-
Cappadocia
Hot air balloons over fairy chimneys. Cliché because it earns it.
-
Aegean coast (Bodrum, Kas, Olympos)
Ruins, blue water, gulet cruises.
-
Pamukkale
White travertine terraces and Roman Hierapolis above them.
Practical info
- Visa
- E-visa required for most nationalities. Apply online before travel.
- Currency
- TRY (Lira). Volatile — check rate close to travel.
- Language
- Turkish. English in tourist areas, less in the east.
- Safety
- Tourist areas safe. Avoid the Syrian border region.
- Getting around
- Excellent buses, internal flights, ferries on the coast.
- Tap water
- Tap water generally not recommended for drinking.
- Plug type
- Type C Type F 220V
- Money
- Cards widely accepted; cash useful in markets.
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Last updated 2026-05-04