You could easily spend the entire time in Istanbul and I’d certainly stay in Turkey. Your "couple of days" in Bulgaria will be spent on airplanes and in departure lounges (any flight takes at least 5 hours by the time you get to the airport, check-in, etc.) or on trains. You’ve only got 6 days (not counting arrival day).

I’d spend 3 or 4 full days in Istanbul, then go to the resorts on the Turkish coast, or Ephesus (if you’re into Greek ruins) or take other day trips or an overnight trip from Istanbul.

BTW, I think Turkey still requires a visa for US citizens. It was $45 (US currency required)in 2002, but I think it’s significantly cheaper ($15???), now. You can get it in advance from a Turkish Consulate, but it’s easier to have the exact amount with you when you land in crisp, US bills and stop at the window marked "visa" before you go through passport control at the airport.

Channakale, nearby Gheliboulou (or something – it’s Gallipolli anyhow) shows you the history of the conflict, and shows amazing scenery. Ataturk’s words about the ANZACs are very moving. Travelling and Turkey is piss easy and comfortable as, the only problem is that the distances are far!

A Turkish visa for American’s costs $20, or at least it did two months ago. (I remember this because I had to pay $45 grr…)

Make sure you check out the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul and the Spice markets. Visit the Blue Mosque but make sure to cover your shoulders and knees. And go visit the Turskish Baths! That’s a must. I could easily spend a week in Istanbul alone.

I’d also go ro Ephesus. Cappadocia is gorgeous, but I think you’ll have to fly – check www.turkishairlines…. for flights from Istanbul to Kayseri. By bus it’s gonna be one day just to get there and one more to go back.

where did you get your airfare from and how much was it, if you don’t mind my asking? i’m visiting turkey in march, i haven’t bought my ticket yet.

Northwest Airlines had a "cash & miles" promotion that let me use $290 cash and 20,000 miles from Chicago to get the ticket. That was the deal I needed to get there There are some good fares on Turkish Airlines routes too that I saw, starting around $500 depending on dates in the offseason. Have you checked all the regular sites??

quote:
Good morning Eurotrippers,

My wife & I are taking our first trip ever to Turkey in Feb. of 2005, thanks to some amazing airfare we got. We will arrive on a Sunday, and leave the following Sunday, flying in and out of IST. So the question that I have is…. should we spend the entire time in Istanbul, or should we take a little couple day trip somewhere else. I had thought of Cappadocia, but it seems sort of daunting to get there (but maybe I’m wrong). Or should we go the other direction, and spend a couple days in Bulgaria, maybe Sofia?? Any and all thoughts would be appreciated!!!

Best,

Alex

Istanbul is an amazing city, I was there for 4 days, and that wasn’t quite long enough. There is so much to see and learn there. I have also been to ephesus, that was also an amazing expierence. If you do chose to spend your entire week in Istanbul, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

I love Turkey and spent a month travelling around. I would certainly be a huge advocate for Goreme in Cappadocia, we left Istanbul at 10.00pm, and finally arrived in Goreme after changing buses at about 8am the next morning. It is a fair distance from Istanbul, and with only 7 nights you may find it far to rushed. While in Istanbul get to Tokopai Palace, (great view of the bosphorous) and visit the harem. The spice market and grand bazzar are fantastic, and a visit to a turkish bath is a must. Also visit the Pudding Club cafe, (midnight express). This cafe was the last bastion for backpackers before heading off into the middle east to stock up on various recreational things

The best part of Istanbul I believe to stay in is Sultanhamet(sic), close to the blue & pink mosque and plenty of cheap great restaurants, and travel agents for day trips etc…

I wish I was going with you!!!

I’d suggest to concentrate on Turkey as well. You’ll be disappointed with Sofia if you plan on going there after Istanbul, plus it’s not worth it with your time frame.

There’s quite a lot to do in Istanbul and there are plenty of tours and deals from the local agencies if you plan on visiting Cappadocia, which I haven’t been but have heard from many that it’s quite amazing.

If you’re looking into hostels, the Sultan hostel is pretty good and is within walking distance to the Aya Sofia and Blue Mosque. I paid less than 20 bucks a night with a great view of the sea from my room!

Kiwi.Girl,

Thanks for the tips…and I can sense from your enthusiasm that you really loved it there. That’s awesome, I can’t wait to go. I haven’t heard anything but good things.

I’m leaning towards doing a couple nights in Cappadocia from Istanbul. Even if it’s a tad rushed, I think its worth it, and I know how I am, I like to move around a lot, and I doubt it will even feel rushed to me. So if I read your post right, you left IST around 10pm and arrive in Cappadocia around 8am? If so, that’s not bad. What bus did you take? Any info on line about it?

Also….how many nights would you suggest in Goreme/Capp? I was thinking 2 full days there. Is that adequate?

www.turkeytravelplan… is a website I have found always helpful, and has everything you need to know about buses & Turkey in general

When I went, I left Istanbul on a nightbus, arriving into Goreme at about 8am. Had an hour or two sorting out where to stay and then explored Goreme Town for the rest of the day. I then had another full day and night, and left on the third day at about 7pm, to head off to Olympos on another night bus. I thought 2 nights and 2.5 days plenty. For me it was just enough just to marvel the splendor of Goreme (6 miles from Neveshir) town itself, walking the lovely town with all the carpet shops, (best in Turkey to buy them I have been told, I bought mine there actually), visiting the awesome open air musuem & drinking & eating great traditional foods at the many restaurants!! The next day you could maybe hire a little jeep, cheap enough, I think it was 15-20 US$ for the day, and visit the Illiyara Valley & one of the many underground cities. I recommend either Kaymakli (12 miles from Neveshir) or Derinkuyu (19 miles from Neveshir).

Incidently the buses in Turkey are the best I have travelled in, around the world, and there are literally hundreds of different companies operating to all parts of Turkey.

I would suggest heading to the otogar (bus station) & head to booth 18, ‘Goreme Turizm’ is the bus line I used, (via neveshir with a bus change), they leave at 8.30pm & 9.30pm now I see. Don’t quote me, but the website I suggested will have all the contact details for you when you arrive. Always ask if it is a direct bus or that you have to change buses. You will likely be told that it is direct, but find you have to change anyway, it is so competitive between bus lines that they will say anything!!, but it is all part of the fun, and you get to your destination all the same.

I stayed in the Kookaburra B&B in Goreme and can highly recommend it, bit of a walk up a hill though.

If you have any more questions jst ask, I could talk about Turkey forever. (I did have a drama there though, and ended up in a Turkish Private Hopsital for 3 days in Kemer).

PS: I noticed on another thread that you were interested in taking your wife to Sarajevo, Dubrovnik & a croatian Island. I spent 3 months travelling Balkans/East Europe from Mar to June this year, and visted Sarajevo/Mostar, Dubrovnik and a few of the Islands of Croatia as part of this last trip, so would be happy to make recommendations here aswell.

Cheers

Kiwi et al,

First off, thanks so much for the very detailed post on Turkey & Cappadocia. I’m going to check out that website when I’m done posting on here for the day. I thought that 2 nights would be adequate time too, but I’m glad that you confirmed that for me. It just looks like an amazing region, and I’m really excited to get to go there. One more question for you about Turkey… You mentioned that you stayed in Goreme. Did you visit any of the other towns in the region? Were you pleased with staying there? Only reason that I ask is that I have read conflicting things about Goreme, some positive and some negative, some suggesting other nearby towns like Urgup. So, I’d like to hear your take on that, for sure.

Re: the Sarajevo/Monte trip. Thanks for the offer of help as well. I (by myself, wife at home) visited Sarajevo, Herceg-Novi, CG, Kotor, CG, & Belgrade this August. So next August, I am taking my wife along with me. I’m pretty comfortable w/Sarajevo, Monte, etc, but I would have a question for you about Mostar. We are planning to visit it en route to the coast. Do you think it is worth it? I definitly do from what I know, and I would really like to see it, but I’d value your first hand comments on it. How long would you recommend there, and do you have any suggestions on where to stay?

One last question for you….not sure if you have experience on this, but I’ll ask anyhow. The route I am planning for next August could either have us crossing the Adriatic from Bar, CG to Bari, IT, or from Dubrovnik, HR to Bari, IT. Which would be better? I’ve done the Dbv crossing before. I have some weird idea that the Montenegro crossing would be better as it might be less crowded (seems like Dbv is the new "hot spot&quot, but I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong. On the counterpoint, Bar is a miserable port town, so I’d waste time going there.

Thanks again for all the ideas. You have any exciting trips planned?

Alex