Turkish Delights

About a month ago my best friend and I spent ten days adventuring around a country that has recently become such a unique spot for travelers: Turkey. This trip was an actual dream come true and I’m here to show you why. In this blog post you’ll find three must see cities in Turkey and things to do in each of those cities, along with other tips for helping you make the most out of your trip!

ISTANBUL

The city of beautiful chaos that absolutely surprised me in the best way possible. Before coming to Istanbul, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from such a big city, but to say I was blown away by everything Istanbul has to offer is an understatement.

Know before you go:

When traveling to other countries, it’s so important to be mindful of their culture and beliefs. With Turkey being a Muslim country the dress code is very important, especially in Istanbul. If you’re walking around, it is suggested to have your shoulders and/or knees covered. For women going into the mosques, you must cover your head as well. They sell scarves all around the city in case you don’t come prepared!

Where to stay:

When I say this city is massive, I mean it. To truly see most of the neighborhoods in Istanbul, I suggest spending five or more days in this city. Our first three nights were spent in the Sultanahmet neighborhood located in the heart of Istanbul because that’s where most of the main attractions are. For our last two nights, we decided to stay in the Taksim neighborhood so we could explore another side of the city. There are many hotels and hostels to choose from in both of these areas.

Things to do:

Blue Mosque- Located in the Sultanahmet area and one of the most popular amongst tourists. Unfortunately it was under construction during our visit, but still beautiful nonetheless.

Hagia Sophia Mosque-Directly across from the Blue Mosque lays another popular mosque to visit. I suggest arriving early to get a look inside before the crowds start piling in.

Suleymaniye Mosque-Far less touristy of the three that we visited and this mosque offers beautiful views of the city from its backyard.

Grand Bazaar-One of the largest and oldest markets in the world with over 4,000 stalls.

Spice Bazaar-Talk about sensory overload! Here you’ll find stalls filled with Turkish teas, coffees, spices and desserts.

Theodosius Cistern-An hourly 4D light show located underground.

Topaki Palace-Considered one of the main sites in the Sultanahmet area, the interior of this palace is absolutely stunning.

Dolmabahce Palace-A little further away from the main sites and neighborhood lies another palace whose exterior gates are gorgeous.

Galata Tower-The tower sits at the edge of a busy street filled with cafes and restaurants in the Beyoglu neighborhood. You can admire its beauty from below or go inside the tower and climb to the top for views of the city.

Iksim Street-The hustle and bustle of this street located in the Taksim area is filled with shops, restaurants, and some of the best nightlife in the city.

Balat Neighborhood-Known for its vibrancy and colorful houses and cafes, this area makes for a great afternoon visit.

Turkish Night-A night filled with Turkish culture and food! Entertainment includes belly dancers, fire dancers, and other performers.

Local Food-Taste test the Turkish delights and Turkish teas found at many local shops and enjoy traditional Turkish meals like the clay pots or breakfasts on the many rooftop terraces located around the city. They have some of the best views in all of Istanbul!

Getting around Istanbul:

Walking is always my favorite way to explore a new city but considering how big Istanbul is, I suggest getting an Istanbul Kart card for the public transportation when you first get to the city. It was pretty easy to navigate and you can upload more money to the card as needed.

To conclude:

In a total of five days, we really got to see most of what Istanbul has to offer by visiting the various neighborhoods, eating the local foods, connecting with the locals, and learning all about the culture.

CAPPADOCIA

Located in central Turkey, this city is known for their rock formations, hot air balloons filling the sky, and cave like structures. Cappadocia is unlike any other place I have ever visited and it truly is an otherworldly experience.

Know before you go:

Each day as the sun rises, the sky fills with hot air balloons but they only go up depending on the weather. This is important to know because it will affect how many days you should plan to stay in Cappadocia.

Where to stay:

Located in Goreme, we stayed at the Sultan Cave Suites for three days and I cannot recommend it enough. Staying in a cave hotel is part of the experience in Cappadocia and it makes your time there all the more unique. There is a restaurant offering Turkish meals, a terrace to watch the balloons at sunrise, as well as a sister hotel with a gorgeous pool for their guests to use.

Things to do:

Goreme Center-Explore the streets of Goreme and visit the local shops and restaurants. You’ll also see many evil eye trees around the center!

Goreme Open Air Museum-The most popular attraction in Goreme. The museum is filled with rock formations, churches inside of the rocks, and a ton of history behind it all. Whereas the museum is filled with tourists, located just across the street are more rock structures that you can hike up to get some awesome views and pictures without crowds of people in the background!

Galerie Ikman Carpet Shop-This carpet shop has a set up specifically for photo shoots that come at a small price. The carpet designs and layout of the shop are stunning.

Sunset Viewpoint-Hike up to the viewpoint for a 360 panorama view of Goreme. From above it looks like a sunken city and everywhere you turn, the view is just as beautiful as the last.

Hot Air Ballon Ride-Talk about a bucket list moment! For my first time riding in a hot air balloon, I couldn’t picture a more perfect place to do it. The balloon ride starts on one end of Cappadocia and lands on the other. From up above you’ll see the valleys, stunning landscapes, and many other balloons going up. I booked the ride through my hotel and got to experience this on our last day in Cappadocia.

Getting around Cappadocia:

Since we only stayed for three days, we stayed in the Goreme area the whole time to really explore all of the landscapes. In doing this, we walked everywhere! It’s small enough to get by on foot but if you are planning to visit other areas in Cappadocia, they do offer shuttles between towns.

To conclude:

Having three days in Cappadocia was the perfect amount of time for us to explore and experience all that we wanted to! Really take into consideration how many days you will stay because our last day there was our only chance to ride the hot air balloon/watch them go up at sunrise.

KAS

Located on the coast of Turkey lies the dreamiest and most charming seaside city I have ever been to. Kas gave me all of the Greece vibes with it’s stunning beaches, colorful shops and restaurants, and picturesque views.

Know before you go:

The closest airports to Kas are over an hour away, so take that into consideration if you are planning to visit. We flew into the Dalaman airport and then booked a shuttle to our hotel from there.

Where to stay:

Kas is a pretty walkable city so staying anywhere within the Old Town is recommended. We stayed about a ten minute walk from the center at a boutique hotel called Belinda Hotel. It is a family run business and the staff was super helpful when it came to needing directions and recommendations. The hotel also had a pool and offered beach front views from the rooms.

Things to do:

Explore Old Town-Old Town has some of the best shops in Turkey. I did a lot of my shopping here and also ate some of the yummiest vegan food during my stay. It sits on the water so there are loads of boats and ferries that offer plenty of day trips away from Kas.

Kucak Cukil-One of the few beaches in walking distance from the center. It’s a small pebble beach that lies in a cove surrounded by restaurants and hotels. The beach is stunning with its turquoise water and incredible views from above.

Kas Amphitheater-This run down amphitheater hosts some of the best views over Kas. Many people go here to watch the sunset but the views are just as incredible during the day, and a lot less crowded.

Kaputas Beach-The most famous beach in Turkey is located about 20 minutes north of Kas. There are hourly vans that head here throughout the day from the center. Before climbing down to the beach, make sure to enjoy the look out from above. Swimming in the Mediterranean for the first time was an absolute dream at this location. I suggest arriving early because the beach begins to get crowded in the afternoons.

Getting around Kas:

It is recommended to rent a scooter for your time in Kas but we decided to walk everywhere and then use the public transportation to get to the places surrounding Kas. Everything around Old Town is definitely within walking distance so I recommend doing this as a way to really soak in every bit of this coastal city.

To conclude:

Being a beach lover, spending only two days in Kas was not enough time for me but we did get to see almost all of it in its entirety. It was a little further away from our other destinations but worth the trip nonetheless.

And that just about wraps up our entire trip to Turkey. Ten days felt like a month in this beautiful country. We wanted to see a little bit of the whole country so that’s why we decided on visiting the city of Istanbul, the region of Cappadocia, and the beach town of Kas-all of which exceeded my expectations. I am truly in awe of this country and all of its beauty. If you are looking for an excuse to visit Turkey, I hope my itinerary helps ease some of your planning! As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any and all questions you may have.

Tesekkürler Turkey!