Destinations & ItinerariesBy Clever Tourists · Published · Last updated
We spent 33 days in Turkey, from 12 October to 14 November 2023: 15 days in Istanbul, then Ankara (4), Göreme in Cappadocia (5), Pamukkale (3) and Selçuk (5), the base for Ephesus, with a last night back in Istanbul. The route crosses Anatolia west to east and then swings back to the Aegean, so every leg is new ground. Below is every stop with its days, how to get between them, what October and November are like, and what we would keep or cut.
• Istanbul, 15 days (12–27 October). Sultanahmet, the bazaars, Galata and Beyoğlu, and the Bosphorus. Our 3 days in Istanbul covers the core; 15 days let us go well beyond it.
• Ankara, 4 days (27–31 October). Anıtkabir, Atatürk's mausoleum, and the old town inside the citadel walls. Our stay covered 29 October 2023, the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. See our Ankara guide.
• Göreme, 5 days (31 October – 5 November). Fairy chimneys, the Göreme Open-Air Museum's rock-cut churches, the valleys and the dawn balloons. See our Göreme guide.
• Pamukkale, 3 days (5–8 November). The white travertine terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis above them. See our Pamukkale tickets guide.
• Selçuk, 5 days (8–13 November). The town 3 km from Ephesus, with the Basilica of St John, the İsa Bey Mosque and the site of the Temple of Artemis in town.
• Istanbul, 1 day (13–14 November). A last night before flying on.
Ankara sits on the high-speed line between Istanbul and central Anatolia, so stopping there breaks the long trip to Cappadocia into two short ones instead of one overnight bus or a flight. From Cappadocia the route turns southwest to Pamukkale, and Pamukkale's gateway town, Denizli, is on the railway to Selçuk and İzmir, so the Aegean end of the trip runs on one rail line. İzmir's airport, about 60 km north of Selçuk, has frequent flights back to Istanbul.
The alternative most visitors use is Istanbul to Cappadocia by air, then a night bus to Pamukkale; our Istanbul and Cappadocia guide covers the four main stops. Our route adds Ankara and gives Ephesus five days instead of a day trip.
Mid-October is still prime time in Istanbul: our 3 days in Istanbul rates autumn the best season overall, mild and clear with lower crowds than spring. By November the city turns cool and wetter, which is why we did the long Istanbul stay first.
Cappadocia in early November means cold dawns, and balloon flights depend on wind and visibility. Turkish officials reported balloons flew on 223 days in 2025, so about four mornings in ten were grounded. Book the flight for your first morning in Göreme and keep the others as backups; our balloon cancellation guide explains how rebooking works.
Pamukkale and Ephesus are far more comfortable in November than in summer, when the white terraces and the marble streets of Ephesus reflect strong heat. Pamukkale's guide recommends going early or late in the day in any season.
These are the usual options for each leg; we have not listed how we personally travelled. Check current timetables before you book.
• Istanbul to Ankara: the YHT high-speed train, about 4 to 4.5 hours; Turkey's transport minister put the fastest current time at 4 hours 7 minutes in June 2026, with upgrades planned to cut about 30 minutes. Flights are quicker in the air but add airport time.
• Ankara to Göreme: intercity bus, about 4 hours. Many buses end at Nevşehir's bus station with a free company minibus on to Göreme, so check where your ticket ends.
• Göreme to Pamukkale: overnight buses from Göreme to Denizli take roughly 9 to 10 hours, then a minibus covers the 20 km to Pamukkale village.
• Pamukkale to Selçuk: back to Denizli, then the regional train toward İzmir, which stops at Selçuk, about 3 to 3.5 hours. Several trains run each day.
• Selçuk to Istanbul: train or road to İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport, about 60 km, then a domestic flight.
If you are short on time, flying Istanbul to Cappadocia (about 75 minutes, to Nevşehir or Kayseri) replaces the first two legs; see Istanbul to Cappadocia: flight vs night bus.
Ephesus is about 3 km from Selçuk, a short drive or a walk of roughly half an hour. Ticket sellers and Turkish travel sites put the 2026 entry for foreign visitors at €40 (≈ $45), a ticket that also covers the Ephesus Experience Museum; the Terrace Houses, with their wall paintings and mosaics, need a separate ticket. Prices in Turkey change often, so check the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's ticket site before you go.
The ministry's site lists Ephesus as open every day, 08:00 to 18:00, with the ticket office closing at 17:30; hours can change by season. Arrive at opening to beat the cruise-ship groups that come in from Kuşadası, and allow at least half a day.
Five days in Selçuk is more than Ephesus needs. Two or three cover Ephesus, the Ephesus Museum, the Basilica of St John and the hill village of Şirince nearby.
Keep: Cappadocia's five days if a balloon matters to you; with roughly four mornings in ten grounded, extra nights are insurance. Keep Ankara if you are curious about modern Turkey; our Ankara guide suggests one night is enough for Anıtkabir and the citadel.
Trim: 15 days in Istanbul is generous; four or five covers the headline sights. Selçuk's five days could become three.
Before you go: Hagia Sophia now charges foreign visitors €25 (≈ $28) for the gallery route (our guide); US passport holders have not needed a visa since 1 January 2024 (visa guide); and since 30 January 2026 restaurants cannot add a service charge, so tipping is up to you (tipping guide).
Shorter version: our 10-day Turkey itinerary covers Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus.
Ten days covers Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus at a brisk pace. We spent 33 days, which added Ankara, gave Istanbul 15 days and allowed five in both Cappadocia and Selçuk.
For Pamukkale and Ephesus, yes: it is far cooler than summer. Istanbul turns cool and wetter, and Cappadocia's dawns are cold, with balloons grounded on a large share of mornings, so allow spare days in Göreme.
Selçuk, about 3 km from the site. It has the Basilica of St John, the Ephesus Museum and the Temple of Artemis site in town, and it is on the train line to Denizli and İzmir.
Sellers and Turkish travel sites put it at €40 (≈ $45) for foreign visitors in 2026, including the Ephesus Experience Museum. The Terrace Houses are extra. Check the official ministry ticket site, as prices change often.
Go back to Denizli and take the regional train toward İzmir, which stops at Selçuk after about 3 to 3.5 hours. Several trains run each day.
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