15 Days in Turkey
I started writing this blog exactly a month after we left for Turkey and I can’t believe the trip I have had. This is one of the longest trips I have ever taken and the first time I travelled abroad after the pandemic. To top it off, this was also the trip where I proposed to Natasha. So it’s safe to say that I will have a VERY biased review of the country. Turkey is one of those countries that has a lot to do. You can easily spend a whole month travelling but I do think a 15-day trip does justice to the vast country. This blog will cover a few major things: An overview of the country as a whole with travel suggestions, an overview of the cities that we went to and the best things that we did in each place, and of course lots of pretty pictures!
We went to Istanbul, Izmir, Cappadocia, and Ölüdeniz. While we landed in Istanbul, our real first stop was Cappadocia (2 nights) followed by Izmir (4 nights), and Ölüdeniz (2 nights). We then spent 5 nights in Istanbul to relax and really explore the city.
Overview
The country is amazingly safe. Yes, there are shady parts in Istanbul, but the rest of the places we visited were perfectly fine
People are very friendly but not many understand English very well. That being said, they are happy to help out. Most people working in the service or tourist industries will also use Google Translate to better understand what you are trying to say
While major cities are very well connected with buses and metros, there aren’t any major trains that ply through the country. This means that most intercity travel will need to be through flights. Flights are pretty cheap but there are no non-stop flights between two non-metro cities. Everything is routed through Istanbul. For example: when we had to travel from Cappadocia to Izmir, we needed to stop over at Istanbul and then transit to another plane for the next flight to Izmir. It’s a little annoying but not the worst (Turkish Airlines gives you food for 40-minute flights — take note IndiGo).
Speaking of flights, Istanbul has two airports: IST and SAW. You want to commute through IST only. The other one is fairly far from the mainland and most major airline operators fly from there
Turkish food is a great blend of European and Middle Eastern cuisines. Expect to see a lot of sweets and lots of red meat. That being said, there are plenty of veg options!
Airbnb’s are hit-and-miss. We suggest staying at hotels. Every city has a variety of boutique hotels that are all great!
Turkey is cheap! Well, cheaper than Europe with similar vibes. 1 Lira (TRY) is roughly INR 4.5. This is literally the farthest you can go from India and still feel mildly rich.
The best times to travel are pretty similar to Europe — May to October are ideal times. It does begin to get pretty cold by the end of September.
The Visa process is very easy. If you have a valid US, UK or Schengen visa then all you need to do is apply for the E-visa. This takes 5 minutes and you are ready to fly. If you don’t have one of the above visas, then connect with your local travel agents to get this done for you. You won’t have to go to the consulate. It’s a relatively simple application process.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia, a semi-arid region in central Turkey, is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in many regions. The region is made up of 5-7 villages where tourists mostly live. The most popular one is Göreme — also where we stayed.
Things to do
The most obvious thing to do is the hot air balloon tour. It’s an early morning tour. You are picked up from your hotel by 4:30 am and you are in the air by 6 am. Its about an hour long and its absolutely breathtaking! The view is littered with balloons and the chimney rock formations add a layer of spook. Its magically adds so much life and colour to a space that otherwise is quite arid. While there are many balloon operators, the ones we used and loved were Turquaz Balloons.
Other than this, there are a few things we liked: the Goreme open-air museum and the Pigeon Valley walking trail. Both are fun things to do on the days you are doing the hot air balloon.
Places to eat
I’ll be honest there aren’t many places to suggest here other than the restaurant in Sultan Caves. It’s one the best for Turkish food. Do get the Manti — a Turkish-style ravioli with meat-filled pasta in a yoghurt sauce. Another dish to try is the Tahini Soufflé which comes with a delicious nutty molten centre.
Izmir
Izmir is a city on Turkey’s Aegean coast. Known as Smyrna in antiquity, it was founded by the Greeks, taken over by the Romans and rebuilt by Alexander the Great before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. We were in Izmir because Natasha has family friends that live here. While there is a lot of history, it isn’t the most “tourist” place to be. We loved it because we go to see the country through the locals which was amazing!
Things to do
Ephesus: Ephesus is an ancient city in Turkey’s Central Aegean region, near modern-day Selçuk. Its excavated remains reflect centuries of history, from classical Greece to the Roman Empire – when it was the Mediterranean’s main commercial centre – to the spread of Christianity. It’s famously also one of the places depicted in Dil Dhadhakne Do. Ephesus is essential to the ruins of an entire city with houses, libraries, and a giant amphitheatre. As someone who loved the Age of Empires games, this was a really cool place to see!
Çesme: Is a small beach town about an hour away from Izmir. We loved this place for many reasons. The most important one is the place where I proposed to Natasha. Cesme has beautiful turquoise blue waters and one of the best beaches we went to. The water can be a bit cold but between Oludeniz and Cesme, I would choose the latter!
Things to Eat
Meshur Tavaci Recep Usta Denizli: This tavern-style Turkish restaurant was the best we came across in our travels. It was authentic, rustic, and most importantly — the food was everything we had never heard of but loved every bit of the journey
Kumrucu Errol: Kumrucu is a famous cheese sandwich dish from Izmir and this restaurant in Cesme is the best one out there. We made a reel about how this sandwich gets made. I embed it below!
Oludeniz
Oludeniz is one of the many famous beach spaces in Turkey. While many travel to Antalya, Oludeniz offers similar experiences at a lower cost! So definitely think of choosing it instead of other beach spots. The closest airport is an hour away but you can also just take a bus ride from Izmir. It takes about 5 hours but the bus is a good, cost-efficient option. The most important decision to make for Oludeniz is where you want to stay. You want to be as close to the beach as possible because public transport is scarce and taxis tend to charge a premium. We stayed at a new hotel called The Pearl. The room was spacious and each room had an access to a common pool which was a great option! Do check it out.
Things to do
Paragliding: The town is known for this! While we didn’t choose to any of the sea sports, there are many things you can drop money for but this is by far the most popular thing to do here
Lagoon Beach: The far end of the coastline opens to Lagoon Beach. The entire beach is operated by a credit card system which is great. Just pay a total amount and then keep the drinks and food flowing. We loved this beach and was pretty much where we spent most of our time
Things to Eat
Secret Garden: Our friend, Shreya suggested this place. The whole property is covered with vines and has some really cheap sangria. We spent our last day drinking and watching TV while we waited for our transit back to Istanbul hehe
Taverns everywhere: There are so many taverns around you! Pick one that works and go drink! We loved most that we went to but none are worth high praise. The one thing we learned through the journey is that most of the touristy places have very similar cuisine options.
Istanbul
We spent 5 whole nights in Istanbul— the longest leg of our travels. Some things to keep in mind, the city is divided into two halves — the European side and the Asian side. While most of the monuments and places to see are on the Asian side, the European side is nicer only because it’s devoid of many tourists. Natasha had a huge list of things to do and places to eat but I would like to cut this down to my faves!
Things to do
Princes’ Island: If you have an extra day to spend, check out the Princes’ Islands! The Princes’ Islands (“Adalar” in Turkish) are an archipelago in the Sea of Marmara, they are a small haven of peace in Istanbul and a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. They are car-free and you can get around on foot, with golf carts or bikes available to rent. We loved the beautiful scenery, the yummy doughnuts and the gelato! It takes over an hour on the ferry so this will become a full-day event to plan wisely
Hammam: I was very wary of Hammams but I am so glad to have gone for one. Hammams are Turkish baths. They traditionally sit atop a natural geyser. You bathe in warm water and then placed on a stone slab and scrubbed very rigorously by attendants. Çukurcuma Hamami is the hammam we went to. It’s an hour-long session and you come out super relaxed and very very clean haha.
Grand Bazaar: Shirin called this Istanbul’s Palika Bazaar. I see it. However, its a lot more organised and at a much larger scale. Go here for jewellery, dried fruits, spices, and fake bag shopping!
Places to Eat
Roadside Mussels: These are found in most cities you may go to but its a delicious treat. Think of this as Turkey’s Gol Gappas. They are cheap and filled with so much flavour.
Kumpir: Kumpir is Istanbul’s version of a loaded potato. Filled with so many toppings, this fluffy hot spud will not disappoint. Check out my reel all about this little dish.
Menagerie: Found in uptown Bebek, this little cafe is hard to find but is super fancy. It’s pricey to say the least but it is a great spot for sunny pictures overlooking the strait. Do get their chocolate brownies as they are known for them!
Ask Cafe: Another great find. This restaurant is literally the only place where we found Turkish eggs. The cafe sits on top of the water so you get to a variety of fish and translucent jellyfish.
The House Cafe: This cafe was by far the best place we ate at. It offers continental food but has some amazing meals. Get the Moscow mule, the croissant sandwich and the best thing ever— sweet potato fries!
Emirgan Siltis: Emirgan is a franchise found all over Turkey. It’s great for a classic Turkish breakfast. Nothing amazing, but very authentic!
Nezih Kebap: Nezih is one of the best places for classic Turkish cuisine in Istanbul. Hot bacon hummus, Turkish flatbread, and Doner Kebab!
Well, that’s about it from me! I hope this helps you with your trip planning and as always happy travelling!
