Start early at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) for your overnight flight to Istanbul; use the morning to check documents, grab a light meal at the lounge or airport cafe, and rest on the plane so you arrive refreshed. If you’re on a daytime connection, aim for a quick walk through the arrival terminal at Istanbul Airport (IST) to buy a local SIM or an Istanbulkart for easy public transport during your stay.
After landing and clearing immigration, take the Havatas shuttle or metro into the city and drop bags at your Sultanahmet or Taksim accommodation; a short nap or freshen-up at the hotel sets you up for exploration. Head out for a relaxed first taste of Istanbul with a late lunch at Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi or a small meyhane in Beyoğlu, then stroll past the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia from the outside to orient yourself and soak in the city’s skyline.
As night falls, join an evening food crawl around Istiklal Avenue and the Galata area — sample balik ekmek (fish sandwich) by the Galata Bridge, simit from a street vendor, and baklava at Karaköy Güllüoğlu. Finish with a warm cup of Turkish tea or salep at a cozy cafe, and return to your hotel early to rest up for a full day of historic Istanbul tomorrow.
Wake up refreshed after last night’s food crawl and head to Sultanahmet early to beat the crowds; start with a guided visit inside Hagia Sophia to admire its mosaics and Ottoman-era additions, then cross the square to tour the Blue Mosque and its serene courtyard. Pause for a mid-morning Turkish coffee and a simit from a nearby vendor while you soak in views of the Hippodrome and chat with local sellers.
After a light lunch of iskender kebab or lahmacun at a nearby lokanta, explore Topkapi Palace — don’t miss the Harem (book ahead) and the palace kitchens — then wander the small Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for a quieter perspective. If time allows, take a short tram ride to the Spice Bazaar and sample lokum (Turkish delight) and roasted chestnuts, or pop into a çay house to watch daily life unfold along the Golden Horn.
As dusk falls, stroll across the Galata Bridge toward Karaköy and indulge in a fish sandwich by the water or choose a meze spread at a lively meyhane in Beyoğlu; be sure to try midye dolma (stuffed mussels) from a street seller for an authentic bite. Finish with panoramic views from Galata Tower or a rooftop bar near Taksim while sipping Turkish tea or ayran, then return to your hotel to rest before tomorrow’s Bosphorus day.
Start the day with a scenic Bosphorus cruise from Eminönü — grab breakfast simit and Turkish tea at the ferry dock, then glide past Dolmabahçe Palace, Rumeli Fortress and the grand waterfront mansions while a local guide or audio commentary spices the route with history. Disembark at Üsküdar for a short walk along the shore to view Maiden’s Tower, then wander into the Çengelköy neighbourhood to sample freshly baked börek and watch locals gather at a çay garden.
Cross more of the Asian side by tram or dolmuş to Kadıköy and dive into its bustling market streets — taste mid-day treats like çiğ köfte, balikçi sandviç (fish sandwich) and seasonal baklava, and pop into the Kadıköy Çarşı for spices, olives and small artisan shops. For panoramic city views, climb up to Moda’s seaside promenade for a coffee and a stroll; if you prefer museums, the nearby Barış Manço House offers a warm, offbeat cultural stop before you head back to collect bags for your flight.
Return to European Istanbul in good time to collect luggage and head to the airport, or for those staying overnight in the city, enjoy a farewell dinner in Karaköy — try a meze spread at a waterfront lokanta and finish with Turkish coffee at a rooftop overlooking the Galata Tower. If flying to Antalya tonight, aim to arrive at Istanbul Airport 2-3 hours before departure; otherwise, relax on the night bus or train option and get some rest before tomorrow’s Antalya adventures.
Wake up in Antalya and head straight for Kaleiçi, the atmospheric Old Town — wander its narrow cobbled lanes past Ottoman houses, the broken Hıdırlık Tower and Hadrian’s Gate, then stop for a Turkish breakfast (menemen and çay) at a waterfront cafe near the old marina. Pop into the Antalya Museum if you’re keen on archaeology, or browse local boutiques for inexpensive dive-ready essentials like reef-safe sunscreen and a neoprene hood.
Walk along Konyaaltı or Mermerli Beach for a refreshing coastal stroll and take in the Taurus Mountains framing the bay; grab a light lunch of gözleme or grilled sea bream at a beachfront lokanta and scout nearby dive centres in Kaleiçi or Lara to confirm schedules and kit for tomorrow’s try-dive. Use the afternoon to sort logistics — book your diving slot, check transport to Kaş if planning further dives, and recharge at your hotel so you’re ready for an early start.
As the sun sets, enjoy a relaxed dinner in Kaleiçi with a meze spread at a terrace restaurant overlooking the marina — try piyaz (bean salad) and a local raki if you’re in the mood — then stroll the illuminated Old Town alleys and pick up snacks or a simit for tomorrow’s boat trip. Turn in early to rest for the diving adventure, or if you have energy, sample Antalya’s nightlife with a low-key bar near Hadrian’s Gate.
Rise early and meet your dive centre in Kaleiçi or Lara (many outfits run shared transfers to Kaş) for kit fitting and a safety briefing—centres like Kaş Diving or local Antalya dive shops will run an intro pool session or shallow bay practice so you feel comfortable with the gear. If you stayed in Antalya, expect a scenic transfer west along the coast to Kaş; arrive ready to board the dive boat with nervous excitement and a strong Turkish coffee from the shop to steady the nerves.
Spend the afternoon on one or two guided try-dives at famous local sites such as the Kaş Islands, Kaputaş cliffs or the Kalkan reefs, where an instructor holds your hand through descents and points out colourful sponges, groupers and occasional octopus—photograph the underwater caves if your operator provides a camera. After surfacing, relax on the boat with a light lunch of gözleme or sandwiches and fresh fruit, then enjoy a short snorkel or a walk around Kaş harbour to stretch tired shoulders while scouting local seafood restaurants for dinner.
Return to Kaş town or back to Antalya depending on your transfer—if staying in Kaş, wander the charming harbour, grab a table at a seaside lokanta like Moonlight or Likya for grilled sea bream and meze, and swap dive stories with fellow travellers over ayran or a cold Efes. If you’re back in Antalya, treat yourself to a relaxed dinner in Kaleiçi and an early night; your muscles and ears will thank you after a day discovering the Mediterranean beneath the waves.
Wake to a coastal sunrise and, if you stayed in Antalya, enjoy the scenic minibus drive to Kaş or Kalkan—stop en route at the famous Kaputaş viewpoint for quick photos of the turquoise inlet before continuing. On arrival, meet your dive centre (e.g., Kaş Diving or Blue World Kalkan) for gear check and a dive briefing; choose a morning boat trip to nearby reefs like the Kaş Islands or the Loryma wreck for calmer water and better visibility.
After two guided dives or a single longer dive paired with a snorkel, refuel in Kaş harbour with a leisurely lunch at Likya Restaurant or BahçeBalık, sampling grilled octopus and meze while watching boats bob in the bay. If you prefer to stay dry, take the afternoon to hike a coastal stretch of the Lycian Way—walk from Kalkan up toward Sarıbelen for clifftop views, wildflowers (seasonal) and quiet coves where you can stretch and spot seabirds.
As daylight softens, return to town to stroll the old stone streets of Kaş or the whitewashed alleys of Kalkan, popping into local shops for handcrafted sandals or a bottle of Anamur mandarin liqueur as a souvenir. Finish with a seaside dinner—try a fish meze plate and a glass of local wine at Meydan or Vira Restaurant—and swap dive photos over Turkish tea before turning in for an early start toward Northern Cyprus in two days.
Rise early in Antalya (or arrive at Istanbul if routing that way) and make the transfer to your flight to Ercan Airport via a Turkish carrier; allow extra time for baggage checks and passport control since this is an international hop. On arrival at Ercan, clear immigration and take the shared shuttle or a pre-booked transfer to Kyrenia—drop your bags at a harbour-front guesthouse or boutique hotel near the old harbour, then grab a strong Turkish coffee and a baklava at a café by Girne Castle to refuel.
Spend the afternoon orienting yourself around Kyrenia’s picturesque harbour: tour the 16th-century Kyrenia (Girne) Castle and its shipwreck museum, then stroll the marina lined with wooden gulets and stop for a late lunch of meze and fresh sea bream at one of the waterfront lokantas such as Suvla or The Harbour Restaurant. If time allows, walk up to the Bellapais Abbey viewpoint for sweeping views of the coast and the Troodos mountains in the distance—a relaxed way to soak in the peninsula before tonight’s festivities.
For New Year’s Eve, return to the harbour area where many restaurants and bars host countdown dinners and live music; book a table in advance for a meze feast with local specialties like halloumi, künefe for dessert, and a glass of zivania or local wine. After dinner, join the street-level celebrations around the marina or a beachfront bar to watch fireworks over Kyrenia Bay—toast the new year with new friends, then stroll back to your hotel along the moonlit water to rest after a long but celebratory day.
Start the New Year with a lazy breakfast by Kyrenia Harbour—try a plate of menemen and fresh halloumi at The Harbour Restaurant—then meet a local dive centre (e.g., Kyrenia Dive Centre) for a morning two-tank dive or guided snorkel to explore wrecks and reefs off Cape Kormakitis, where instructors point out groupers, nudibranchs and dramatic underwater rock formations. If you prefer staying dry, take a gentle harbour boat trip on a traditional gulet to spot sea caves and enjoy hot Turkish tea on deck while the coastline unfolds.
After returning to shore, wander up to Kyrenia Castle to tour the shipwreck museum and climb the battlements for sweeping views of the bay; follow that with a relaxed lunch of mezze and grilled fresh fish at Suvla or The Olive Tree overlooking the marina. Spend the rest of the afternoon strolling into the charming Bellapais village—visit Bellapais Abbey for its peaceful cloisters and stop at a café for a slice of künefe and coffee while watching the late-afternoon light spill over the mountains.
As dusk falls, choose a waterfront tavern for a calm evening—sample local specialties like halloumi fries and zivania at The Harbour or The Kyrenia Tavern and swap dive stories with fellow travellers while listening to live acoustic music if it's on. Finish the night with a moonlit walk along the marina, a final cup of Turkish tea or an after-dinner raki, and an early night to recover from the festivities and prepare for tomorrow’s trip to Nicosia.
Begin with breakfast at a café inside the walled city—try menemen and strong Turkish coffee at Büyük Han’s courtyard—then wander the narrow streets to admire the restored caravansary, boutique craft shops and the atmospheric Arabahmet quarter. From there, visit the Büyük Han’s galleries and walk to the Selimiye Mosque (formerly St. Sophia Cathedral) to absorb Nicosia’s layered Ottoman and Venetian history while enjoying views of the old city walls.
After a light lunch of local mezze and halloumi at the popular Asmaaltı or Cafe No 20, cross to the Venetian walls and explore the Cyprus Museum branch and the Leventis Municipal Museum for modern and archaeological highlights. If you want to cross the Green Line, use the Ledra Street pedestrian checkpoint to step into South Nicosia—stroll its Soulioti/Laiki Yitonia lanes for coffee at a Greek-Cypriot kafeneio and compare tastes and architecture before returning to the north.
As daylight wanes, settle in at a rooftop taverna near the old harbour gate or at the cosy Akdeniz Lokantası for a relaxed dinner of kleftiko-style lamb, grilled halloumi and a glass of zivania or local wine. Finish with a post-dinner walk along the illuminated walls, stop for a final Turkish tea at Büyük Han or a sweet slice of baklava, and return to Kyrenia or your Kyrenia-area base ready for tomorrow’s buffer and travel day.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast near Kyrenia Harbour — try a final plate of menemen and fresh halloumi at The Harbour Restaurant — then check out and take the shared shuttle or a pre-booked transfer back to Ercan Airport for your flight to Turkey. If your routing returns via Antalya, arrive mid-morning and use the time to stroll Kaleiçi once more, pick up last-minute souvenirs at the old bazaar and visit Hadrian’s Gate for quick photos before heading to the airport.
If you land in Istanbul, head straight to Sultanahmet or the Grand Bazaar area to squeeze in souvenir shopping—search for a small handwoven kilim, Turkish tea sets from the Grand Bazaar and spices from the Spice Bazaar — enjoy a relaxed lunch of iskender or a fish sandwich by the Galata Bridge to savour one last local meal. For Antalya arrivals with a later flight, use the afternoon as a buffer: store luggage at the airport, walk Konyaaltı promenade, and have a light seaside lunch of grilled sea bream at a lokanta to stretch your legs before check-in.
Aim to arrive at your international departure terminal 2-3 hours before your flight; enjoy a final Turkish tea or baklava at the airport lounge or a café and double-check documents and boarding times. If time allows before boarding in Istanbul, take a last rooftop view near Taksim or a short ferry ride on the Bosphorus for one final skyline snapshot; otherwise relax on your flight home with memories of diving, coastal hikes and harbour-side dinners to replay on the journey.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) - pre-flight lounge/meal | INR 300-1,500 (airport cafe/lounges); domestic transport to airport varies |
| Istanbul Airport (IST) - arrival services (SIM, Istanbulkart) | TRY 50-250 (SIM 150-250 with small data; Istanbulkart initial top-up TRY 50 recommended) |
| Havatas shuttle / Metro (IST → Sultanahmet/Taksim) | TRY 20-60 (Havatas/shuttle ~TRY 30-60; metro/tram fares from Istanbulkart ~TRY 15-30 total) |
| Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi / small meyhane lunch | TRY 150-350 per person (lunch with drink) |
| Blue Mosque (exterior/stroll) | Free (donations welcome) |
| Hagia Sophia (visiting inside, guided) | Free (as museum/mosque currently free) or guided tour TRY 250-700 |
| Istiklal Avenue & Galata area food crawl (balık ekmek, simit, baklava, tea) | TRY 120-350 per person total (street food samples and desserts) |
| Guided Hagia Sophia visit (separate entry when relevant) | TRY 250-700 (private guide) or TRY 50-150 (group tour) |
| Blue Mosque (interior visit) | Free |
| Turkish coffee & simit snack | TRY 30-80 |
| Topkapi Palace (including Harem) | TRY 400-900 (combined: palace ~TRY 300-600; Harem ticket extra TRY 100-300; guided tours more) |
| Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts | TRY 60-150 |
| Spice Bazaar (shopping / tasting lokum, chestnuts) | Samples free; purchases TRY 50-600 depending on quantity |
| Galata Bridge fish sandwich / midye dolma street snack | TRY 40-150 total for a couple of street snacks |
| Galata Tower (view / rooftop bar) | TRY 200-450 (tower entry ~TRY 150-300; rooftop drink extra TRY 100-250) |
| Bosphorus cruise (short public ferry / scenic cruise from Eminönü) | TRY 40-250 (public ferry cheap ~TRY 40-60; tourist cruises TRY 150-400) |
| Üsküdar shore walk & Maiden’s Tower view | Free to walk; boat to Maiden’s Tower or entry TRY 150-300 if available |
| Çengelköy börek & çay garden visit | TRY 40-120 |
| Kadıköy market & Moda promenade (food samples) | TRY 100-350 (street food, coffee) |
| Barış Manço House (small museum) | TRY 20-70 |
| Transfer to airport for Antalya flight (IST → AYT) | TRY 300-900 (domestic flight cost varies widely; bus transfer cheaper if chosen) |
| Kaleiçi (Antalya Old Town) walking & Turkish breakfast | TRY 120-300 for a full Turkish breakfast per person |
| Antalya Museum | TRY 80-200 |
| Konyaaltı / Mermerli Beach stroll | Free (beach access free; sunbeds/cafes extra TRY 100-300) |
| Dive centre kit purchase (reef-safe sunscreen, neoprene hood) | TRY 150-800 depending on items |
| Diving intro (try-dive) from Antalya / transfer to Kaş | TRY 1,500-4,000 per person (includes transfer, instructor, 1-2 dives; premium operators higher) |
| Boat lunch / light lunch on dive boat | Often included in dive price; otherwise TRY 80-200 |
| Kaş harbour stroll & dinner (seafood lokanta) | TRY 200-600 per person |
| Kaputaş viewpoint (photo stop) | Free |
| Lycian Way coastal hike (Kalkan area) | Free (transport to trailheads TRY 50-200) |
| Anamur mandarin liqueur / local souvenir purchases | TRY 150-700 depending on bottle and taxes |
| Transfer/flight to Ercan (via Turkey) — Antalya → Ercan | TRY 800-2,000 (one-way flight Antalya→Ercan via Turkish carrier; vary by season) |
| Ercan Airport → Kyrenia transfer (shared shuttle / private) | TRY 150-400 (shared shuttle cheaper ~TRY 150-250; private transfer higher) |
| Kyrenia Castle & Shipwreck Museum | TRY 80-200 |
| Harbour-front meze lunch (Suvla / The Harbour Restaurant) | TRY 150-400 per person |
| Bellapais Abbey visit | TRY 50-150 |
| New Year’s Eve dinner / countdown event (Kyrenia harbour) | TRY 400-1,200 per person (set menus, entertainment, drinks) |
| Kyrenia dive (two-tank) or gulet boat trip | TRY 1,200-3,000 for two-tank dive (includes tanks, guidance) or TRY 600-1,800 for gulet boat trip |
| Künefe / halloumi dessert/snack at Bellapais | TRY 40-130 |
| Nicosia (Büyük Han, Selimiye Mosque, Leventis Museum) | TRY 50-300 (museum entries modest; coffee/snack extra) |
| Ledra Street crossing (Green Line pedestrian checkpoint) | Free (carry passport); purchases in South Cyprus priced in EUR |
| Return transfer Ercan → Antalya or Istanbul (for international flight home) | TRY 800-2,200 (domestic/international flight via Turkey; can be higher around holidays) |
| Grand Bazaar / Spice Bazaar souvenir shopping (Istanbul) | TRY 100-2,000+ depending on purchases (small items TRY 100-400) |
| Airport lounge / final Turkish tea and baklava | TRY 100-600 depending on lounge access or cafe purchases |
| Estimated Total (per person) | TRY 18,000 - 55,000 per person (approximate range, holiday season peak prices) — breakdown notes: flights (India→Turkey roundtrip + internal/regional hops) TRY 7,000-25,000; accommodation 10 nights TRY 3,000-12,000 (budget → mid-range → boutique); food & local transport TRY 1,500-4,000; diving & activities TRY 1,500-6,000; transfers, sim card, souvenirs, entrance fees TRY 1,000-3,000. |