Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Fly from Melbourne to Tashkent via a major hub such as Kuala Lumpur, Doha or Dubai; expect roughly 20–30 hours including connections, depending on the route. With a late arrival, pre-book an airport pickup or use an official taxi rather than trying to arrange transport after a long flight. One important reality check: after that journey, there probably won’t be time or energy for the sightseeing below. If you arrive late, check in and rest, then do these stops the following morning—the market is best explored early, before the day heats up.
If your arrival timing does leave you a usable morning, start at Chorsu Bazaar in the Old Town. Give the domed market about an hour to browse its bread, produce and spice stalls; it generally opens in the morning, but check locally for current hours. Walk from there to Kukeldash Madrasah, nearby, for a half-hour look at its historic exterior and the surrounding square. Entry arrangements can vary, so treat this as an exterior visit unless a ticket is available.
From Chorsu station, take the Tashkent Metro for a few stops and allow about an hour to admire the station interiors; trains run frequently, and you’ll need a separate fare or transit payment at the entrance. Finish at Caravan, near the city center, for Uzbek dishes such as plov or manti. Allow 1–1.5 hours and around US$10–20 per person. If you’ve landed late, save the metro ride and dinner for after a proper night’s sleep rather than trying to squeeze them into arrival day.
After arriving in Samarkand, drop your bags at your hotel and head to Registan for around two hours among its three grand madrasahs. An early arrival makes this full day easier; if you get in later than planned, keep the visit unhurried and check the ticket office for current entry prices and closing time, as hours and fees can change. From the square, walk about 10–15 minutes southwest to Gur-e-Amir, Amir Timur’s richly decorated mausoleum; allow about an hour to take in the blue dome and intricate interior.
Walk or take a short taxi north to Bibi-Khanym Mosque (roughly 10 minutes on foot from Registan), then give yourself about an hour to explore its monumental courtyard and tiled details. Right beside it, Siyob Bazaar is a lively place to browse produce and sample Samarkand bread; allow another hour, and carry some Uzbek som for small purchases. Bazaar stalls generally wind down toward evening, so visit before then rather than leaving it late.
For dinner, take a short taxi or a 15–20-minute walk toward the city center to Platan, a relaxed choice for Uzbek and European dishes. Budget around US$10–20 per person; booking ahead is sensible if you arrive at a busy time. After an early start, leave the rest of the evening free to rest or wander near your hotel.
Allow for your arrival and hotel check-in before starting: this is a compact, walkable cluster, but the full itinerary takes around five hours without queues. Begin at Hagia Sophia, setting aside about 1½ hours for its monumental interior and layered history. Visitor access and ticketing can change; check the current arrangements before you go, and dress respectfully.
Walk a few minutes to the Blue Mosque for about an hour. Entry is free, but visitor access may pause during prayer times, so check at the entrance and bring clothing that covers your shoulders and knees; head coverings are available if needed. Continue on foot to the Basilica Cistern—allow about an hour below ground, and check current ticket prices and hours before setting out, as they can vary.
Take a roughly 10-minute walk north to Gülhane Park for a restorative 45-minute wander through its paths and gardens. Finish back in Sultanahmet at Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi for its signature köfte; budget around US$10–20 per person for a straightforward meal. If your arrival runs late, queues or prayer-time closures could make all five stops a squeeze—keep the order, but enjoy the park and dinner without rushing.
After your flight and transfer, drop your bags in Göreme and head to Göreme Open-Air Museum. Allow about two hours for the cave churches and frescoes; it’s a short taxi ride or roughly a 20-minute uphill walk from the village centre. The site generally opens daily, with seasonal hours and last entry changing, so check before setting out. Budget around €20–30 for admission, with some sections potentially costing extra.
Continue to Love Valley for a 1½–2-hour walk among the distinctive rock formations; a taxi from the museum area is the easiest way to reach the trailhead. Then take a short taxi ride to Göreme Panorama for a 30-minute pause and wide valley views, followed by Uçhisar Castle, where the climb to the top takes about an hour. A taxi between the viewpoints and castle saves time; agree on the fare or confirm the meter before setting off.
Finish at Seten Anatolian Cuisine, in a restored stone house back in Göreme. Book ahead if you can, and allow around 1½ hours; expect roughly US$20–35 per person. One practical caveat: fitting all five stops in after arriving from Istanbul is very tight, especially if your flight lands after midday. If that’s your timing, ask your hotel about storing bags and arranging a driver, and be prepared to shorten the walks or move one stop to another day.
One important reality check: the Cappadocia–Tbilisi flight via Istanbul usually takes 6–10 hours, so fitting this whole Old Tbilisi route in on arrival day is only realistic if you land early and have no major delays. If you arrive later, spread the stops across your first full day in Tbilisi rather than rushing them. Start at Rike Park and take the cable car up to Narikala Fortress; allow about 1½ hours for the ruins and sweeping views. Check the cable car’s operating hours before setting out, as they can vary.
Walk down into Abanotubani and take your pre-booked private bath at Abanotubani Sulphur Baths—allow 1–1½ hours, and confirm the room, towel and scrub prices when booking. Then follow the short path through Leghvtakhevi gorge to Leghvtakhevi Waterfall; it’s an easy 30-minute detour, though the walkway can be damp underfoot.
Head north towards the river for Dry Bridge Market, giving yourself about an hour to browse paintings, Soviet-era keepsakes and handmade crafts. It’s often liveliest earlier in the day, so an afternoon visit may have fewer stalls. Finish in Chughureti at Mapshalia for generous Georgian home-style cooking; budget roughly US$8–15 per person. Check its current opening hours before making the walk, and use a taxi or ride-hailing app if you’re short on time.
This is an ambitious arrival-day plan: after the flight from Tbilisi, immigration, the journey into central London and hotel check-in could leave little sightseeing time. It works only if you arrive early and feel rested; otherwise, keep the stops in this order and expect to spread them over a fuller day. Start at Westminster Abbey, allowing 1½–2 hours for the church and its royal and literary memorials. It’s a short walk from Westminster Underground; check the Abbey’s visitor hours and service schedule before setting out, as access can change. Admission is typically around £30.
From the Abbey, walk a few minutes to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben for about 45 minutes of riverside views and photos. Then cross Westminster Bridge and follow the South Bank east along the Thames for roughly an hour. It’s an easy, lively stroll, with buskers and broad views back towards Westminster; linger where you like rather than trying to cover every stretch.
Continue to Tate Modern in Bankside—around 25–30 minutes on foot along the river from Westminster Bridge—and allow 1½–2 hours for the galleries. General admission is free, though special exhibitions may charge. Finish at Borough Market, about a 15-minute walk east, and give yourself an hour to sample lunch; budget roughly £10–20 per person. Check the market’s current trading days and hours before heading over: it’s generally busiest around lunchtime, and its schedule varies by day.
Start early at Tanjung Aan Beach, while the water is calm and the sand is still cool. Give yourself about two hours to swim or relax; bring cash for any local parking or access fees, and check sea conditions before going in. Walk or take a short ride to Merese Hill next. The climb is brief but uneven, so wear shoes with grip and carry water; allow about an hour for the viewpoints and an unhurried wander.
Head west to the public viewpoints around Mandalika International Street Circuit—about 45 minutes is enough to take in its striking coastal setting. Access can vary when events or works are underway, so follow local signs and don’t assume the circuit itself is open to visitors. Continue to central Kuta Lombok to browse the shops and pause for coffee; the beach stops and town are easiest to link by car or scooter, but only ride a scooter if you’re licensed and comfortable on Lombok’s roads.
Have an early meal at El Bazar Café & Restaurant in Kuta, allowing 1–1½ hours and roughly US$10–20 per person. This is a full day before a long-haul journey, so the plan only works comfortably if your flight is late; for an earlier departure, move the beach and hill visits to another day. For Melbourne, leave Kuta Lombok several hours before take-off and arrange a car or hotel transfer to Lombok International Airport; allow around 25–35 minutes in ordinary traffic, more with delays, and expect to connect via Bali or Jakarta. Check your airline’s check-in guidance and connection times carefully.
No packing list attached yet.