Turkey Cultural Immersion Itinerary

1. Day 1: Istanbul's Grand Bazaar
   35 minutes (6.3 km) from Istanbul Airport.

   Explore the vibrant Grand Bazaar, an open-air market with over 4,000 shops selling spices, textiles, and Turkish souvenirs.

2. Day 2: Blue Mosque
   15 minutes (3 km) from the Grand Bazaar.

   Admire the intricate tilework and architecture of the Blue Mosque, also known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque.

3. Day 3: Topkapi Palace
   10 minutes (2.5 km) from Blue Mosque.

   Step back in time and discover the Ottoman Empire by wandering through the halls of one of its lavish palaces.

4. Day 4: Cappadocia's Open-Air Museum
   1 hr 20 minutes (80 km) from Kayseri Erkilet Airport

   Experience amazing ancient cave churches and monasteries in Göreme National Park. Walking in this museum will be like stepping back in time with the added bonus of breathtaking views.

5. Day 5: Hot-Air Ballooning
   Hot-Air Ballooning in Cappadocia

   Rise with the dawn and glide over the surreal, dreamlike landscape of Cappadocia on a hot air balloon; a bucket-list experience.

6. Day 6: Ephesus Ancient City
   1 hr 15 minutes (90 km) from Adnan Menderes Airport

   Step back in time at one of the best-preserved ancient cities, including the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

7. Day 7: Pamukkale Thermal Pools
   2 hr 35 minutes (223 km) from Adnan Menderes Airport

   Enjoy the soothing and visually stunning natural hot spring pools of Pamukkale, known as "cotton castle" due to its white carbonate mineral walls.

8. Day 8: Konya Mevlana Museum
   3 hr 12 minutes (258 km) from Pamukkale

   Appreciate the poetic and mystic art of Sufism, and gain insight into the life of a revered Islamic philosopher and poet.

9. Day 9: Aspendos Theater
   30 minutes (26 km) from Antalya Airport

   Marvel at the breathtaking Roman theatre that regularly stages modern performances, films, and concerts; the best-preserved theatre of antiquity.

10. Day 10: Antalya Old Town
    25 minutes (20 km) from Aspendos Theater

    Experience Old Town's rich history by walking in the narrow streets full of Ottoman mansions, ancient city walls, and traditional markets and boutiques.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Grand Bazaar (1-2 hours, Free)
• Blue Mosque (30-60 minutes, Free)
• Topkapi Palace (2-3 hours, 60 TRY)
• Cappadocia Open-Air Museum (2-3 hours, 45 TRY)
• Hot-Air Ballooning (1 hour, 1000 TRY)
• Ephesus Ancient City (2-3 hours, 100 TRY)
• Pamukkale Thermal Pools (2-3 hours, 50 TRY)
• Konya Mevlana Museum (1-2 hours, 25 TRY)
• Aspendos Theatre (1-2 hours, 20 TRY)
• Antalya Old Town (2-3 hours, Free)
Total Estimated Costs: 1300 TRY

Useful tips

You could consider adding a visit to Bursa's Green Mosque and Mausoleum and eating Iskender kebab, a famous Turkish dish. In case you have even more time, check out the ancient city of Troy and explore the Black Sea Region. We highly recommend arriving early to popular tourist spots to avoid crowds.