How to Spend a 1 Week in Turkey?

Welcome to Turkey, we call it home and our home is a perfect destination to spend your holiday. With 4 seasons and surrounding seas, beaches it offers all kinds of different holiday options for guests from all around the world.

A long list of UNESCO World Heritage sites and long ancient history almost two decades it is home to various civilizations from early ages of history.
Gobeklitepe to Catalhoyuk, Troy to Noah’s Ark has all kinds of historical cornerstones of ancient and modern human history.

As Turkey covers most of Mesopotamia which is the birthplace of some other oldest communities, all of three dominant religions, most widely known inventions, and domesticated animal and food species of mankind.

Both Euphrates and Tigris River stems from Turkey and fruitful Mesopotamia is mostly covered borders of Modern Turkish Republic. In this article, we suggest the most popular touristic destinations of Turkey if you have limited time while visiting Turkey.

Photo By Nazlı Atabey – Ephesus Artemis Temple

What to do and see in Turkey in 7 Days?

As the home of many ancient and modern human communities, Turkey inherits a wide range of cultural, archaeological, culinary, and architectural masterpieces to see, experience, taste, and listen to.

Istanbul is one of the most preliminary destinations where you can see most of them together in one place so we suggest you start your visit from here. Secondly, you shall go on your trip to Central Anatolia most of which is known as Cappadocia since early periods of time.

Photo by Mar Cerdeira – Hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia

Not only as a natural beauty but also as hand-shaped rock formations will mesmerize you with their beauty, you can check on how to go from Istanbul to Cappadocia here.  Another great sightseeing is Ephesus we highly recommend as this is the place whereof origin of Ancient Greek Philosophy and history.

Ephesus was the center of ancient Ionian city-states, which used the Mediterranean Sea as a trade route. This intercontinental business made them the richest people of their own time and set a suitable place for the birth of modern civilization.

Within time they spread their civilization and made use of Pamukkale as a health center with its natural calcium-rich spring water. For the final destination, we suggest you visit Pamukkale, the surreal landscape of  Turkey. Cleopatra Antique Pool is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a great stopover for a relaxing day by the thermal waters pools.

Photo by Vladyslav Cherkasenko
Pamukkale is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Of course, your local tour guides will take you to the best places to taste local examples of culinary artworks in each destination.

A Week-Long Tour Plan for Turkey

Here we offer you the most classic Turkey tour route for first-time visitors and please note that including or excluding destinations to this plan is always possible so please feel free to contact the professional team of Guided Istanbul Tours to customize your itinerary or make another tailor-made tour itinerary for your family as per your interests and priorities.

Most Recommended Tours

7 Days Private Turkey Tour Itinerary

Day 1:  Arrival day to Istanbul and overnight in your Istanbul hotel.

Day 2:  Private tour in Old City of Istanbul to discover the relics of Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Recommended sights to see: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace Museum, Hagia Irene Church, Basilica Cistern Museum, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar. Overnight in your Istanbul hotel.

Grand Bazaar in Istanbul Turkey

Day 3:  Private tour on the Bosphorus to discover the jewels of Istanbul. Sights to see Dolmabahce Palace, Spice Market (Spice Bazaar), Bosphorus Cruise, Taksim Square with Istiklal Street and Galata Tower.

After the tour flight Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Nevsehir city and overnight in your Cappadocia hotel.

Day 4:  (Recommended Activity) In the early morning you will be picked up from your hotel for a Balloon Ride over the valleys of Cappadocia for a duration of 1-hour.

After the Balloon flight, you will have a celebration in the valley and a ceremony of flight certificate. After the ceremony, you will be transferred back to your hotel for breakfast.

Private tour of North Cappadocia. Sights to see Uchisar Castle, Goreme Open Air Museum, Avanos, Valley of Monks, Pasabaglar, Devrent Valley. Overnight in your Cappadocia hotel.

Day 5:  Private tour of South Cappadocia. Sights to see Kaymakli Underground City, Soganli Valley, Sobesos Roman Bath, Taskinpasa Madrasah, Mustafapasa – Sinasos.

After tour flight to Izmir and overnight in your Ephesus hotel.

Day 6:  Private tour for Ephesus ancient city. Sights to see Temple of Artemis, Great Amphitheater, Celsius Library, Temple of Hadrian and Ephesus Amphitheater, Harbor Street of Ephesus Ancient City, House of the Virgin Mary, Isabey Mosque. Overnight in your Ephesus hotel.

Day 7:  Private tour for Pamukkale natural calcium pools created by thermal water. Sights to see Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Frontinus Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, Theater and Cleopatra Antique Pool, Hierapolis.

Remember: As you will have free time to swim in the Cleopatra Pool please take your swimsuit with you.

After the tour flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul Turkey, you can make your own way to International Departures for your flight back home with a best memories of 7 days Luxury Turkey Tour.

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