How To Road Trip Turkey
2 week Guide To Road Trip Turkey. Our 2 Week Turkey Itinerary
This Turkey Travel Guide covers all the major Bucket List areas of Turkey including Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Bodrum! You can see more in our Turkey YouTube Episodes at the end of this article.
If you're thinking of visiting Turkey then we highly recommend doing a Road Trip. Not only is car rental in Turkey very afforable, it will also save you a lot of money on Internal flights. The road conditions are some of the best we've driven on in the entire world and we found Turkey to be a very safe place to visit as a family with young kids. A road trip also means you will discover beautiful quaint little towns along the way that you wouldn't otherwise get to see and a chance to interact with more locals and immerse yourself into the Turkish culture!
Car/Motorhome Hire -
We recommend Auto Europe to compare car rental prices and select the best car hire deal first!
1. Flying into Sabiha Gokcen International Airport
Stop 1. Pick up your hire car from a car rental close to the airport and use this opportunity to settle in to an overnight accommodation, stock up on Road trip snacks and get some rest before your ultimate Roads Trip through Turkey begins. We recommend Emin Residence, Istanbul This place also does a Turkish breakfast to die for, it's right by a supermarket and has plenty of food options near by!
DAY 2-3 CANAKKALE
Drive from your Istanbul accommodation straight to Anzac Cove (Gallipoli) - Approx 4hrs. Anzac Cove is a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. It became famous as the site of World War I landing of the ANZACs on 25 April 1915. Our kids were facinated to see this and learn all about World War 1 and understand why we commemorate Anzac Day in Australia. It is a very beautiful coastal town with several memorial sites with statues of the ANZACS. You can even still see the Battle Fields and Trenchers. You will then go on to explore the Canakkale area, City of Troy, Museums, Ruins etc.. Stay the night in Canakkale.
DAY 3-5 KUSADASI
After exploring the Canakkale area, make your way down to Kusadasi - Approx 5hrs. This is your relax time by the beach in this stunning coastal town. There is a long stretch of boardwalk here full of restaraunts, bars and cafe's. Enjoy the downtime. We recommend staying at Ladies Beach Suit Otel
DAY 5-6 BODRUM
Drive from Kusadsi to Bodrum - Approx 2 hours! Bodrum, where do we even begin, this place is a stunning seaside town you just need to see on the Aegean coast. It is known for its history as the ancient city of Halicarnassus, its bustling marina, whitewashed houses, and the iconic Bodrum Castle, making it a blend of history and modern luxury. Spend the afternoon here wandering the beautiful coastal laneways full of restaraunts and shops.
Spend the night here and just enjoy!
DAY 6-8 PAMUKKALE
Drive from Bodrum to Pamukkale - Approx 3hrs. Now the real adventure begins. Discover the incredible city of Pamukkale. Known for the mineral rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces on a nearby hillside. You'll never see beauty like it. At the very same location is also the Antique Pool (Cleopatra was known to swim here for the healing properties in the waters). The Antique pool is now famous for it's submerged Roman Columns, the result of an earthquake. Pack your bathers and a towel and be sure to go for a swim in the hot springs. After your swim, make your way to the Ancient Theater and wander around all the remnants. HOT TIP - Get here as soon as it opens at 7am to avoid the crowds. There is no need to pre purchase tickets for entry as you can buy them at the gate on the day.
Spend the whole day here exploring the Travertines, Antique Pool and Roman Remnants of Hierapolis.
We recommend staying at Pretty House, Pamukkale for the best location, right at the base of the Travertines and with the kindest hosts.
DAY 8-11 CAPPADOCIA
After your time in Pamukkale head to Cappadocia - Approx 7hrs. This one is a long distance drive but will be so rewarding once you arrive! Cappadocia is like nothing we've ever seen. It's like arriving into Hogwarts or a real life fairytale village. Be sure to book an iconic Cave Hotel as your accommodation here. We recommend Elysee Cave House as it's all part of the experience. And you can't visit Capaddocia without an iconic Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise. HOT TIP - Book your Hot Air Balloon flight on the first morning of your time here. We suggest this because balloon flights are weather dependant so if you can't go on the first morning, you'll be able to reschedule it to your second or third morning instead. Also be sure to pre book your flight. We recommend Royal Balloon. As well as the natural wonders you can also discover the historical sites of Cappadocia, explore the Göreme Open-Air Museum, and visit underground cities like Kaymakli and Derinkuyu. Or hike to Rose Valley for a spectacular view at sunset and also see the Fairy Chimneys (Facinating Rock formations). It truly is such an interesting and diverse place.
DAYS 11-14 ISTANBUL
And the last long leg of this epic journey through Turkey is to drive from Cappadocia back to Istanbul - Approx 7hrs. Spend the remainder of your time here exploring the city before you depart. What to do in Istanbul or things to see in Istanbul? We recommend, exploring the Grand Bazaar (one of the largest indoor markets in the world), Istiklal Street and the iconic Trams, see the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque, Galata Tower and just wander the streets and browse the shops for traditional Turkish souvenirs. Be sure to try the famous roasted chesnuts, pretzels and baklava from the street vendors.
TAKE AWAYS -
Turkey's driving conditions are great. In fact there are road stops everywhere full of food courts, fuel, restrooms and shops! Some roads do have Tolls and you will need to enquire about this with your car rental company. This Road Trip Itinerary basically loops the country and it will be one of the best road trip experiences you'll ever do! See our YouTube episodes below to dive in deeper and start planning your Turkey adventure.
What do we do to stay connected while traveling? Have you ever received a huge roaming bill after a trip abroad? Have you ever lost phone service or connectivity while traveling - and found yourself desperately searching for free Wi-Fi? Have you wasted time anxiously looking for a SIM vendor at the airport? We experienced all of these things, this is why we use Airalo. Simply download and instal your digital data pack, depending on where you are in the world and you are good to go. This saved us so much time, effort and money when we arrived into a new country. We got off the plane and immediately had Internet! See more info here - Airalo ESIM
Need travel budget tips? Then read our article -