7 Days in Turkey Itinerary: Istanbul & Aegean Region

Turkey is one of my favourite countries in the world and where I could explore yearly and not get bored at all. It’s a country that has amazing food, friendly people and beautiful historical sites. So, if you have 7 days to explore Turkey, you need to plan it strategically as it’s a really big country and you definitely can’t cover it all in a week (not even most of it). You’d need to choose 1 or 2 regions and stick to it. This 7 days Turkey itinerary will focus on Istanbul and Aegean region.

While most itineraries cover Istanbul and Cappadocia, I decided to share with you a different idea, especially if you’re into history. Considering you haven’t been to Istanbul yet, obviously we will start from there because there’s no better place to get familiar with Turkey’s culture, vibe and history.

And speaking of history, the Aegean region is what was once under the Greek and Roman rule, which means there are a lot of ancient sites and cities to visit, with the most popular being Ephesus.

Additionally, Pamukkale is also in the Aegean region and given its the most popular nature and quite distinct nature site in Turkey, I included it as the last stop of this itinerary.

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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How to Get to Turkey

It’s very easy to get to Turkey no matter where you are in the world. Istanbul Airport is one of the biggest and best connected airports, so from most places you can actually find a direct flight.

If you’re in Europe, you can also easily fly to other cities, mostly with low-cost flights.

✅ Check the flight prices here.

How to Get around Turkey

For longer distances, I definitely recommend taking domestic flights.

Besides Istanbul, for any other region I recommend renting a car because it’s the best and easiest way to explore the country.

Where to Stay in Turkey

We will only refer here to places that make sense for this exact 7 days Turkey itinerary. Which means, you will need to stay in Istanbul, Izmir, Selcuk and Pamukkale.

We only didn’t sleep in Selcuk because we immediately drove to Pamukkale when we were done visiting Ephesus, but if you’d rather have a few hours long journey in the morning vs the evening like us, then you can add a night in Selcuk too.

Below are my top 3 hotel recommendations for each place.

Where to Stay in Istanbul

📖 Check my 10 Best Istanbul Hotels with Hagia Sophia View & 11 Best Istanbul Hotels with Beautiful Bosphorus View blog posts for more.

Where to Stay in Izmir

Where to Stay in Selcuk

Where to Stay in Pamukkale

When to Visit Turkey

Turkey is generally good to visit at any time of the year, though I would personally avoid winter months, especially for Istanbul as it can get snow storms.

The Aegean region is especially great to visit in summer if you’re looking for some sea and beach activities.

How Many Days in Turkey is Ideal

The more, the better. As said, Turkey is a big country with many things to do, so you can easily spend months here.

If you have a big chunk of holiday time, then 2 weeks is probably ideal, but even with 7 days you can explore a region or two and have a great and diverse time in Turkey.

Day 1 in Turkey: Istanbul

On your first day in Istanbul, you will explore the historic area, also known as Sultanahmet neighbourhood.

✅ Consider taking this best rated Sultanahmet Walking Tour.

📖 Read my 4 Days in Istanbul Itinerary: See the Best of Istanbul blog post.

Hagia Sophia

No sightseeing in Istanbul can start without visiting Hagia Sophia first.

As a Historian, I always wanted to visit Hagia Sophia because of its cultural significance. Built in 537 AD Hagia Sophia is the first church ever that constructed a fully pendentive dome, which changed the history of architecture and influenced many buildings in the world, including the Blue Mosque on the opposite side of it.

Even the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, couldn’t demolish it when he conquered Constantinople because of its outstanding beauty.

Which is to no surprise that Hagia Sophia was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Because of its might, when conquered, Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque. In 1935 it was turned into a museum, but then president Erdogan turned it into a mosque again in 2021.

That means if you’d love to visit inside (which is a must really), you need to cover yourself as a woman and dress properly no matter the gender.

✅ I recommend buying tickets online to skip waiting in lines.

Additionally, consider getting this Istanbul Tourist Pass to save money.

💡Hagia Sophia is currently undergoing restoration works and is covered in scaffolding. There is no known timetable when the work may end, so double check before your trip.

📖 Read my 19 Amazing Things to Do in Istanbul on Your Visit blog post for more.

Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque, or as it’s officially called Sultanahmet Camii, was built in the 17th century during the rule of Sultan Ahmed I.

It is hard not to notice the influence of Hagia Sophia on the Blue Mosque (or pretty much any other Ottoman-style mosque).

The mosque was super impressive, but sadly during our visit the interior was completely in scaffolding, including the one of the minarets. Fortunately, the restoration has been completed, so you’d be able to admire it during your visit.

Blue Mosque is also on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list under the name of Historic Areas of Istanbul.

It is free to visit the Blue Mosque, but you need to dress modestly.

Hippodrome of Constantinople

The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, today known as Sultanahmet Square.

There are only a few remains from the Byzantine times, including the Serpent Column and Obelisk of Theodosius.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace was the main residence of Ottoman sultans and the administrative centre from the 1460s to 1856 when they moved to Dolmabahce Palace.

The palace is pretty impressive and quite large, so expect to spend 2-3h there.

My favourite parts were the Harem, Privy Chamber and Iftar Kiosk.

Harem is where the sultan’s mother, wives and concubines lived. Privy Chamber is where they keep the sacred relics, including the Staff of Moses, but it is not allowed to take photos inside + you have to cover yourself as a woman. Iftar Kiosk has the best views of the Golden Horn.

✅ As the lines are pretty long, I recommend getting tickets online.

Next to Topkapi Palace is Gülhane Park which is free to visit.

Istanbul Archaeological Museums

If you have time, I recommend visiting Istanbul Archaeological Museums.

It consists of 3 museums: Archaeological Museum, Museum of the Ancient Orient and Museum of Islamic Art.

I loved the Museum of the Ancient Orient the most as it displays the fragments of the famous Ishtar Gate of Babylon.

✅ I recommend getting tickets online.

Basilica Cistern

And lastly, don’t miss Basilica Cistern, a huge underground Roman water source with 336 marble columns.

Sadly, this was also closed for restoration during our visit, but it has opened since.

✅ I recommend getting tickets online.

Seven Hills Bar & Restaurant

There’s no better way to end your first day in Istanbul at Seven Hills Bar & Restaurant.

The terrace they have is one of the best in the city, and definitely best when it comes to the views with Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.

We came here twice, once for tea and cake and the second time for dinner.

✅ You can also stay there as it’s a hotel too.

Day 2 in Turkey: Istanbul

On your second day in Istanbul of this itinerary you will explore the Fatih neighbourhood, which was my 2nd favourite after Sultanahmet.

Grand Bazaar

The best way to start the day is by visiting Istanbul’s most famous market – Grand Bazaar, which was built in the 15th century.

Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with 61 covered streets and over 4000 shops!

It’s definitely one of the best places to experience the hustle and bustle of Istanbul and a great shopping place. I got myself fridge magnets there, but you can really find anything and everything there. Just make sure to bargain as it’s part of Turkish culture.

Spice Bazaar

Spice Bazaar, or as it’s officially called the Egyptian Market, is another great shopping place near Grand Bazaar.

As the name says, it’s famous for a variety of spices you can find there.

Suleymaniye Mosque

Maybe it’s because the Blue Mosque was in scaffolding, so I couldn’t experience it properly, but the Suleymaniye Mosque was my favourite in Istanbul.

It is so beautiful, especially the main courtyard.

The mosque was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century and designed by the imperial architect Mimar Sinan.

It is therefore the resting place of both Suleiman and his famous wife Hurrem.

And for some reason, the mosque was not as visited as the Blue Mosque and we could really enjoy it; from the courtyard and the interior to the terrace area that overlooks the city.

Definitely don’t miss this place when you’re in Istanbul, especially as it’s free to visit!

Taht Istanbul

Dressing up in costumes and having photoshoots have become very popular in Istanbul, so much so that I got shocked that they doubled the prices since the last time we were there!

However, this was one of the most fun and unique experiences we had in Istanbul, so I definitely recommend doing it.

The best thing about Taht Istanbul Studio is that they have a nice rooftop and carpet area with Bosphorus views, so rest assured that nothing is photoshopped there.

My favourite rooms were the carpet area with the views, Ottoman throne and light room.

You can reserve your spot online or wait in the queue. Even if you book an online spot, you will still pay in the studio by cash or card. We waited in the queue for about an hour before it was our turn, but there’s also a cafe where you can spend your time waiting.

P. S. In the area next to Taht, there are a lot of bars and restaurants with beautiful views.

Day 3 in Turkey: Istanbul

On your third day in Istanbul, you will cross Galata Bridge on the Golden Horn and explore Galata, Dolmabahce and Taksim Square areas.

✅ Consider taking this Galata, Taksim, Istiklal & Karaköy Walking Tour.

P. S. This is a very hilly area of Istanbul, so prepare for some leg work!

Galata Bridge

Crossing Galata Bridge is quite a unique experience as all along the bridge, there are fishermen working on their daily catch.

This is also a popular place for getting a fish sandwich if you’re hungry.

Galata Tower

Galata Tower is a medieval Genoese tower built in the 14th century.

You can visit the tower, but I didn’t find it particularly amazing. The views are nice, though I still enjoyed the views in Sultanahmet and Fatih rooftops way more.

Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace became an Ottoman residency and administrative centre in 1856 (before that it was Topkapi).

It was built by Sultan Abdul Mejid I who wanted it to resemble the Versailles Palace in Paris. Personally, I loved it even more than Versailles, so definitely don’t miss it!

✅ I recommend getting your tickets online.

Taksim Square & Karakoy

End your day by visiting Taksim Square which is full of shops and Karakoy for bars and restaurants.

Day 4 in Turkey: Izmir

On your 4th day in Turkey, you will check the next place: Izmir.

For some reason, this city is quite underrated, not only in the Aegean region, but across Turkey. And I loved it!

To me, Izmir had the vibes of Istanbul, but on a smaller scale. Plus, it was more laid-back and local, so I definitely recommend dedicating at least one day to Izmir.

What I’ll mention below is also doable in half a day, but for a more relaxed pace, you can spread it across one full day.

✅ Consider taking this Izmir Private Walking Tour with a Local.

Kizlaragasi Inn

Kizlaragasi Inn or Hani is a historical inn built in 1744.

Today, you will find many cafes and shops inside.

Kemeralti Bazaar

Inside the inn you will find the most historical and famous bazaar in Izmir – Kemeralti Bazaar.

It’s a great spot for buying some souvenirs. It reminded me a lot of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.

Smyrna Ancient City

Even though Ephesus is mainly visited because it’s very close to Ephesus and Pergamon ancient cities, there is also a smaller ancient city in the city itself called Smyrna, which is worth visiting if you have time.

I sadly ran out of time for it as I only planned half a day for Izmir, which then got delayed by a big storm and rainfall, so we had only a couple of hours left of the daylight to explore the city. But I definitely plan on seeing it the next time.

Clock Tower & Konak Square

Izmir Clock Tower is a historic clock tower at Konak Square. This is the main and most popular landmark in the city.

Konak Pier

My favourite place in the whole of Izmir was Konak Pier, which is a nice promenade by the sea.

I recommend coming here for sunset because the views are really beautiful. Also, the whole place gets full of locals who also love spending sunsets at the pier.

Day 5 in Turkey: Pergamon & Bergamo

The main reason why I visited the Aegean regions was because it’s full of ancient ruins and historical sites, and as a Historian, nothing makes me more happy than seeing those places with my own two eyes.

One hour drive from Izmir is the ancient city Pergamon and the modern day town Bergamo.

✅ I definitely recommend renting a car when exploring Aegean.

Alternatively, you can also book this guided tour to Pergamon from Izmir.

Pergamon

Pergamon was one of the most important Ancient Greek cities and today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I loved it a lot, and even though Ephesus is definitely way better preserved, I loved the vibes here more!

Firstly, it is nowhere near as popular as Ephesus or Hierapolis in Pamukkale, which is why it’s difficult to find a guided tour and they cost more. That means it has way fewer crowds. Most times me and my husband were alone, it’s as if we had the whole site for ourselves.

At Pergamon Theatre I really fell in love with Greek theatres because it was one of the most impressive ones I have seen by that point.

You can easily buy tickets on the spot.

Asclepieion of Pergamon

Asclepieion of Pergamon is one of the most important and famous ancient medical centers.

As we were with the car, we tried to find a good road several times before giving up on visiting. The one that Google Maps suggested each time was very steep and we were afraid we might damage the car.

I think the mistake we made was to give Asclepion as a final location instead of this small parking lot/cafe.

The safest bet would be to either find a taxi or hike (apparently the difficulty is moderate).

You can also buy tickets on the spot.

Red Basilica

Red Basilica is an ancient temple which Romans built when they overtook the city of Pergamon.

What makes this temple cool and unique though is that it was dedicated to the Egyptian gods Isis, Serapis and possibly Osiris and Harpocrates.

The site was in a lot of ruins when I visited and has been ever since closed for renovation. Apparently, it is said to reopen soon, so double check when you go there if you can visit or not.

When we were there they restored one of the statues of Sekhmet, a lion-headed Egyptian goddess.

You can buy tickets on the spot.

Day 6 in Turkey: Ephesus, Selcuk & Sirince

To me personally this was one of the most exciting travel days for me because as a Historian I always dreamt of visiting Ephesus and Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven World Wonders of the Ancient World.

Besides these 2 ancient sites, if you’re a Christian and a religious person, near Ephesus and Selcuk you will find the House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she lived after Jesus’s death.

But what also surprised me positively was how cute Selcuk town is, and even more so the nearby hilltop village of Sirince. I immediately regretted that we didn’t book at least a night here, which is why I told you that you can either drive immediately to Pamukkale like us after you’re done visiting, or you can stay in Selcuk for one evening to soak up the vibe completely.

Ephesus

Firstly, let me start by saying that tickets to Ephesus are quite expensive! They start from €40 pp depending on what you’d like to cover with it. We got the full combo which included Ephesus ancient city, museum entry, terrace houses and Basilica of St John (which is in the Selcuk centre, not at the ancient site). This ticket was €65 pp at the time when we were visiting.

Personally, it’s totally worth it, especially as you will spend the majority of your day just sightseeing all of it. You can buy tickets at the entrance as the queue goes fast.

✅ You can also visit on a guided tour from Izmir, Selcuk, and even Istanbul.

Additionally, be prepared for the crowds because Ephesus is one of the most popular ancient sites in Turkey and as the nearby cruise town Kusadasi is there, you can expect a lot of people coming from cruises to sightsee, especially in summer.

The Ancient City of Ephesus was built in the 10th century BC and was one of the most important Greek cities. It came under Roman rule in 129 BC who then further developed. It is one of the best preserved Ancient Greek and Roman cities in the world.

Ephesus is enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

House of Virgin Mary

The House of Virgin Mary is on a hill near Ephesus where it is believed that Virgin Mary was living for the rest of her life upon Jesus’s death.

St. John says in the Gospel that Jesus entrusted him to take care of Mary before dying on the cross.

There is an oral confirmation of this by the Orthodox villagers of Kirkince who were descendants of the Christians of Ephesus. They had passed from generation to generation the belief of the Dormition of Mary in this place. To this day pilgrims come annually to Mary’s house on August 15th.

Needless to say that this is a very sacred place and of utmost importance to Christians. Therefore, it is forbidden to take photos inside the house. Next to it is a souvenir shop with religious things. I got the rosary to my mom, so if you, or someone in your family is of a strong Christian belief, I recommend buying something here as it would mean a world to them.

You can buy tickets on the spot.

Basilica of St. John

As mentioned, Mary and St. John came together to Ephesus where both of them stayed for the rest of their lives.

The Basilica of St. John was built in the 6th century at a site where it is believed that St. John was buried. The tomb is clearly marked and you can easily visit it inside the ruins of the basilica.

If you’ve got the combo ticket at Ephesus Ancient City, the Basilica of St. John will be included in the ticket, so make sure you don’t throw it away.

Temple of Artemis

The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was one of the Seven World Wonders of the Old World. It is predicted that the temple was built in the 6th century BC and was completely destroyed in the 5th century AD.

The temple was impressive because it had 127 columns of about 18 m (59 ft) height. Today only one column is still standing and while it is nowhere near the magnificence of how it looked before, I was still quite impressed by it.

Just the thought of knowing that I am standing on a site of once enormous World Wonder gave me goosebumps.

The Temple of Artemis is free to visit, but sadly that also means it is not that well looked after. I would have personally preferred to pay an entrance fee, but to have someone taking care of the site properly.

💡This also led to some people climbing the last remaining column, so I can’t even stress high enough how this is not only disrespectful, but is also destroying even the small part of what is actually left of the temple today. Please don’t do that!

Sirince

When I was researching what to visit on our way from Ephesus to Pamukkale, I came across a small hilltop village of Sirince, which is actually very close to Selcuk.

When I read that it’s Tuscany of Turkey, I was sold. The village is famous for its wine which they make from local fruits, such as strawberry, melon, peach and many other varieties, including grapes ofc.

Because it’s on a hill at approximately 600 m (1968 ft) above the sea level, it also meast the beautiful views are guaranteed.

We had a late lunch at the footsteps of Sirince at İkiz Çeşme Restoran, a family-owned restaurant which I highly recommend.

Afterwards we went to Sirince village centre to taste and buy some wine for later in the evening. The shop was called Mastika Sirince.

Day 7 in Turkey: Pamukkale, Hierapolis & Aphrodisias

And we’ve come to the final day of this 7 days Turkey itinerary. On this day you will visit Pamukkale, which is one of the most unique nature formations in Turkey (beside Cappadocia!), the nearby ancient city of Hierapolis and the ancient city of Aphrodisias.

Aphrodisias

I actually recommend starting your day with Aphrodisias, especially if you’ve decided to drive in the morning from Selcuk, as it’s before you reach Pamukkale.

I have to admit that even as a Historian, I didn’t hear of this place until I saw it on one of the Rick Steve’s episodes on Turkey. And I immediately knew that once I come to this part of the world, I need to visit Aphrodisias.

It’s a totally hidden gem and if you thought Pergamon was quiet, here you would actually be alone at most times! I mean, besides some really cute stray puppies and cats we spotted there.

The site is really big and well preserved, especially the Hippodrome which is the best preserved ancient stadium in the world. It would give you a good idea how Circus Maximus in Rome actually looked like.

Aphrodisias was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, so you know it’s a really important historical place.

✅ You can buy tickets on the spot and you really need a car to visit the site.

Pamukkale

Pamukkale, also called the Cotton Castle, is one of the most beautiful nature locations in Turkey.

It is famous for its white travertine terraces which were formed by centuries of flowing mineral-rich thermal waters. Honestly, I’ve never seen anything quite like it – it truly looks amazing!

There are some terraces where you can swim, so make sure to bring a swimming suit if you’re planning to do that. Also, bring a backpack because you need to take off your shoes, so it’d be easier to carry them in a backpack than in hands as you’d need to balance your body a lot of times (the pools are not easy to walk in!). You’d need a towel too.

You can buy the tickets at the counter, but bear in mind that there are two entrances, at the lower and upper pools. If you’re visiting on your own, my recommendation is to start from the lower gate because it’s a pedestrian-only entrance, which means fewer crowds. Also, most people visit on a tour and they mostly stick to the upper pools which are more busy.

The ticket covers Pamukkale, Cleopatra’s Pool and Hierapolis Ancient City.

✅ If coming to Pamukkale on a tour is your preferred choice, here are some great tours to consider.

Cleopatra’s Antique Pool

Cleopatra’s Antique Pool is an ancient spa in the city of Hierapolis where you can also swim today.

While there is no concrete historical evidence that Cleopatra visited Hierapolis, the pool still got the name after her.

Hierapolis Ancient City

Hierapolis Ancient City was founded in the early 2nd century BC and was completely abandoned in the 14th century.

The city was famous for its hot springs and as the birthplace of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus.

Hierapolis is still undergoing excavations, so I can imagine that this place would look even better in the future.

It is enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Compared to all the other ancient sites I’ve visited prior to Hierapolis, I was least impressed with it, but possibly because it is still not as excavated and restored as the others are. But, since it’s anyway included in your Pamukkale ticket, definitely take a stroll.

Is Turkey worth Visiting

Turkey is an amazing country and I believe it is becoming a more and more popular travel destination over the years.

It literally has everything: a beautiful turquoise sea, unique nature, rich history, great food and nice people. Also, it is relatively affordable to visit, especially compared to other Mediterranean destinations in Europe.

As mentioned over and over again in this blog post, you can’t assume you can visit all in a single trip, especially not in one that takes 7 full days. So, you really need to plan your visit strategically, so you can see as much as you can, but at the same time not feel like you rushed all over the place.

The great thing about Turkey is that it is super connected with most worldwide destinations, so you can come over and over again because Turkey is definitely worth visiting.

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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