Turkey for First-Timers: Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, Bodrum, Göreme

The short answer

If you have a week or less, start with Istanbul and add one more place, not three. Istanbul is the only one of the five that justifies a visit on its own. For the second stop, pick Göreme for landscape, Izmir for ruins and a real Turkish city, or Antalya or Bodrum for sea and sun. Do not try all five in a week. The distances are long, and you would spend the trip in airports.

Who this is for

This is for first-time visitors choosing a base before booking flights. It compares the cities as places to stay. It is not a full itinerary for any of them.

The five bases compared

Istanbul: the one you cannot skip

Istanbul is loud, hilly and busy, and you will want at least three nights. Sultanahmet holds the big monuments close together. Expect queues at the biggest sites and heavy summer heat. Our 3-day Istanbul itinerary shows how to sequence them, and the first-timer tips cover visas, money and safety.

Helios runs several Istanbul tours:

• The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia guided tour is a shared small group of up to 12. It starts at 09:00 or 13:30 and lasts 3 hours. The Hagia Sophia ticket is reserved in advance. Hotel transfers are not included, so you make your own way to the meeting point in Sultanahmet.
• The Topkapi Palace and Harem tour is also a shared group of up to 12, with 09:00 and 13:30 starts and 3 hours on the clock. Palace and Harem tickets are booked in advance, and you get headsets for the busy courtyards.
• The Bosphorus dinner cruise is a 3-hour evening trip on a large shared boat, with a group of up to 15 booked through Helios. It passes Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy and the Bosphorus Bridge, and a night show of about 90 minutes follows. It is lively, not quiet. Alcohol costs extra, and hotel pickup is an optional add-on.

Moving between sights is part of the effort. Read getting around Istanbul before you arrive.

Göreme: the slow, early one

Göreme in Cappadocia is a small village among rock formations, and many hotels are carved into the stone. The famous balloon flights leave at dawn, so expect a very early start. They depend on the weather and can be cancelled. Days are for walking valleys and visiting rock churches. It is quiet in the evenings, and nothing here resembles a city. Getting there takes a domestic flight and then a road transfer.

Izmir: the underrated city

Izmir is where Turks go for Aegean food and a seafront promenade. It has a bazaar quarter and an easy, unhurried feel. It is also a sensible base for the ancient sites around Ephesus, though those are day trips and not a walk from your hotel. It suits travellers who want a real city without Istanbul's intensity. Fewer first-timers come, which is partly why it feels relaxed.

Antalya and Bodrum: the sea choices

Antalya has a handsome old harbour quarter, and beaches and Roman ruins lie within reach. The big resort areas sit outside the centre. Bodrum is smaller and built around its marina, a medieval castle and boat days along the bays. Both are seasonal. Outside summer, some places close and the sea is cool. In midsummer both are hot and busy. Neither is essential for a first visit if culture is your priority.

Check before you book

• Entry rules and visa requirements for your passport, on official government sources.
• Opening days and entry rules for the sites you want, especially Hagia Sophia and Topkapi.
• Domestic flight schedules and airport transfer times to Göreme, Bodrum and Antalya.
• Balloon operators' weather and cancellation terms, if Cappadocia is on your list.

FAQ

Which Turkish city should I visit first?

Istanbul. It has the densest concentration of major sights and the best transport links. Add a second base only after you know how many nights you can spare.

Can I see all five places in one trip?

Technically yes, but not comfortably in a week. Each leg needs a flight or a long road transfer, and you would see little of each place. Two or three bases suit a first visit better.

Does Helios run tours in all five places?

The Helios tours described here are in Istanbul. We do not describe tours in the other four places in this article, so check the Helios site before assuming anything beyond Istanbul.

Which base is best for a short first trip?

Istanbul on its own works for a long weekend. With five or six days, pair it with Göreme if you want scenery, or with Izmir for the Aegean coast and ruins.