Here's a comprehensive guide for you to see the best of Turkey, all within the minimal time period of five days
Turkey offers you a vast variety of landscapes, culture, and activities. PHOTO: Maliha Siddiqui
KARACHI: With the increasing popularity of Turkish soap operas among local audiences, Turkey is slowly gaining traction as a wildly popular tourist destination for Pakistanis.
Among its popularity points are the easily available halal food options and cultural similarities to Pakistan. One of the biggest factors, however, is the fact that compared to its European neighbors Turkey remains a relatively inexpensive choice for a holiday.
Here's a comprehensive guide for you to see the best of Turkey, all within the minimal time period of five days:
Day 1: Istanbul
Where to stay:Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center
This hotel offers respite to the traveler who would prefer some peace and quiet. While many travelers choose to stay at hotels located directly at Taksim Square, it may not always be the best option for those seeking a certain amount of tranquility. Hilton is located at a 5-10 minute drive from Taksim Square and is both comfortable and relatively affordable. Keep an eye out for summer sales exclusive to this hotel in order to make the most of your money.
What to do:Spend the day at Sultan Ahmet Square and Taksim Square
For the history buff, Sultanahmet Square offers a wide variety of historically significant sites. Located at the Square are the infamous Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque, pictured above), Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern (pictured below).
Visiting all of these sites and admiring the beautiful architecture should take up a good part of your day. A point to be noted is that most historical sites and museums in Turkey close around 6pm and remain closed for the entire day on Monday.
PHOTO: VIRTUALTOURIST.COM
Having explored the historical side of Istanbul, what better way to relax than to do a little shopping? Head over to Istiklal Avenue at Taksim Square to get your fill of both Turkish and International stores. Once you've had your fill of shopping, you can relax at one of the many restaurants and cafe's at Taksim Square. Especially popular are the Rooftop cafe's that offer Turkish Tea and a view of the entire square.
A word of warning: Navigating your way through Istanbul in a Taxi can be a bit of a challenge. Local Taxi drivers are known to swindle their customers very frequently. In order to avoid these situations, it is best to approach the closest five-star hotel to your location (there are many of them close to each tourist spot) and to ask the concierge to get you a taxi. Most five-star hotels have their own assigned taxi's and they charge you according to a meter.
Another way to save being swindled, is to open Google maps and navigate the taxi through the shortest route possible.
Day 2: Izmir
Where to stay:Swissôtel Büyük Efes İzmir
Located very close to the ocean front, this hotel offers affordable luxury and excellent customer service. Hotel staff is highly accommodating and very helpful. An additional bonus is the various art installations located all over the hotel, making for an interesting and unique hotel experience.
What to do:Explore Ephesus
Located at about an hour's drive from Izmir, the city of Ephesus is one of the largest ancient cities of Turkey. Currently it is believed that only about 30 per cent of the city has been excavated and the remaining is still buried underground. Made almost entirely of marble, the city is a wonder to behold. Many of its impressive architectural accomplishments remain standing today while many others have been restored in recent times. Highlights of the ancient city include the Shrine of Virgin Mary, the Library and the Great Theatre.
Day 3: Antalya
Where to stay:Kempinski Hotel the Dome
Located just outside of Antalya in Belek, this hotel is the ultimate luxury resort and spa. Antalya is known as a resort destination, the Kempinski truly offers the best that resort life has to offer. From a full service spa and salon to a massive swimming pool and access to a variety of water sports at the beach, this hotel is the ideal getaway.
What to do:Duden Waterfalls and Old City Antalya
Duden waterfalls offers an absolutely breathtaking visual. The picture-perfect scenery will provide you with the perfect backdrop to take a series of stunning photographs. If you're looking for respite from the heat, duck into one of the many caves behind the waterfalls, or step out and grab some Dondurma (Turkish ice cream).
Spend the rest of the day wandering through Old City Antalya. The City offers many quaint little shops and restaurants. If you're looking for a meal with a view, wander over to the harbor. Eat at one of the many outdoor cafe's here while enjoying the postcard-worthy scenery around you.
Day 4: Ankara- Cappadocia
Where to stay:While it may be the capital of Turkey, a day trip to Ankara should suffice. We recommend driving from Ankara to Cappadocia during the latter half of the day in order to view the Salt Lakes and picturesque Turkish countryside along the route. The drive takes approximately four and a half hours.
What to do:Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk and Anatolian Civilizations Museum
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk has been credited with the revival, modernization and success of present-day Turkey. Therefore it is only fitting that he be commemorated in such a splendid manner. Ataturk's mausoleum contains not only his grave but an entire museum dedicated to his personal and life's work. Even if you are not particularly fond of history, a trip to the mausoleum is worth just to see the breathtaking view of Ankara from atop.
For history buffs, the Anatolian Civilizations museum has everything you need. The museum contains artifacts from the many extinct civilizations that used to occupy the area. The museum won the 'European Museum of the Year' award in Switzerland in 1997.
Day 5: Cappadocia
Where to stay:Museum Hotel
Cappadocia has a very unique collection of boutique 'cave hotels'. The Museum Hotel is one such example. Built over a period of 4 years, the hotel has all the aspects of a luxury boutique hotel yet still manages to preserve the essence and romanticism of the caves that it is built in. In addition to this, the hotel is intentionally named 'museum' because it houses many unique historical artifacts.
What to do:Hot air balloon rides, Goreme Open Air Museum, Avanos, Fairy Chimneys, Imagination Land, Pigeon Valley, Dervish Performance
Cappadocia offers a variety of activities. Start your day off by literally rising with the sun in a hot air balloon, while taking in the gorgeous landscape of the valley below you.
Then venture on to Goreme open-air museum, where you can explore centuries-old churches carved into mountainside caves.
Venture on to Imagination Land, which has been featured in films such as the original Planet of the Apes.
Let the majestic Fairy Chimney's evoke your imagination even further.
Stop over at Panorama point to take in the breathtaking view of Pigeon Valley.
Finally, stop over in Avanos to try some local cuisine and admire the local ceramics work.
Cap off your day, and your trip to Turkey, with a memorable and moving Dervish Performance.
Whatever your itinerary, Turkey offers you a vast variety of landscapes, culture, and activities. So make the most of your next vacation and take a trip to this beautiful country for a truly unforgettable experience!
Source: 5 days, 5 cities: A comprehensive guide to exploring Turkey
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