Turkey

From 26 August to 3 September 2022 we crossed Turkey from Istanbul to Izmir: the mosques and bazaars of Istanbul, the capital Ankara, the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, the whirling dervishes of Konya, the white terraces of Pamukkale and the ruins of Ephesus.

This was the only trip we have ever done with a travel agency, on a coach tour with a Portuguese and Spanish speaking guide. The places were incredible. The format, honestly, was not for us, and we explain why below.

Was the organized tour worth it?

For us, no. We like freedom: choosing where to go, how long to stay and where to eat. On the tour we felt we were in a bubble of Portuguese travelers, moving from coach to hotel to restaurant, without really getting to know the culture of the country.

A lot of it also felt staged, and many stops were really about trying to sell us something: a jewelry center in Cappadocia, a carpet workshop in Avanos and a leather fashion show near Ephesus. On top of that, the guide kept offering paid optional extras.

The best day of the whole trip was the free day in Istanbul, when we went off on our own with our own plan.

Tip: If you do book a tour like this, keep your free days for yourself and plan them in advance. And know that the shopping stops are part of the program.

The route

• Day 1: flight from Porto to Istanbul, arriving at night.
• Day 2: Istanbul. The agency offered a panoramic tour and an optional paid visit. We spent the day exploring on our own.
• Day 3: Istanbul (Taksim, the Golden Horn and the Spice Bazaar), then the coach to Ankara.
• Day 4: Ankara and the Atatürk Mausoleum, the Salt Lake and a Seljuk caravanserai, on the way to Cappadocia.
• Day 5: Cappadocia: Göreme, the Red Valley, Avcılar and Uçhisar.
• Day 6: Paşabağ, Avanos and an underground city, then Konya and the Mevlana Museum.
• Day 7: Pamukkale and Hierapolis.
• Day 8: Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary, then Izmir.
• Day 9: flight from Izmir to Porto, via Istanbul.

What was included

We paid €1,782 for the two of us. That covered flights with Turkish Airlines, airport transfers, eight nights in hotels, all breakfasts, five lunches and five dinners, the coach, the guide from day 2 to day 8, and the entrance tickets to the main sights on the program.

Not included: drinks with meals, tips and the optional extras. The agency suggested tips of about €1.50 a day per person for the guide and €1 for the driver.

Before you go

• Documents: in 2022, Portuguese citizens needed a passport valid for more than six months, or a citizen card plus an e-visa. Check the current rules before you travel.
• Comfortable shoes: the ground in Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus is uneven.
• Covered shoulders and knees, and a scarf for women, to enter the mosques.
• August is very hot, especially in Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water.