On your first trip to Turkey, whether your take a tour or follow your own itinerary, you can visit the top sights—Istanbul, Ephesus, Cappadocia and the western Mediterranean coast—in as little as 6 to 10 days:
In this short amount of time, you will have to get the transport just right—and transport in Turkey can be a bit complicated. One way to do it all is with a private driver-guide tour.
Of course, it's better if you can spend 11 to 15 days. This amount of time gives you the option to go off the beaten track and have some days of leisure at the beach, or shopping, or in a favorite museum or archaeological site.
Here's more on how to choose where to go in Turkey.
—by Tom Brosnahan
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