Traversing through Turkey

Half on a whim, and half on a desire to see what all the Cappadocia madness was about, I decided to travel to the beautiful country of Turkey. These enchanting landscapes were captured late July of 2023.

If you are thinking about planning your own trip to Turkey, please feel free to reach out to me, Julie, either via this website, or email sorellasnaps@gmail.com. I also would be absolutely remiss if I didn't mention travel agent Anita Simsek, available via WhatsApp: +44 7596 742873. She was absolutely incredible and booked my airport transfers and tours. Her wealth of knowledge and personalized service were second to none. Anita will take great care of you!

Taksim Mosque located in Taksim Square, Istanbul. This square is found in the neighborhood of Beyoğlu.

Itinerary

1. 4 nights at an Air BnB in the Beyoğlu neighborhood. I was only a 10 minute walk from the Galata Tower, and a 3 minute uphill walk from the famous shopping street of Isktiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue). I loved this location! **https://air.tl/Eh2i48Fb

2. 4 nights In Göreme at the Göreme Cave Lodge. A boutique hotel that serves as a wonderful starting point for any of your Cappadocia adventures. https://www.goremecavelodge.com/en
   

3. 1 night back in Istanbul at the Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Asia Airport which is a great place to stay before a flight out of Sabiha Gocken International Airport(SAW). https://movenpick.accor.com/en/europe/turkey/istanbul/hotel-istanbul-asia-airport.html

**Please note that I do not receive any compensation for suggesting these places. I do however believe in giving recognition to, and sharing the places that I've really enjoyed. As with any type of lodging, please make sure that you read the reviews to determine if a place is right for your travel needs/style.

Air BnB in Istanbul

Air BnB in Istanbul

Göreme Cave Lodge

Göreme Cave Lodge

A fantastic shopping district located within a 2 minute walk of the Mövenpick Hotel.

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My touring plan:

1. Day 1 - arrived from Rome, checked into my Air BnB, and then did some light exploring on Isktiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue).
   

2. Day 2 - Met up with friends at the Hafiz Mustafa 1864 Cafe, cruised the Bosphorous and then finished the day with a trip to the Spice Market where we also enjoyed a traditional Turkish meal.
   

Hafiz Mustafa 1864 Cafe

Ortaköy Mosque as viewed from the Bosphorus.

3. Day 3 - Had a guided tour of the Old City, the Golden Horn, rode a cable car and then was back on the Bosphorus! Sites toured included: Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, Pierre Loti Hill and the Eyup Sultan Mosque and Tomb. Since that was not nearly enough sight-seeing for one day, I decided to finish the day by visiting Taksim Square.

4. Day 4 - Topkapi Palace and Cağaloğlu Hamam. No visit to Istanbul is complete without a visit to the magnificent Topkapi palace, and a traditional Turkish Hamam.

5. Day 5 - Flight to Kayseri airport & shuttle to Göreme.

6. Day 6 - "Red Tour" which included stops at Uchisar Castle, Göreme Open Air Museum, Love Valley, Avanos and Imagination Valley(Devrent Valley)

7. Day 7 - A very early balloon ride, followed by breakfast and the "Green Tour." Stops on the Green Tour included: a panoramic view of Göreme, Selime Monastery, Ihlara Valley, Belisirma Village, Pigeon Valley and UNESCO World Heritage site, Derinkuyu Underground City.

8. Day 8 - My day to take it easy, enjoy the pool and watch the stunning sunset over Göreme from Lover's Hill.

9. Day 9 - Time to return to Istanbul. The evening was spent doing a little shopping near my my hotel.

10. Day 10 - Time for the Turkish fairy-tale to end, with a stop over in Zürich, followed by my return to the States. Until next time!