Turkey Road Trip: 10 and 14-Day Driving Itineraries, Leg by Leg

A 10-day Turkey road trip covers about 1,600 km of driving, from Istanbul down past Gallipoli and Troy to Ephesus, then to Pamukkale, Antalya and Cappadocia, with no single day much over six and a half hours at the wheel. Fourteen days lets you add the Lycian coast between Fethiye and Kaş for about 1,900 km in total, at a slower pace. Most people pick up the car at the airport after their Istanbul days; our page on Istanbul Airport car rental covers the desks, the documents and the HGS toll tag.

Below are both routes leg by leg, with distances and drive times from OpenStreetMap-based routing. These are approximate figures without stops: add time for fuel, lunch, photo stops and traffic, and treat the hours as the minimum. After the routes come the driving rules we could confirm from official sources, how to get back at the end, and where it pays to leave the car for a day and take a guide.

Before you plan: three things that shape any Turkey road trip

Do Istanbul without the car. Driving in Istanbul is slow and parking in the old city is hard. Spend the first two days on foot, by tram and by ferry, then collect the car on the morning you leave the city. A private car with driver is the easier option for any Istanbul day that needs wheels.

Distances are bigger than they look. Turkey is a large country, and the classic sights sit in a rough ring. The Aegean stops are close together; the jump from the coast to Cappadocia is the long one.

Plan the end first. A one-way route that finishes in Cappadocia and flies back to Istanbul saves at least one long day of driving, but rental companies often charge a one-way fee for returning the car in another city. Ask for the total before you book.

The 10-day route: Istanbul to Cappadocia

Nine nights: two in Istanbul, one at Çanakkale, two at Selçuk, one at Pamukkale, one in Antalya and two in Cappadocia.

Day 3 takes you along the Sea of Marmara and onto the Gallipoli peninsula, where the cemeteries and memorials of the 1915 campaign line the coast. Cross to Çanakkale for the night.

Day 4 is the longest Aegean day. See Troy early, about half an hour south of Çanakkale, then drive the coast road south. If you would rather split it, stop at Bergama for the night; Çanakkale to Bergama is about 223 km and Bergama to Selçuk another 182 km, which adds a day but also the Pergamon Acropolis.

Day 5 belongs to Ephesus, the Terrace Houses and the hill village of Şirince. Day 6 is a short drive inland to the travertines of Pamukkale and Hierapolis; arrive early enough to walk the terraces at sunset.

Day 8 is the big one. Antalya to Göreme is about 500 km over the Taurus mountains and across the Konya plain. Break it in Konya at the Mevlana Museum, which is almost exactly halfway: Antalya to Konya is about 267 km and Konya to Göreme about 235 km.

The 14-day route: adding the Lycian coast

Thirteen nights, with the same start and finish but more time on the Mediterranean. The extra four days go to a night in Bergama, two nights in Fethiye, a night in Kaş and a second Antalya-region day.

The Fethiye to Antalya stretch is the most scenic driving on either route. Between Kaş and Antalya you pass Demre, where Myra and the Church of St Nicholas make a good stop. The road follows the cliffs for long sections, so do not plan to make up time here.

If you want two full days in Cappadocia on this route, drop the Bergama night and drive Çanakkale to Selçuk in one day, as on the 10-day plan.

Getting back: fly, or drive to Istanbul

Both routes end in Cappadocia because that is where the road trip naturally stops. From there you have two choices.

• Fly. Return the car at Nevşehir or Kayseri airport and fly to Istanbul. Nevşehir airport is about 40 km from Göreme and Kayseri about 78 km. This is what we recommend.
• Drive. Göreme to Ankara is about 297 km, around three hours, and Ankara to Istanbul another 441 km, around four and three-quarter hours. That is 738 km and nearly eight hours of driving without stops. Split it with a night in Ankara for Anıtkabir and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and add a day to either plan.

With the drive back, the 10-day route becomes about 2,350 km in total and the 14-day route about 2,650 km.

Driving rules we could confirm

These are taken from official sources. Rules for documents in particular depend on your nationality, so check your own government's advice as well.

• Speed limits for cars. The General Directorate of Highways (KGM) lists 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on two-way intercity roads and 110 km/h on divided roads. On motorways the limit for cars is 130 km/h on KGM motorways and 140 km/h on some motorways built and operated under concession. Posted signs always take priority.
• Driving licence. UK government travel advice says UK drivers need a 1968 International Driving Permit or a UK licence notarised in Turkish, and that the 1949 permit is no longer accepted. An IDP must be bought before you leave home. Travellers from other countries should check their own rules, and rental companies set their own requirements too.
• Drinking and driving. UK advice is clear: do not drink and drive. Police fine drunk drivers and can confiscate a licence for six months.
• Checkpoints. Police checkpoints are common on main roads. Slow down and follow the officers' instructions; keep your passport, licence and rental papers in the car.

Road conditions, tolls and fuel

The UK's travel advice describes roads between major cities as generally in excellent condition, with poorer surfaces in remote areas. It also notes that accidents are common, mostly due to reckless driving, and advises extra care at night. That matches our own experience: the long legs on these routes are mostly dual carriageway, while the last kilometres to a village, a beach or a trailhead can be narrow and steep.

Motorways and the big bridges charge tolls electronically. Rental cars normally carry an HGS tag, and the company bills the tolls after the rental. The details, including how companies charge for them, are on our Istanbul Airport car rental page.

Fuel stations are frequent on the main roads. Fill up before the Taurus crossing on the Antalya to Konya leg and before any detour into the mountains.

Where to leave the car and take a guide

A road trip gives you freedom between sights, but some places are better with a licensed guide. On these routes, consider a guided day in four places:

• Gallipoli and Troy. The battlefields make far more sense with someone who knows the campaign. Our Troy private day tour is from $165 per person, and a 2-day private Gallipoli and Troy tour from $235 per person.
• Ephesus. A private Ephesus tour from $300 per person includes the guide and transport, so the car can stay at the hotel.
• Cappadocia. The Red Tour from $80 per person covers the northern valleys with lunch, which saves you hunting for parking at each viewpoint. A standard sunrise balloon flight is from $199 per person and depends on the weather on the day.
• Antalya. An Antalya city tour covering Kaleiçi, the Düden waterfalls and a boat trip is from $90 per person.

If you decide you would rather not drive at all, the same route exists as a guided package with transport. Our 10-day Western Turkey tour covers Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Antalya from $1,760 per person.

When to drive

Spring and autumn are the best seasons: mild on the coast, comfortable inland, and the roads are quieter than in summer. Summer is hot on the Aegean and at Pamukkale, where nearby Denizli averages highs close to 35°C in July and August according to the Turkish State Meteorological Service, and coastal traffic is heavy at weekends. Winter is a different trip: Cappadocia averages below-freezing lows from December to February, and snow can affect the Taurus crossing and the Anatolian plateau. If you drive between December and March, ask the rental company about winter tyres and check the forecast before the long inland day.

Tours that cover this

• 10-Day Western Turkey Tour: Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus & Antalya — from $1,760 per person, the same coast without driving.
• Gallipoli & Troy Tour: 2 Days Private — from $235 per person.
• Private Ephesus Tour — from $300 per person.
• Cappadocia Red Tour with Lunch — from $80 per person.

Frequently Asked Questions