14 days in The Balkans Itinerary

A physical and cultural bridge between Europe and Asia, the transcontinental city of Istanbul serves as a living reminder of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires.

Istanbul is known for sightseeing, historic sites, and museums. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: admire the striking features of Hagia Sophia Mosque, take in the spiritual surroundings of Suleymaniye Cami , browse the eclectic array of goods at Kapali Carsi, and get engrossed in the history at Topkapi Palace.

To see reviews, traveler tips, maps, and other tourist information, read our Istanbul online travel route planner.

Antalya to Istanbul is an approximately 3.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. Plan for little chillier temperatures traveling from Antalya in May, with highs in Istanbul at 25°C and lows at 15°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 5th (Fri) early enough to catch the flight to Goreme.

Famed for its landscape of unusually shaped stone formations and churches cut into the natural rocks, Goreme sits in the central part of the country, an area originally settled during Roman times.

Goreme is known for museums, historic sites, and nature. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: enjoy unforgettable views with a balloon tour, get engrossed in the history at Goreme Open-Air Museum, Head underground at Uchisar Castle, and take in the spiritual surroundings of TokalI Church.

To see more things to do, where to stay, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the Goreme online trip itinerary planner.

You can fly from Istanbul to Goreme in 3.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or do a combination of train and bus. Traveling from Istanbul in May, plan for little chillier nights in Goreme, with lows around 11°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Mon) so you can fly to Antalya.

Offering both sandy beaches packed with modern amenities and a historical town center filled with Roman ruins and Ottoman mosques, Antalya serves as one of the country's major tourist destinations.

Kick off your visit on the 9th (Tue): delve into the distant past at Hadrian's Gate, go for a stroll along the water at Old City Marina, then visit Kaleici, and finally admire the sheer force of Lower Duden Waterfalls.

To find photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the Antalya trip planning site.

You can fly from Goreme to Antalya in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Expect a bit warmer evenings in Antalya when traveling from Goreme in May, with lows around 18°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Tue) to allow time to fly to Kusadasi.

Unreservedly dedicated to tourism, Kusadasi sits on the Aegean coastline and acts as a gateway to the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the country's major Greco-Roman archaeological sites.

On the 10th (Wed), take in the architecture and atmosphere at Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House), delve into the distant past at Ancient City of Ephesus, and then don't miss a visit to Byzantine acquaducts. Here are some ideas for day two: enjoy the sand and surf at Ladies Beach, examine the collection at Ephesus Museum, then look for gifts at Hacivat Shop, and finally contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Kaleici Camii.

To see ratings, other places to visit, maps, and other tourist information, refer to the Kusadasi trip itinerary tool.

Traveling by flight from Antalya to Kusadasi takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Antalya to Kusadasi due to the time zone difference. In May, daytime highs in Kusadasi are 28°C, while nighttime lows are 19°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 11th (Thu) so you can drive to Izmir.

The birthplace of Homer, the ancient port city of Izmir boasts a colorful heritage that includes traces of Greek, Armenian, and Jewish cultures.

Izmir is known for sightseeing, shopping, and parks. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: view the masterpieces at Arkas Art Center, make a trip to Tarihi Asansor, take a leisurely stroll along Kordonboyu, and browse the exhibits of Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center.

To see maps, traveler tips, more things to do, and more tourist information, refer to the Izmir day trip planning app.

Getting from Kusadasi to Izmir by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: take a shuttle; or take a bus. Traveling from Kusadasi to Izmir, you'll lose 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Kusadasi in May, expect Izmir to be a bit cooler, temps between 19°C and 7°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Sun) early enough to fly back home.