20 days in Turkey & Rhodes Town 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.

Visit Hagia Sophia Mosque and Suleymaniye Cami for their historical value. Get some cultural insight at Basilica Cistern and Eyüp Sultan Mosque. There's lots more to do: explore the historical opulence of Yoros Kalesi, buy something for everyone on your list at Mall of Istanbul, and walk around Emirgan Park.

To see more things to do, ratings, reviews, and tourist information, read Istanbul trip itinerary planner.

If you are flying in from Malaysia, the closest major aiports are İstanbul Airport, İstanbul Atatürk Airport and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. Expect a daytime high around 7°C in December, and nighttime lows around 7°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 7th (Wed) to allow enough time to fly to Oludeniz.

Famous for its big lagoon, Oludeniz acts like a magnet for mass tourism, featuring some of the most photographed beaches on the Mediterranean.

Start off your visit on the 7th (Wed): fly like a bird with a parasailing or paragliding tour.

To see maps, where to stay, and other tourist information, read our Oludeniz travel itinerary planner.

Getting from Istanbul to Oludeniz by flight takes about 3 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Traveling from Istanbul in December, you will find days in Oludeniz are somewhat warmer (19°C), and nights are about the same (7°C). Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 8th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Marmaris.

One of Turkey's major port towns and tourist resorts, Marmaris sits on the stretch of the Mediterranean coastline popularly known as the "Turkish Riviera." Nestled between verdant mountain ranges and the sea, Marmaris draws sailors and divers from around the globe, its marinas packed with private yachts and tour boats.

Start off your visit on the 8th (Thu): examine the collection at Kapurcuk Kultur ve Gastronomi Evi and then enjoy the sand and surf at Icmeler Beach.

To see maps, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Marmaris trip itinerary builder app.

You can drive from Oludeniz to Marmaris in 2.5 hours. Another option is to do a combination of taxi and bus. In December, daytime highs in Marmaris are 19°C, while nighttime lows are 7°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Fethiye.

A prosperous hub of tourism on the Mediterranean coastline, Fethiye boasts one of Turkey's finest natural harbors.

You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Pazar Alanı and Kargi Nomadic Museum. Relax by the water at Sarsala Koyu and Calis Beach. Go for a jaunt from Fethiye to Golhisar to see Kibyra Antik Kenti about 1h 30 min away. Next up on the itinerary: take an in-depth tour of Fethiye Museum, do sightseeing your way with Gunay 1 Sailing Gocek, explore the stunning scenery at Saklikent Milli Parki, and explore the ancient world of Pinara Antique City.

To find more things to do, maps, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Fethiye online travel route planner.

Drive from Marmaris to Fethiye in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In December, daytime highs in Fethiye are 19°C, while nighttime lows are 7°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 14th (Wed) early enough to catch the ferry to Rhodes Town.

A conglomeration of many distinct architectural styles, Rhodes Town is the biggest urban center of the eponymous Greek island known for its golden beaches and relaxed way of life.

For maps, ratings, reviews, and other tourist information, read our Rhodes Town trip itinerary planner.

You can ride a ferry from Fethiye to Rhodes Town in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and ferry. The time zone difference moving from Turkey Time (TRT) to Eastern European Standard Time (EET) is minus 1 hour. Traveling from Fethiye in December, Rhodes Town is a bit warmer at night with lows of 13°C. On the 15th (Thu), you're off to Pamukkale.

A popular spa since the second century BCE, the modern city of Pamukkale continues to draw worldwide attention with its hot springs and travertines--naturally formed calcite bathing pools.

Start off your visit on the 15th (Thu): explore the different monuments and memorials at Anatolia Cemetery and then delve into the distant past at Hierapolis.

To find reviews, more things to do, traveler tips, and more tourist information, go to the Pamukkale visit planning site.

Getting from Rhodes Town to Pamukkale by combination of ferry and car takes about 5 hours. Other options: do a combination of ferry, bus, and taxi. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 1 hour traveling from Rhodes Town to Pamukkale. You'll set off for Antalya on the 16th (Fri).

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.

Your inner history buff will appreciate Perge Ancient City and Hadrian's Gate. Step off the beaten path and head to Antalya Muzesi and Antalya Toy Museum. Change things up with a short trip to Alanya Ataturk House Museum in Alanya (about 1h 35 min away). The adventure continues: wander the streets of Ataturk Boulevard, enjoy the sand and surf at Mermerli Beach, take in the dramatic scenery at Lower Duden Waterfalls, and examine the collection at Sandland.

To see where to stay, other places to visit, reviews, and more tourist information, read Antalya visit planner.

You can drive from Pamukkale to Antalya in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus. In December in Antalya, expect temperatures between 19°C during the day and 7°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Sun) to allow time to drive to Belek.

Boasting some of the biggest golf courses in the country, Belek sits in a landscape of pine-covered hills pressed against the Mediterranean Sea.

Start off your visit on the 19th (Mon): kick back and relax at Belek Beach, play a few rounds at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf Club, and then slough off your stress at Turkish baths.

To see reviews, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, go to the Belek day trip planner.

You can drive from Antalya to Belek in an hour. Another option is to take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 19°C in December, and nighttime lows around 7°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 19th (Mon) so you can 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.

Get a sense of the local culture at Zelve Open Air Museum and La Maison du Kilim. Head to Dowry Carpet Capadocia and Kapadokya Sanat ve Kultur Muzesi.for some retail therapy. There's much more to do: get to know the fascinating history of Güvercinlik Vadisi (Pigeon Valley), examine the collection at Guray Museum, get insight into ancient worlds with I Am Cappadocia Tour & Travel, and slough off your stress at Turkish baths.

To find where to stay, ratings, more things to do, and other tourist information, read our Goreme online trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by flight from Belek to Goreme takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Expect cooler weather when traveling from Belek in December: highs in Goreme hover around 6°C, while lows dip to -3°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Thu) to allow enough time to fly back home.