Middle East
Turkey
The bridge between Europe and Asia, where cultures blend.
I propose a route from Istanbul, a unique city with a thousand attractions to discover, to the lunar valleys of Cappadocia, with a private gulet along the Aegean coves as the finishing touch: Ottoman history, volcanic landscape, and classic sailing.
Turkey brings very different worlds together in a single trip. Istanbul, split between Europe and Asia by the Bosphorus, concentrates centuries of Ottoman and Byzantine history — Hagia Sophia, Topkapi, the Blue Mosque — alongside a much less visited Asian side, with the Beylerbeyi summer palace and the views from Çamlıca Hill. Cappadocia, a short domestic flight away, offers one of the most singular landscapes on the planet: valleys of fairy chimneys formed by volcanic eruptions, underground cities carved out by the earliest Christian communities, and the chance to fly over it all by balloon at dawn. And on the Aegean, the coast of Bodrum allows chartering a classic gulet exclusively and sailing for several days among turquoise coves, nearly uninhabited islands, and fishing villages, alternating swimming, anchoring, and your own crew. Three ways of traveling — city, nature, and sea — that combine depending on how many days are available.
Datos del viaje
Experiences
-
Ceremony of the whirling dervishes
The Sema ceremony of the whirling dervishes, an eight-hundred-year-old Sufi rite, not a tourist show.
View experience: Ceremony of the whirling dervishes
In the historic hall of Hodjapaşa, a former 15th-century hamam converted into a cultural space, a group of dervishes turns in place during the Sema ceremony: a Sufi ritual of the Mevlevi order that represents the soul's ascent toward the divine, nearly eight hundred years old. It's not a choreography designed for tourists, but the way this religious community has practiced its faith since the 13th century — which is why the atmosphere is hushed, almost liturgical, very different from a typical folk show.
-
Private sailing on a classic gulet along the Bodrum coast
A private charter of a wooden gulet — not a shared cruise — along the coves and fishing villages of the Aegean coast.
View experience: Private sailing on a classic gulet along the Bodrum coast
Chartering the entire gulet, with your own captain and crew, completely changes the trip's pace: several days anchoring in turquoise coves like those of the Yedi Adalar archipelago, swimming in Tuzla Bay, stopping at the fishing village of Çökertme or visiting Cleopatra's Island, with no dependence on schedules or other passengers. You sail, stop to swim whenever you feel like it, and meals are served on board, on deck.
-
Turkish cooking class in a Cappadocia home
Cooking a full Turkish menu with local ingredients, with the dish itself as dinner.
View experience: Turkish cooking class in a Cappadocia home
At a family restaurant in Cappadocia, the chef guides the preparation of a traditional Turkish menu with fresh, local produce, explaining each step so it can be repeated at home. Afterward, the meal itself is served as dinner — a way to get to know Cappadocian cuisine that's much closer than a typical tourist restaurant.
-
Historic Çemberlitaş hamam
One of Istanbul's historic hamams, built in 1584 by the architect Sinan.
View experience: Historic Çemberlitaş hamam
Built in 1584 on the orders of Nurbanu Sultan and designed by Sinan, the Ottoman Empire's foremost architect, the Çemberlitaş hamam is one of Istanbul's most traditional — and most elegant. Marble domes, columns, and lanterns that let in natural light frame a bathing ritual with centuries of history: separate sections for men and women, communal areas and private cubicles, with a full massage package to finish.
-
Istanbul's Asian side: Ortaköy, Çamlıca, and Beylerbeyi Palace
The other side of the Bosphorus: the Ortaköy neighborhood, Çamlıca Hill, and the Beylerbeyi summer palace.
View experience: Istanbul's Asian side: Ortaköy, Çamlıca, and Beylerbeyi Palace
Most visitors to Istanbul never cross to its Asian side. This route begins in Ortaköy, with the Bosphorus Bridge as a backdrop, and continues to Çamlıca Hill, the city's highest point, with simultaneous views of both continents and the newest and largest mosque on the Asian shore. The visit ends at Beylerbeyi Palace, the sultan's family summer residence, where you get a sense of a much more informal kind of palace life than that of Topkapi.
Itinerary ideas
-
7 days
Essential Istanbul
Historic Istanbul, hamam, the Bosphorus, and the Asian side
View itinerary idea: Essential Istanbul
Seven full days in Istanbul, without changing cities: a full day covering historic Istanbul (Hagia Sophia, Topkapi, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar), another devoted to the Çemberlitaş hamam as a day of rest, a boat trip along the Bosphorus closing with the Spice Bazaar, an afternoon in modern Istanbul around Pierre Loti and Istiklal Street, and a day on the city's Asian side. The evening ceremony of the whirling dervishes is optional.
-
9 days
Istanbul and Gulet on the Aegean
Five days of private gulet in Bodrum and three in Istanbul
View itinerary idea: Istanbul and Gulet on the Aegean
Nine days split between two very different worlds: five of sailing on a classic gulet chartered exclusively, anchoring in Aegean coves between swims and fishing villages, followed by three nights in Istanbul with its historic day, the Çemberlitaş hamam, and the Bosphorus boat trip. A trip that combines the slow pace of the sea with the pulse of the city, with neither one shortchanged.
-
9 days
Cappadocia and Istanbul
Three nights in Cappadocia, four in Istanbul
View itinerary idea: Cappadocia and Istanbul
Two bases, without moving daily: three nights in Cappadocia, with a dawn balloon flight, a visit to the underground city of Kaymaklı, and a horseback excursion through the valleys at sunset, followed by four nights in Istanbul with its historic day, the Çemberlitaş hamam, the Bosphorus boat trip, modern Istanbul, and the ceremony of the whirling dervishes. It closes with a farewell dinner overlooking both continents.
Traveller testimonials
The organization was a success. Everything thought through down to the detail, and he made sure we were doing well throughout the whole trip! Highly recommendable
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to travel to Turkey?
From April to June and from September to October, outside the extreme summer heat and the damp winter cold. These are good months to combine Istanbul, Cappadocia and the coast, with comfortable temperatures for walking. If you travel in summer, I adjust visiting hours to avoid the heat.
How long should a trip to Turkey last and how long does it take to get there?
Between 7 and 14 days, depending on whether you stay in Istanbul and Cappadocia or add the coast. There is a direct flight from Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia to Istanbul, of 4 to 4.5 hours. With one week I recommend two bases, and with two weeks a coast can be added without rushing.
Do I need a visa to travel to Turkey with a Spanish passport?
No: Spanish citizens are exempt from a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, according to Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish authorities. However, the passport or ID card must be valid for six months from entry or you will not be allowed in. As of November 2026; check the official source.
What language and currency are used in Turkey?
The official language is Turkish, and in tourist areas English is enough to get by. The currency is the Turkish lira (TRY). Also remember that the passport or ID card must be valid for six months from entry, so check its expiry date in good time.