About 16 days, adjustable
Cumalikizik Village, Gordion Ancient City, Abant Lake, Golcuk Lake and Yedigoller National Park and more
- Length
- About 8 days, adjustable
- Start / end
- Istanbul → Antalya
- Travel style
- Self-drive
- Plan
- Tailor-made for you
Overview
The Ankara variant of our classic cross-country drive puts history first. On the way to the capital you can stop at Gordion, the Phrygian city of King Midas; in Ankara itself there is Anıtkabir, Atatürk's Mausoleum, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, one of the best archaeological collections in the country.
East of Ankara lie the Hittite capital Hattusas and Alacahöyük, both easy detours before Cappadocia. After your days among the valleys and fairy chimneys, the road crosses the Taurus range to Antalya.
Highlights
- Ankara
- Gordion
- Ataturk’s Mausoleum
- Hattusas UNESCO
- Alacahoyuk
- the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
…and more along the way.
Photos from the route
Suggested outline
The order of stops on this route idea. It is an outline we tailor with you, not a fixed program.
- 1
Istanbul
Start: pick up your car
- 2
Ankara
On the way
- 3
Cappadocia
On the way
- 4
Antalya
End: return the car
Along the route: Ankara, Gordion, Ataturk’s Mausoleum, Hattusas, Alacahoyuk, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and more. How many nights you spend at each stop is up to you.
This route is a starting point. We prepare the day-by-day plan together with you, based on your dates, pace and interests.
For an idea of how our itineraries look, see the sample plan of Istanbul – Cappadocia – Antalya.
- Plan your trip. Determine your destinations and tour duration and contact us.
- Customize your itinerary. We help you plan your itinerary based on your preferences.
- Make your reservations. We handle all reservations, including accommodations and car rental.
- Explore at your own pace. Experience the simplicity and the flexibility of our self-drive system!
- Get support. Enjoy our dedicated virtual support for any issues or emergencies.
- Share your feedback. At the end of the tour, share your feedback with us to help us improve.
Guides for this road trip
Driving, car rental and the places on this route.
Istanbul to Cappadocia by Car: Route, Stops and Tips
About 730–750 km and 8–9 hours of driving. Compare the Ankara, Safranbolu and Bolu lakes routes, the best stops on the way and how to drive in Cappadocia.
The Most Popular Underground Cities in Cappadocia
Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı, Özkonak and Mazı: how Cappadocia's underground cities were built, what you see inside and how to visit them by car from Göreme.
Driving in Turkey: Rules and Tips for Tourists
Licences, speed limits, tolls, police checks, Istanbul traffic and mountain roads: the practical rules and tips tourists need before driving in Turkey.
More route ideas
About 10 days, adjustable
Antalya, Olympos Ancient City and Beach, Thermessos Ancient City, Goynuk Canyon and Karain Cave and more
About 12 days, adjustable
Cumalikizik Village, Gordion Ancient City, Abant Lake, Golcuk Lake and Yedigoller National Park and more
Tell us where you want to go
Leave your details and a few words about how you like to travel. We reply with a personal itinerary made for you.
Or call +90 533 258 64 12