About 16 days, adjustable
Cumalikizik Village, Gordion Ancient City, Abant Lake, Golcuk Lake and Yedigoller National Park and more
- Length
- About 5 days, adjustable
- Start / end
- Istanbul → Izmir
- Travel style
- Self-drive
- Plan
- Tailor-made for you
Overview
A short one-way drive from Istanbul to Izmir that covers the main Aegean sites. Gallipoli and Troy are on the first day's road along the Dardanelles; Pergamon and Ephesus follow as you head south.
With an extra day inland you can add the travertines of Pamukkale, the ruins of Hierapolis and Aphrodisias before returning the car in Izmir, the third-largest city in Turkey.
Highlights
- Troy UNESCO
- Pergamon UNESCO
- Ephesus UNESCO
- Pamukkale – Hierapolis UNESCO
- Aphrodisias UNESCO
- Gallipoli
…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.
Along the route: Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Pamukkale – Hierapolis, Aphrodisias, Gallipoli, 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 to Dalyan.
- 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 Izmir Drive: Fastest Route vs Scenic Route
About 480 km and 5–6 hours on the motorway, or 2–4 days via Gallipoli, Troy, Assos, Ayvalık and Pergamon. Which Istanbul to Izmir route suits you?
Turkey Road Trip Itinerary: 7, 10 and 14 Days
Day-by-day Turkey road trip itineraries for one week, ten days and two weeks: Aegean ruins, Cappadocia and the Lycian coast, plus seasonal and family variants.
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