Amazing Turkey by Land — Self-Launched

Land at Istanbul Airport (IST) and take the Havaist airport bus to Sultanahmet (~£4, about 90 mins) rather than a private transfer. Check into a hostel or small guesthouse in Sultanahmet or Sirkeci — you're walking distance from the big sights. Spend the late afternoon wandering the Hippodrome square, the Spice Bazaar and the Galata Bridge for sunset over the Golden Horn. Climb Galata Tower late in the day (tickets ~£22; book a slot via the official site or Klook to skip the queue) and eat a cheap balık ekmek (fish sandwich) or meze dinner on the bridge or in Karaköy.

🚌Havaist airport bus IST–Sultanahmet ~£4

🛏Hostel dorm or simple guesthouse in Sultanahmet/Sirkeci (~£20)

• →Galata Tower sunset visit
• →Hippodrome & Spice Bazaar wander
• →Golden Horn sunset from Galata Bridge

Walk the historic peninsula on foot. Start early at Hagia Sophia (entry ~£22), then cross to the Blue Mosque (free, dress modestly, avoid prayer times). Midday, head into Topkapı Palace and its Harem (combined ~£40) — allow 2-3 hours. In the late afternoon take an optional Bosphorus ferry on the public Şehir Hatları line from Eminönü (~£1-2, far cheaper than the €15 tourist cruises) or simply relax in Gülhane Park. Dinner in the Kumkapı meyhane district or cheap lokantas in Sirkeci.

🚌On foot; public ferry ~£2

🛏Hostel dorm or simple guesthouse in Sultanahmet (~£20)

• →Hagia Sophia
• →Blue Mosque
• →Topkapı Palace & Harem
• →Public Bosphorus ferry

Take an early morning intercity bus from Istanbul's Esenler Otogar or Alibeyköy to Çanakkale (~6 hrs, ~£18-22 with Metro/Kamil Koç; book onobilet or the operator's app a day or two ahead). Most backpackers stay in Çanakkale rather than on the peninsula. In the afternoon, join a shared Gallipoli day tour from Çanakkale with a small-group operator (book via GetYourGuide/Klook, ~£35-45 including ferry crossing) covering ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair and the cemeteries — doing this independently by dolmuş is possible but the peninsula is large and spread out. Evening: stroll Çanakkale's waterfront and eat at the fish restaurants by the harbour.

🚌Intercity bus Istanbul–Çanakkale ~£20; tour minibus

🛏Hostel or pansiyon in Çanakkale (~£20)

• →Gallipoli battlefields small-group tour (ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair)

Either join the same tour operator's half-day Troy trip from Çanakkale (~£30, includes the site ticket and transport) or take the local dolmuş to Troy (~£3) and explore the ruins yourself with an audio guide (site entry ~£22). Afterwards, bus south to Selçuk (via Izmir, ~5-6 hrs, ~£15-18) — Selçuk is quieter and cheaper than Kuşadası and is walking distance from Ephesus. Alternatively stay in Kuşadası if you want the beach. Check into a guesthouse or hostel, and have dinner at a lokanta in Selçuk town centre (much better value than resort-hotel buffets).

🚌Dolmuş to Troy ~£3; bus Çanakkale–Selçuk ~£16

🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Selçuk or Kuşadası (~£20)

• →Troy archaeological site
• →Evening stroll in Selçuk by the basilica of St John

Walk or take a 5-minute dolmuş to the upper gate of Ephesus and arrive at opening time (~08:00) to beat the coach crowds and heat. Entry ~£25 (Terrace Houses extra ~£8, worth it). See the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and the Terrace Houses, then walk the short path to the single remaining column of the Temple of Artemis (free). Back in Selçuk, take an afternoon bus to Fethiye (~4-5 hrs, ~£14). Check into a hostel or pansiyon in Fethiye old town (Paspatur) or along the harbour, and eat cheap gözleme and mezeler near the market.

🚌Dolmuş to Ephesus ~£1; bus Selçuk–Fethiye ~£14

🛏Hostel or pansiyon in Fethiye (~£18)

• →Ephesus ancient city & Terrace Houses
• →Temple of Artemis site
• →Fethiye old town evening

Take the local dolmuş toward Saklıkent Gorge (~45 mins, ~£2) and wade upstream through the canyon — bring water shoes and a dry bag; entry ~£7. Return to Fethiye by dolmuş, then take another dolmuş out to Ölüdeniz (~30 mins, ~£2) for the afternoon on the Blue Lagoon — free to swim, or ~£5 for a lounger on the public beach. If you want the famous paragliding (the operator charges €120), book direct with one of the Babadağ operators or via GetYourGuide (~£100-120) — and book a couple of days ahead as slots sell out in summer.

🚌Dolmuş hops ~£5 total

🛏Hostel or pansiyon in Fethiye (~£18)

• →Saklıkent Canyon wade
• →Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon beach time
• →Optional tandem paragliding

Catch a local bus or dolmuş to Dalyan (~1.5 hrs, ~£4) and join a shared river boat trip from the Dalyan jetty (turn up and negotiate, ~£15-20 pp including stops at the mud baths and the Lycian rock tombs view) — or book a fixed shared tour via Klook/GetYourGuide. Float down to İztuzu Beach (the turtle-nesting spit, entry ~£5) for a swim and lunch at a riverside cafe. Return to Fethiye in the evening for a cheap dinner at the fish market (pick your fish, pay a restaurant to grill it).

🚌Bus/dolmuş Fethiye–Dalyan ~£4 each way

🛏Hostel or pansiyon in Fethiye (~£18)

• →Dalyan river boat trip
• →Mud baths
• →İztuzu Beach

Morning bus from Fethiye to Denizli (~4-5 hrs, ~£14), then the local dolmuş up to Pamukkale village (~£1). Drop bags at a village guesthouse (many are family-run with pools and are excellent value). Spend the late afternoon on the white travertine terraces and in the Cleopatra Antique Pool area (combined Hierapolis/Pamukkale entry ~£22, terraces walkable barefoot). Stay for sunset when the light is best and the day-trippers have gone. Optional: whirling dervish ceremony in the village (~£18) or the Hierapolis museum.

🚌Bus Fethiye–Denizli ~£14; dolmuş to Pamukkale ~£1

🛏Family-run guesthouse in Pamukkale (~£18)

• →Pamukkale travertine terraces
• →Hierapolis ancient city
• →Optional whirling dervish ceremony

This is the long transfer day — buses go Denizli/Karahayıt to Nevşehir or Göreme overnight or in the day (~10-12 hrs, ~£25-30; book onobilet). If you'd rather save time, fly Denizli Çardak–Kayseri or Nevşehir with a low-cost domestic carrier (~£40-60, then a shuttle into Göreme ~£8) — worth it to protect your Cappadocia time. On arrival, check into a budget cave hostel or pansiyon in Göreme. If you're on the day bus you'll pass near Özkonak Underground City — it can be visited the following morning instead, combined with your Göreme day. Evening: watch the sunset from Göreme's Sunset Point (free) and eat testi kebab.

🚌Bus Pamukkale–Göreme ~£28 (or domestic flight + shuttle)

🛏Budget cave hostel/pansiyon in Göreme (~£20)

• →Transit across Anatolia
• →Göreme Sunset Point

If you want the sunrise balloon (the operator charges €250-290), book direct with a licensed operator or via GetYourGuide roughly 1-2 days ahead (~£150-200 for the standard 60-min flight) — it's the single best splurge of the trip. Afterwards, explore the Göreme Open Air Museum (~£10, Dark Church extra), then hike the signed trail through Pigeon Valley to Uçhisar Castle (~£3) and Çavuşin's rock-cut churches. In the afternoon, take a dolmuş to Özkonak Underground City (~£2.50 each way, entry ~£4) — less crowded than Kaymaklı. Finish with a Cappadocia arts and crafts wander in Avanos (pottery) or a cheap Turkish bath in Göreme (~£15 instead of the €30 hotel version). Most travellers fly home the next morning from Kayseri or Nevşehir — factor in a ~£10-15 shuttle to the airport.

🚌Dolmuş hops ~£6; airport shuttle ~£12

🛏Budget cave hostel/pansiyon in Göreme (~£20)

• →Optional sunrise hot air balloon
• →Göreme Open Air Museum
• →Pigeon Valley hike to Uçhisar
• →Özkonak Underground City
• →Avanos pottery or Göreme hammam