Best 10 Days in Turkey — Without Romantic

Marvel at the 1,500-year-old Byzantine masterpiece that served as cathedral, mosque, and museum

Step inside the iconic six-minaret mosque adorned with over 20,000 handmade blue Iznik tiles

Explore the opulent Ottoman sultans' residence with its treasury, harem, and Bosphorus views

Navigate 4,000 shops in one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets

Descend into the atmospheric 6th-century underground cistern with its 336 marble columns

Climb the medieval Genoese tower for 360-degree views, then stroll Istanbul's liveliest pedestrian avenue

Learn to make manti, pide, and baklava with a local chef in a traditional Istanbul kitchen

Taste simit, balık ekmek, kebabs, and more across Istanbul's foodie neighborhoods

Explore a UNESCO-listed complex of rock-cut churches with stunning Byzantine frescoes

Descend eight levels into an ancient underground city that once sheltered 20,000 people

Hike through pink-hued rock formations and hidden cave churches in Cappadocia's most scenic valley

Climb Cappadocia's highest point for sweeping views of fairy chimneys and distant volcanoes

Shape your own pottery on a wheel using the red clay of Avanos, Cappadocia's ceramics capital

Stroll through a valley of fairy chimneys dotted with carved pigeon houses and the Evil Eye tree

Wander the charming cobblestone lanes, Ottoman mansions, and ancient harbor of Antalya's historic core

Watch the Düden River cascade dramatically off a cliff directly into the Mediterranean Sea

Visit the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world, still hosting performances after 2,000 years

Sample artisan lokum and traditional Turkish çay at a historic confectionery and tea garden