Turkey Itinerary (7–12 Days): Istanbul & Antalya – Day-by-Day Plan (2025)

This Turkey itinerary is built around Istanbul as your main base, with an optional 5-day Antalya add-on for resorts and waterparks. It’s designed for families and couples who want a balance of history, Bosphorus views, nature and shopping.

The idea is simple:

• Days 1–7: Istanbul and surroundings – Old City, Bosphorus, Bursa, Princes’ Islands, Asian side and shopping.
• Days 8–12 (optional): Antalya – all-inclusive resort, waterpark, Land of Legends, Old Town and waterfalls.

You can use this as a 7-day Istanbul itinerary only or extend it into a full 12-day Turkey itinerary by adding Antalya at the end.

These internal guides give you more detail about the services and attractions mentioned in this Turkey itinerary:

• Istanbul Airport (IST) »
• Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) »
• Antalya Airport (AYT) »
• Taksim hotels »
• Sultanahmet hotels »
• Beşiktaş hotels »
• Uludağ mountain hotels »
• Downtown Bursa hotels »
• Best family resorts in Antalya »
• Istanbul Metro guide »
• Istanbul Tram guide »
• BiTaksi taxi app »
• Uber Turkey »
• Istanbul tourist buses »

Most international travelers arrive in Istanbul, either at Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side. If you’re starting your Turkey itinerary with Antalya, you’ll likely land at Antalya Airport (AYT).

• Direct and one-stop flights with airlines like Turkish Airlines and Pegasus connect Turkey to the Middle East, Europe and beyond.
• Airport details and transfer options:
  👉 Istanbul Airport (IST) guide »
  👉 Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) guide »
  👉 Antalya Airport (AYT) guide »

For a smooth Turkey travel itinerary, choose hotel areas based on sightseeing and transfer times:

• Istanbul – Taksim / Istiklal Lively and central, good for restaurants and shopping. 👉 Taksim hotels guide »
• Istanbul – Sultanahmet Perfect if you want to walk to Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. 👉 Sultanahmet hotels guide »
• Istanbul – Beşiktaş Great Bosphorus views and easy access to ferries. 👉 Beşiktaş hotels guide »
• Bursa – city & mountain Stay in Uludağ mountain hotels for snow and nature, or downtown Bursa hotels for bazaars and local food. 👉 Uludağ mountain hotels » 👉 Downtown Bursa hotels »
• Antalya – family resorts All-inclusive resorts with pools, slides and kids’ clubs work perfectly at the end of your trip. 👉 Best family resorts in Antalya »

📌 Rough hotel budget (12 days, family of 4): ~1300 – 1900 USD depending on category and season.

Istanbul has a good mix of public transport and ride-hailing apps, which makes this Turkey itinerary easier to follow without renting a car.

• 🚉 Istanbul Metro – fast for longer distances. 👉 Metro guide »
• 🚋 Istanbul Tram – ideal for the Old City and Sultanahmet area. 👉 Tram guide »
• 🚕 BiTaksi & Uber – useful with kids or late at night. 👉 BiTaksi app » 👉 Uber Turkey »
• 🚌 Hop-on hop-off tourist buses – good orientation for first-time visitors. 👉 Istanbul tourist buses »

📌 Transport budget (family, 7–12 days): roughly 200 – 400 USD including airport transfers, metro, trams and taxis.

Below is the recommended Turkey itinerary (7–12 days). The first 7 days focus on Istanbul and surroundings, and the last 5 days are an optional Antalya beach and resort extension.

Days 1–7 – Istanbul & nearby day trips

• Day 1 – Evening arrival + Taksim & Istiklal
  Check in to your hotel in Taksim, stretch your legs in Taksim Square and walk along Istiklal Street with shops, cafés and street snacks. Consider a nice dinner at one of the best dinner restaurants in Istanbul. 👉 Taksim Square » 👉 Istiklal Street » 👉 Best dinner restaurants »
  Approx. budget: ~120–160 USD (transport + dinner + small shopping).
• Day 2 – Sultanahmet: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque & Topkapi
  Classic Istanbul day: visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Take breaks in nearby cafés and walk through the historic streets. 👉 Hagia Sophia » 👉 Blue Mosque » 👉 Topkapi Palace »
  Approx. budget: ~150–220 USD (tickets + meals + transport).
• Day 3 – Bosphorus cruise, Galata Tower & Spice Bazaar
  Start with a Bosphorus cruise, then explore Galata Tower for panoramic views and end at the Spice Bazaar. 👉 Bosphorus cruise guide » 👉 Galata Tower » 👉 Spice Bazaar »
  Approx. budget: ~160–230 USD (cruise + tickets + food).
• Day 4 – Bursa: cable car, Uludağ mountain & Old Bazaar
  Take a day trip to Bursa: ride the Bursa cable car up to Uludağ mountain, enjoy views and nature, then explore the Old Bazaar. 👉 Bursa cable car » 👉 Uludağ mountain » 👉 Old Bazaar Bursa »
  Approx. budget: ~200–280 USD (transport + cable car + meals).
• Day 5 – Princes’ Islands: Büyükada & bike tours
  Escape the city to Büyükada, the most famous of the Princes’ Islands. Rent bikes or join electric car tours, enjoy sea views and local cafés. 👉 Büyükada Island » 👉 Bike & electric car tours »
  Approx. budget: ~150–220 USD (ferries + bikes + meals).
• Day 6 – Asian side: Üsküdar, Bosphorus views & Çamlıca Hill
  Cross to the Asian side: explore Üsküdar, catch Bosphorus bridge views and head up to Çamlıca Hill for sunset. 👉 Üsküdar » 👉 Bosphorus bridge views » 👉 Çamlıca Hill »
  Approx. budget: ~130–200 USD.
• Day 7 – Shopping day: malls & Grand Bazaar
  Keep your last Istanbul day for shopping: malls like Cevahir, Venezia and Istinye Park, then finish at the Grand Bazaar. 👉 Cevahir Mall » 👉 Venezia Mall » 👉 Istinye Park » 👉 Grand Bazaar »
  Approx. budget: depends on shopping (plan 150–400+ USD).

Days 8–12 – Optional Antalya beach & resort extension

If you have time, add 5 days in Antalya to turn this into a full Turkey itinerary (12 days).

• Day 8 – Flight to Antalya & check-in
  Fly from Istanbul to Antalya and check into your chosen all-inclusive resort. 👉 Best family resorts in Antalya »
  Approx. budget: ~250–350 USD (flight + resort night).
• Day 9 – Waterpark + private beach
  Enjoy the resort’s waterpark and private beach or nearby slides and pools. 👉 Waterpark + beach day »
  Approx. budget: depends on your resort (often included in the room rate).
• Day 10 – Land of Legends theme park
  Spend a full day at the Land of Legends with rides, shows and water attractions. 👉 Land of Legends details »
  Approx. budget: ~200–280 USD (tickets + transfers + food).
• Day 11 – Kaleiçi Old Town & Düden waterfalls
  Explore Kaleiçi (Antalya Old Town), its narrow streets and harbor, then visit the famous Düden waterfalls. 👉 Kaleiçi Old Town » 👉 Düden waterfalls »
  Approx. budget: ~150–200 USD.
• Day 12 – Resort relaxation & departure
  Keep your last day light: relax at the resort, enjoy the beach or pool and get ready for your flight home. 👉 Resort relaxation + departure ideas »
  Approx. budget: mainly meals and airport transfer.

📌 Total rough budget (per person, 12 days): around 1200 – 2500 USD depending on flights, hotel level, season and shopping. Families can adjust hotel category and number of days to fit their exact budget.

Istanbul is one of the best shopping cities in this region. Combine modern malls with traditional bazaars:

• Istinye Park – luxury brands and nice outdoor areas. 👉 Istinye Park guide »
• Zorlu Center – modern mall with international shopping and dining. 👉 Zorlu Center guide »
• Cevahir Mall – huge mall popular with families. 👉 Cevahir Mall guide »
• Grand Bazaar – classic covered market for souvenirs, carpets and more. 👉 Grand Bazaar guide »
• Spice Bazaar – perfect for spices, sweets and tea. 👉 Spice Bazaar guide »
• Nişantaşı – chic neighborhood with designer boutiques. 👉 Nişantaşı guide »
• Bagdat Street – long shopping street on the Asian side. 👉 Bagdat Street guide »

📌 Shopping budget: very flexible – anything from 150 USD to 1000+ USD depending on what you plan to buy.

• Travel in spring or autumn for milder weather in both Istanbul and Antalya.
• Keep at least one buffer day in Istanbul for rest or extra shopping.
• Book popular attractions like Bosphorus cruises and Land of Legends in advance, especially in peak seasons.
• Use a mix of metro, tram and taxi apps to avoid traffic stress.

Use these guides to go deeper into the most important places in this Turkey travel itinerary:

• 🇹🇷 Turkey travel hub – overview and main regions.
• 🚢 Bosphorus cruise guide – tickets, times and best routes.
• 🕌 Hagia Sophia guide – what to see and visiting tips.
• 🛍️ Grand Bazaar guide – how to navigate and what to buy.

This Turkey itinerary (7–12 days) gives you a clear structure: Istanbul for history, mosques, Bosphorus views and shopping, Bursa & Princes’ Islands for nature and day trips, and Antalya for beach resorts and family-friendly fun.

Use it as your base Turkey trip plan and adjust the number of days, hotel category and daily budget to match your travel style. With a bit of planning, Turkey can be one of the most enjoyable and flexible trips you take in this region.