Central Anatolia – Tour Itinerarie (Fodor’s)

This trip offers an incredible change of pace from the coasts. This is where you will find Ankara, the capital of modern Turkey, and scenary ranging from the pastoral plains surrounding Ankara to the bizarre, almost lunar landscape of the Göreme Valley. This was also the center of Hittite civilization, one of the oldest in the world.

Length of Trip: 5-6 days

Getting Around

By Car: Ankara is a  short flight, or a long drive, from Istanbul. Once you are there, a car offers the most flexibility, allowing you to go at your own pace and do some exploring off the beaten track.

By bus: Here, as throught Turkey, there are good bus connections to all the towns you’ll want to visit.

The Main Route

Two nights: Ankara. See Turkey’s capital and its superb Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. The following day, visit Hattutaş, the ancient capital of the Hittites, and the Hittites, and the archaeological site at Alacahöyük.

Two nights: Kayseri. Explore the incredible Göreme Valley and the underground cities at Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu.

One or two nights: Konya. Tour this historic Seljuk city and see the museum of the whirling dervishes.