Türkiye
Istanbul's mosques and bazaars, Cappadocia's balloon sunrises and a superb food culture, all under five hours from Dubai.
In this guide
When to go
Spring is lovely in Istanbul, with tulips in Emirgan Park in April and highs in the low 20s by May. Summer is hot and busy, particularly over Eid, when many Gulf families arrive at once. September to November is our favourite period: warm sea on the coast, thinner crowds and good balloon conditions in Cappadocia.
Balloons fly all year when the weather allows, but winds cancel a fair number of winter flights, so we always plan two possible mornings. Cappadocia in January can be snowy and magical, with the valleys dusted white. Istanbul winters are grey and rainy, with highs around 9°C.
Where to stay and how to plan the route
Six nights is the classic split: three or four nights in Istanbul, then a one-hour domestic flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir for two or three nights in Cappadocia, as in our Istanbul and Cappadocia holiday. Stay in Sultanahmet to walk to the main sights, or in Karaköy and Galata for restaurants and views over the Golden Horn. In Cappadocia, a cave hotel in Göreme or Uçhisar is part of the experience.
With more time, add Pamukkale or the turquoise coast around Fethiye and Kaş. Layla Haddad and Omar Siddiqui plan our Türkiye trips, and Tamar Beridze leads our group departures.
Things to do
- Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern in one early morning
- Topkapı Palace and its treasury and harem
- The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, with time to bargain over tea
- Bosphorus cruise between Europe and Asia at sunset
- Sunrise balloon flight over Göreme's fairy chimneys
- Göreme Open-Air Museum and the underground city at Kaymaklı
- Rose Valley hike at golden hour
- Pamukkale's travertine terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis
Food, money and practical tips
Halal food is the default almost everywhere. Start the day with a full Turkish breakfast, and try pide, lahmacun, İskender kebab and fresh baklava in Karaköy. Prices change quickly with the lira, so cards are best for hotels and restaurants; keep some cash for small shops and tips. A 5 to 10 percent tip in restaurants is normal. Mosques ask visitors to cover shoulders and knees, and women to cover their hair; avoid visiting during prayer times. Istanbul traffic is heavy, so we use the tram and ferries wherever they save time.
Rules change; we confirm the current requirements before you apply.
Türkiye holidays from Dubai
Visa services for Türkiye
Türkiye: questions we are asked
Do UAE residents need a visa for Türkiye?
What is the best month to visit Türkiye?
How many days do we need?
Is the Cappadocia balloon flight guaranteed?
Is Türkiye family friendly?
Can we combine Türkiye with Georgia?
Travellers back from Türkiye
Great itinerary, and the internal flight to Kayseri saved us a very long bus ride. Dinner on the Istanbul evening tour was late, nearly ten o'clock, which was hard going with two jet-lagged teenagers. Otherwise smooth, and the underground city at Derinkuyu was a big hit with them.
The hot air balloon was cancelled once for wind, and Omar had it rebooked for the next dawn before we had finished breakfast. Floating over Love Valley with a hundred other balloons was the best hour of our honeymoon. Istanbul was lovely too, especially the fish sandwiches by Galata Bridge.
I wanted to show my Emirati husband the Turquoise Coast. Layla built a gulet cruise from Fethiye to Kekova, then three nights in Kaş. Swimming over the sunken city ruins, fresh fish every night, and a captain who treated us like family.
