Everything You Need to Plan a Trip to Turkey

Turkey embodies the tale of two continents – straddled between European flamboyance and Asian mystique. From the deep-rooted historical magnificence of Istanbul to the chimney fairytale rugged landscape of Cappadocia, the country entices millions of tourists into its heart. 

A 7-hour flight from New Delhi lands you in the centre of the erstwhile capital Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul. The behemoth of empires reigned the Eurasian region– Roman Empire to Byzantine to Ottoman Empire unless Constantinople was renamed to Istanbul in 1930, shifting Turkey’s capital to Ankara. The lure of the magnificent history, stunning architecture with ornate facades, and the fusion of ancient with contemporary make a trip to Turkey worth all the excitement. 

Wondering what’s and how about planning your travel to Turkey? Here’s everything you need to know to get your bases covered.

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Plan out the itinerary for Turkey 

The first step towards the fruition of your Turkey trip is to charting how the itinerary. Plan on the number of days you want scrambling through the country, places you want to cover, and experiences you want to dwell upon. Although I stay away from the city, the metropolis of Istanbul is too magnificent to miss. 

For most of my international travel, I skipped the cities. My Sri Lanka itinerary was a mix of different places but gave Colombo a hard pass. However, Istanbul rears the glory of its past and gregariously bestows a phenomenal experience. Chalk out the plan depending on the number of days you have in your hands and try not to rush through the places.

Check for a one-week Turkey itinerary for first-timers (This is what I followed)

I vacationed around the country for good 8-days. I planned a 7-day itinerary for Turkey circling the cultural or historical nuances of Istanbul and getting lost in the magical landscape of Cappadocia. If you have a few days more, you can easily club Bodrum, Kas, Antalya, Pamukkale etc. Figure out what excites you the most, I say – You do you, plan your itinerary. 

How to Get Turkey Visa on Indian Passport? 

The curse of a week Indian passport- we are all in this together, unless you have a valid US/UK/Canadian etc. visa on your passport: that makes the process easier. My passport is devoid of a valid US or UK visa, had to apply for a Turkey visa with a bunch of documents, phew! On the brighter side, it’s easy to get the visa within 4 to 7 business days if you have submitted all the necessary documents. 

Here’s breaking down getting a Turkey visa from India or on an Indian passport: 

Book the visa appointment 

Apply for Turkey Visa via Gateway International. It is a third-party service provider that deals with Turkey visa applications. Schedule your appointment. The single-entry Turkey tourism visa fee is approximately Rs 17,000 which includes visa fee, visa service provider fee as well as travel insurance fee. 

Note: Make sure to cross-check if the address on your passport falls under a particular Turkey visa application centre. For example, my passport has my Guwahati Address meaning it falls under the New Delhi visa application centre. 

Documents necessary for visa application 

Prepare all the documents necessary for processing the visa application. It might slightly vary depending on the visa centre you are applying from. Here are the documents I submitted for applying for my Turkey visa:

• Manually signed visa application form 
• Original passport with a minimum validity of 6 months 
• 2 biometric photos (2.5 inch x 2.5 inch) against white background
• Confirmed reservation of return flight tickets
• Hotel reservations
• Leave letter from employer (if employed)
• Last 3 month’s bank statements (copies attested by the bank) – showing a minimum of Rs 1 Lakh
• Last 3 month’s salary slip (signed by employer)
• Travel insurance (mandatory and issued by Gateway International at the time of visa appointment)
• ITR for the last three years (I did not submit this, but better to submit it)
• Copies of the first and last page of the passport
• Tour Itinerary
• Cover letter

Download a sample cover letter  –

Check for the complete list of documents necessary for the Turkey visa application. The requirement might vary, so check the list before applying. 

Note: For people with valid US/UK visas, you can easily apply for Turkey e-visa.  

Applying for Turkey Visa for Freelancers 

Turkey visas for freelancers might be slightly complicated. However, you can always apply for the visa by submitting the above documents with a strong cover letter. Mention on the cover that you work on a freelance basis. Here’s what to add:

• Cover letter 
• ITR for the last 2 years
• 3-month personal bank statement attested by the bank

How to explore Turkey in the budget? 

Trust me when I saw that Turkey can be done without splurging or mercilessly emptying your bank account. If you are travelling solo to Turkey (like I did), you can always save money on accommodation by opting to stay in hostels.

Here’s a breakdown of my expenses for my trip:

Visa application fee for Turkey	I booked Hostel stay in a female dorm via www.booking.com for Rs  9,200 (Istanbul for 4 nights) Rs 4,500 (Cappadocia for 3 nights)    You can also opt to book cheaper accommodation as the price varies.
Round flights tickets	New Delhi to Istanbul – Rs 43000
Accommodation	I booked Hostel stay in a female dorm via www.booking.com for Rs  9,200 (Istanbul for 4 nights) and Rs 4,500 (Cappadocia for 3 nights)    You can also opt to book cheaper accommodation as the price varies.
Sight-seeing + Experiences	It’s variable, but here’s just a little head start Istanbul   Tokpaki Palace Entry Fee – 650 TRY (Turkish Lira)Galata Tower – 300 TRY (Turkish Lira)Basilica Cistern – 300 TRYBosphorus Cruise – 50 Euro   You can always purchase Istanbul Pass or Skip the Line for more experiences.   Cappadocia   ATV Tours – 40 to 50 EurosGreen Tours – 60 EurosGerome Open Air Museum – 300 TRY Uchisar Castle – 100 TRY
Food	A normal meal ranges from 90 to 200 TRY You can also try Doner for 75 to 80 TRY for a meal.
Miscellaneous	Fridge magnets range from 5 to 50 TRY. Evil eye souvenir starts from 50 TRY. You can buy souvenirs in all ranges.   Pro Tip: Kadikoy is cheaper for shopping

Public Transport and Conveyance in Turkey

Istanbul

The conveyance and public transport in Istanbul are definitely a chef’s kiss. From trams to funiculars to local buses to water transport, it’s all there. New Istanbul Airport is well-connected to the city via the HAVAIST bus service (available on -the 2^nd floor) of the airport.

Get your Istanbulkart at the airport, recharge it when needed and just one card works for all the public transport in Istanbul. Every station, be it a tram or funicular or ferry, has recharge kiosks for easily recharging the Istanbul kart. I will write a detailed article on Istanbulkart and the advantages of getting on when in Istanbul.

Cappadocia

Cappadocia too has a good network of local buses for travelling to the neighbouring towns. Gerome is a small town, but well connected to towns like Uchisar and others through local buses. If you want to explore the town on your own, you can always book a scooty or cycle for the same. Istanbul is connected to Cappadocia through buses and flights. Nevsehir Airport is the closest airport to Cappadocia. You can always book a seat on the airport shuttle via your accommodation for transfer from Nevsehir Airport to Gerome. Alternatively, you can also book a cab from the airport to neighbouring towns.

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