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[ad_1] Turkey is an incredible country packed with breathtaking scenery, ancient ruins, tasty food and a unique culture. It is also huge and working out all the logistics of your own Turkey itinerary can be complicated and just about impossible. We found budgeting difficult thanks to the extremely high inflation and navigating the transport system was terrifying (until we worked it out). That’s why we decided to put together this extremely detailed itinerary, which when complemented by our Turkey travel guide, should give you everything you absolutely need to plan the perfect trip to Turkey. Below we’ve outlined our perfect itinerary which ensures you hit all the essential, most impressive sights across Turkey, including Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Pamukkale and Ephesus. The itinerary is extremely detailed, including prices (in US dollars due to the inflation in Turkey), timings, accommodation picks and our top tips. You should be able to plan your trip completely right here without needing to look anywhere else, however, we always encourage additional research prior to arriving at each of the sights – especially if you aren’t booking guides along the way. The Perfect Itinerary We spent weeks travelling around Turkey to come up with what we consider to be the perfect itinerary for first timers. It is designed around a fast-paced, whirlwind 14 day trip, however, you can easily adjust it for shorter trips by removing any destinations below. Similarly, if you have extra time, I’d highly recommend adding extra time to either Istanbul or the coastal towns of Antalya, Kas and Fethiye. Istanbul has so much culture and history to soak up whilst the coastal towns perfectly combine beachside relaxation with ancient ruins. If you prefer a slower pace of travel, then you could easily cut out the coastal towns of Antalya, Kas and Fethiye and add some days to the other destinations. I guarantee you won’t regret spending more time in Istanbul or Cappadocia. Taking into account geographic proximity and the number of things to do in each location, here is our recommended guide: 3 days: Istanbul (must-do) +3 days: Cappadocia (must-do) +2 days: Antalya +1 day: Kas +1 day: Fethiye +0.5 day: Pamukkale +2 days: Selcuk (Ephesus) +2 days: Cannakale (Gallipoli) This route is what we recommend as the ‘standard’ Turkish holiday route and it really is perfect for first-timers. It ticks off all the must-dos and for this reason we consider it the perfect two weeks. If you only have a week in Turkey, go with 4 days in Istanbul and 3 days in Cappadocia, or maybe squish in Selcuk for Ephesus. What is Missing From the Perfect Itinerary? Well, we’ve had to leave out a lot. Turkey is a huge country and it is packed with incredible tourist attractions. We’ve made the call to only include the essentials in the Turkey itinerary above, but we’ve left out about half the country. If you have extra time and enjoy exploring further off the typical tourist track, then consider visiting Ankara (the capital), Uzungol, Lake Van, Trabzon, Karz, Gaziantep, Adana and Mount Nemrut. Although we’ve left a lot out, don’t worry, we’ve also included a lot. We’ve made sure that you’ll tick off the best of Turkey in just two weeks with this itinerary. Two Weeks in Turkey With the outline above, we’re ready to dive into a day by day breakdown of how your trip will look. Remember, it’s generally pretty easy to remove any of the destinations below if you have less time. Day 1 – Istanbul Sim Cards & Cash Firstly, you’re going to need to sort a few admin things before you get your trip started. I recommend reading our entire Turkey travel guide for everything you need to know before visiting Turkey.  To get set up with a sim card, head straight to Airalo and purchase a Turkish esim online here for around $12 or $18 USD. You can do this from your hotel’s wifi or with the free airport wifi. The tourist sims in Turkey are essentially scams at roughly $41 USD each. They don’t deserve to have customers which is why we wrote an entire guide to purchasing a tourist sim card in Turkey. You can also read more about buying Turkey sim cards here. Next, make sure to withdraw a few thousand Turkish Liras from an ATM. Locating your nearest Ziraat Bankasi ATM will enable you to save ATM withdrawal fees, but pretty much any ATM is safe to use in Turkey. Top Travel Tip! We’ve been using Wise travel card to pay for EVERYTHING while we travel all around the world! Trust me, it’s better than your bank card and it costs less than $10 then it’s free forever. If your phone doesn’t support esims then you’ll need to seek out a Turkcell or Vodafone shop and pay the extortionate prices. Transport Now you’re ready to get your day started. Today we will be exploring the touristic centre of Istanbul, Sultanahmet. If you’re staying in Karakoy (which we highly recommend) you’ll want to catch the T1 Tram. If you’re staying in Sultanahmet then you’ll be able to walk everywhere today. To use the tram (or any public transport in Istanbul) then buy an Istanbulkart from a ‘Biletmatik’ machine and load some cash onto the card. To help you navigate Sultanahmet, you can save the Google Maps Route for today here. Hagia Sophia – 8:30am Head straight to the Hagia Sophia mosque in the heart of Sultanahmet. It is only a few minutes walk from the Sultanahmet tram stop. If you are running early, I recommend walking to the Fountain Sultan Ahmed III located here. This location offers a lovely view of the mosque. At 8:30am, join the queue which will begin forming around the courtyard. At 9:00am sharp the mosque will open and the queue will begin moving into the mosque fairly quickly. If you arrive later than 8:30am then you may be waiting a lot longer to get in. I would ignore the

[ad_1] Being the capital, Sofia is one of the best places to visit in Bulgaria. This city is packed with culture, history, architecture and amazing people. There’s plenty of fantastic things to do in Sofia ranging from churches and mosques to beautiful, scenic locations. Exploring the sights in the city center are a must-do for everyone visiting Sofia.  Following this, we reckon it’s a good idea to head out on day trips depending on how much time you have remaining. Rila Monastery and Vitosha Mountain are the obvious picks, but Belogradchik is another breathtaking option. You can even visit Plovdiv from Sofia if you aren’t already planning to spend some nights there. Things to Do in Sofia 1. Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral It should come as no surprise that the incredible Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is at the top of this list. This Eastern Orthodox cathedral was completed in 1912 and built as a tribute to the Russian soldiers who died in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878.  This was a particularly pivotal war for Bulgaria as these soldiers fought and died to liberate Bulgaria from the reign of the Ottoman Empire, returning Bulgaria to the people who live there. The cathedral is monumental, standing 53m high with a capacity of 5,000 worshippers; we were told it was the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the world until the year 2,000 when the Serbs bought a larger one. Entrance to the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is absolutely free and it is a must-visit for anyone exploring Sofia. 2. Take a Day Trip to Rila Monastery Being such a small country, there are a lot of achievable day trips from Sofia. Visiting the Rila Monastery is the most popular one and we’d recommend it as the most important day trip. If you have more time, of course, you can check out some others but look into doing this one first. Unfortunately, getting to Rila Monastery is just about impossible by public transport, especially if you wish to explore the nearby lakes. It is a roughly two hour drive so your best bet is to book a tour that includes the 7 Rila Lakes as well. We recommend this popular one which takes 12 hours and is pretty cheap. Make sure to check that the chairlift is operating for the lakes. The monastery itself is a pivotal part of Bulgaria’s history, having been built around 1,000 years ago by the students of the hermit Ivan of Rila, who the monastery was named after.  It is also a UNESCO world heritage site, however, many people visit to see the unique designs of the buildings, particularly for their striped paintwork. This makes it one of the most impressive and unique monasteries in the region, as well as one of the most important historically. If you’re on a budget, or the lakes are inaccessible (this happens outside of Summer), then this is the best tour. It is really cheap as it combines Boyana Church with Rila Monastery, but skips the Rila Lakes. We reckon the lakes are worth the extra cost if you can afford it, though. Top Travel Tip! We’ve been using Wise travel card to pay for EVERYTHING while we travel all around the world! Trust me, it’s better than your bank card and it costs less than $10 then it’s free forever. 3. See the Regional History Museum aka Central Mineral Baths The Central Mineral Baths were originally, as the name suggests, the place where residents headed when they needed a bath. It was used up until 1986, however, from the early 20th century it became increasingly common for people to have water plumbed into their houses, reducing the need to head out for a bath. These days, don’t bring your towel when visiting the baths. They’ve since been converted into the Regional History Museum which is a fantastic museum displaying the history of Bulgaria. 4. Visit the Saint Sofia Church Located next to the much more famous Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Saint Sofia Church is the oldest church in Sofia dating back to the 4th century.  Interestingly, there was a statue of Saint Sofia erected in the city by the Bulgarian government which incorrectly assumed the city was named after the Saint. Instead, the city was named after the Saint Sofia Church.  This is because many people visiting Sofia, known as Serdika at the time, were actually visiting the Saint Sofia Church and the name became essentially synonymous with the city so they decided to change it. As a result, everyone hates the statue in Sofia, but they love the church and we can see why.  5. Hike to Boyana Waterfall The Boyana Waterfall is a scenic waterfall located on Mount Vitosha. It is easy to take public transport to the starting point of the hike at the foot of the mountain here.  We found the hike to the top somewhat challenging and the footing quite slippery without hiking boots but absolutely do-able in May. The waterfall itself is beautiful and the park is peaceful and tranquil. 6. Explore the Ancient Serdica Archaeological Complex When the council was digging the tunnel for the Sofia subway they came across ruins from the ancient city of Serdica. Construction of the tunnel was paused to allow archeologists to excavate the ruins, unveiling what you can see today. The ruins date back to the 2nd Century and it’s cool how you can see them preserved, for free, as you walk through the train station.  7. Sit Inside the Banya Bashi Mosque During the Ottoman rule of Sofia the Banya Bashi Mosque was constructed. There was once hundreds of mosques around Sofia, however now it is the only functioning mosque in Sofia as most of the country has converted to Orthodox Christianity. It is an imposing construction, standing tall in the middle of town and made entirely out of bricks. The name Banya Bashi translates to ‘many baths’, likely due to its location on top of natural thermal spas.

[ad_1] Italy is a fascinating place to visit any time of the year, with its rich tapestry of culture, history, and natural beauty. But if you’re wondering the best time to visit the country, our guide below can help you. Whether you plan to visit the wineries, beaches, or sporting events, we offer insights into the best time to visit Italy to make the most of your holiday. The Best Time to Visit the Wineries Italy’s grape harvest season, or “vendemmia,” typically occurs from late August to early October. It’s an exciting time to visit the country to witness the grape-picking process and participate in grape stomping in various wineries across the country.  Spring, from April to June, is also an excellent time to visit the Italian wineries. During this period, vineyards come to life with lush greenery, allowing you to enjoy them in all their glory. Furthermore, spring enjoys mild weather, which makes exploring picturesque landscapes and enjoying wine tastings more favorable. The best time to visit Italy’s vineyards can vary depending on the wine region. For instance, Tuscany, Piedmont (literally meaning “at the foot of the mountain”), and Veneto have distinct microclimates that influence the timing of grape harvest and wine festivals.  It’s crucial to research individual regions and their wine-making seasons to tailor the visit according to personal preferences and activities you wish to do, whether it’s witnessing the grape harvest or enjoying the scenic beauty of vineyards in full bloom.  The Best Time to Join a Tour For visitors looking to join a tour in Italy, you will need to consider an array of factors. The crowd levels and weather preferences are aspects you will want to think about before booking your excursion. Generally, the spring months of April to June and the autumn months of September to October are considered optimal for sightseeing across the country.  The spring months have mild and pleasant weather, with fewer tourists crowding the popular attractions. You can explore iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum in Rome, the canals of Venice, or the art-filled streets of Florence with ease and comfort. In addition, the shoulder seasons offer opportunities to witness cultural events and festivals from different Italian regions. From the vibrant Venice Carnival to the Palio horse race in Siena, Italy comes alive with colorful celebrations during these times. While bustling with energy and activity, summer can also be hot and crowded, particularly in popular tourist destinations like Rome and Venice. You may find it challenging to navigate through crowded streets and long queues under the scorching sun. Winter in Italy runs from November to February and has a much quieter atmosphere than summer. However, some attractions may have reduced hours or closures. Still, it’s an excellent time to experience Italy’s festive holiday traditions and soak up the charm of historic sites adorned with holiday decorations. The Best Time for Beaches The summer months of June to August are the most popular times to visit Italy’s beaches, especially along the coasts of Sicily, Sardinia, Amalfi Coast, and Puglia. Summer’s warm and sunny weather is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying water sports. The vibrant beach culture comes alive with beach clubs, seaside cafes, and lively waterfront promenades. However, it’s essential to note that the beaches can become crowded, and accommodations may be more expensive in summer since it’s the peak season. Those seeking a quieter beach experience with milder temperatures can visit during the shoulder seasons of late spring (May) and early autumn (September to October). During these months, the weather is still pleasant, and the beaches are less crowded, offering a more tranquil atmosphere for relaxing and enjoying water activities. Winter is generally not considered the best time for beach visits in Italy due to cooler temperatures and reduced amenities. However, some may still enjoy the serene beauty of coastal landscapes and off-season rates at beachside resorts. In general, the best time to visit the beaches of Italy varies depending on personal preferences and other factors. Each season presents a unique charm and experience for beachgoers to enjoy. The Best Time for Sporting Events  The best time for sporting events in Italy largely depends on the type of sport and the specific events you wish to attend. Italy is renowned for its passionate sports culture, with diverse events throughout the year. Football is the most popular sport in Italy, and the Serie A football season typically runs from August to May, with matches held on weekends. Witnessing a football match at iconic stadiums like San Siro in Milan or Stadio Olimpico in Rome is a thrilling experience for sports enthusiasts. In early September, motorsports fans gather at the iconic Monza Circuit to witness the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix. The Italian F1 race is one of Italy’s most prestigious sporting events, creating an unforgettable experience for motorsports fanatics. In addition, Italy hosts various cycling races, such as the Giro d’Italia, one of the world’s most prestigious cycling events, usually held in May. Tennis, basketball, rugby, and volleyball also have significant followings in Italy, with events and matches happening all year round. The Best Time for a City Break Generally, the spring months of April to June and the autumn months of September to October are ideal for city breaks in Italy. During these periods, the weather is mild and pleasant, perfect for exploring Italy’s vibrant cities without the intense heat or heavy tourist crowds of summer. Springtime brings blooming flowers, outdoor cafes, and cultural events, making it an enchanting time to visit picturesque cities like Rome, Venice, and Florence. The autumn months offer similar advantages, with fewer tourists and comfortable temperatures ideal for sightseeing through historic streets. Summer (July to August) can be hot and crowded in many Italian cities, with high tourist numbers and some businesses closing for holidays. However, it’s still a popular time for travellers seeking lively atmospheres and cultural festivals. Winter offers a quieter city experience, but some attractions may have reduced hours or

[ad_1] If you’re visiting Turkey then you’re undoubtedly going to need a sim card. Having access to the internet when you’re travelling makes navigating new cities easy. You can find the best restaurants, directions to your accommodation, book a taxi and send photos back to your family – all whilst on the go. Roaming is always an option, but the fees quickly add up when travelling internationally, so we always recommend either an eSIM or a local sim card to get access to local phone rates. Fortunately, getting either an eSim or local sim card in Turkey is super easy, but it helps to know which one is best!  We were recently in Turkey and were shocked to find the prices of sim cards to be amongst the highest we’d seen in any country we’ve visited. We quickly realised the stores in Istanbul are indirectly colluding to fix the price of tourist sim cards in Turkey high. Lovely. This guide is designed to tell you everything you need to know about buying a sim card in Turkey, including up to date pricing and the absolute best sim card for you to buy. Best Sim Card in Turkey for Tourists The best sim card in Turkey is actually to not get one in Turkey at all. We visited all the different sim card providers in Turkey, we even visited numerous stores for each provider, and came to the conclusion that the prices are essentially fixed and they’re all ripping tourists off. We hate it and think you should boycott it. For this reason we recommend that anyone with an eSim compatible phone purchases an Airalo eSim here before arriving in Turkey or on arrival. Why? Well, Turkey is one of those unique countries where it’s actually significantly cheaper to buy an eSim than it is to buy a local sim card. And it’s not just cheaper, it’s also way more convenient. The process of buying one of the local sim cards in Turkey can be elaborate, requiring navigating the traffic to the nearest store and then waiting while they register your passport and set up your sim card – usually at LEAST half an hour. Your eSim can be up and running in minutes from the airport wifi or your hotel room. We have an entire section later in this guide dedicated to eSims in case you need more information, so more on this later. But long story short, buy this eSim before you arrive in Turkey – don’t buy one there. The eSim prices are below, buying a sim card in stores in Istanbul costs around $30-40 USD (we were there recently) – and that’s if you get a good price. What about people without eSim compatible phones? Most phones produced these days are compatible with eSims (including all iPhones produced since 2018). But some aren’t. If you’re not yet one of the lucky people with an eSim compatible phone then your only option is to purchase a local sim card. The good news is you can use any of the three sim card providers in Turkey: Vodafone, Turk Telekom and Turkcell. Though we’d give the edge to Turkcell if you get to choose.  The bad news is unless you are a Turkish citizen, you will not get to choose your sim card. You will have to purchase their tourist sim which will be registered with your passport. It will take a while and it will cost you way too much. Turkey Sim Card Prices A Tourist Sim Card in Turkey costs around $30 USD, or 28 EUR, but they can easily cost as much as 40 USD, or 37 EUR, depending on the store you visit. A Turkey eSim will cost between $4.50 USD and $26 USD depending on how much data you require, but for most travellers the $12 USD eSim is perfect. As you can see, sim card prices in Turkey are extortionate. We enquired at the airport, as well as Turkcell, Vodafone and Turk Telekom stores all around Istanbul and received similar prices from each store. An Airalo is undoubtedly your best option right now and we highly recommend this option. Note on Currencies: Turkey has extremely high inflation which causes all the prices you see online to be out of date within a matter of weeks. Even though we just visited recently, the price in Turkish Lira has likely already changed so it is more useful for us to provide the price in USD or EUR, even though you will need to pay in Turkish Lira once you arrive in Turkey. Turkish Sim Card Providers Turkey has several prominent SIM card providers that offer reliable services and extensive coverage.  Turkcell, as the largest mobile network operator, provides a wide range of prepaid and postpaid plans with flexible options for data and calling.  Vodafone Turkey is known for its strong network infrastructure and appealing package deals, including affordable international calling rates.  Türk Telekom, the national telecommunications company, offers reliable service and diverse plan choices.  Other notable providers include Avea, which provides competitive rates and package options, as well as MVNOs like Turk Telekom Mobile and PTTCell.  With these providers, customers in Turkey have a variety of options to choose from based on their preferences and needs. Turkcell Tourist Sim  Turkcell provides excellent tourist SIM cards in Turkey, ensuring seamless connectivity during your visit. With wide coverage and fast internet speeds, you can navigate, communicate, and share your experiences effortlessly.  Turkcell offers flexible data plans to suit your requirements, allowing you to stay connected throughout your journey.  You’ll experience reliable and convenient communication with Turkcell’s tourist SIM cards. Turkcell Turkey Tourist Sim Price The price of a Turkcell tourist sim card in Turkey varies between $30 and $40 USD, or 28 and 37 EUR. It is not possible for a non-Turkish resident to purchase any other sim plan from here. The plan offered by all Turkcell stores includes 20 GB data + 200 minutes + Free

[ad_1] Best Beaches In Costa Smeralda Near Porto Cervo Costa Smeralda beaches are indeed a dream come true for every beach lover. Do you love the Caribbean Sea? Then you’ll love the beaches in Costa Smeralda, maybe even more! Click on your favorite beach to read about it and check my suggestions for the best hotels near each beach. Enjoy my beautiful Sardinia! Costa Smeralda Best Beaches Map If you want to know where they then stop here! I will guide you through the most enchanting ones with my map of the most popular Costa Smeralda beaches. I’ll give you advice on the best hotels and where to stay close to a specific beach, and how to get to the beach as only a local could do! The Costa Smeralda, located on the northeast Sardinia coast, is one of Italy’s most famous and beautiful beach areas. In this article, I will list all the best beaches in Costa Smeralda and everything you need to know about them. From the beaches’ principal activities and amenities, the closest and most excellent hotels to the beach, tours, and things that not everybody knows. You’ll learn how to get around if you stick with me till the end! Costa Smeralda might be expensive (even tough, not impossible for a Holiday on the cheap side). Still, its vibe is second to none of the poshest destinations in Italy, and its beaches are just the cherry on top of a fabulous location in Sardinia! Tips On How to Get to the Costa Smeralda Beaches You must rent a car to get to the beaches in Costa Smeralda. Without a car, you won’t be able to reach 90% of the best beaches in the area. If you want to move freely around Sardinia (and in Costa Smeralda) you’ll need to rent a car. Posters on sites like TripAdvisor and in the comment section frequently ask for recommendations for rental companies, so much so that this is one of the “Top questions about Sardinia.” The information linked here aims to give you tips about having a good experience with car rental on the island. I recommend one of the sites I’ve used myself more than once, which will find the best deals for car rentals in Costa Smeralda (from Olbia or any other major city in Sardinia like Alghero and Cagliari). Check out the link below and if you want to experience the best of what the Costa Smeralda beaches have to offer, you can get ahead and rent your car online. It’s sometimes much better than stressing yourself at the airport. I highly recommend you book as soon as possible, especially for the Costa Smeralda, because the prices close in on the summer season and the cars’ availability becomes scarce. SPIAGGIA DEL PRINCIPE Below is a video you can NOT miss! In Arzachena (a pretty convenient place to stay near the Costa Smeralda beaches but not on the sea), this lovely place is called Aldo B&B. The owner shoots amazing videos, including several of the beaches I mentioned. If you watch this, you’ll fall in love with Sardinia before you even arrive and want to book your holidays immediately! Principe Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Costa Smeralda for its wild beauty and its proximity to the lovely village of Porto Cervo.  The pristine waters and the typical rock formations at the end of each side of the beach make it an unmissable spot in Costa Smeralda. Spiaggia del Principe is also known by many as one of the most beautiful beaches not only in Sardinia but in Italy (and Europe). I lived in Mexico and the Philippines for a while and I can guarantee you that this beach has nothing to envy to the Caribbeans, the Philippines or even the Maldives! For this reason, Principe Beach is at the top of my list of the best beaches in Costa Smeralda. Its wow factor will sweep you away, and you’ll love swimming and snorkeling in its turquoise and transparent waters. The 250-meter-long beach is not far from the famous village of Porto Cervo and is easily reachable by car. It is perfectly perfect in every possible way! Parking Fees at Spiaggia Del Principe: It only costs 1,5 euros per hour or 7,5 euros for the whole day. The walk from the parking lot to the beach is around 10 minutes. Beach Main Features SnorkelingSuitable For Families and kidsParking space (free and paid)Small bar for drinks/lunch Hotels On The Beach There are NO HOTELS ON the beach near Spiaggia del Principe. This is one of the reasons why it is so wild and beautiful. Even without beach hotels, Spiaggia del Principe can easily be reached by car. I’ll list my favorite Hotels close enough to Principe Beach. WHERE TO STAY: HOTELS NEAR SPIAGGIA DEL PRINCIPE Cala Di Volpe This is my absolute favorite Hotel on the beach near Spiaggia del Principe. It’s a dream come true in Costa Smeralda. Ratings: 9.1 Villa Carola It is one of the most luxurious villas near Porto Cervo, perfect for families. Close to Spiaggia del Principe. Ratings: 9.2 View More Hotels Check out the other Hotels and Villas near Spiaggia Del Principe. Usually, the most convenient accommodations to stay and reach this fabulous beach are located in the nearby villages, at 5-10 min max by car: Porto Cervo | Abbiadori Nearby Beaches In Costa Smeralda The lovely Capriccioli Beach is one of the most famous ones in Costa Smeralda (we went there in August). Don’t do that! 🙂 It’s amazing only close to sunset, before the people are way too many for the beach. The water is incredible! This is a list of every jaw-dropping beach in Costa Smeralda (not far away from Spiaggia del Principe beach and Porto Cervo), and these are also the ones I’ll be talking about in this article. So, if you are interested in checking out a particular one or looking for specific Hotels, Villas, or