5 Days in Turkey: Exploring Trabzon, Uzungöl, Istanbul & Antalya
Updated: Aug 18
Five days, four destinations and a packed itinerary that took us from the Black Sea mountains to the Mediterranean coast.
Our Turkey trip started in Trabzon, continued through the beautiful landscapes of Uzungöl, moved on to the energy and history of Istanbul, and ended in Antalya. We travelled by road, took domestic flights, explored historic landmarks, tried local food, went shopping, enjoyed a Bosphorus cruise and squeezed in a little relaxation wherever we could.
It was a busy trip, but every destination had something completely different to offer.
Day 1: Arriving in Trabzon
We landed in Trabzon in the morning, giving us most of the day to explore the city.
One of our stops was the Trabzon Hagia Sophia Mosque, a beautiful historic landmark that gave us our first glimpse into the region's rich history and architecture. After exploring the city, we spent the night in Trabzon, ready for an early start the following morning.
Day 2: Boztepe and the Journey to Uzungöl
The following morning, we started with a hike to Boztepe Observation Deck. The climb was worth it for the views. From the observation point, we could look out over Trabzon and the surrounding landscape.
After our morning hike, we continued our journey towards Uzungöl. The drive was one of the highlights in itself. As we travelled further into the mountains, the scenery became greener and more dramatic. One thing that particularly caught my attention was the beautiful stream flowing through the valleys alongside the roads.
There were stretches where the water seemed to follow the road, surrounded by mountains and greenery. It was incredibly scenic, and I even captured a video of the journey because it was one of those views that photographs don't quite do justice to.
Arriving in Uzungöl
When we finally arrived in Uzungöl, it felt like we had entered a completely different part of Turkey. The village is centred around a beautiful lake, surrounded by lush green mountains. The cool weather and misty landscape made the atmosphere incredibly peaceful.
We took a leisurely stroll around the lake, taking in the scenery and exploring the area. Later, we hiked up to an observation terrace, which gave us a beautiful view of Uzungöl from above.
There were plenty of activities available in the area, including things like paragliding, but because our itinerary was so packed, we didn't have enough time to try them. Sometimes travelling is about accepting that you simply can't do everything.
Local Food in Uzungöl
One of the things we definitely made time for was food.
After exploring and hiking around the area, we wanted to experience some of the local flavours, so we visited a few restaurants in Uzungöl, including Ada Restaurant and Doğa Restaurant. Trying local food while surrounded by mountains made the experience even better. The meals were a welcome break after walking around, and it was nice to slow down for a while and simply enjoy the food and the surroundings.
For me, food is always an important part of travelling because it gives you another way to experience a place not just through its sights but through its flavours and local dining culture. The only minor challenge we encountered was the language barrier in Uzungöl. Most locals we interacted with spoke Turkish or Arabic, so communicating in English was sometimes difficult. We often had to rely on translation apps to ask questions, place orders or get directions. It was a small inconvenience but also an interesting part of experiencing a place where English wasn't as commonly spoken.
Day 3: More of Uzungöl and Flying to Istanbul
We had another part of the day to explore Uzungöl before leaving for Istanbul. There was still so much we could have done, but with our evening flight approaching, we had to make the most of the time we had.
Our journey back towards Trabzon included a small transport challenge. The bus we initially planned to take was full, so rather than wait for another bus to return from Uzungöl, we decided to take a private van instead. It was a practical decision that helped us stay on schedule. Later that evening, we took our flight to Istanbul.
Arriving in Istanbul felt like stepping into another world. The transition was striking. We went from quiet mountain landscapes and coastal roads to one of Turkey's busiest and most energetic cities. It was crowded, lively, loud (in a good way of course) and full of things happening around every corner. We spent the night in Istanbul, ready to explore the city properly the next day.
Day 4: Exploring Istanbul
Istanbul was probably the most packed sightseeing day of the trip. We started by visiting some of the city's most famous landmarks, including Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The architecture, history and sheer scale of these buildings were incredible to see in person.
After sightseeing, we spent some time walking through the streets and doing a little shopping. One of the things I enjoyed was browsing the shops for Turkish delights, souvenirs and other little things to take home.
We had also hoped to explore the Grand Bazaar, but unfortunately, it was closed during our visit as it was around the time of Eid. It was a little disappointing because the Grand Bazaar was definitely on our list, but we made the most of the other shopping streets around the city.
An Evening on the Bosphorus
Later that evening, we headed out for our Bosphorus cruise. This was one of the highlights of our Istanbul experience. Seeing Istanbul from the water gave us a completely different perspective of the city.
As the boat moved along the Bosphorus, we could see the city stretching along both sides of the water. Watching the skyline change as evening arrived was particularly beautiful. The city gradually lit up, and the atmosphere became calmer and more magical. After the long journey from the Black Sea, sitting on the boat and simply watching Istanbul go by felt like a perfect break.
We enjoyed a three-course meal while taking in the views of Istanbul from the Bosphorus. The evening was filled with different performances showcasing Turkish culture, including the mesmerising Sema (whirling dervish) performance, lively belly dancing and other traditional acts. As the night progressed, the atmosphere became more energetic with music and a DJ, turning the cruise into a fun celebration.
It was a lovely way to experience a little bit of Turkish culture while enjoying good food, music and the beautiful Istanbul skyline from the water. It was a fun combination of food, culture, entertainment and sightseeing, and watching the city lights from the Bosphorus made the evening even more memorable. After the cruise, we returned to our hotel for the night.
Day 5: From Istanbul to Antalya
The next morning, we took a flight from Istanbul to Antalya. After the busy pace of Istanbul, Antalya immediately felt more relaxed. Our first stop was Hamam at Antique Spa Hamam, which turned out to be exactly what we needed after several days of travelling, walking and sightseeing.
The experience was incredibly relaxing and gave us a chance to slow down for a little while before continuing to explore.
Walking Through Kaleiçi
After the Hamam, we explored the historic heart of Antalya.
We walked through Hadrian's Gate and then wandered through the winding, cobblestone streets of Kaleiçi, Antalya's old town. The narrow streets, old buildings and little shops gave the area a completely different character from the modern parts of the city.
After exploring Kaleiçi, we returned to the main streets and did a little shopping before taking some time to relax. We stopped at Odin Pub, where we enjoyed a platter and took a much-needed break. After several days of constantly moving from one place to another, simply sitting down, eating and relaxing for a while felt like a luxury. We eventually headed back to the hotel for the night.
Day 6: A Quick Visit to Konyaaltı Beach
Our final morning in Turkey was, unfortunately, a rushed one.
Before checking out and heading to the airport, we made a quick stop at Konyaaltı Beach. We didn't have enough time to properly enjoy the beach, but we couldn't leave Antalya without seeing it.
We managed to walk down to the water and dip our feet into the crystal-clear Mediterranean, taking in the beautiful coastline and distant mountains.
It was a very short visit, but it was still worth it. I would have loved to spend several hours there, swimming, relaxing and enjoying the beach without watching the time, but with our luggage and flight to catch, we had to keep moving.
From the beach, we took an old-style tram back towards the hotel. It was a lovely final little experience before returning to the hotel to collect our things, check out and begin our journey back to the UK. And just like that, our Turkey trip came to an end!
Looking Back at Our Turkey Trip
Looking back, what I loved most about this trip was the incredible contrast between each destination. It was definitely a fast-paced trip. There were places we didn't get enough time to explore, activities we had to skip and landmarks we missed including the Grand Bazaar because of the Eid closure.
But that is also what makes me want to return. We didn't see everything Turkey has to offer. Not even close! But we experienced enough to get a taste of its mountains, history, culture, food, cities and coastline.
And some of my favourite memories weren't even the major attractions. It was the river flowing alongside the road in Uzungöl. The local meals after a long day of exploring. Walking through the cobblestone streets of Kaleiçi. Watching Istanbul light up from the Bosphorus. And standing barefoot at Konyaaltı Beach, even if only for a few minutes, before rushing back for our flight.
Five days in Turkey went by incredibly quickly, but they left us with plenty of stories to take home!
Felt like I was travelling right alongside you through this post. So crisp, vivid and beautifully explained. Too Good! ❤️
Beautifully written 🤍