Türkei mit Sarazar: Istanbul, Türkische Riviera und Kappadokien | ARD Reisen

Türkei mit Sarazar: Istanbul, Türkische Riviera und Kappadokien | ARD Reisen

Turkey, the melting pot of cultures between Europe and Asia. The megalopolis of Istanbul, dream beaches, and unique places. What a stunning view from up here. It looks like another planet. A spectacle with over 100% balance. You can only find it here. Merhaba from Turkey. Together with my friends Benni and Anton, I’m traveling to some of the most beautiful places in the country. We want to check out whether Turkey is suitable for a road trip away from the all-inclusive route? And how affordable is such a trip? We’ll find out on a route of over 2,200 kilometers. From Istanbul, we want to travel over the white terraces of Pamukkale to Bodrum. We’ll explore various places on the Turkish Riviera, including Antalya. And drive through Anatolia past Tuzgölü to the finale in Cappadocia. By the way, my name is… Valentin. People also call me Sarazar. And our trip begins on the Bosphorus. Istanbul is the only major city located between the European and Asian continents. A megalopolis with 15.5 million inhabitants. Unofficially, it’s even said to be 20 million. The population has increased seventeenfold since 1950. It’s guaranteed not to get bored here. For 30 euros, you can get a good view of Europe’s largest city from the more than 60-meter-high Galata Tower, whose history stretches back over 1,500 years. The Hagia Sophia is of a similar age, with its foundation stone laid in 532. It’s incredibly impressive that the architects back then were so skilled that the Hagia Sophia simply withstood all the earthquakes that hit Istanbul. Incidentally, it was once a church during the Byzantine Empire and only became a mosque after its conquest by the Ottomans in 1463. The entrance fee for the Hagia Sophia is 1,000 Turkish lira, which is about 25 euros. Right next door is the Blue Mosque. There is no admission charge and it looks breathtaking. The dress code is the only important thing, but in an emergency they also have the right clothes on hand. I want to buy an ice cream, but he won’t let me. Oh! Oh! Oh! Yes, play it! Masha’Allah! Oh! Benni, do you want an ice cream too? If I ever get one? There are over 4,400 shops in the area around the big bazaar. If you want to buy something, you should always bargain. 200, 200. Give me your hand. Give me your hand. 200 is in the middle. 150, 250, 200. 210 roughly. 210? Okay, we can do 210. Yes, it’s a good market. Even though the big bazaar is huge, it feels like it only has 15 shops, and they’re always the same. There’s jewelry, clothes, some of it not original. Many bring them for tourists, and some treats too. This is a real specialty, called kokorec, and consists of lamb intestines and lambfish. It’s a small piece of fat that’s then chopped into small pieces and packed into a sandwich. It ‘s been recommended to us so many times, so I had to try it. And I think it’s really delicious. It tastes very spicy and juicy. It’s worth it. In the tourist centers, the food isn’t much cheaper than in Germany. But away from them, it quickly becomes cheaper. And even when the stars are twinkling over Istanbul, there’s always something going on in the city. There are many cafés in Istanbul where fortune tellers tell your fortune from coffee grounds. And if you need a coffee tomorrow, you’ll get an immediate insight into your future life. Since fortune-telling for money is illegal in Turkey, a coffee costs 15 euros here , and the prediction is included. In summary, you could say that I’ll supposedly be in a better financial position soon and will buy a house. And my past must have been very chaotic. So I think everyone can find something there that applies to their own life. But you can do it once. That’s it. Until next time. Bye. Taksim Square and the Istiklal Caddesi shopping street are also popular. The famous red tram runs here and there are shops of all kinds. But it can get crowded at times. After all, almost one in five of the 85 million Turks live in Istanbul. 85 million Turks live in Turkey’s quarter. That’s a very good moment. We’ll see you again in the next episode. Bye. Bye. Also noticeable are the hundreds of thousands of cats that roam the streets of the city. Some Istanbul residents look after them. However, you can occasionally see stray animals all over the country. Small boat crews in the Bosphorus, the strait that lies between Europe and Asia and runs right through Istanbul. It’s really cool to take a boat trip here. By the way, this bridge is so huge that the gigantic cruise ships can fit underneath it. That’s really cool. That’s really cool. With a two-hour boat selection like that, the city takes on a completely different vibe. A ticket for a small boat, including snacks, starts at 45 euros per person. I think that’s relatively fair. However, I have to say that the other activities in Istanbul aren’t particularly cheap. Our road trip starts tomorrow. From Istanbul, we want to go to Pamukkalei, and then to Salda Gölü, all the way to Bodrum. Continuing along the Turkish Riviera, we’ll discover Antalya and travel through the vastness of Anatolia toward Cappadocia. The drive to Pamukkalei takes seven hours. However, we’ll make a few stops along the way. Like at Miznik Gölü, a 32-kilometer-long lake just under two hours from Istanbul. A beautiful view here at this enormous lake. We’re taking a short break for food on our road trip. We’re in Istanbul now. We’re in Istanbul. The roads have been pretty good so far. We’ll see how it goes. You have to concentrate a bit more than in Germany, because the traffic can get a bit chaotic. And you can rent a rental car with a standard German driver’s license. After another two hours’ drive, we’ll make another short stop. We go to the Söğutlu Waterfall. I think it’s cool how green everything is here. Turkey is perhaps more diverse than some people think. A 38-meter drop, and this is the kind of place we probably would never have seen if we hadn’t been on a road trip. It looks incredibly impressive. After another four hours in the car, we finally arrive in Pamukkale. One of Turkey’s most famous natural spectacles. The white landscape was created by calcareous thermal springs. It looks like it’s from another planet. In Turkish, Pamukkale means evil. In German, Pamukkale means cotton or cotton castle. It really looks as if the entire mountain was wrapped in cotton. But these are actually ancient limestone deposits. I’ve only ever seen them in my kettle. This area was already popular with the Romans. Some senators are said to have even retired here. And you can see how they lived here at the ruins of Hierapolis. People have been talking about Hierapolis since the third century BC. The Greeks were here before the Romans. But now you can only see ruins because the city was unfortunately completely destroyed in an earthquake. There is also a necropolis with over 1,200 tombs here on the mountainside, making it the largest necropolis in Asia Minor. I can see why the Romans enjoyed their retirement here. A really cool area with crazy scenery. However, the entrance fee for all the attractions is 40 euros and it can get very crowded. It is incredibly clear here. It really looks like the Caribbean and is only just over an hour away from Pamukkale. The Hall of Gölle with its color gradient is reminiscent of Bavaria. This is due to the magnesium content, which turns the water blue and the coast white. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a clear lake. Add to that deluxe sunshine and hardly any people here. There really is hardly a soul. And now we’re off to Bodrum. A three-and-a-half-hour drive. Many people consider Bodrum to be one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey. We’re up here by the old windmills. There’s a folk festival going on right now, and people are flying their kites. When the weather is good, you can even see the Greek island of Kos, and the view is truly magnificent. The Bodrum metropolitan area has around 180,000 inhabitants. However, over a million visitors come to the city every year. The city is one of the largest visitor destinations in the country. The region has been inhabited for over 3,000 years. Bodrum was Greek in ancient times and was called Halicarnassus. From this time, you can visit Turkey’s oldest amphitheater for free. Various events took place here as early as 300 BC. Unfortunately, not much remains of the legendary Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. This was once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but due to earthquakes, there are now only a few stones lying on the ground, which you can look at for 3 euros. You really have to use your imagination. You also have to get active. There are also traces of the Middle Ages in Bodrum, such as the Crusader Castle of St. Peter. The Order of St. John lived in the fortress for more than 100 years until it was surrendered to the Ottomans without a fight in 1523. Incidentally, everyone who helped build the castle back then was promised a place in heaven by the Pope. That’s another way to motivate people to work. The Crusader Castle also houses the Museum of Underwater Architects. Here you can see old wrecks and all sorts of ancient objects. The ticket for the castle and museum costs around 23 euros. Perfect weather, plus the sea with the harbor and those white houses everywhere, then the small, narrow streets. Bodrum has its very own style. I definitely recommend it. In Bodrum, you can not only enjoy fine dining, shop in boutiques, or lie on the beach. The city is also one of Turkey’s nightlife hotspots. There are plenty of clubs and bars, especially in the Gümbet district. Prices are a bit higher, however, than in many other parts of the country. Bodrum is one of the largest holiday resorts in the world. The city is one of the largest holiday resorts in the world. The city is one of the largest holiday resorts in the world. We’re now in a taxi to the hotel; it was a really great evening. The Turks definitely know how to party, and tomorrow we’ll continue our journey. Our next stop takes us about 3.5 hours toward Fethiye. Turkey is truly an incredibly diverse country. First the megalopolis of Istanbul, then the green forests, and now all the coastal towns. The beach in Fethiye is truly enormous. Some people even spend an entire vacation here. Because the beach is here all day long. It’s only 30 minutes away. A very relaxed place with a beautiful harbor promenade, the mountains all around you, lots of restaurants and shops. Great for hanging out. I can really recommend ending the evening relaxing by the sea . Prices are also a bit cheaper than in Bodrum. And you can also take boat trips to the nearby islands. I did that a few years ago. But we have something more exciting planned for tomorrow. What an amazing view from up here. How much you can see. The mountain looks amazing. And then you can see Ölüdenis, Fethiye and the awesome lagoon down there. We’re flying higher and higher. I’ll be able to say hello to the planes soon. The guys are flying to my left and right right now. It’s really awesome. It’s incredible with this view here. It’s so fun. You feel free as a bird. Simply awesome. How are you okay, brother? Fine, bro. It’s like a rollercoaster. Wow, so close to the hotel. Mega. Perfect landing. Nice park. We got it, bro. We’ve landed again. That was an incredible experience. I can’t even believe what just happened. We were far above the world flying in Turkey. It costs 110 euros. I would recommend it to anyone. Our pilot Birsen has now logged 14,000 flight hours and still loves it. This is my job and my hobby. I feel like a bird sometimes . The Ölödenis lagoon is not only popular with paragliders, however. Many bathers also enjoy the clear water. After the lagoon, it takes us an hour and a half to get to Saklikent National Park. Because we still have an hour to go to Saklikent National Park. We still have an hour to go to Saklikent National Park. We still have an hour to go to Saklikent National Park. We still have an hour to go to Saklikent National Park. We still have an hour to go to Saklikent National Park. The Ölödenis Lagoon isn’t just popular with paragliders, though. Many swimmers also enjoy the clear water. After the lagoon, it takes us an hour and a half to reach Saklikent National Park, so we’re taking a little detour to Butterfly Valley. We’re taking a little detour to Butterfly Valley. It’s a really big gorge here. This is Saklikent National Park. At the beginning, you walk along this wooden bridge. Later, you trudge a bit through the river. The canyon is up to 300 meters deep, and the entrance fee is only 1.50 euros. It’s really fun climbing here. And exploring this river. Deeper and deeper into the mountain. You become one with nature. I think I’m going to lose my shoes. A really beautiful canyon. The nature here is truly impressive. And if you’re up for it, you can even slide down the river on one of those tubes up ahead. It’s getting a bit late for us, though. And we still have a half-hour drive ahead of us. We still have a half-hour drive ahead of us. We still have a half-hour drive ahead of us. Climbing a dune in 30-degree heat just to see the beach. Wait, it’s worth it. By then we’ll have melted. It’s really cool here. Belly button was right. Patara Beach is extremely long. Not a soul there, but no wonder with these dunes. We continue along the Turkish Riviera to Kas. On the 45-minute drive, we stop at Caputas Beach. It’s simply amazing here. A beautiful route. It’s simply amazing here. A beautiful route. Super beautiful here with the winding streets, the flowers, and the old houses. Super beautiful here with the winding streets, the flowers, and the old houses. Kas is truly an idyllic little place. For those who prefer a bit more tranquility. The old town is even car-free. And there are some nice restaurants and shops here. I just tried Lokum. It’s a Turkish specialty. It tastes a bit like gummy bears. Definitely sweet, but also a little different. I have strawberries and kiwis here. They come in all sorts of variations. Mixed with powdered sugar. You can do that. It’s not always easy to find a welcome meal. I can also have a Coke sometimes. It’s not such a huge deal. The food is a bit more expensive here, as it is in many tourist destinations. A snack costs around 14 euros. A snack costs around 14 euros. In many villages on the way here, we paid about 20 percent less. In many villages on the way here, we paid about 20 percent less. You can also book a huge number of tours here. If you’re up for hiking or snorkeling, for example, you’re in good hands here. If you’re up for hiking or snorkeling, for example, you’re in good hands here. The place is already quite touristy. But there are no large hotel bunkers here. After another two-hour drive along the coast, we reach the area around Shirali. Here we want to go to the eternal flames of Chimayra. Wow, there are the flames. It’s like a natural barbecue area. The only thing missing are marshmallows. For over 2,500 years, flames have been blazing from the ground in several places here, because of the methane gas escaping. You can smell it when you stand there. It must have really amazed people back then. If you want to check it out, you only pay 1.50 euros. At night, we drive another hour and a half to Antalya. After Istanbul, the city has the second most tourists in Turkey. Every year, supposedly over 16.5 million visitors come to the metropolis with 2.3 million inhabitants. From Antalya to Belexide and Alanya, there are countless beaches and hotels in the area. Antalya’s city beach is 13 kilometers long and particularly popular with package holidaymakers. There are also beaches in the area that are a bit more relaxed, but they mostly belong to the larger hotels. Around 130 AD, the Roman Emperor Hadrian even visited here. A gate was built in his honor, which still stands today. But in Antalya, you’ll find not only sights, but also various theme parks, large shopping centers, and plenty of bars and clubs. The old town is a truly beautiful contrast to the surrounding modern buildings. And compared to the large hotel bunkers, you can also see a bit of traditional Turkey here. Overall, however, Antalya is very geared towards mass tourism, even more so than Istanbul or Bodrum. However, there are cheaper all-inclusive packages here. I’ve never seen such a huge waterfall in the middle of the city before. It looks amazing! The Düden Waterfall rushes a whopping 40 meters below, and the viewing point doesn’t cost a cent. The best time to visit Turkey for sightseeing is spring or fall. It can get very hot in summer. Of course, we visit Antalya’s famous kebab street and continue on towards Central Anatolia the next day. Gas prices are about 40% lower than in Germany. Rental cars are also somewhat cheaper, and highway tolls are usually later rejected from the deposit. The sightseeing toll in Turkey is only booked for sightseeing vehicles. However, a few days ago, a scooter driver slightly brushed against us and took off. So, full insurance can be worthwhile, and you should also expect police checks. We take a lunch break at a traditional grill restaurant and even get our own private room. Tea is almost always free. Most Turks are very hospitable. The doors are very clean and very sturdy. After more than five hours of driving, we reach the gigantic Tuzgölü lake. What a vast white expanse it is and how far the people can walk. Amazing! The ground really crunches when you walk across it. It’s like fresh snow, only it’s all salt. Lake Tuzgölü, with its 1500 square meters, is close to Tuzgölü, the second largest lake in the country. Over 70% of Turkey’s salt is produced here. After this natural wonder, we drive another two hours to Görem in Cappadocia. It looks amazing! Definitely one of the coziest caves I’ve ever seen. Wow, what a huge bath! There are many cave hotels in Cappadocia. They’re a real treat here. This is my room. It’s also very cozy. Benny’s room looks different again. It’s definitely something special to stay here. However, the cave hotels are quite expensive because Cappadocia attracts so many tourists. We paid 140 euros per person per night. But we also had very good accommodations on the trip for 50 to 60 euros. Overall, you could say that hotels in Turkey are about 20% cheaper than in Germany. And in less touristy places or during the off-season, there’s so much to do. You can even save up to 50%. How cool it looks during the day! Cappadocia and Göreme are truly unique. The legendary balloons were very close by. But today we’ll first take a closer look at the place. Just under 2,200 people live in Göreme. The landscape of Cappadocia, however, attracts almost 5 million visitors a year. It looks like something out of a fantasy film. And the little towers you see everywhere are aptly called fairy chimneys. Volcanic activity deposited tuff in this region. Rain and wind washed away the soil over time, until only these tiny spires remain. Totally awesome! A bit like Lord of the Rings. For just a few dwarves, elves, and orcs. In the valley around Göreme, there are over 30 churches in the Palatinate region. Some of them are part of the Göreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Music: This is truly a mixture of natural wonder and human settlement. Monks carved everything into the stone by hand hundreds of years ago: dining rooms, living quarters, and entire churches. Music Today, it’s mainly tourists who stroll along here. Prayers are no longer held in the churches, as officially 99 percent of Turks are Muslim. If you want to look around the complex, you pay 20 euros. For the best-preserved, dark church, you have to pay an extra 6 euros. But you’re not allowed to take photos or videos there. Music You definitely do more driving on a road trip like this than if you just fly. The variety of landscapes we saw alone. The Turks were always really friendly and we never felt unsafe. Music After a 30-minute drive, we descend even deeper into the history of Cappadocia. We visit the enormous underground city of Derinkuyu. Music Derinkuyu reaches up to 85 meters underground. There is estimated to be room for 20,000 people, including livestock. Music The underground complex is so huge that ventilation shafts were even designed, which were also used as wells. One of the largest underground cities in the world. Music The site was built at least 1,300 years ago. Music These stones that were used to protect the path from attackers are crazy. In some places there were even dead ends where enemies were imprisoned. Music The city had just about everything. Churches, apartments, shops and even stables. You almost have to be careful not to lose your bearings in this labyrinth. You can look at several floors here. Music My darling! Music That was the cave city of Derinkuyu. It really is fascinating. You feel like a little ant in these tunnels. I can’t even imagine what happened here. Apparently the city was abandoned at some point. If you want to wind your way through the corridors you pay 13 euros per person. Music Are you ready for the flight? Yes! Yes! Time to you! Over 100 balloons in the air at the same time and then this landscape. You can only find it here. We are really high up. You have an incredible view. It is a magical moment and everything looks really small from up here. A balloon flight costs between 100 and 500 euros per person, depending on the duration, provider, and time of year. We’ve seen so many things while exploring Turkey by car. Incredible landscapes, stunning cities, and many hospitable people. Away from the touristy areas, it’s still affordable. In the popular regions, however, it’s not much cheaper than in Germany. The trip was definitely worth it, even without an all-inclusive vacation. That’s it for this trip. We’ll see you again – on the next one. If you enjoyed our road trip through Turkey, please give us a thumbs up. We also look forward to your feedback in the comments. Perhaps you have other tips for Turkey. You’ll find many more of our trips in the playlist. Thanks for watching, and see you on the next adventure!

Sarazar, Benni und Anton sind auf einem Roadtrip durch die Türkei von Istanbul über Bodrum und Antalya nach Kappadokien unterwegs. Ihre Reise führt Sie auf mehr als 2200 Kilometer durch wunderschöne Landschaften, historische Städte und atemberaubende Naturwunder. Dabei genießen sie die in der Kultur tief verwurzelte Gastfreundschaft. Vom pulsierenden Istanbul geht es über die weltberühmten Kalkterrassen von Pamukkale bis an die traumhaften Küsten von Bodrum und der Türkischen Riviera inklusive Antalya. Auf dem Weg dorthin besuchen sie den Salzsee Tuz Gölü und erreichen schließlich das spektakuläre Kappadokien mit seiner einzigartigen Landschaft und hunderten Heißluftballons. Ob sich so ein Trip lohnt und wie günstig man in der Türkei reist, das wollen die drei herausfinden.

Mehr spannende Roadtrips mit Sarazar findet ihr in der ARD Mediathek:
https://1.ard.de/reisen-sarazar-roadtrip-florida?yt=d

00:00 Intro
01:03 Start des Trips in Istanbul
06:37 Iznik, Gölü, Suuctu und Pamukkale
10:21 In der Hafenmetropole Bodrum
14:07 Paragliding in Ölüdeniz
16:09 Butterfly Valley und Saklıkent-Nationalpark
18:03 Idyllische Städte: Kas und Fethiye
20:27 Urlaubsort Antalya
22:50 Salzsee Tuzgölü und Göreme
26:21 Unterirdische Stadt Derinkuyu
27:30 Heißluftballonfahrt in Kappadokien
29:00 Outro

Mehr Videos mit Sarazar gibt es hier:

🎵 Ihr fragt euch, welche Musik Sarazars Reisen begleitet? Wir haben über 300 Tracks aus seinen Reisereportagen für euren persönlichen Roadtrip zusammengestellt – Viel Spaß beim Hören! 🛣️ Die Playlists findet ihr auf Spotify: https://1.ard.de/reisen-roadtrip-sarazar-playlists?yt=d

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Weitere Infos:
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“Durch die Türkei mit Sarazar – Istanbul, Türkische Riviera und Kappadokien” ist ein Film von Valentin Rahmel, Benjamin Gelhaar und Anton Großmann.
Redaktion: Patrick Löffler, Friedel Groth.
Dieser Film wurde 2025 im Auftrag des WDR produziert. Alle Aussagen und Fakten entsprechen dem damaligen Stand und wurden seitdem nicht aktualisiert.

Die Playlist zum Video (Titel – Interpret):

1 Heaven Takes You Home – Swedish House Mafia
2 Kendim Ettim Kendim Buldum (Kamufle Edit) – Cem Karaca
3 Ikimiz Bir Fidaniz (Baris K Edit) – Kamuran Akkor & Umit Aksu Orkestrasi
4 Gurbet – Özdemir Erdoğan
5 Moment – BUNT.
6 Real Love Baby – Father John Misty
7 L’Iran des montagnes – Julien Jaouen
8 Pool (Gravagerz Version) – Gravagerz x kiki wera
9 light years – John Summit feat. Inéz
10 This Is Love – Snazzy
11 set me free – Aaron Hibell, Alex Wann
12 Fade Into You – Mazzy Star
13 Weightless (jamesjamesjames Remix) – Ben Böhmer & Panama
14 Gülmek Için Yaratılmış (Emre Gören Remix) – Ferdi Özbeğen
15 Lauren – Oden & Fatzo
16 Bir Cift Turna (Anatolian Sessions Remix) – Ipek Ipekcioglu ft Hakan Vreskala
17 Lioness (Francis Mercier Remix) – Swedish House Mafia
18&19 Idea 25 – Gibran Alcocer, Andrea Vanzo