A two-day cultural drive from Sarıyer to Adana via Ankara and Cappadocia’s southern corridor
Estimated cost
$595estimated total
Stays
$170
Fuel
$105
Food
$270
Other
$50
Estimates generated at planning time — your actual costs may vary.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
477 km5h 54mDepart 07:00
Start
Sariyer
1
Food
Sanat Cafe Breakfast House
Beyoğlu, Türkiye
07:37–08:2245m here$60
2
Attraction
Anıtkabir
Çankaya, Türkiye
13:06–14:511h 45m here
Atatürk’s monumental mausoleum and national memorial
Use the Tandoğan entrance and nearby paid parking; arrive before final admission to see the ceremonial plaza and museum galleries.
3
Food
Kuytu Meze&Balık Restaurant
Çankaya, Türkiye
14:59–15:591h here$60
4
Attraction
Hamamönü Sokak
Altındağ, Türkiye
16:08–17:231h 15m here$5
Restored Ottoman lanes lined with cafés and craft shops
Park at the Hamamönü municipal car park and explore on foot; the compact lanes offer Ankara’s best easy evening heritage walk.
Drive 6.1 km in ~13 min from Hamamönü to Çankaya, using a nearby paid garage rather than searching residential streets.
6 km13m
5
Food
Hacı Arif Bey Restaurant - Kebap
Çankaya, Türkiye
19:00–20:301h 30m here$60
Well-regarded Ankara restaurant for kebabs and regional dishes
Ask for a table on arrival and share mixed kebabs, içli köfte and seasonal meze; nearby paid garages avoid difficult street parking.
Drive 2 km in ~10min through Kavaklıdere and enter the hotel parking area directly from Güniz Sokak.
600 m2m
6
Overnight
Occidental Ankara
Çankaya, Türkiye
20:32–06:5010h here$170
Comfortable central hotel with parking and easy motorway access
Reserve two rooms and confirm on-site parking before arrival; its Kavaklıdere location balances a comfortable stay with a quick morning exit.
Day 2
518 km6h 1mDepart 07:28
Check out after hotel breakfast, then drive 126 km in ~1h 32min via D750 toward Şereflikoçhisar and the signed lake access.
126 km1h 32m
7
Attraction
Tuz Gölü Ziyaret Alanı- Tuz Gölü Giriş- Tuz gölü tesisleri
Şereflikoçhisar, Türkiye
09:00–09:3535m here$3
Open views across Turkey’s vast salt lake
Use the signed visitor parking and keep footwear washable for the salty shore; morning light and cooler air make the exposed stop easier.
8
Food
Ağaçlı Restaurant
Aksaray Merkez, Türkiye
12:15–13:251h 10m here$45
Established roadside dining for Turkish grills and pide
Use the large forecourt and order pide, grilled meats or testi-style dishes; fast service keeps the demanding southbound schedule intact.
Drive 112 km in ~1h 16min via O-21 and the Niğde connector, then follow local signs to Gümüşler village parking.
112 km1h 16m
9
Attraction
Gumusler Monastery
Niğde Merkez, Türkiye
14:41–15:411h here$15
Rock-cut Byzantine monastery with vivid medieval frescoes
Buy admission at the entrance and carry a light layer for the cool chambers; the courtyard church is the route’s strongest adventure stop.
185 km2h 6m
Finish
Seyhan/Adana, Türkiye
Before you go
Local tips
- 1Leave Sarıyer at 07:00 to clear Istanbul before the worst Friday traffic.
- 2Confirm Anıtkabir’s same-day closing time before leaving Mengen; security screening can slow entry.
- 3Refuel around Ankara or Aksaray before the long O-21 section toward Pozantı.
- 4Keep an HGS balance available for O-4 and O-21 motorway tolls.
- 5Depart Gümüşler promptly so the final drive through the Taurus corridor reaches Adana in early evening.
Good to know
- 1The verified route covers about 937 km in two days, so both days are transit-heavy despite the limited sightseeing stops.
- 2O-4 and O-21 are tolled; an insufficient HGS balance can create unpaid toll charges linked to the vehicle.
- 3Friday traffic leaving Istanbul and weekend congestion approaching Adana can materially extend driving time.
- 4The O-21 approach through the Taurus Mountains includes grades, tunnels and fast traffic; maintain extra following distance.
- 5Early September can still bring temperatures above 30°C around Aksaray, Niğde and Adana; never leave water or electronics in the parked car.
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