Packing for my 12-day trip to Turkey was no easy feat. The temperature would range from 40°F to 95°F, and I needed everything from conservative clothing for the mosques of Istanbul to swimwear suited for the Bodrum yacht scene. The kicker in deciding what to wear in Turkey was that it all had to weigh less than 15 kilograms to avoid surcharges on the eight flights I’d take.
After many try-on sessions and mirror selfies saved for future reference, I successfully zipped my suitcase and headed to the airport. Now back home, I’m proud to report that I wore every item I packed – sans on rain jacket, thanks to perfect weather for the entirety of the trip. For outfit inspiration for Istanbul, Cappadocia, Bodrum and beyond, look no further.
What to Wear in Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul’s population is twice that of New York City. You will see people in every kind of attire in this sprawling city, but I recommend dressing conservatively to help prevent unwanted attention. Depending on the time of year, you’ll also want to dress to beat the heat. In late September, the daily lows in Istanbul were in the high 60°F’s, and the highs were in the mid 80°F’s. I leaned heavily on light linens and cotton.
Travel Day
My travel to Turkey was quite a journey. I drove from Greenville, SC, to Charlotte, NC, and then had two flights: Charlotte (CLT) to Heathrow (LHR) and Heathrow to Istanbul (IST). After several delays and one airport mad dash to catch a connecting flight, my transit time totaled 36 hours — making my plane outfit that much more important. For short flights, I’m a proponent of stylish travel outfits, but for flights of this duration, it’s all about comfort and compression socks.
Jean jacket, Levi | White crewneck tee, J.Crew | Olive pants, Loft (similar) | White sneakers, Nike | Compression socks, Amazon | Hardshell suitcase, Tommy Hilfiger (similar)
First Group Dinner
First impressions matter, so I wanted to wear a cute but conservative outfit for the first group dinner. This jumpsuit was perfect for the occasion. As a bonus, it was incredibly comfortable when dinner spontaneously led to dancing.
Linen jumpsuit, Farm Rio (exact jumpsuit in black, similar, similar)| Platform sandals, J.Crew (similar, similar)
Hagia Sophia & the Blue Mosque
A blue silk dress for the Blue Mosque just made sense! Some practical considerations for mosque attire: 1) You must remove your shoes to enter the mosques, so be sure to hem your clothes appropriately for being barefoot. 2) Women’s legs must be fully covered and their arms must be covered to their elbows. Men may wear shorts but the shorts must touch the top of their knees. 3) Women should bring a covering for their hair. I recommend a pashmina or scarf that you can drape around your neck or tie onto your purse when it’s not on your head.
Silk maxi caftan, Lilly Pulitzer (similar, similar, similar) | White pashmina (similar) | White sneakers, Nike | Sunglasses, RayBan
Sunset Boat Ride on the Bosphorus
If you visit Istanbul, one of the best ways to see the city is from the water. During our sunset boat ride on the Bosphorous, I took in the views of both the Asia and Europe sides. For attire, I donned a pinstripe jumpsuit and my versatile jean jacket – the only jacket I packed for the trip. The jumpsuit was fitting for the nautical theme but also transitioned well to the upscale dinner afterward. In hindsight, I could’ve swapped out the wedges, as they weren’t particularly helpful in getting my sea legs.
Pinstripe jumpsuit, J.Crew (similar, similar, similar) | Jean jacket, Levi | Platform sandals, J. Crew (similar, similar)
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is incredibly fun if you like shopping and enjoy negotiating – two of my favorite pastimes. I knew it would be a long day on my feet, so comfort and staying cool were my priorities when picking this outfit. My blouse was slightly sheer, so I layered a white tank top under it to keep the outfit conservative. The tank top came in handy when I stripped off the blouse to try on leather jackets in the bazaar. One note: Be warned that if you wear pink, every Turkish man in the bazaar may say, “Hi Barbie.”
White peasant blouse (similar) | Pleated wide-leg pants, Ann Taylor | White sneakers, Nike
What to Wear in Cappadocia, Turkey
The name Cappadocia is traced to the ancient Persian Katpaktukya, meaning ‘land of beautiful horses.’ While there are bountiful opportunities for horseback riding, the area is now better known as the hot air balloon capital of the world. I can personally attest that floating above the otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia is breathtaking and a worthwhile addition to your bucket list. When visiting Cappadocia, plan to layer warm clothing during the cool mornings and then shed the outer layers in the hot afternoons.
Hot Air Ballooning
Hot air ballooning had topped my bucket list for a couple of years, so despite waking up at an ungodly hour after a late-night flight to Cappadocia, my enthusiasm couldn’t be contained. I plan to write more about the experience, but for now, a few outfit considerations: It is chilly first thing in the morning, so you’ll want to dress warmly. My pick-up time was 4:45 am and the temperature was in the 20s. I wore base-layer leggings under my jeans and sacrificed prime real estate in my suitcase for one thick sweater. Also, be sure to wear athletic shoes because you physically climb over and into the balloon basket.
Flare jeans, Abercrombie | Sweater, Loft (similar, similar) | Jean jacket, Levi | Tennis shoes, Adidas | Not pictured: Base layer leggings, REI | Not pictured: Wool socks, REI
Rooftop Terrace Dinner & Nightlife
If there’s one time and place to sport an all-leather look in Turkey, it’s the cool evenings in Cappadocia. My friends called this my “Bond girl” outfit.
Leather jacket, Best (similar, similar & reversible) | Vegan leather pants, Abercrombie | Black bodysuit, Abercrombie
ATVing
I checked items off the bucket list left and right in Cappadocia. ATVing was another first for me. As you may guess, tennis shoes and athletic attire are best suited for the activity, particularly those you don’t mind getting dusty. Bonus points if you have a bandana or another covering to keep dust from getting in your mouth and nose.
Camo cropped training tee, Adidas, | Camo sports bra, Adidas | Camo 7/8 leggings, Adidas | Tennis shoes, Adidas | Baseball cap
What to Wear in Izmir, Turkey
Izmir is the third most populous city in Turkey and the largest metropolitan area on the Aegean Sea. Notable as one of the oldest cities in the Mediterranean, the city’s hot season runs from mid-June to mid-September, with an average daily high in the mid-80s.
Rug-Making Workshop
Turkey is textile heaven. If you have the opportunity, you must go to a rug-making workshop to witness the fine craftsmanship of Turkish rug-making. We had a long bus ride before the experience, so I reached for my go-to travel dress. I like that the dress can be belted to look more polished, but also can be left undone for maximum comfort.
Tan belted dress, Banana Republic (exact dress in olive, similar, similar) | White sneakers, Nike
Ephesus Ruins
Ephesus is one of the largest Roman archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean and a Unesco World Heritage site. Visiting felt like stepping into a history book, as the ancient settlement is unbelievably well-preserved. If you visit, pack sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen.
Green romper, Abercrombie (similar, similar jumpsuit)| Tennis shoes, Adidas | Not pictured: Baseball cap
What to Wear in Bodrum, Turkey
Bodrum is the most exclusive part of the Turkish Riviera. It’s becoming a destination for international elites, and I must say: The vibes are immaculate. As you’d expect, Bodrum has a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.
Nightlife
Bodrum attire is more laid back than in other parts of Turkey. Your typical American beach outfits will fit in here. For nightlife, I wanted something flowy for the 90° heat, but I was also ready to show a little more skin. Finding nothing in my suitcase was quite right, I walked into town and bought this dress from a local boutique.
Maxi dress, Ipekci (similar)| Platform sandals, J. Crew (similar, similar)
Boat Day on the Aegean Sea
The cherry on top of the incredible trip was the final day boating on the Aegean Sea. The 14 people in our group had an expansive, five-level boat to ourselves. We dined onboard and it was some of the best seafood I’ve eaten in my life. For footwear, I debated whether to use precious luggage space on a pair of flip-flops, but ultimately, I’m glad I had them for walking around on the hot decks.
Navy tunic coverup, Vineyard Vines (similar, similar), Sandals, Ralph Lauren (similar, similar) | Not pictured: Seamed underwire bikini top & bottoms, Abercrombie (similar top & bottoms)
Last Group Dinner
Everyone dressed up for our last group dinner in Bodrum. My linen set with puff sleeves was perfect for the rooftop meal overlooking boats in the harbor.
Linen-blend side-tie midi skirt, Abercrombie | Crop top, Abercrombie (exact top in blue print, exact top in white) | Not pictured: Platform sandals, J. Crew (similar, similar)
Travel Home
Leaving Turkey with a full heart but fully exhausted, comfort was again king for the trek home.
White button-down, Grayson (similar, similar) | Pink linen pants, J. Crew Factory (similar, similar) | White sneakers, Nike | Pickpocket-proof crossbody, PacSafe | Hardshell suitcase, Tommy Hilfiger (similar)
Other Posts You May Enjoy
13 Going On 30: My Jenna Rink Halloween Costume
No Comments