Days 1-5: Antalya Resort Base
Five full days at an all-inclusive resort gives genuine time to relax, rather than the 2-3 days that make a resort stay feel more like a stopover. Pick your district based on priority — Belek for golf, Lara or Konyaalti for proximity to Antalya city, Side for ruins and a walkable old town.
Days 6-7: Cappadocia
Fly from Antalya to Kayseri or Nevsehir (short domestic flight, not a drive) for two days centered on a sunrise hot air balloon ride, the Goreme Open-Air Museum, and one of the underground cities. Two days is tight but workable if the balloon flight isn't weathered out — build in slack if possible.
Days 8-10: Istanbul
A short flight from Cappadocia into Istanbul closes the trip with the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar and a Bosphorus cruise. Three days covers the essentials without feeling like a checklist sprint.
Booking Logistics
Domestic flights within Turkey are frequent and relatively inexpensive — book Antalya-Cappadocia and Cappadocia-Istanbul legs separately rather than assuming a single through-ticket, and leave a buffer day if your balloon flight is weather-dependent.
This order — Antalya first, Cappadocia mid-trip, Istanbul last — front-loads relaxation and ends on a high-energy city finish, which works well for most travelers' energy levels over a 10-day trip.