Atatürk Alanı and Kunduracılar Street into the bazaar and Bedesten, Kalkanoğlu pilaf for lunch, then tea at Boztepe for sunset.
Day 2
Hagia Sophia & the walls
Hagia Sophia in the morning, the Ortahisar walls and Zağnos Valley park after lunch, and the Atatürk Pavilion in the afternoon.
Day 3
Sümela
Leave early for the monastery and the Altındere valley, stopping in Hamsiköy for rice pudding on the way back.
Day 4
Uzungöl
Drive to the lake, walk the shore and climb to a viewpoint above the village; stay the night if you can.
Day 5
Rize & tea
The Ziraat tea garden above Rize, then on to Çamlıhemşin and Zilkale in the Fırtına valley.
Day 6+
Go deeper
Ayder plateau and its hot spring, Sera Lake and the coast at Akçaabat, or a lazy day of breakfasts and bazaar shopping.
Honest thought: everything outside the city is a drive along winding valley roads, and October brings rain and fog. Keep one spare day, set off early, and don’t plan Sümela, Uzungöl and Ayder back to back.