Is eastern Turkey, the Black Sea or the southeast worth adding?
These regions can be deeply rewarding, but they are not casual add-ons to Istanbul and Cappadocia. Add them when you have time, current advice, transport patience and a reason beyond map completion.
Answer
Eastern Turkey, the Black Sea and the southeast can show a very different Turkey: bigger distances, stronger regional identities, mountain or plateau landscapes, different food and less of the classic first-timer machinery. That is exactly why they deserve respect. They are not filler between famous stops, and they should not be added just because the map still has empty space. Transport can be slower, weather can matter more, and current official advice should shape the route. For most first-timers, these regions make more sense as a second Turkey trip or as the centre of a longer, more deliberate itinerary.