These towns and cities in central Turkey(map) near the umbral path of the total solar eclipse of March 29, 2006, have better (and more) services (hotels, rental cars, travel agencies, etc) than the few towns right along the center line of the path.
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These were the good places to make your base, listed from southwest to northeast:
Antalya
Largest resort city on the Mediterranean coast, with the busiest airport and plenty of good hotels, restaurants and other services, excellent bus connections, and thousands of rental cars.
Alanya
Large Mediterranean coast resort city with plenty of hotels, it is served by Antalya Airport and by frequent buses.
Konya
Historic Central Anatolian city with good air, bus and rail connections (including the overnight Meram Ekspresi sleeper train from Istanbul), rental cars, and numerous hotels serving Muslim pilgrims visiting the tomb of Rumi, founder of the Whirling Dervishes.
Aksaray
Central Anatolian crossroads city on the ancient Silk Road with good bus connections and some hotels.
Nevsehir & Cappadocia
The most visually striking region of Turkey, and a major tourist destination. The biggest thrill is a hot-air balloon flight over the Cappadocian “moonscape.” Imagine taking an early morning balloon flight, then watching the eclipse! Places on flights near the eclipse date were sold out well in advance.)
Plenty of excellent hotels, restaurants and other services in the towns of Ürgüp and Göreme. Get there by bus or fly from Istanbul to Kayseri.
Kayseri
Large historic Central Anatolian commercial city on the eastern edge of Cappadocia with good air connections to Istanbul, busconnections to all points, and plenty of rental cars.
Amasya
Appealing, historic small Central Anatoliancity dramatically set in a narrow river valley between steep rock walls. Some good hotels and charming inns. You get there by bus or rental car.
Sivas
Historic commercial Central Anatolian city with decent air, rail and bus connections.
Tokat
Another small, historic Central Anatolian city with decent bus connections, some hotels, and the advantage of being very close to the center of the umbral path. Rent a car and you can drive 70 km west to Zile and the battlefield from which Julius Caesar sent his famous one-liner to Rome: Veni, vidi, vici(“I came, I saw, I conquered”).
Giresun
Largest Black Sea coast town near the center of the umbral path, with some hotels. Transport is by bus or rental car.
Ordu
Right on the center line of the umbral path, Ordu is a nice small town with serviceable lodgings. As with other Black Sea Coasttowns, the chance of cloud cover is high.
Trabzon
Largest Black Sea coast city near the umbral path, with good hotels, and some air, seaand bus connections, and rental cars.
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