What Does Slow Travel Mean and How To Do It?

When was the last time you traveled without a to-do list? Slow travel invites you to experience places with all your senses—no rushed selfies or jam-packed itineraries, just real connection. With Pegasus Airlines’ expansive network and budget-friendly options, it’s never been easier to slow down while seeing more. Whether it’s a week in Türkiye’s southeast or a meandering trail from Prague to Podgorica, here’s how to savor the journey.

What Is Slow Travel, Really? And Why It Might Change How You Fly

Slow travel is more than a pace—it’s a mindset. It’s about savoring the journey as much as the destination, building relationships with places (and people), and letting time stretch a little. Instead of hopping from one city to the next, you might stay a few days longer, take the scenic route, or linger over coffee with a stranger.

When you fly Pegasus, building a slow itinerary is easier than you think. With hubs across Türkiye and the region, you can mix popular stops like Istanbul and Izmir with less-traveled gems like Mardin or Rize. Enjoy a warm meal from Pegasus Cafe, the airline’s onboard food service, as you map out your next long walk—and don’t forget the upgrade package if you want more flexibility or extra legroom to stretch out and start relaxing midair.

Slow and Soulful in Mardin: Time Travel Through Stone

Step into Mardin and you step back in time. This southeastern Türkiye city is all golden stone, winding alleys, and views that stretch toward Mesopotamia. Here, slow travel isn’t optional—it’s the only way to really see it. Sip tea on a rooftop at sunset, wander through ancient churches and mosques, and lose yourself in the rhythm of daily life.

Base yourself in the old city, try dishes like sembusek and kaburga dolması, and spend an afternoon chatting with local artisans. Getting here is simple with cheap flights to Mardin, and once you’re on the ground, the Mardin travel guide will help you find your own pace.

From Fırtına Valley to Rize: The Art of Going Nowhere Fast

Up in Türkiye’s northeast, time doesn’t rush. The Fırtına Valley winds through emerald hills and misty tea plantations, and the nearby city of Rize invites you to slow down and stay awhile. Picture yourself sipping fresh-brewed çay by a wooden riverside lodge, or hiking past waterfalls without another soul in sight.

Fly in with Trabzon travel guide—it’s the gateway to this entire region. From there, rent a car or take a local minibus toward the valley. Don’t miss the zipline and hiking options (for the gentler side of extreme sports) or sampling regional flavors like muhlama. The Trabzon travel guide offers tips for making the most of your time in this lush corner of Türkiye. For even more regional beauty, don’t miss cheap flights to Rize—a perfect base for tea lovers and nature seekers alike.

Unwind on Türkiye’s Aegean Coast: Bodrum, Akyaka & Seaside Siestas

There’s something about the Aegean that slows your heartbeat. Maybe it’s the scent of olive trees, the rhythm of the waves, or the long, lazy lunches of meze and wine. From the glitzy calm of Bodrum to the bohemian peace of Akyaka, this coastline is made for slow travel.

Start with cheap flights to Izmir and explore your way down to Muğla and beyond. Wake up late, swim all day, and end with fresh-caught fish at a beachside taverna. For the ultimate slow escape, catch cheap flights to Dalaman and enjoy the turquoise coves and sleepy towns that dot the coast. Check the Izmir travel guide or Türkiye travel guide to plot out your route, and be sure to bring swimwear in your carry-on—just in case your luggage is full of local olive oil and you want to travel light.

Yerevan’s Timewarp: Where Every Corner Tells a Story

Armenia’s capital is a slow traveler’s dream. Pink stone buildings glow in the sunset, jazz wafts from alley cafés, and history peeks from every corner. Walk from a Soviet-era square to a centuries-old church in just minutes, or spend an entire afternoon at the Vernissage flea market chatting with vendors.

With cheap flights to Yerevan from Istanbul, you’re just hours away from getting wonderfully lost in Yerevan’s charm. Bring your appetite too—the local food scene blends Middle Eastern spice with Caucasian warmth. Take your time. You won’t want to leave.

From Baku with Bread: Slow Travel on the Caspian

Azerbaijan’s capital is full of contrasts—glass towers meet ancient walls, and bustling boulevards give way to quiet courtyards. But it’s in Baku’s slower corners that you find its true flavor. Sample tandir bread still warm from the oven, wander through the Icherisheher Old City, or take the funicular to watch the city light up over the Caspian Sea.

You’ll find cheap flights to Baku via Pegasus routes, making it an easy addition to your slow travel map. Baku rewards the unhurried, whether you’re hunting for silks in a caravanserai or lounging at the beach with a cup of Azerbaijani tea.

⛵ Alexandria in No Hurry: Harbor Days and Long Dinners

Alexandria was made for slow travel. Walk the Corniche as the sun sets, browse secondhand bookshops, and eat dinner that lasts for hours at a harborside café. There’s a languid grace to Egypt’s Mediterranean gem that resists rushing.

Pegasus offers cheap flights to Alexandria via Istanbul, so it’s easy to add a few restorative days by the sea. Bring your copy of Cavafy (the famed Greek poet who resided in and loved Alexandria), and leave space in your suitcase for spice blends and beach reads. Let Alexandria’s pace set your mood.

️ From Prague to Podgorica: Making Time in Unexpected Places

Slow travel thrives in places that don’t scream for attention. Prague’s quiet courtyards and Podgorica’s riverside walks both offer unexpected magic. Linger in a family-owned café, watch swans on the Vltava, or take a long, slow dinner in Montenegro with nothing on your agenda but good conversation.

Pegasus makes it easy with cheap flights to Prague and cheap flights to Podgorica, both via Istanbul. From Prague, hop on a train or a short regional flight to Podgorica, Montenegro’s capital. You’ll find the time between these cities is just enough to shift your mindset into slow gear—and savor the landscapes in between.

Ready to breathe a little deeper, eat a little slower, and travel like time’s on your side? Slow travel isn’t just a trend—it’s a gift. Let Pegasus Airlines be your starting point, and let the road, the rhythm, and the people you meet along the way shape your story. No rush.