Turkey offers a rich and diverse range of holiday experiences. It’s home to one of world history’s most celebrated and auspicious cities, Istanbul. Successive cultures have left their marks down the centuries, making it one of the world’s most fascinating places to visit. You could easily spend your entire holiday in this legendary city and still want to come back for more.
Many of the other best places to visit in Turkey have even older mythological roots – you can explore some of the most famous ruins in the world, from Roman to Hellenistic, Byzantine to Ottoman. The country offers a wonderful blend of world culture as befits its place as the centre of the world’s history for many centuries.
Best places to visit in Turkey: Istanbul
Istanbul is one of the world’s most fabled historical cities, well worth its own focus on a list of the best places to visit in Turkey. Known during various eras as Byzantium and Constantinople, it has a wealth of tourist attractions virtually plotting the history of European civilisation. From some of the world’s most iconic mosques to its ancient bazaars, Istanbul offers an experience like no other. Let’s highlight a few of its most important tourist attractions.
The most famous mosques in the world
Hagia Sophia Mosque is the city’s most illustrious attraction. It was built as a Christian church in 536 CE by the Byzantine emperor and later converted to a mosque by the Ottomans. It’s a hugely significant historical landmark, a museum and an active place of worship, all at once. If you could choose only one place to visit in Istanbul, this would be it.
The magnificent Blue Mosque is another cherished landmark. Built in the early 1600s by Sultan Ahmed I, it’s known for its shimmering minarets and the many thousands of blue Iznik tiles lining its interior. It is one of the finest intact examples of Ottoman architecture globally. Once you’ve had your fill of sightseeing, you can browse the handicraft and souvenir shops in the Arasta Bazaar behind the mosque.
Majestic royal palaces
Istanbul’s other major claim to fame is Topkapi Palace. This dazzling palace overlooking the Bosphorus Strait has some of the most opulent decorations in Turkey, including gilt and intricately hand-painted tiles. Visit the Third Court to see the Sacred Safekeeping Room, containing sacred relics from the Prophet Muhammad and the eye-popping jewels of the Imperial Treasury.
Ancient underground treasures
There’s also the astonishing Basilica Cistern. It’s a vast underground hall, originally used as a royal water reservoir by the Byzantine Emperors. The hall boasts over 300 decorative columns, and the most interesting ones are those with Medusa head carvings at their base. Imaginative lighting makes this a pretty magical place to visit.
All this merely scratches the surface of the wonders on offer here – for more attractions, read our Istanbul Travel Guide.
Best places to visit in Turkey: Black Sea region
Turkey’s northern coast borders the Black Sea and offers plenty of great places to visit. However, the climate doesn’t lend itself to coastal resorts, so many attractions are a bit further inland. The region offers a mixture of ancient history and natural attractions; you can visit ancient monasteries, historical Ottoman towns and UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Exploring Ottoman history
Cumalikizik and Safranbolu are two towns that deserve a visit. The latter has the distinction of being the best-preserved Ottoman town worldwide. It earned its name for its saffron production, and you can still experience this as it’s virtually unchanged even centuries later. Some old buildings now house restaurants and cafes, and nearby Yenice Forest offers scenic canyons and waterfalls.
Cumalikizik is a UNESCO World Heritage town near the city of Bursa. The village remains almost intact after more than 700 years, and it attracts many tourists to its narrow cobbled streets lined with family-owned tavernas. It’s located in the foothills of Uludag Mountain, and if you want to experience traditional Turkish life with an Ottoman influence, this is the place to go.
Turkey’s Grecian history
Ephesus is another UNESCO World Heritage site on account of its ancient ruins. Once the most significant Greek city, it was an important Mediterranean trading centre. Now part of Turkey, it boasts ancient artefacts like the Temple of Hadrian, the Temple of Artemis and the Basilica of St. John. This is one of Turkey’s most impressive tourist attractions.
Also on the Black Sea coast is a famous Orthodox Greek monastery dating back to around 350 CE – Sumela Monastery. It’s near the town of Trabzon, set at approximately 3,500 feet up a sheer cliff face. The inner and outer walls are covered with murals and frescoes from different eras, mostly depicting the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary. You can take a drive through the dramatic Pontic Mountains from here.
Natural beauty and regional culture
Artvin lies on the Black Sea itself and is one of the best places to visit in Turkey for its natural beauty. It’s surrounded by high mountains in a valley of the Coruh River and boasts tall pine tree forests and interesting rock formations. The area also has its own unique culture; it’s the home of the Laz-speaking population of Turkey, along the border of Georgia.
Best places to visit in Turkey: Turquoise Coast
Turkey’s Turquoise Coast juts out from the country’s south, on the Aegean Sea. It stretches from Fethiye on the peninsula’s western side to Antalya on its eastern side. The area is renowned for some of the country’s most beautiful beaches and coastal resorts and gets its name from the fabulously blue water along this part of Turkey’s coastline.
Sparkling white beaches
The Blue Lagoon in Oludeniz is the most celebrated attraction in the region, which first put the Turquoise Coast on the tourist map. Its Belcekiz Beach is a pure white strip of sand along a small curved bay with near-transparent water. Forested cliffs create a picturesque backdrop, and it’s also a haven for paragliders.
Thousands of butterflies
Butterfly Valley in Fethiye is not quite a secret tourist destination, but it’s one of the least crowded. It’s located at the beginning of the Lycian Way walk from Fethiye to Antalya, with a small beach only accessible by boat. The reward for seeking it out is the magnificent view and the waterfalls that attract over 100 different species of butterflies in spring. There’s also a small beach bar where you can get grilled fish and local beer.
Laid-back suntanning and snorkelling
If you’re after a more bohemian scene, head to Kas. It’s a little fishing hamlet with a rustic beach and has been popular with hippie travellers for decades. You can lounge on daybeds and swim in terraces over the water – Kaputas Beach is the pick of the bunch. You can also take a boat out to nearby Kekova Island; it has an underwater city you can snorkel through.
Natural parks and beaches
A trip to this part of Turkey wouldn’t be complete without visiting Patara and Patara Beach. The town is little more than a set of ancient ruins purported to have been built by one of the sons of Apollo. Patara Beach is one of Turkey’s most undisturbed natural beaches and its longest. It’s part of a natural park, with lots of marine and bird wildlife, and is usually nice and empty if you’re looking for some solitude.
Wander through Roman history
The Roman Theatre of Aspendos is one of the most striking landmarks in this region. About half a day’s drive from Antalya, it is one of the world’s best-restored classical Roman theatres. Built during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, it’s simply massive, with seating for over 15,000 spectators. Surrounding it are other ancient ruins of an agora, an aqueduct and a Byzantine basilica.
Best places to visit in Turkey: Turkish Riviera
The Turkish Riviera is the stretch of coast on the country’s western side, also bordering the Aegean Sea. It stretches from Bodrum in the south up to around the region of Izmir. Here you’ll find some of the best places to visit in Turkey, especially when it comes to summer holiday resorts. There’s also plenty of ancient history to explore.
Party central and horse safaris
Marmaris is one of the most feted resorts on the Turkish Riviera. It really has it all: sunbathing and party beaches, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. You can enjoy an authentic traditional Turkish bath or visit Marmaris National Park – a horse safari is a particular highlight. The water is clear and calm, creating a safe swimming spot for children.
World-renowned Bodrum
Bodrum is another of Turkey’s most popular coastal resorts among tourists. Sometimes known as the Turkish Saint Tropez, it offers excellent beaches, superb cuisine and an excellent crop of local wines. Don’t miss visiting Bodrum Castle; it’s remarkable for the fact that it was built from the actual stones of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. If you’re visiting with children, you can take them to Aqualand, the biggest water playground in the country.
Surreal salt pools
Pamukkale is another outstanding, almost otherworldly place. The name means “cotton castle” – a reference to the gleaming white travertine that creates organic-shaped mineral pools on cascading white terraces dotted with limestone stalactites. The ruins of Hierapolis are right at the top, where you can bathe in the same mineral pool Cleopatra once used. You’ll find it in the Buyuk Menderes Valley.
Travel back to the Lycian era
The Dalyan Valley is another area that’s well worth visiting. Here you can see the monumental Lycian Rock Tombs perched on the hilltops. They date back to the 4th century, and you can reach them by car or taxi. The best way to get there, though, is to take a leisurely day hike.
Famous architecture and World Heritage sites
Izmir is a seaside resort in the country’s far west. It’s the third-biggest city in Turkey and has its own famous Blue Mosque. Its other main attraction is Konak Pier, created by Gustave Eiffel. Izmir is also very close to Ephesus, another of Turkey’s ancient UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Best places to visit in Turkey: Northern Aegean
Turkey’s far north-western Aegean coastline, near the Bosphorus Strait, has some of the very best places to visit in Turkey of historical significance. Its towns are also steeped in Greek history, and this is the area to visit for Aegean ambience and sites of epic mythological events. You can also pay your respects at one of the most famous battle sites of WWI.
The town of broken chimneys
Start your exploration by getting a feel for the traditional culture of the area in the village of Ayvalik. An old olive oil production centre, it’s now known for its “broken chimneys”, remnants from that era that have become a tourist attraction. You can also see ancient mosques that were converted into Greek Orthodox churches. For more local flavour, head to the town squares, where you can mix with the locals in the old village’s historic cafes.
WWI battle sites, now peaceful and scenic
Gallipoli earned an unfortunate place in history as the site of one of the most costly battles of WWI when predominantly Australian troops attempted a doomed and now legendary amphibious landing. You can visit the memorials throughout the Gallipoli Peninsula, which, paradoxically, is also an area of serene beauty. The rolling hills lead down to the ocean as you pass through wineries and seaside towns.
The ancient city of Troy
One of the most famous mythological sites in all of history lies on the Northern Aegean coast of Turkey – the ruins of the city of Troy. While it’s now little more than an archaeological site, one can’t help but be overawed by the sense of history permeating it. A walking path will take you through the most important parts of the sprawling city ruins. You can also see the original trench, which was dug to expose the nine layers of ruins when they were first discovered.
Exploring Greek mythology
Another site worth a visit is the Bergama Acropolis. The main attractions here are the steep Hellenistic theatre, seating around 10,000 people, and the Temple of Trajan. The latter is the only Roman structure in the complex. Other ruins to look out for are the Altar of Zeus and the Temple of Dionysus.
