Discover the nicest places in Turkey, find out best cities to travel, make your next Turkey travel unforgettable with the famous landmarks in Turkey.
Turkey is a country that has lots to offer. There are so many beautiful landscapes to see, beaches to swim in and historical places to visit. You can visit Turkey many times and get caught surprised by the wonders it contains. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular places to visit in Turkey.
Istanbul
Istanbul is one of the most magical cities in the world. Its unique history, amazing architecture, and beautiful streets leave millions of visitors mesmerized each year. A bridge between two continents, Istanbul offers excellent experiences from both the traditional and modern sides of Turkish living.
Istanbul was the capital of Byzantine Empire until it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. So the streets of Istanbul are filled with the history of the both empires, and filled with little secrets from each culture to reside here. You can spend days discovering them.
A city so big and so historical, you can’t run out of options when it comes to what to do in Istanbul. Your days can be packed with cultural, art filled trips such as visits to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace Museum and many more. You can eat out at one of the many restaurants overlooking the beautiful Bosphorus. To find out things you can do in Istanbul in more detail, you can check our Istanbul travel guide.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a very famous, magical attraction, known for its fairy chimneys. 60 million years ago Cappadocia‘s land was riddled with active volcanos. The resulting ashy and soft land was shaped by natural factors such as wind and rain for millions of years and left us with the scenery we love today.
There is so much to see in Cappadocia, not only the natural phenomenon but the old history of the people who made this place their homes over the centuries. In Cappadocia, you can visit the quirkiest museums, have the most scenic breakfasts while watching the hot air balloons, or hop on the balloons yourself. None of the things you choose will disappoint you. Here you can take a hot air balloon ride or have a Turkish breakfast while watching the balloons float by. But Cappadocia is a vast place filled with open air museums, old churches and houses built in fairy chimneys. You can take daily trips to discover valleys filled with natural beauty and history. To find out more about things you can do in Cappadocia, you can check out our Cappadocia travel guide.
Pamukkale
Pamukkale is another beautiful natural phenomenon that is a recognized UNESCO world heritage site. With its cotton white scenery and pools, it takes a place on many tourists’ must-see lists. Minerals in the thermal waters give Pamukkale its unique look and it is indeed a very rich spot for thermal waters. So much so that it was used as a thermal bath for about 2300 years.
The thermal waters of Pamukkale have temperatures that vary between 35 and 100 degrees Celsius. The minerals in the water go into a chemical reaction with the oxygen in the atmosphere, releasing jelly-like calcium carbonate that you can feel under your feet. Calcium carbonate solidifies after a while and forms the travertines.
The thermal waters of Pamukkale were believed to have healing effects in the olden days. Even today, it is believed that these waters are good for you if you have dry skin.
Ephesus
Home to one of the seven wonders of the world, the Temple of Artemis, Ephesus gains many visitors from all over the world each year. With a history dating back 8000 years and spanning many civilizations, Ephesus is a must see in Turkey.
An important center for trade and philosophy at its golden age, Ephesus suffered from Mongolian attacks in the 15th century. Still, Ephesus mesmerizes visitors with its intact structures and architecture today.
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and is a metropolis filled with many government buildings. But it is not all business in Ankara, you can enjoy local attractions such as Ankara Castle and the old town around the castle which is filled with rustic shops to have Turkish breakfast and sip Turkish coffee. Ankara is also home to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. As Anatolia is considered one of the first places humans settled down, the museum is filled with amazing artifacts from these early periods. Ankara also offers the cuisines of many other cities of Turkey. You can go to restaurants that serve seemingly limitless ingredients for you to make your own wrap, a truly delicious experience.
Antalya
Antalya is the perfect holiday town, it has an amazing sea, a harbour full of yachts, a historical old town and even a beautiful gate from Roman times. It is a big city where you can find anything you are looking for (unless it is very, very specific), and it is not chaotic and most places are a short taxi ride away. The old town is packed with places you can buy souvenirs, bars and restaurants, a great place to spend your evenings.