Top 5 Iconic Destinations To Visit In Türkiye

Türkiye’s beaches and mountains have been a gateway between Europe and Asia. Due to trade and cultural exchange, Türkiye is diverse. The country’s diverse culture and influences are evident in its delicious cuisine and countless religious monuments and archaeological sites at the intersection of East and West.

Istanbul, the Byzantine and Ottoman capital, is a popular travel destination, but many others exist. You could stay in boutique hotels in caves, fly hot air balloons above Cappadocia’s otherworldly landscape, explore Ephesus’ Greco-Roman world, or relax in luxury beach resorts on the Aegean Sea. Look at these top Türkiye vacation spots:

Ankara

The Turkish capital, Ankara, is a sprawling, modern city with government buildings, commercial businesses, universities, and foreign embassies. It is also a major transportation hub in central Türkiye and Anatolia, connecting nationals and tourists to other major destinations.

However, Ankara is only part business. The bustling city has some historic sites and arts and culture. Ankara contains ancient structures and ruins from the Hittite, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations. The Citadel, Temple of Augustus, and Roman Theatre stand out. Heritage mosques are also scattered throughout the city.

Anitkabir, a mausoleum built in the 20th century, holds Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s tomb. Ankara has many theaters and museums, especially the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which has over 200,000 objects. Traditional markets and modern malls offer great deals on fresh produce, spices, carpets, and electronics.

Antalya

Antalya, a large, vibrant city on the Turkish Riviera, welcomes tourists with many resorts, hotels, bars, and restaurants. Beautiful beaches and lush green mountains with ancient ruins surround the city. Antalya has everything from swimming and sailing to mountain climbing, sightseeing, and family fun.

A walk through Kaleiçi, the Old Quarter, reveals the city’s ancient past with its city walls, Roman gates, maze-like streets, Clock Tower, and beautiful churches, mosques, and temples. Cumhuriyet Square is the Old Quarter’s hub, with shops, cafes, Turkish baths, and street performers.

Antalya’s main beaches, Konyaalti and Lara, have white sand, water sports, resorts, bars, and restaurants. Near the beaches are water parks, amusement parks, and zoos. Local artifacts are on display at several museums, including the award-winning Antalya Museum.

Ephesus

An ancient site in Aegean, Türkiye, Ephesus is Europe’s most complete classical metropolis. It became one of the largest Roman cities in the 1st century BC, with the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders. Due to its well-preserved ruins and large archaeological sites, Ephesus is one of Türkiye’s most popular tourist destinations.

Ephesus became a Roman settlement in 133 BC, but it peaked 200 years later. When it was Roman Asia Minor’s capital, Ephesus had over 250,000 residents. St. Paul promoted Christianity and other religions in Ephesus. Ephesus declined after the Germanic Goths sacked it in the third century, and its harbor declined.

For 1,500 years, Ephesus was practically forgotten. The ruins of this incredible classical city were hidden until the 1860s when an international team of archeologists located them. Less than 20% of Ephesus has been excavated, but it remains one of the world’s largest accessible archeological sites.

Ephesus’ Temple of Artemis is undoubtedly its most famous structure. The world’s largest temple showed Ephesus’ importance. Although the temple was mainly destroyed around the fifth century, visitors can still tour the ruins.

Terraced Houses are one of Ephesus’ most recently excavated and popular attractions. The richest Ephesians of the first century lived in these modern Roman-style homes. Some homes had hot and cold baths, marble floors, and heating. Unique artwork, mosaics, and handwritten love poems decorate the walls.

No Ephesus visit is complete without visiting the Library of Celsus. Built in 123 AD, it was the third largest library in the ancient world after Alexandria and Pergamum. Restoration has revealed the library’s two-story design, columns, and capitals. Admire the four virtue statues. These replica statues of Sophia, Episteme, Ennoia, and Arete represent wisdom, knowledge, thought, and goodness.

Many visitors stay in Selçuk, two miles from Ephesus, before or after exploring the ruins. To learn more about the region’s archeology, visit the Museum of Ephesus or admire Selçuk’s Roman aqueduct in the center. Shop at the market or buy double-knot carpets, the area’s most popular souvenir.

Cappadocia

Cappadocia, located in Central Anatolia, Türkiye, is famous for its unique landscape of chimneys, cones, mushrooms, and pinnacles. Erosion and ancient volcanic eruptions have shaped these odd formations, some 130 feet (40 meters) tall. However, humans carved houses, churches, and underground cities from soft rock thousands of years ago.

The Hittites and other inhabitants of 1800 BC dug underground tunnels to escape Persian and Greek invaders. Later in the 4th century AD, Christians fled Rome’s religious persecution to Cappadocia’s tunnels and caves. The region’s natural and historic sites draw tourists today.

Most of Cappadocia is in Nevsehir, but Ürgüp, Göreme, Avanos, Ortahisar, and Mustafapasa are essential towns. Many of these towns have hotels, restaurants, nightlife, museums, rock castles, fairy chimneys, underground tunnels, old Greek villages, monasteries, and handicraft markets. Several caves in the area serve as hotels for tourists.

Istanbul

Istanbul is the largest city in Türkiye and one in the world. It was the Ottoman and Byzantine capitals. Istanbul is the only city in the world to span both continents across the Bosphorus. Istanbul is a top tourist destination due to its architecture, historic sites, dining, shopping, nightlife, and exotic atmosphere.

The Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace are among the city’s many historic sites in the Old City. New City is another vital district with skyscrapers, shopping malls, and modern attractions. Beyoglu and Galata have lively nightlife, while the Bosphorus has palaces, waterfront mansions, and parks.

Istanbul offers a variety of exciting activities. Shopping at the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, is a must. Turkish baths are a great way to experience local culture. There are restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs for every budget and taste in Istanbul.

Discover even more Destinations and Tours & Activities to fuel your travel dreams! From hidden gems to iconic sites, our guides are packed with tips, insights, and unforgettable experiences tailored for every traveler.