There’s more to Turkey than cheap dentistry, plastic surgery and overcrowded beach resorts. If you’ve written this destination off, it’s time to think again. Turkey is where East meets West, quite literally. This country spans two continents: Europe and Asia. That’s just one of the reasons why it’s a holiday destination like no other. Every year, thousands of travellers are seduced by Turkey’s unique charms. Now it’s your turn, but where should you go on your holiday? Here are some cool places to go in Turkey to inspire your next trip.
Istanbul
Obviously, we have to start with the big one. Istanbul is a city with a long, fascinating history. As Constantinople, it was the capital of the Byzantine Empire before falling to the Ottomans and getting a shiny new name. Today, the Ottomans are long gone, but the name remains. Istanbul is now, as it’s been for centuries, one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
There are endless things to visit in Istanbul, including world-famous sights like the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is the largest covered market in the world and the ideal place to brush up on your haggling skills. Go underground to explore the Basilica Cistern, a subterranean marvel left by the Romans, or relax in a traditional Turkish bath. If you run out of things to see and do in Istanbul, you just haven’t been looking hard enough. Everywhere you turn, there’s something new to see, including Balat, the old Jewish Quarter-turned-hipster neighbourhood, as well as the lush greenery of Belgrad Forest, which lies just outside the city.
We can’t even begin to tell you all the attractions and Istanbul points of interest. Let’s just say that if you’re interested in culture, history, food —pretty much anything, really— it’s the best place to go in Turkey, hands-down. But it’s also just the start of our list. As we said, this is a big country, and there are so many other things to see.
Cappadocia
Let’s head somewhere completely different. Istanbul is a huge, bustling city with endless noise and excitement. By contrast, Cappadocia will transport you to another country — or maybe even another planet, thanks to its weird and wonderful fairy chimneys. These are natural structures created by millennia of erosion, but they look like they’ve been designed by some fabulous artist. In some ways, they may resemble the minarets of Istanbul, but that’s all they have in common with the big city.
Allow yourself enough time to see all the Cappadocia Turkey attractions, which is one of the best places to visit in Turkey. The Cappadocia caves have been inhabited since the Bronze Age, which is when settlers realised that the soft volcanic rock was easy to carve. Today, while most caves are still homes for the local residents, many have been turned into cave hotels, giving you the chance for some truly unique accommodation.
Get up early to take a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. When you’re back on two feet, explore the town of Cappadocia Göreme, with its ancient Byzantine frescoes, and check out the thousand-year-old castle in Uçhisar. You can also go horse riding through the Cappadocian landscape. This has to be the most romantic place to visit in Turkey, but even if you’re proudly single, you’ll still love it. It’s also surprisingly easy to reach this otherworldly destination, with flights running regularly from Istanbul to Kayseri Airport.
The Bodrum Peninsula
Are you a beach bum at heart? Then make your way to the Bodrum Peninsula on the Aegean Sea. Bodrum itself is a smart, stylish seaside resort town that has earned the nickname of the Turkish Saint-Tropez. It’s a great place to go people-watching and enjoy some gourmet meals at the chic restaurants. You’ll also find some classy boutiques downtown, but the prices here are not budget-friendly, and this isn’t a bazaar, so haggling is most definitely not welcome.
However, there are more Bodrum attractions than just the beach and the city. Bodrum Castle is one of the most interesting things to see in Bodrum. Many people say that it’s one of the most beautiful castles in Turkey, and we’re inclined to agree. This remarkably well-preserved structure was built in the 15th century, but its history actually goes back far longer. The stones used to construct it were taken from the ruined Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the original Seven Wonders of the World.
We recommend hiring a car and driving around the Bodrum Peninsula, as it’s home to several cool places in Turkey. In particular, we love seeing the contrast between the glitzy city of Bodrum and the traditional fishing villages nearby. The sleepy town of Gümüşlük is one of our favourites and is actually easier to reach by boat than by car. Its foodie scene is quite different from Bodrum’s glamorous restaurants. Here, you’ll find literal shacks on the edge of the water, where the chefs will whip up incredibly fresh dishes using whatever they’ve managed to catch in the morning. It won’t take you long to explore the entire village, as it’s really just a few streets. However, don’t be tempted to rush off. Make sure that you stay for the sunset — it’s unreal.
Belek
Say hello to the Turkish Riviera! The next of our top places to visit in Turkey is on the country’s Mediterranean coast. Belek, once a quiet fishing town, has become one of the best cities to see in Turkey. This is the place to go if you want seaside relaxation in luxury surroundings. High-end resorts, fancy golf clubs and exclusive spas have transformed Belek into a playground for sun-worshippers.
Spectacular beaches
Top of the list of things to see in Belek are the spectacular beaches. Many have Blue Flag status. These long strips of golden sand on the edge of the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean are ideal for any beach lover. You could comfortably spend your entire holiday just lounging on the sand, but you’d be missing some other good places in Turkey.
Aspendos Theatre
We love the ancient ruins of the Aspendos Theatre, an ancient Roman construction that has been carefully restored and preserved over the years. In fact, it’s so well-preserved that it is still used today as a venue for concerts, ballet performances and opera. If you get the chance to watch a live show in this incredibly evocative venue, don’t miss it. Okay, it won’t be gladiators battling for their lives against lions, but it’ll still make you feel like an ancient Roman for the day.
Koprulu Canyon
If you get tired of the beach, be sure to visit Koprulu Canyon. This is the place to go if you want to get your adrenaline pumping. Canyoning, ziplining and white water rafting are just a few of the exhilarating activities on offer here. The rafting, in particular, shouldn’t be missed. As you paddle 25 kilometres down the river, you’ll see stunning rock formations, gorgeous landscapes and even ancient ruins.
Kaş
We’re staying on the Turkish Riviera for this one, but Kaş is a world apart from Belek. If you’re not a fan of big resorts, then choose this old fishing village for your beach holiday. Unlike many of the other towns nearby, it still retains its gentle, old-world charm, which makes it one of our favourite places to visit in Turkey.
For a chilled-out holiday, you might want to just casually stroll the streets of Kaş, admiring the old white-washed houses with their wooden balconies covered in colourful flowers. The architecture here will make you think you’ve got lost and ended up in Greece — and, well, that’s not surprising. This town is located in the west of Turkey, just 5 kilometres from the nearest Greek island. Over the centuries, the two nations have exchanged a great deal of culture, and that’s plain to see here.
When you’ve finished exploring the town, head down to the village’s beach, a gorgeous strip of white sand nestled among stark cliffs. The water here is particularly clear, making it a hotspot for scuba diving and snorkelling.
While you’re here, take a boat trip to the nearby island of Kekova. This charming island is now uninhabited, but it was once home to the ancient town of Dolikisthe. An earthquake during the 2nd century AD knocked the town into the sea just off the island, where it remains to this day. Sadly, visitors are not permitted to explore the sunken city, but you can get close enough to see some parts of this Turkish Atlantis.
Pamukkale
Better charge your camera because you’re going to want to take a lot of photos here. If you want good places in Turkey for the ‘gram, there’s nowhere better than Pamukkale.
Mineral springs
What makes Pamukkale one of our favourite places to visit in Turkey? It’s all about the mineral springs that run down the hillside here, creating natural swimming pools of crystal-clear water. To make them even more extraordinary, the high levels of calcium oxide in the land here have turned the surrounding rocks a brilliant white colour — the same hue as the white-washed walls of Mediterranean architecture. When you see the brilliant, pale blue water collected in white rock pools, you won’t believe that it’s all-natural, but it really is.
Pools at Pamukkale
You can go for a dip in the pools at Pamukkale, although it does get quite crowded in the peak season. Get there early so that when the crowds descend, you can visit the ruined Ancient Greek spa town of Hierapolis that stands above Pamukkale. This is where you’ll find Cleopatra’s very own bath — although it’ll be filled with natural water, not the donkey milk of legend. Nevermind. You can even take a dip in old Cleo’s favourite pool, and frankly, we’d much rather do that in water than milk.
Sumela Monastery
As we said, Turkey is a big country. Tourists tend to head to the same spots, which means there are lots of places to visit in Turkey that are only just becoming known by the outside world — and Sumela Monastery is one of them. This sits in the rugged northeast of the country and was once an outpost on the Silk Road. As travellers from all over Europe and Asia congregated here, the monastery was touched by dozens of different cultures, and each has left a fingerprint on this extraordinary place.
The Sumela Monastery was founded by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I during the fourth century AD, but most of the structure you see today was built in the 13th century. Building this monastery must have been hard work. It is very high up, clinging to a cliff face with a dizzying sheer drop below. It is a pilgrimage destination for the Greek Orthodox church, but you don’t need to be religious to admire its incredible architecture. Pilgrims come to purify themselves in the holy water from the monastery’s sacred spring.
During recent restoration works, a secret tunnel and hidden frescoes were unearthed, suggesting that there’s more to the Sumela Monastery than meets the eye. Who knows what other secrets lie behind the walls of this cliffside complex?
Lake Salda
Like the Sumela Monastery, this is one of those places to visit in Turkey that doesn’t see many crowds. That’s a bit of a surprise because Lake Salda is known as the Turkish Maldives. Its out-of-the-way location means that most tourists don’t bother to go. In fact, if you’re staying in Antalya or Fethiye, it’s a five-hour round trip, but we think it’s worth it. You’ll find accommodation nearby in the town of Yeşilova. There are no fancy resorts or five-star hotels here, but basic accommodations and the chance for an adventure are enough for us.
Naturally healing waters
Lake Salda has naturally healing waters. Locals say that the water is particularly good for people with skin conditions thanks to its high mineral content. Scientists think that the mineral content here is similar to that of a dried-up crater lake on Mars. Unless you’re Elon Musk, Lake Salda is probably the closest you’ll ever come to swimming on the Red Planet. This is an all-natural, open-air spa where you can soak in the water for as long as you like. As the lake is set at a high altitude, the waters can be a little chilly at first. If you’re just swimming, it’s best to stick to the shallows. However, the lake is also used for freshwater scuba diving, and it is said to be one of the best sites for that in Turkey.
When you’re tired of the lake, it’s time to explore the surrounding area. We love the chance to lose ourselves in the dense pine forests that line the edges of the lake. Although there are plenty of paths to follow, you won’t find many other visitors. That can really make you feel like you’ve found a true slice of wilderness, a million miles away from Turkey’s huge cities and packed beaches.
We just can’t get enough of Turkey. That’s why we’ve planned this eight-day adventure, which will take you to Istanbul and Cappadocia. You’ll see some of the most exciting, beautiful parts of the country and make some great new friends along the way. We’re waiting for you!
