10 Must-Visit Tourist Attractions in Turkey

Turkey is a beautiful country with breathtaking scenery and a wealth of spectacular ancient sites that have witnessed the success of many empires over the centuries.

Situated astride Asia and Europe, Turkey's sumptuous sunny Mediterranean landscapes, influential mountains with incredible panoramic views, remarkable history, vibrant culture, and of course, its highly acclaimed cuisine make it a huge attraction for all types of travelers. From history, archaeology, and architecture enthusiasts, to simple adventurers or even extreme adventurers, from nature lovers, trekking and hiking to simple swimmers looking for beautiful sandy beaches washed by turquoise blue waters, Turkey offers you an unforgettable vacation.

To help you plan a memorable trip to Turkey, we have compiled a list of Turkey's most visited attractions.

Hagia Sophia Mosque

Hagia Sofia in Greek, Aya Sofya in Turkish, or Saint Sofia in English, was built in 360 for Constantine, the Roman emperor, and on the occasion of the newly built city of Constantinople. Recently transformed into a mosque in 2020, the ancient Cathedral was rebuilt in 537 AD by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian and has since been the most outstanding achievement of the Byzantine Empire.

Reputed to be the largest Cathedral in the world for 1,000 years, the Hagia Sophia Mosque is today one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and a sacred space for all Christian and Muslim visitors.

From the outside in, the sumptuous building pays homage to the delicate craftsmanship of the empires that created its current glory. The refined minarets of the Ottoman conquest and the intricate geometric forms of its impressive exterior architecture amaze the eye. At the same time, the majestic frescoed decorations of its cavernous interior are a constant reminder of the power of ancient Constantinople.

This masterpiece is a must-see in the beautiful city of Istanbul.

Hagia Sophia Mosque

Ephesus

Ephesus, known as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was, according to ancient legends, founded by the Ionian prince Adroclos in the 11th century BC. The ruined city's gigantic monuments and marbled columns still bear witness to its old glory and tell an exciting story of conquests of power and the march of empires.

Even partially destroyed, Ephesus is one of the oldest ancient cities and one of the largest Roman archaeological sites in the Mediterranean, where tourists can get an idea of life at the height of the Roman Empire.

The ruins of Ephesus are full of fascinating places to visit, such as the terraced houses with their beautiful fresco decorations on their walls and mosaic floors, the amphitheater of Ephesus, the Odeon Theater, and the colonnaded facade of the Library of Celsus.

To enjoy your visit to Ephesus, it is necessary to plan it well, to plan a whole day, and especially to go early in the day.

Ephesus

Goreme National Park & Cappadocia

Visiting Goreme National Park and Cappadocia will enchant you with unique panoramic landscapes of rolling volcanic rock formations sheltered by hills and cliff ridges and a range of tourist activities to brighten your stay.

During this visit, you will have the opportunity to take magnificent pictures of the lunar landscape of Cappadocia Valley and Goreme National Park, both classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

In this region, you can go hiking, explore underground cities, visit vineyards famous for their excellent wine, or admire the frescoes of the ancient carved churches in the open-air museum of Goreme. But, the hot air ballooning sites remain the most popular sites in Cappadocia.

Rose Valley, Red Valley, and Love Valley, the hikers settled in the small mountain villages of Cappadocia, will spend days exploring these beautiful landscapes and relax peacefully after long walks in the comfort of the cave of the beautiful hotels of the place.

Goreme National Park & Cappadocia

Topkapi Palace

Inside the walls of the Topkapi Palace, which was from 1478 to 1856, the administrative and residential center of the Ottoman Empire that extended to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, immerse yourself in the luxurious and incredible world of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire.

In this opulent setting with lush tile floors adorned with precious stones, visit Topkapi Sarayi Müzesi in Turkish (Istanbul Museum), which since its opening in 1924, exhibits a vast collection that tells visitors about the history and culture of the Ottoman Empire.

During your visit to the Topkapi Palace, you must visit the collection of weapons displayed in the imperial treasury, the collection of books and manuscripts in the royal library, the imperial council building where the grand vizier managed the affairs of the empire, the sumptuous harem rooms, designed for Sinan, the great Ottoman architect and the world-famous collection of miniature paintings.

Now open to the public, the royal garden, with its lush green and soothing landscape, offers a prime location to admire the remarkable architecture of the palace complex.

Topkapi Palace

Pamukkale

In the Denizli province in southwestern Turkey, Pamukkale is one of the famous natural attractions in Turkey that attracts visitors worldwide.

Pamukkale, in English "cotton castle," was so named because of its main attraction of pure white hot spring water rich in minerals in the valley of the Menderes River.

After exploring the ruins of Hierapolis on foot, you can take a dip in the hot springs before descending the travertine hill to taste the specialties of Pamukkale village and shop in the local market.

At dusk, as the sun disappears into the horizon, the travertines shine and offer a beautiful landscape for photos.

Pamukkale

Antalya

The sublime Antalya, located in the middle of the Mediterranean, is full of attractions and opportunities for all travelers.

Its main beaches outside the city are favorite destinations for travelers from Europe, and if you want to get away from the sand, visit the beautiful collection of marble statues on display at the Antalya Museum, known to be the best in the country. The cobblestone streets of the ancient Ottoman city are also a colorful attraction to discover.

Due to its location, Antalya is a prime destination for travelers as it is not far from cities like Fethiye, where you can take part in the famous blue cruise, to admire the natural phenomenon of Chimaera near Olympus; Ölüdenzi where the more adventurous will enjoy paragliding from the top of Mount Baba and soaring over the incredible turquoise waters and green forests that dominate the cliff to the fine sale beach.

Antalya

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Mount Nemrut

Aspendos is a well-preserved ancient site near Belkis, whose amphitheater of imposing mass was ceremonial during the reign of Marcus Aurelius.

The Roman architect Zeno built the Roman theater between 161 and 180, and it was built to contain fifteen thousand people. It has been recently restored and is today one of the architectural pieces of the classical era still unfailing.

For tourists based in Antalya, the site is only half a day's drive away. For a satisfying visit to Aspendos, architecture enthusiasts will surely enjoy seeing pieces of ancient aqueducts. Behind the hill where the theater is dug, you can admire some of the columns and vaults of the engineering masterpiece that provided water to the city.

On the hillside surrounding the amphitheater, you can also visit the ruins of the city, which include tombs carved in Phrygian rock, an agora (marketplace), and a basilica dating back to the Byzantine era.

Pergamum

On the north shore of the vast Caicus River Valley, visit Pergamum, a sprawling site of Greco-Roman ruins with a romantic feel where you'll get an authentic life experience during the city's heyday.

Because of its strategic position that gave it easy access to the Aegean Sea, Pergamum was once a prolific center of trade. In ancient times, its library was one of the most important after Alexandria.

The site of Pergamum, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a delightful place to explore. In the Acropolis area, in particular, visit the theater built into the side of the mountain, the stadium, the gymnasium, and the temple of Hera and enjoy the panoramic view of the Aegean Sea and the countryside.

The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque, Sultan Ahmet Camii, in Turkish, is one of Turkey's five most visited buildings. It was built during the reign of Ahmed I between 1609 and 1616 on the hill that housed the palace of Constantinople of the Byzantine Empire, facing Saint Sofia, the former Cathedral converted into the imperial mosque of the Ottomans.

Although in his time the mosques usually had no more than five minarets, Sultan Ahmed, in his desire to build a majestic mosque, ordered a project of six minarets. Four minarets are placed at the mosque's corners, while the other two stand at the entrance court's ends. You can admire them in the sumptuous Sultan Ahmet Park with the imposing structure of the mosque's architecture.

Originally built to replicate or surpass the architecture of Saint Sofia, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque is distinguished by its sublime interior, entirely covered with Iznik tiles in blue tones and decorated with images of flowers, trees, and other plants. According to the myth, the sultan would have wanted golden minarets for his mosque, but because these Turkish words are similar, the designer changed the sultan's request that for six minarets.

The Blue Mosque is open to the public, but during prayer hours, it is not accessible. To enter, men and women must be fully covered, and women must cover their hair with a scarf.

Troy

Troy, also known as Ilios or lion, is well-known for the great debates of literature and archaeological theories. The ruins of the glorious ancient city of northwest Anatolia are nowadays an attraction for tourists with a passion for archaeology and history.

Considered by many to be the Troy of Homer's Iliad, the easily distinguishable nine-layered ruins of the ancient city indicate nine periods of occupation during which Troy was consecutively destroyed and rebuilt due to earthquakes or fires.

In the well-preserved ruins of Troy, you can see the remains of a palace, houses, megarons, and some monuments dating from the Roman occupation. The museum of Troy, located near the ruins of the ancient city, presents a vast collection that perfectly tells the story of Troy.

If you're planning to visit Turkey and explore its best attractions, please don't hesitate to contact us, just simply tell us your interests and needs, and one of our travel experts will create a tailor-made itinerary for you within 24hrs.