Embodying Europe, Asia, multiple cultures and climates, and thousands of years of vivid history, Türkiye is a destination unlike any other. Its food is world-renowned, its archaeological wonders (including two Wonders of the Ancient World) are legendary, and its people (and cats…as far as cats can be) are among the most welcoming anywhere. But Türkiye is a large country with a large story. For that first trip, you’ll want to hit the highlights, starting with five of the country’s biggest stars.
İstanbul
İstanbul holds only a taste of Türkiye’s treasures…but what a taste! When we talk about Türkiye being the ultimate crossroads between cultures, İstanbul is exactly that. Spend a day on the Golden Horn, the centre of İstanbul’s old city where icons including the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market, and Topkapı Palace await. In fact, you might want to give it two days, but take time to explore beyond the ancient walls as well. Hop on a Bosphorus cruise with views of the Bosphorus Bridge, the only one in the world that connects two continents. Taste your way through Kadıköy on the Asian side, admiring its beautiful street art in between bites. Explore the cultural heart of modern İstanbul in the Beyoğlu district, shop up a storm on İstiklal street or feast your eyes on art at the Pera Museum. Then grab a cocktail on one of the city’s countless rooftop terraces to watch the sun setting on two continents.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia looks like something out of a storybook. In fact, its most recognizable features have affectionately been dubbed the fairy chimneys. A stop on the fabled Silk Road, Cappadocia is the result of volcanic ash layering to create soft, porous rock. Its first inhabitants, the Hittites arrived around 1,800 BC and quickly discovered the stone was ideal for tunnelling and excavation. Their conquerors, the Phrygians, would expand these initial underground settlements into subterranean cities such as Derinkuyu that enchant visitors today. Explore well-preserved tunnels built to confuse invaders and admire colourful frescos brilliantly preserved in the darkness of the caves.
Visiting Cappadocia is at least a two-day exercise, with set routes highlighting the most fascinating and beautiful features of the region. It’s also an ideal place for hiking, with spectacular sunrises and sunsets. That said, no experience is more Cappadocia than a hot-air balloon ride high above the fairy chimneys, all while marvelling at the architectural ingenuity that sprawls beneath.
Ephesus & the Aegean
The ancient city of Ephesus was drawing crowds centuries before tourism as we now know it existed. Of course, it boasted the world’s largest temple and a Wonder of the Ancient World: the Temple of Artemis. It also held the world’s third-largest library, the Library of Celsus, whose façade remains a popular photo stop for visitors today. The city supported a large theatre, Roman baths and gymnasiums, and later inspired a book of the New Testament. The Virgin Mary’s last home sits atop Mount Koressos (Bülbül Dağı) and still lures Christian pilgrims in their droves.
Don’t just pass through the nearby city of İzmir, however. Besides being home to one of Türkiye’s most important archaeological museums, it’s handy to another archaeological wonder, the Agora of Smyrna. Back in town, take a walk along the docks, enjoying a local snack fresh from the sea as you watch locals fish, work, and socialize. A little further south, the city of Bodrum embodies all that’s alluring about the Aegean. Once known as Halicarnassus—yes, as in the Mausoleum, Türkiye’s other Ancient World Wonder—it tempts visitors with a hopping nightlife, fascinating history stretching from antiquity to the modern day, and gorgeous Aegean sunsets, best taken in from the ramparts of Bodrum Castle, or aboard a traditional gulet on the bay. Within the castle, the Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum is a must-see.
Pamukkale
Located near the inland city of Denizli, Pamukkale brings together natural beauty, history, and wellness in a way that is uniquely Türkiye. The mineral-rich thermal waters have lured visitors here since Ancient Roman times, when nearby Hierapolis became a popular spa city. What strikes the eye first though are the mineral terraces formed over millennia by cascading waters. The name Pamukkale is Turkish for “cotton castle,” and while this refers to a specific part of Pamukkale, it’s a pretty spot-on description. The landscape is a mosaic of clear, turquoise pools held back by natural white walls, as if the sky itself has been reversed on land.
Don’t miss the ruins of Hierapolis either. Its ancient theatre is spectacularly preserved, while for an extra fee, you can dip into the Cleopatra Pools, rumoured to have been favoured by Queen Cleopatra herself. Pamukkale itself is pretty small, but while you won’t need much time to see the key sights, you might still extend your stay to enjoy the health benefits of the waters yourself.
Antalya & the Lycian Way
Located on Türkiye’s southern coast, the Lycian Way is one of the world’s great bucket-list hikes. It blends spectacular coastal scenery with colourful history, sandy beaches, delightful towns, and genuinely challenging sections to test your fitness. The whole route takes between 30 and 45 days, but most explore it in bits and pieces or opt for day hikes, so there’s a Lycian Way experience to suit all levels of fitness. Indulge your curiosity in the 14th-century ghost town of Kayaköy, now abandoned to nature. Feast your eyes on Ölüdeniz, the famed Blue Lagoon, and enjoy diving, snorkelling or swimming in its crystal-clear waters. If you can tear yourself away from beautiful Patara Beach, explore the ruins of the town that gave it its name, once the capital of the Lycia region.
If you want to rest your legs, pull up in Antalya for a few nights and explore its vibrant blend of archaeology, natural beauty and urban sophistication. This is a resort town and one of Türkiye’s most popular coastal destinations, but it’s an ideal base for exploring the region if you’re not hiking. Visit Hadrian’s Gate and the Roman Fortress, explore the old town and harbour, take in ancient sites like Aspendos, Termessos, or Perge, go white-water rafting at Köprülü Canyon National Park, admire natural features such as Karain Cave, visit St. Claus’un (Demre-Myra) or…. In fact, there’s enough to do in the Antalya region to warrant its own vacation of a week or more, all without hiking a single step.
Christian’s first globetrotting adventure saw him get lost exploring the streets of Saigon. Following his nose to Asia’s best coffee, two lifelong addictions were born. A freelance writer and novelist, Christian’s travels have since taken him around his native Australia, Asia, Europe, and much of North America. His favourite trips have been through Japan, Spain, and Brazil, though with a love of off-beat, artsy cities, he’ll seize any opportunity to return to Paris, New York, or Berlin.
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