If you have four days or less to travel in Turkey, stick to one place. This would be a great amount of time for an initial trip to Istanbul. If you wanted to do a day trip to Bursa or the Princes’ Islands that would be possible, but a bit rushed.
If you have a week, you can explore two or possibly three places in Turkey. In this case, we’d recommend a trip to Istanbul and Cappadocia.
Ephesus and Pamukkale can be done in 2 days trip from Istanbul by plane. You can always combine these places with Istanbul and Cappadocia.
Fethiye, Bodrum, Antalya, and many offbeat coastal cities and islands are all wonderful places to soak up the sun. It is a great opportunity to have some free time for beaches.
Turkey’s waters welcome both those planning sailboat vacations and leisure sailors looking for developing their maritime skills. Turkey is looking to make a significant breakthrough in the industry by providing exclusive sailing opportunities with its unique routes and stellar infrastructure.
Recommendations will be made and an itinerary will be designed with your travel inputs on sightseeing priorities, holiday time, and budget.
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Ground transportation will be discussed and suggested e.g. intercity buses, luxury coaches, private driver and vehicle transfers, domestic flights, boat transfer etc.
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Renowned as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the spellbinding Byzantine glory of the Aya Sofya Museum (Hagia Sophia) is not only one of the top things to do in Istanbul, but also in Turkey.The staggering bulk of its exterior is rimmed by the delicate minarets added after the Ottoman conquest, while the sumptuous and cavernous frescoed interior is a grand reminder of old Constantinople’s might and power. This famed monument is a must-do for every tourist visiting the country.
Not to be missed, the mighty ruin of Ephesus is a city of colossal monuments and marble-columned roads. One of the most complete, still-standing Roman cities in the Mediterranean region, this is the place to experience what life must have been like during the golden age of the Roman Empire.A sightseeing trip here will take at least half a day to cover the major highlights and longer, if you really want to explore, so make sure you plan your visit so you don’t feel rushed.
The surreal, swooping rock valleys of Cappadocia are every photographer’s dream. Cliff ridges and hill crests are home to rippling panoramas of wave-like rock or wacky-shaped pinnacles that have been formed by millennia of wind and water action. And if you don’t feel like hiking for the views, this is one of the world’s top destinations to take a hot air balloon ride. If the lunar-scape isn’t enough to tempt you, nestled in these valleys are the frescoed rock-cut churches of the Byzantine Era, when this area was an important early Christian site.
Sumptuous beyond belief, the Topkapi Palace takes you into the fantastical, opulent world of the sultans. It was from here that the sultans of the Ottoman Era carved out an empire that would extend up into Europe and down through the Middle East and into Africa. The interiors, with their decadently exuberant tiling and lavish jeweled decor, are an unforgettable peek into the Ottoman’s power base. The surrounding public gardens were once the sole domain of the Royal Court but are now open to the public and provide a tranquil, green respite from the city streets.
One of Turkey’s most famous natural wonders, the pure white travertine terraces of Pamukkale (“Cotton Castle” in English) cascade down the slope looking like an out-of-place snowfield amid the green landscape. Although the travertines are themselves a highlight of a Turkey trip, the vast and rambling ruins of Roman Hierapolis, an ancient spa town, lie on the top of this calcite hill, providing another reason to visit. For the best photographs, come at dusk when the travertine glow as the sun sinks below the horizon.
This weird and lonely place has to be one of Turkey’s most peculiar archaeological sites. The giant stone heads of long-forgotten gods stare out from the summit, casting an eerie atmosphere over the barren mountaintop. The time to come is at sunrise, so you can watch the statues as they loom out of the dark.
Just south of Antalya, the jaw-dropping mammoth bulk of the Roman Theater of Aspendos celebrates the pomp and ceremony of Marcus Aurelius’ rule. Considered the finest surviving example of a classical age theater still standing in the world, it is one of antiquity’s star attractions. Although the theater is the main reason for a visit here-and for most visitors on a half-day trip from nearby Antalya or Side, the theater is all they see-there are more ruins to explore over a vast hilly area if you have time.
Turkey’s Mediterranean coastline has ruins galore and many things to do, but for many people, it’s all about soaking up the sun while enjoying the gorgeous coastal views. Cruising on a yacht is the number one activity for visitors to Bodrum and Fethiye for good reason. The steep forest-clad slopes, hidden coves sporting tiny white-sand beaches, and hundreds of scattered islands are the perfect place for exploring by sea. Even diehard landlubbers will be impressed. But sa
Turkey has an abundance of Greco-Roman ruins, but none can be so romantically placed as ancient Pergamum in modern-day Bergama. Once home to one of the ancient world’s most important libraries. Pergamum’s remaining temple remnants now preside dramatically on a hilltop.
It’s an incredibly atmospheric place to explore, with an Acropolis area and a theater cut into the hillside with sweeping panoramic views from its top seating tiers. This is a great place to visit if you want to get a real feel for life in the Roman era.
This bustling Mediterranean hub has something for everyone. The two beaches outside of town are sun-sloth heaven in summer and attract holidaymakers from across Europe.
While the Old Town, snug right in the center of tow. It’s cobblestone alleyways rimmed by creaky Ottoman-era mansions, is a wonderful place to explore. The Antalya Museum is renowned as one of the country’s best. With an astonishing collection of Hellenistic and Roman marble statuary. There are bags of attractions outside of town from Aspendos and Perge to the town of Side. Making this a fantastic base to explore the region.
There’s little to actually do in town. Instead this is a place to simply stroll the streets and admire the old world atmosphere. It’s also known for its traditional sweets and crafts and there are plenty of cute shops. Where you can pick up a unique souvenir. If you’re road-tripping inland from Istanbul, this is a fantastic place to stop-off for the night. Experience the historic ambience.
