Fodor's Essential Turkey
Ready to experience Turkey? The experts at Fodor's are here to help. Fodor's Essential...
In modern Turkey, the legacy of centuries of history coexists with progressive and contemporary culture. Its exciting capital, Istanbul, spans Europe and Asia: here, upscale eateries and swanky nightclubs are squeezed between Byzantine and Ottoman structures, with calls-to-prayer from city mosques sounding above the city. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts mix ancient Roman ruins with stunning beaches and resorts. Still, the real cultural lessons come from the Turkish people, always welcoming and eager to share their homeland's fascinating past and present.
Fodor's Essential Turkey
Ready to experience Turkey? The experts at Fodor's are here to help. Fodor's Essential...
Top Destinations
Top Destinations
The Central and Southern Aegean Coast
The Aegean is one of Turkey's most visited and most developed regions, for good reason: the area is home to some of Turkey's most captivating...
Istanbul
The only city in the world that can lay claim to straddling two continents, Istanbul—once known as Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine...
The Turquoise Coast
The Turquoise Coast is just as stunning as its name suggests. Luminous blue waves in that signature shade (the word "turquoise" actually comes...
The Far East and Black Sea Coast
Eastern Turkey may not have the resorts, luxury hotels, and chic restaurants found in the more-visited parts of the country, but the rewards...
Cappadocia and Central Turkey
Some of the world’s oldest known human habitations were established in the hills and valleys of Central Anatolia, but today the main attraction...
The Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean
The ruins of Pergamum, Troy, and Assos, along with the Gallipoli battlefields, are the main draws of the region, but leisurely exploration is...
The Bodrum Peninsula
Until the mid-20th century, the Bodrum Peninsula was little known, and its gorgeous coastline was home to fishermen and sponge divers. Then...
Izmir
At first glance, Turkey’s third-largest city (formerly known as Smyrna) may seem modern and harsh—even the beautiful setting, between the Gulf...
Bodrum
On the southern shores of a broad peninsula that stretches along two crescent-shape bays, Bodrum has for years been the favorite haunt of the...
Çesme
Known for its hot springs and beaches, Çeşme has always been a summer resort for İzmirians, but in recent years the gorgeous sands have been...
Antalya
Sophisticated Antalya is a definite tourist hub, and with a population approaching the 1-million mark, it’s among Turkey's fastest growing cities...
Ankara
In 1923, right after the War of Independence, Ankara was made the fledgling Turkish Republic's new capital—in part because it was a barren,...
Konya
Famous for its association with Rumi and the whirling dervishes, Konya has long attracted both religious pilgrims and travelers to the city...
Kusadasi
Kuşadası long ago lost its local charm to invasive, sterile buildings and overpopulation, and these days it's often overrun with cruise ship...
Bursa
An important center since early Ottoman times, Bursa is today one of Turkey's more prosperous cities (due to its large automobile and textile...
Trabzon
Trabzon has a spectacular location, perched on a hill overlooking the sea, with lush green mountains behind it. Once the capital of the empire...
Lake Van and Environs
Van is the commercial center of Eastern Anatolia, and modern streets are lined with shops both modern and traditional and choked with traffic...
Diyarbakir
As the region's commercial, cultural, and political center, Diyarbakır and its ancient basalt walls command a bluff overlooking the Tigris River...
Gaziantep
Gaziantep is the last Turkish-speaking city before the Kurdish and Arab areas east of it, and somehow manages to mix the modernity of western...
Urfa (Sanliurfa)
This is Turkey at its most Middle Eastern, with golden-color stone houses, religious shrines filled with visiting pilgrims, and an authentic...
Selçuk
Selçuk, the closest city to Ephesus, lies beneath the ancient Fortress of Ayasuluk and is unfortunately often overlooked. The former farming...
Harran
A quick ride from Urfa, the ancient city of Harran is well worth a visit, although be forewarned that it is close to the Syrian border so pay...
Mardin
With historic stone houses clinging to a citadel-topped mountain that overlooks a vast plain below, Mardin is a magical setting. The city was...
Kars
The setting for Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk's somber novel Snow , Kars is a rustic and foreboding city set on a 5,740-foot plateau and forever...
Alanya
Alanya is Turkey's hottest resort town—literally. Temperatures here are higher than almost anywhere else in Turkey, averaging 106°F (27°C) in...
Iznik
Nature has been generous to İznik, which is beautifully situated around the east end of Lake İznik. You can swim (though the water can be chilly...
Fethiye
This busy port city is a good base for exploring the ruins of ancient Lycia in the mountains that rise to the east. Fethiye was known in antiquity...
Çanakkale
West of Bursa, on the southern shore of the Dardanelles, Çanakkale is the largest city on the North Aegean coast and makes a very pleasant base...
Pamukkale (Hierapolis)
Pamukkale (pronounced pam-ook-ka-lay), which means "cotton castle" in Turkish, first appears as an enormous, chalky white cliff rising 330 feet...
Side
Charter-tour hotels crowded along this stretch of coast threaten to overshadow Side, but the city remains a delightful mix of ancient ruins...
Kas
In the 1980s, Kaş, with its beautiful wide bay and its lovely view of the Greek island of Kastellorizo (Meis), was the main tourist destination...
Gol-Turkbuku
The two adjacent coastal towns of Gölköy and Türkbükü merged a decade ago to become Göl-Türkbükü, the most glamorous part of the Bodrum Peninsula...
Olympos and Çirali
Olympos and its "sister" towns, Çıralı and Adrasan, are places unique on the Turquoise Coast for their natural beauty, ancient ruins, low-rise...
Pergamum (Bergama)
The windswept ruins of Pergamum, which surround the modern town of Bergama, are among the most spectacular in Turkey. Pergamum was one of the...
Goreme
Bustling Göreme has the most options for hotels, dining, nightlife, shopping, and other commercial enterprises. Back in the early days of tourism...
Dogubeyazit and Mt. Ararat
The scrappy frontier town of Doğubeyazıt (doh- oo -bay-yah-zuht) is a good base from which to enjoy views of Turkey's highest and most famous...
Safranbolu
...
Antakya (Antioch)
Antakya—perhaps better known by its old name, Antioch—was founded in about 300 BC and quickly grew, thanks to its strategic location on the...
Ayvalik
Ayvalık is beautiful, stretching onto a peninsula and surrounded by islands, with many bays swirling in and out of its coastline. The bustling...
Kayseri
...
Marmaris
This big, brash resort city has two faces, and they're hard to reconcile. From the sea, a line of hotels stretches around the northern edge...
Ürgup
Ürgüp is especially known these days for its charming small hotels, many of which are in restored cave houses and have views overlooking the...
Öludeniz
Little wonder Ölüdeniz appears on so many Turkish promotional posters. With a photogenic mountain and a fringe of fragrant evergreens behind...
Adana
Adana is Turkey's fourth-largest city after Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir. Being a commercial and industrial center, it is the least known to...
Behramkale (Assos)
The port of Assos is a marvel, pressed against the sheer cliff walls. It's crammed with small hotels built of volcanic rock, a fleet of fishing...
Sirince
Once upon a time, villagers of this picturesque little hilltop aerie christened their town Çirkince (Turkish for "rather ugly"), allegedly to...
Avanos
Avanos is a low-key town on the Kızılırmak (Red River), so named for the color of the clay that lines its banks, and is best known for its pottery...
Gocek
A 20-minute drive over the mountains from Dalaman Airport, Göcek is perfect for visitors who want to sample the grandeur of the Turquoise Coast...
Uçhisar
A lovely little town on a hill, built around a huge fairy chimney known as Uçhisar Castle, Uçhisar has some of the nicest places to stay in...
Datça Peninsula
If you make it all the way to the Datça Peninsula, you may never want to leave the rugged landscape of dark olive and pale green almond trees...
Midyat
Not far from Mardin, the lovely old town of Midyat is an architectural gem that has remained largely untouched by the blight of concrete—although...
Ayder
At 4,000 feet and surrounded by snowcapped mountains and tumbling waterfalls, the mountain village of Ayder, with its wooden chalets and wandering...
Priene, Miletus and Didyma
The three towns of Priene, Miletus, and Didyma make up part of Ancient Ionia, homeland of many of the ancient world’s greatest artistic and...
Bitez
The beach in the inland village of Bitez is the longest on the peninsula. The stone houses in the village were built right on the road to make...
Gumusluk
Charming Gümüşlük (named for its ancient silver mines) is built on the ancient ruins of Myndos. It is one of the peninsula's more authentic...
Mt. Nemrut and Around
Mt. Nemrut, known as Mt. Nimrod in English, rises 7,052 feet above the Anatolian plain, a ruddy outcrop of rock and stunted trees that has become...
Yalikavak
This town on the northwestern tip of the Bodrum Peninsula is surrounded by tangerine orchards and olive groves and easily identified by the...
Eski Datça and Reshadiye
Turkish satirical poet and polemical left-wing social critic Can Yücel retired to a modest old stone house in Eski Datça, setting an artistic...
Kalkan
Kalkan has two distinct sides: on one hand it has fine restaurants and excellent hotels to match its superb, steep views of the Mediterranean...
Sumela/Mereyemana
The Sumela Monastery (also known as the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, and Mereyemana or Sümela Manastırı in Turkish) is a spectacular and...
Dalyan
Dalyan is a lovely place for a short break, especially if you prefer a quiet destination that's been developed in a way that is sensitive to...
Demre (Kale)
Demre (also referred to as Kale in Turkish) is where St. Nicholas, who later became known as Father Christmas, made his reputation as bishop...
Eceabat
Eceabat, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, is the closest town to the most-visited battlefields and cemeteries. The town is small and most of the...
Çamlihemsin
The small village of Çamlıhemşin, at the junction of two rushing rivers, serves mainly as a gateway to mountain valleys above, particularly...
Ephesus Archaeological Site
Ephesus ( Efes in Turkish), the showpiece of Aegean archaeology, is probably the most evocative ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean,...
Cunda Island (Ali Bey Adasi)
Like Ayvalık, Cunda Island was once predominantly Greek, and some Greek is still spoken here. The island has a mix of the two cultures in its...
Hasankeyf
Just a short drive from Midyat, Hasankeyf makes for a good day excursion. This small town has a magical setting, with stone houses on the banks...
Patara
Patara was once Lycia's principal port. Cosmopolitan in its heyday—Hannibal, St. Paul, and the emperor Hadrian all visited, and St. Nicholas...
Knidos
Windswept Knidos sits on a headland at the very end of the Datça Peninsula, at the point where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean. A primitive...
Silifke
Lively, non-touristy Silifke is a small agricultural town beside the Göksu River that’s dominated by the Byzantine castle, Silifke Kalesi. Traces...
Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound
Charming, rustic, waterside Kaleköy (sometimes known by its ancient name, Simena), Kekova Island just across the water, and the surrounding...
Finike and Arycanda
Finike is a good lunch stop or jumping-off point for Arycanda and the series of less glamorous Lycian sites that dot the citrus- and vegetable...
Kayakoy
The valley behind Fethiye promises a cooler climate and evocative ruins that are decidedly different from their ancient counterparts on the...
Anamur
Anamur is an uninspiring agricultural town, known throughout Turkey for its bananas. The ruins of ancient Anemurium and the dramatic Marmure...
Ortahisar
A rather sleepy farming village overlooking scenic Pancarlık Valley, Ortahisar was traditionally famous for its underground caves where fruit...
Soğanli Valleys
The area of Cappadocia between Ürgüp and the Soğanlı Valleys was once considered to be off the beaten path. Though the sights are now well marked...
Kiz Kalesi
This small town is easily the best place to stop on the long drive east of Alanya. Although a bit scruffy, it has a nice stretch of beach and...
Adrasan
A relaxed little town on a long beach, Adrasan is a world away from the flashy resort areas, so don't expect five-star hotels, gourmet restaurants...
Kemer
...
Tarsus
The dusty, provincial town of Tarsus is known as the place where St. Paul was born some 2,000 years ago. It has a broad range of Roman, Byzantine...
Turgutreis
Named for an Ottoman admiral (some say pirate), Turgutreis lies due west on the opposite side of the peninsula from Bodrum. The second-largest...
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Peninsula lies to the north of the Dardanelles. Turks call it Gelibolu—there's also a town of the same name about 40 km (25 miles...
Tlos
A day expedition to Tlos, a spectacular ancient Lycian city high above the valley of the Xanthos River, can be arranged from any town on the...
Troy (Truva)
Troy, known as Truva to the Turks and Ilion to the Greeks, is one of the most evocative place names in literature. To bring this UNESCO World...
Phaselis
Majestically located at the edge of three small bays, the ruins of the ancient port city of Phaselis make an atmospheric stop along the Lycian coast. ...
Ihlara Valley
A verdant river canyon dotted with rock churches carved into the cliffs above, Ihlara Valley is a pleasant change of scenery from the arid terrain...
Kabak
If you like your beaches in deep coves, framed by towering cliffs and pine forests, without a deck chair or beach umbrella in sight, then you...
Kultepe
...
Aspendos
Most experts agree that the theater in Aspendos is one of the best preserved in the world. A splendid Roman aqueduct that traverses the valley...
Termessos
Writers in antiquity referred to Termessos as the Eagle's Nest, and when you visit the 4,500-foot-high site, you'll understand why. Seemingly...
Niğde
The small city of Niğde is primarily an agricultural center, and the few sights of interest, including the Niğde Museum, can be seen on a short...
Perge
Perge's biggest problem is that it suffers from comparison with its neighbors. It is, however, one of Turkey's best examples of a Roman city. ...
Derinkuyu and Kaymakli
The underground cities of Cappadocia have excited the imaginations of travelers since the Greek mercenary leader/historian Xenophon wrote about...
Hattusa and the Other Hittite Cities
...
Aphrodisias
Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, goddess of love, is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. It's interesting...
Alara Han
The Seljuk Turks fostered the prosperity of their 11th- to 13th-century domains with trade protected by a network of kervansarays , or inns...
Kahta
...
Letoon
This site was not a city but rather a religious center and political meeting point for the Lycian League: the world's first democratic federation...
Sinop
...
Dara
...
Dikili
...
Kύrώehir
...
Kumluca
...
Istanbul
The only city in the world that can lay claim to straddling two continents, Istanbul—once known as Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine...
Izmir
At first glance, Turkey’s third-largest city (formerly known as Smyrna) may seem modern and harsh—even the beautiful setting, between the Gulf...
Bodrum
On the southern shores of a broad peninsula that stretches along two crescent-shape bays, Bodrum has for years been the favorite haunt of the...
Çesme
Known for its hot springs and beaches, Çeşme has always been a summer resort for İzmirians, but in recent years the gorgeous sands have been...
Antalya
Sophisticated Antalya is a definite tourist hub, and with a population approaching the 1-million mark, it’s among Turkey's fastest growing cities...
Ankara
In 1923, right after the War of Independence, Ankara was made the fledgling Turkish Republic's new capital—in part because it was a barren,...
Konya
Famous for its association with Rumi and the whirling dervishes, Konya has long attracted both religious pilgrims and travelers to the city...
Kusadasi
Kuşadası long ago lost its local charm to invasive, sterile buildings and overpopulation, and these days it's often overrun with cruise ship...
Trabzon
Trabzon has a spectacular location, perched on a hill overlooking the sea, with lush green mountains behind it. Once the capital of the empire...
Bursa
An important center since early Ottoman times, Bursa is today one of Turkey's more prosperous cities (due to its large automobile and textile...
Diyarbakir
As the region's commercial, cultural, and political center, Diyarbakır and its ancient basalt walls command a bluff overlooking the Tigris River...
Gaziantep
Gaziantep is the last Turkish-speaking city before the Kurdish and Arab areas east of it, and somehow manages to mix the modernity of western...
Urfa (Sanliurfa)
This is Turkey at its most Middle Eastern, with golden-color stone houses, religious shrines filled with visiting pilgrims, and an authentic...
Selçuk
Selçuk, the closest city to Ephesus, lies beneath the ancient Fortress of Ayasuluk and is unfortunately often overlooked. The former farming...
Harran
A quick ride from Urfa, the ancient city of Harran is well worth a visit, although be forewarned that it is close to the Syrian border so pay...
Mardin
With historic stone houses clinging to a citadel-topped mountain that overlooks a vast plain below, Mardin is a magical setting. The city was...
Kars
The setting for Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk's somber novel Snow , Kars is a rustic and foreboding city set on a 5,740-foot plateau and forever...
Alanya
Alanya is Turkey's hottest resort town—literally. Temperatures here are higher than almost anywhere else in Turkey, averaging 106°F (27°C) in...
Iznik
Nature has been generous to İznik, which is beautifully situated around the east end of Lake İznik. You can swim (though the water can be chilly...
Fethiye
This busy port city is a good base for exploring the ruins of ancient Lycia in the mountains that rise to the east. Fethiye was known in antiquity...
Çanakkale
West of Bursa, on the southern shore of the Dardanelles, Çanakkale is the largest city on the North Aegean coast and makes a very pleasant base...
Side
Charter-tour hotels crowded along this stretch of coast threaten to overshadow Side, but the city remains a delightful mix of ancient ruins...
Pamukkale (Hierapolis)
Pamukkale (pronounced pam-ook-ka-lay), which means "cotton castle" in Turkish, first appears as an enormous, chalky white cliff rising 330 feet...
Olympos and Çirali
Olympos and its "sister" towns, Çıralı and Adrasan, are places unique on the Turquoise Coast for their natural beauty, ancient ruins, low-rise...
Gol-Turkbuku
The two adjacent coastal towns of Gölköy and Türkbükü merged a decade ago to become Göl-Türkbükü, the most glamorous part of the Bodrum Peninsula...
Kas
In the 1980s, Kaş, with its beautiful wide bay and its lovely view of the Greek island of Kastellorizo (Meis), was the main tourist destination...
Goreme
Bustling Göreme has the most options for hotels, dining, nightlife, shopping, and other commercial enterprises. Back in the early days of tourism...
Pergamum (Bergama)
The windswept ruins of Pergamum, which surround the modern town of Bergama, are among the most spectacular in Turkey. Pergamum was one of the...
Kayseri
...
Safranbolu
...
Ayvalik
Ayvalık is beautiful, stretching onto a peninsula and surrounded by islands, with many bays swirling in and out of its coastline. The bustling...
Ürgup
Ürgüp is especially known these days for its charming small hotels, many of which are in restored cave houses and have views overlooking the...
Dogubeyazit and Mt. Ararat
The scrappy frontier town of Doğubeyazıt (doh- oo -bay-yah-zuht) is a good base from which to enjoy views of Turkey's highest and most famous...
Marmaris
This big, brash resort city has two faces, and they're hard to reconcile. From the sea, a line of hotels stretches around the northern edge...
Antakya (Antioch)
Antakya—perhaps better known by its old name, Antioch—was founded in about 300 BC and quickly grew, thanks to its strategic location on the...
Öludeniz
Little wonder Ölüdeniz appears on so many Turkish promotional posters. With a photogenic mountain and a fringe of fragrant evergreens behind...
Adana
Adana is Turkey's fourth-largest city after Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir. Being a commercial and industrial center, it is the least known to...
Uçhisar
A lovely little town on a hill, built around a huge fairy chimney known as Uçhisar Castle, Uçhisar has some of the nicest places to stay in...
Behramkale (Assos)
The port of Assos is a marvel, pressed against the sheer cliff walls. It's crammed with small hotels built of volcanic rock, a fleet of fishing...
Sirince
Once upon a time, villagers of this picturesque little hilltop aerie christened their town Çirkince (Turkish for "rather ugly"), allegedly to...
Gocek
A 20-minute drive over the mountains from Dalaman Airport, Göcek is perfect for visitors who want to sample the grandeur of the Turquoise Coast...
Avanos
Avanos is a low-key town on the Kızılırmak (Red River), so named for the color of the clay that lines its banks, and is best known for its pottery...
Datça Peninsula
If you make it all the way to the Datça Peninsula, you may never want to leave the rugged landscape of dark olive and pale green almond trees...
Midyat
Not far from Mardin, the lovely old town of Midyat is an architectural gem that has remained largely untouched by the blight of concrete—although...
Ayder
At 4,000 feet and surrounded by snowcapped mountains and tumbling waterfalls, the mountain village of Ayder, with its wooden chalets and wandering...
Gumusluk
Charming Gümüşlük (named for its ancient silver mines) is built on the ancient ruins of Myndos. It is one of the peninsula's more authentic...
Eski Datça and Reshadiye
Turkish satirical poet and polemical left-wing social critic Can Yücel retired to a modest old stone house in Eski Datça, setting an artistic...
Yalikavak
This town on the northwestern tip of the Bodrum Peninsula is surrounded by tangerine orchards and olive groves and easily identified by the...
Bitez
The beach in the inland village of Bitez is the longest on the peninsula. The stone houses in the village were built right on the road to make...
Priene, Miletus and Didyma
The three towns of Priene, Miletus, and Didyma make up part of Ancient Ionia, homeland of many of the ancient world’s greatest artistic and...
Dalyan
Dalyan is a lovely place for a short break, especially if you prefer a quiet destination that's been developed in a way that is sensitive to...
Kalkan
Kalkan has two distinct sides: on one hand it has fine restaurants and excellent hotels to match its superb, steep views of the Mediterranean...
Sumela/Mereyemana
The Sumela Monastery (also known as the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, and Mereyemana or Sümela Manastırı in Turkish) is a spectacular and...
Eceabat
Eceabat, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, is the closest town to the most-visited battlefields and cemeteries. The town is small and most of the...
Demre (Kale)
Demre (also referred to as Kale in Turkish) is where St. Nicholas, who later became known as Father Christmas, made his reputation as bishop...
Ephesus Archaeological Site
Ephesus ( Efes in Turkish), the showpiece of Aegean archaeology, is probably the most evocative ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean,...
Çamlihemsin
The small village of Çamlıhemşin, at the junction of two rushing rivers, serves mainly as a gateway to mountain valleys above, particularly...
Hasankeyf
Just a short drive from Midyat, Hasankeyf makes for a good day excursion. This small town has a magical setting, with stone houses on the banks...
Patara
Patara was once Lycia's principal port. Cosmopolitan in its heyday—Hannibal, St. Paul, and the emperor Hadrian all visited, and St. Nicholas...
Finike and Arycanda
Finike is a good lunch stop or jumping-off point for Arycanda and the series of less glamorous Lycian sites that dot the citrus- and vegetable...
Silifke
Lively, non-touristy Silifke is a small agricultural town beside the Göksu River that’s dominated by the Byzantine castle, Silifke Kalesi. Traces...
Kayakoy
The valley behind Fethiye promises a cooler climate and evocative ruins that are decidedly different from their ancient counterparts on the...
Knidos
Windswept Knidos sits on a headland at the very end of the Datça Peninsula, at the point where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean. A primitive...
Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound
Charming, rustic, waterside Kaleköy (sometimes known by its ancient name, Simena), Kekova Island just across the water, and the surrounding...
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Peninsula lies to the north of the Dardanelles. Turks call it Gelibolu—there's also a town of the same name about 40 km (25 miles...
Anamur
Anamur is an uninspiring agricultural town, known throughout Turkey for its bananas. The ruins of ancient Anemurium and the dramatic Marmure...
Turgutreis
Named for an Ottoman admiral (some say pirate), Turgutreis lies due west on the opposite side of the peninsula from Bodrum. The second-largest...
Adrasan
A relaxed little town on a long beach, Adrasan is a world away from the flashy resort areas, so don't expect five-star hotels, gourmet restaurants...
Kiz Kalesi
This small town is easily the best place to stop on the long drive east of Alanya. Although a bit scruffy, it has a nice stretch of beach and...
Tarsus
The dusty, provincial town of Tarsus is known as the place where St. Paul was born some 2,000 years ago. It has a broad range of Roman, Byzantine...
Kemer
...
Ortahisar
A rather sleepy farming village overlooking scenic Pancarlık Valley, Ortahisar was traditionally famous for its underground caves where fruit...
Troy (Truva)
Troy, known as Truva to the Turks and Ilion to the Greeks, is one of the most evocative place names in literature. To bring this UNESCO World...
Tlos
A day expedition to Tlos, a spectacular ancient Lycian city high above the valley of the Xanthos River, can be arranged from any town on the...
Phaselis
Majestically located at the edge of three small bays, the ruins of the ancient port city of Phaselis make an atmospheric stop along the Lycian coast. ...
Niğde
The small city of Niğde is primarily an agricultural center, and the few sights of interest, including the Niğde Museum, can be seen on a short...
Derinkuyu and Kaymakli
The underground cities of Cappadocia have excited the imaginations of travelers since the Greek mercenary leader/historian Xenophon wrote about...
Kabak
If you like your beaches in deep coves, framed by towering cliffs and pine forests, without a deck chair or beach umbrella in sight, then you...
Kultepe
...
Hattusa and the Other Hittite Cities
...
Aspendos
Most experts agree that the theater in Aspendos is one of the best preserved in the world. A splendid Roman aqueduct that traverses the valley...
Ihlara Valley
A verdant river canyon dotted with rock churches carved into the cliffs above, Ihlara Valley is a pleasant change of scenery from the arid terrain...
Termessos
Writers in antiquity referred to Termessos as the Eagle's Nest, and when you visit the 4,500-foot-high site, you'll understand why. Seemingly...
Perge
Perge's biggest problem is that it suffers from comparison with its neighbors. It is, however, one of Turkey's best examples of a Roman city. ...
Kahta
...
Alara Han
The Seljuk Turks fostered the prosperity of their 11th- to 13th-century domains with trade protected by a network of kervansarays , or inns...
Aphrodisias
Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, goddess of love, is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. It's interesting...
Letoon
This site was not a city but rather a religious center and political meeting point for the Lycian League: the world's first democratic federation...
Sinop
...
Kύrώehir
...
Dara
...
Kumluca
...
Dikili
...
The Central and Southern Aegean Coast
The Aegean is one of Turkey's most visited and most developed regions, for good reason: the area is home to some of Turkey's most captivating...
The Turquoise Coast
The Turquoise Coast is just as stunning as its name suggests. Luminous blue waves in that signature shade (the word "turquoise" actually comes...
The Far East and Black Sea Coast
Eastern Turkey may not have the resorts, luxury hotels, and chic restaurants found in the more-visited parts of the country, but the rewards...
Cappadocia and Central Turkey
Some of the world’s oldest known human habitations were established in the hills and valleys of Central Anatolia, but today the main attraction...
The Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean
The ruins of Pergamum, Troy, and Assos, along with the Gallipoli battlefields, are the main draws of the region, but leisurely exploration is...
The Bodrum Peninsula
Until the mid-20th century, the Bodrum Peninsula was little known, and its gorgeous coastline was home to fishermen and sponge divers. Then...
Lake Van and Environs
Van is the commercial center of Eastern Anatolia, and modern streets are lined with shops both modern and traditional and choked with traffic...
The Mount Ida Region (Kaz Daglari)
...
Mt. Nemrut and Around
Mt. Nemrut, known as Mt. Nimrod in English, rises 7,052 feet above the Anatolian plain, a ruddy outcrop of rock and stunted trees that has become...
Cunda Island (Ali Bey Adasi)
Like Ayvalık, Cunda Island was once predominantly Greek, and some Greek is still spoken here. The island has a mix of the two cultures in its...
Soğanli Valleys
The area of Cappadocia between Ürgüp and the Soğanlı Valleys was once considered to be off the beaten path. Though the sights are now well marked...
All Destinations
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The Turquoise Coast
- Adana
- Adrasan
- Alanya
- Alara Han
- Anamur
- Antakya (Antioch)
- Antalya
- Aspendos
- Dalyan
- Datça Peninsula
- Demre (Kale)
- Eski Datça and Reshadiye
- Fethiye
- Finike and Arycanda
- Gocek
- Kabak
- Kalkan
- Kas
- Kayakoy
- Kemer
- Kiz Kalesi
- Knidos
- Kumluca
- Letoon
- Marmaris
- Olympos and Çirali
- Patara
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Side
- Silifke
- Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound
- Tarsus
- Termessos
- Tlos
- Öludeniz
The Turquoise Coast
- Adana
- Adrasan
- Alanya
- Alara Han
- Anamur
- Antakya (Antioch)
- Antalya
- Aspendos
- Dalyan
- Datça Peninsula
- Demre (Kale)
- Eski Datça and Reshadiye
- Fethiye
- Finike and Arycanda
- Gocek
- Kabak
- Kalkan
- Kas
- Kayakoy
- Kemer
- Kiz Kalesi
- Knidos
- Kumluca
- Letoon
- Marmaris
- Olympos and Çirali
- Patara
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Side
- Silifke
- Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound
- Tarsus
- Termessos
- Tlos
- Öludeniz
The Turquoise Coast
- Adana
- Adrasan
- Alanya
- Alara Han
- Anamur
- Antakya (Antioch)
- Antalya
- Aspendos
- Dalyan
- Datça Peninsula
- Demre (Kale)
- Eski Datça and Reshadiye
- Fethiye
- Finike and Arycanda
- Gocek
- Kabak
- Kalkan
- Kas
- Kayakoy
- Kemer
- Kiz Kalesi
- Knidos
- Kumluca
- Letoon
- Marmaris
- Olympos and Çirali
- Patara
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Side
- Silifke
- Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound
- Tarsus
- Termessos
- Tlos
- Öludeniz
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Top Experiences
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