334 Best Sights in Turkey

Sinop's most impressive natural beauty can be explored at this natural inlet a few miles west of the city. Considered a fjord by locals, the bay still offers protection to fishermen during storms but is sometimes more populated with hikers, who enjoy the abundant flora, views of sea, and cool dips in the water. Unfortunately, the site is scheduled to become home to a nuclear power plant and will be off limits once construction begins, but remains open as protesters and townsfolk continue to resist the plant.

Originally called Daphne, this beautiful gorge of laurel trees and tumbling waterfalls was said to have been chosen by the gods for the Judgment of Paris and contained one of the ancient world's most important shrines to the god Apollo. Daphne was also a favorite resort for wealthy Antiochenes and developed such a reputation for licentiousness that it was put off-limits to the Roman army. Nothing ancient survives, but this is still a popular escape, especially in the heat of summer, and there are many open-air cafés and restaurants, all fairly similar, overlooking the streams and cascades. Mark Antony chose Daphne as the venue for his ill-fated marriage to Cleopatra in 40 BC, and many of the mosaics at the Hatay Museum were found in the area's ancient villas.

While exploring the warren of streets that make up the Bey neighborhood, step into a traditional Gaziantep house, with dressed-up mannequins filling in as residents. The basement carved out of the rock is a common feature of Antep houses, and the shady courtyard is a welcome retreat from the heat and blazing sun. The surprise exhibit is the captured motorcycle of Lawrence of Arabia, who spied against the Ottomans in World War I.

Local legend has it that Abraham was born in the Hazreti İbrahim Doğum Mağarası, a natural cave hidden behind the Hasan Paşa Mosque in the southeast corner of Gölbaşı Parkı. As is usual, men and women enter through separate doorways. Most people huddled inside this small, dark cavern, darkened by 2,000 years of candle smoke, have come to pray, not to snap photos. There's not much to see, but the atmosphere is reverential. Tourists are welcome (many of the visitors inside are themselves from out of town), but remember that this is a shrine.

It takes a bit of imagination to appreciate the Hippodrome—once a Byzantine stadium for chariot racing with seating for 100,000—since there isn't much here anymore. Notably absent are the rows of seats that once surrounded the track and the life-size bronze sculpture of four horses that once adorned the stadium (the Venetians looted the statue during the Fourth Crusade). You can, however, see several other monuments that once decorated the central podium. The Dikilitaş (Egyptian Obelisk) probably marked the finish line. The very partial Yılanlı Sütun (Serpentine Column) was taken from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi in Greece, where it was dedicated after the Greek victory over the invading Persians in the 5th century BC. The Örme Sütun (Column of Constantine Porphyrogenitus) was once entirely covered with gilt bronze, which was stripped off by vandals during the Fourth Crusade. Closer to the tram stop is a much more recent addition: a neo-Byzantine fountain that was a gift from the German government in 1901, commemorating Kaiser Wilhelm II's visit to Istanbul three years earlier.

Still a summer retreat for İzmir's wealthy, Ilıca fronts one of the peninsula's most popular beaches, with many hotels lined up along the seafront and unusually warm, crystal-clear water and white sand. The public beach here is large, and has lots of waves, but gets crowded on weekends. There's no kitesurfing at Ilıca beach in summer, but it's allowed in winter, though you'll have to bring your own gear. Jet Skis and banana boats are available. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

The main reason to come here is for the sweeping view of the mouth of the Dardanelles and the Aegean, but the long history and exhibits come a close second. Built on the orders of Mehmet the Conqueror in 1462 after he successfully stormed Istanbul, the impressive waterfront fortress now houses the Deniz Müzesi (Naval Museum), displaying artifacts from the Gallipoli battlefields and exhibits in English (proceed counterclockwise inside), accompanied by a Turkish-language, live-action reenactment of life in the trenches. The grounds contain all kinds of weaponry, including dozens of ancient and modern cannons, and a replica of the World War I–era minelayer ship, Nusret, is docked offshore.

This privately established cultural center in an ultra-modern building opened in 2023, in Ortakent village, with art galleries, performance stages, and arts and crafts workshops. A high-end restaurant upstairs complements the popular cafe bistro downstairs. Sometimes there are Sunday jazz brunches. The indoor section of the cafe and the rooms next door house a bookshop and gift store.

The main campus of Turkey's oldest institution of higher learning originally served as the Ottoman war ministry—hence the magnificent gateway arch facing Beyazıt Square and the grandiose, martial style of the main buildings, which surround a long greensward filled with giant plane trees. The 279-foot, stone Beyazıt Tower, built in 1828 by Mahmud II as a fire-watch station, is the tallest structure in the Old City and is still one of its most recognizable landmarks. At night, it is lit with LED lights in different colors indicating weather conditions. Though it can no longer be climbed, it's worth seeing up close. Because of its history as a nexus of political activism over the past several decades, the campus is not very publicly accessible. Proceed along the main drive and past the rectorate building to the garden behind it, from which there is a stunning view overlooking the Süleymaniye Camii.

The history of the Jews in Turkey is much more extensive and colorful than the size of this small museum might suggest. Nevertheless, the museum provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Turkish Jews, whose presence in Anatolia is traced back to as early as the 4th century BC. In 1492, the Spanish Inquisition drove Sephardic Jews from Spain and Portugal, and Sultan Beyazıt II welcomed the refugees to the Ottoman Empire. A large Jewish population thrived here for centuries, and some older Turkish Jews still speak a dialect of medieval Spanish called Ladino, or Judeo-Spanish. Today, Turkey's Jewish community numbers about 23,000. Most of them live in Istanbul, which has 18 active synagogues (three of which are on the Princes' Islands). The museum exhibits, most of them based on items donated by local Jewish families, include photographs, documents, and an ethnographic section with changing exhibits on subjects such as marriage traditions. There are also religious items brought from some very old (no longer active) synagogues in other parts of Turkey.

A stone's throw from the Temple of Augustus and Rome, in a small traffic circle surrounded by government buildings, is the Column of Julian. It commemorates a visit by Julian the Apostate (Rome’s last pagan emperor), who passed through town in 362 en route to his death in battle with the Persians. The column has 15 fluted drums and a Corinthian capital. A few steps away, in front of the Ankara Governorate, a section of Roman-era road has been excavated.

With recently uncovered evidence of its beginnings as the ancient Greek colony of Chalcedon, the relaxed, suburban neighborhood of Kadıköy is a pleasant area to explore on foot once you get away from the busy area near the ferry. The area just up from the Kadıköy dock, to the south of busy Söğütlü Çeşme Caddesi, is known as the Çarşı, or "market"—a grid of narrow, pedestrian-only lanes filled with a small open-air food market, shops, cafés, nightlife venues, and a few modern churches. Güneşlibahçe Sokak, home to an assortment of fish restaurants and some bars, is particularly lively. Several streets up and farther to the right, Kadife Sokak, dubbed Barlar Sokağı, or "bars street," is the center of Kadıköy's nightlife, lined with small, wooden row houses occupied by bars with a casual, laid-back vibe. A tiny, nostalgic tram runs in a clockwise direction up General Asım Gündüz, from where it loops down to the lovely waterfront neighborhood of Moda before stopping at the Kadıköy dock. If you've come this far on foot, it's nice to ride the tram back to the dock.

The inner castle of Diyarbakır's old town is a circular fortress that once held the city's palace and other important buildings. Beside it stands the 16th-century Hazreti Süleymaniye Cami, which contains the grave of the son of Khalid ibn al-Walid, the companion of the prophet Muhammad who died during the city's capture. It has a tall, graceful minaret and is striped with black basalt and pale sandstone, a favorite design of this city's medieval architects. Its courtyard fountain is fed by an underground spring that has supplied cold, clear water to the city for 5,000 years. It has undergone extensive research in recent years and now holds the city's fantastic Archaeological Museum in one of the renovated court buildings. There's also an Atatürk Museum (as it seems no Turkish city is complete without one) and the early Byzantine Church of St. George, which with its two impressive domes is worth a visit.

Just north of the second Bosphorus bridge, this village-turned-suburb has been famous for its delicious yogurt for at least 300 years, and small restaurants around the square by the quay serve this treat. Nearby, white 19th-century wooden villas line the waterfront. Kanlıca is the first stop on the Asian shore on the full Bosphorus cruises leaving from Eminönü.

Shady Karaalioğlu Park is a traditional green space with trees, grass, benches, simple cafés, and children's play areas, as well as a dramatic view of the Mediterranean. It's enlivened by small circus rides in summer and by an open-air market during Ramadan (or Ramazan in Turkish). At the northwest end is a stone tower, called Hıdırlık Kulesi, which dates from the 2nd century AD. At sunset, sip a drink at the Castle Café and Bistro next door and enjoy an unforgettable panorama of the Bey Mountains across the water.

Only 7 km (4 miles) from Pamukkale, this down-to-earth village attracts visitors for its "red springs," where the warm water—which bears a red glow due to its mineral content—and gooey mud are popular for their supposed health-giving properties. A small section of the springs is open to the public and flanked by inexpensive restaurants—mud baths and pools that have dead-skin-nibbling "doctor fish" are also available. There's regular dolmuş service from Pamukkale to Karahayıt, which also has a busy covered market area with lots of small local eateries and cafés. On the outskirts are giant new thermal holiday hotels.

Archaeological digs have proven that Karain Cave was inhabited as far back as the Paleolithic Age, making it one of Turkey's oldest settlements. Later, it seems to have become a religious center for a primitive civilization. Many of the Karain finds—stone implements, bones of people and animals, and fossilized remains—are on display in Antalya Museum, but there is also a small museum on the edge of the high meadow where the cave is located. Part of the cave itself is electrically lighted and open to the public; this is a small site, however, and probably only worth visiting if you have time after seeing Termessos.

Built in 1250 by a wealthy Seljuk official during the reign of Sultan Izzedin Keykavus II, this beautiful stone courtyard was once a medrese, or religious school. Follow a winding lane up from the old city's harbor, and enter through the towering carved archway into this peaceful haven. A simple café serves tea inside, sometimes with musical accompaniment from old men who've gathered to practice traditional instruments. If you've overloaded on Antalya's more touristy side, this is the perfect antidote.

The Karatay Medresesi—a seminary founded in 1251 by Celaleddin Karatay, a Seljuk Emir—is now home to Konya's small ceramics museum. The main attraction is the building itself, which is topped by a stunning dome lined with blue, black, and white tiles representing the starry heavens. In the vaulted corners below are stylized ceramic inscriptions of the names of the prophets. The frieze beneath the dome and the vaulted hall, or eyvan, at the end of the building are just as dazzling. The emir's tomb is to the left of the main hall; other side rooms display smaller tile and ceramic works. Most impressive is a collection of rare figurative tiles from Kubadabad Palace in Beyşehir that show the Persian influence on Seljuk art. These include hunting scenes, people with distinctively Eastern features and clothing, and figurines of animals and mythological creatures, all highlighted in rich shades of cobalt blue and turquoise.

These pioneers first saw the similarity of the clay loams and climate with California, and set to planting and developing their vineyards and the cellar and restaurant. Chef Asli Mutlu presents delicious charcuterie boards and snacks by day with the four Karnas wines for tasting; at night, a four-course meal with wine pairings is served outdoors or indoors. Cooking Lessons with the chefs are also available.

The town's castle looms over the area from its high, rocky vantage point. Though it dates from the 10th century, in 1386 Tamerlane swept violently through the region and razed the original structure, and most surviving fortifications were commissioned by Lala Mustafa Paşa in 1579. The castle has gone through some restoration in recent years and the panoramic views of Kars merit the 10-minute walk uphill. There's a large café/restaurant where you can enjoy a reasonably priced lunch or a drink with an impressive view.

This museum has a lot of pre-classical pottery, as well as the beautiful doors of an Armenian church. Also of note are photographs and finds from the excavations at Ani. Located near the train station on the eastern edge of town, it's a long walk from the center and a little difficult to find—you may want to take a taxi. Easily missed outside is the railway carriage where Ottoman General Kazım Karabekir signed the treaty of Kars with the Soviet Union, settling today's border.

Follow the signs a short distance west of the city center to Kasimiye Madrasa, which was completed around 1459 by Sultan Kasim of the Akkoyunlu dynasty. The building has two clear halves: to the right is the mosque and to the left, through a beautiful doorway, are cells for the theological students, surrounding a pretty courtyard.

About 9 km (6 miles) north of Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı was discovered in 1950 and is thought to be the largest of Cappadocia's underground cities in square area, though fewer levels can be visited than at Derinkuyu. It's believed that many of the current homes in the area are connected to the tunnels, and the story goes that before parts of the underground city were closed off to the public, unsuspecting homeowners periodically found tourists popping up in their living rooms. The city extends below ground for eight levels, of which only four are currently open. Sloping corridors and steps connect the floors, with different areas used as stables, kitchens, wineries, and a church. The ceilings are low and can be difficult for tall visitors to navigate.

Kuşadası's 300-year-old caravanserai (an Ottoman-era trading post) is a short stroll from the cruise ship dock; its central courtyard is open to the public during the day but there's not much to see. Previously a hotel, there are now plans to turn the building into a city museum.

This small but interesting monastery complex has two main churches and a refectory carved out of rock. The Archangelos Church, thought to date from the 11th or 12th century, has extensive, but blackened, frescoes (a flashlight is essential), including one on the wall facing the entrance that shows the Archangel Michael fighting Lucifer in a landscape that strongly resembles Cappadocia. The walls and ceiling of the nearby Stefanos Church are covered with colorful, almost contemporary-looking floral and geometric designs dating from the 7th or 8th century. The monastery's ever-present caretaker, Cabir Coşkuner, speaks some English and is happy to guide visitors around.

Mardin was once home to a large Christian community and several churches remain in the city, although only a few are still functioning. The most likely to be open is the Kirklar Kilisesi, a Syriac Orthodox Church of the Forty Martyrs. It's on a narrow lane a hundred yards or so west of the Mardin Museum. Parts of the church dates back to the year 569, though most of what you see is medieval. There are some beautiful stone carvings and a shady courtyard. Neighborhood children will offer to take you there, which is probably a good idea, since it can be hard to find. To see it in action, attend a Sunday service at around 9 am, but make sure to dress modestly and be aware that photography is forbidden.

When you stand on the harbor at the Iskele, you are on some of the oldest known and longest-term settlement center of the Aegean coastal region, 4,000 years of Liman Tepe, which was a part of the ancient city of Klazomenai. The remains so far discovered appear in two different sections discovered in 1950, as the İzmir-Çeşmealtı road ran through it. Just a block back from the present seafront at the Iskele, stands the uncovered remains and reconstructed models of the Klazomenai Ancient City of Olive Presses. The olive oil workshop excavation proves that the technology used today was first developed in this region 2,600 years ago, and is worth visiting as the oldest known olive oil production center in Anatolia.

Near the main street is the monumental stone Gate of Cleopatra, which—despite the name—was likely built in the Byzantine period. It has made an impression on many visitors to the city, including the famous Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi who penned the travelogue Seyahatnâme.